Poll: what is your preference? 24-70 II @28mm or Zeiss 2/28 ZF

Of course, I have already hinted at my conclusion in the OP which I should not have done. It probably discouraged some from taking the time to investigate for themselves.

The images below are sized for the display on which I view all of my finished images, 1800x1200 pixels. I ran both images through a quickie treatment of my usual processing independent of one another and without thought to matching characteristics. I am not interested in reading anybody's C&C as to processing or composition in this instance. I know that I can make informed extrapolations from these images or any of the images that have been presented in this thread/topic thus far (so I urge others to do the same). I just wanted to show my common sizing here as a way to explain, in part, my conclusion.

At this size and leaning in close (I'm usually sitting at the display from 12" to 18" anyway), I can see areas where the 24-70 II is subtly sharper and other areas where the Zeiss is subtly sharper. Let me stop, and again mention (primarily for the benefit of the newbies), At This Size. At full size, differences become less subtle.

I understand viewing at 100% because I do a lot of that throughout PPing, but the ultimate comparison has to be at the finished stage which also involves the final sizing. Differences among lenses can be seen at sizes even smaller than the images below though the differences tend to become more perceptual than starkly visible.

IMO, the 24-70 II seems generally sharper along the edges and corners while the Zeiss renders the more distant infinity areas in a more pleasing way (something I think landscapers appreciate in the Zeiss lenses in general). In the foliage, I see advantages going to both lenses which may indicate wind movement more than anything.

As for color and contrast, the 24-70 II delivers a slightly more contrasty image. To me this means the whites are whiter and the blacks blacker. The Zeiss delivers more even tones across the "spectrum" based on using similar Curves in CS6.

To me, since the differences are subtle at this size, the lens I grab 95% of the time is and will continue to be the 24-70 II. This comparison has strengthen that conviction. For hiking, which accounts for about 75% of my photography situations, the 24-70 II replaces four primes, a no-brainer for someone looking to cut weight and the size of their overall kit.

About 25% of my photography involves my 4WD FJ Cruiser and about 15% of that involves what we casually call these days "off road". (Actually, there is no real off-roading in any park I know of, there is only unpaved roads of varying quality.) Obviously, I can carry all of my lenses when I am 4WDing and I can have all four of my cameras mounted with a lens ready to go if I so choose. So, a prime would still be a viable choice for that extra Nth of IQ.

5D3 & 24-70 II @ 28mm

5D3 & Zeiss 2/28mm ZF