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Digiscoping with Zeiss 28/2.0 Distagon T lens

Digiscoping with Zeiss 28/2.0 Distagon T lens

While I was in New York recently I visited B and H and looked at the Zeiss lenses for Nikon mount.  I wanted it for the Nikon D3s as well as for digiscoping
http://www.zeiss.com/
Although on Manual Focus they will communicate to the camera electronically for exposure details.
A very sharp lens as you would expect from Zeiss and has a nice solid feel to it.  It's a bit heavy on the G1 but is well balanced on the D3s.
The first two photos were digiscoped and the two waterlily photos were hand held with the Panasonic G1.

Panasonic G1 plus Zeiss 28/2.0 lens and Swarovski STM80HD scope and Balance Bar
Mai Po Nature Reserve,
Hong Kong,
China
June 2010







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Nice demo, Neil.

28mm is an ideal focal length for digiscoping on G1. However, full format lenses like this one is normally too heavy for digiscopic usage. In addition, the large coverage of these lenses, means bigger light cone,  will create excessive internal reflection inside the light chamber of the G1, eventually causing low contrast and flaring image. Personally, I opine that a real m4/3 prime lenses of focal length 25mm to 30mm,  compact and mobile, are the best choice. Hoping the Panasonic will have these in the market soon.

[ Last edited by cwchan at 11/06/2010 20:41 ]

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Wing,
      You are right about the weight.  Its a very heavy lens.  The perfect lens would be a new Leica M lens.  I have old Leica M lenses but you need the new coatings to handle the light out in MP.
I tested the Zeiss 28/2.0, Nikon 24/2.8D , Voigtlander 35/2.5 and Olympus 50/2.0 Macro (Four Thirds ) on Friday, using the Swarovski 20x eyepiece. I mount them on a Balance Bar so that the weight of the Zeiss and the Olympus was not a problem.  I enjoyed looking through the Zeiss the most and got the most amount of "keepers" .  I got the least "keepers" with the Olympus.  The Nikon was a very close second to the Zeiss and of course was a lot lighter and brighter.
I enjoy the Manual Focusing and don't miss the AF much.  If I need AF for close up fast action , the kit 14 -45 zoom will do.  I can eliminate vignetting around 20 mm on the 30x and 45x eyepieces.
Neil.

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Neil,

Don't forget the 'giant killer' Nikon 35mm f1.8 AF-s DX lens.

I recommend it because of the following reasons,

(1) good value ( around $1600-1700 in new);
(2) internal focus, which means its front screw mount (52mm) does not move while focusing, in particular good for DCA;
(3) relatively light weight compare with the full format lens;
(4) DX lens, means smaller light cone inside the light chamber, which is very helful in reducing internal reflection;
(5) new lens design, specially made for digital sensor;
(6) most important of all, it is very sharp for digiscopic usage.

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/view ... &extra=page%3D1

Wing

[ Last edited by cwchan at 16/06/2010 21:31 ]

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