Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 ZM - A Quick Look
Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 ZM Adapted to a Leica SL2-S
I have used the Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R on my X-Pro cameras for years, and it’s been a favorite go-to option for ultra-wide angle lenses. Before this, when I used Canon SLRs, I had 16-35mm zoom lenses to cover this focal length.
The XF 14mm is a 21mm equivalent in full-frame terms and I have been tinkering with the idea of finding a suitable option for my Leica SL2-S at this focal length. Leica makes an Apo-Summicron-SL 21mm f/2 which would have been an obvious choice if it wasn’t for the $5,495.00 price tag.
My friend Chris offered that I could take his Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 ZM out for a spin. I love manual focus lenses due to the tactile feel and the much smaller form factor. Let’s see how the Zeiss lens performed on the SL2-S.
Build Quality and Handling
One of my current favorite lenses on the Leica SL2-S is the Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 and when it comes to ergonomics and size the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 is almost a spitting image of the Nokton 28mm f/1.5.
The Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 ZM weighs 300 g and takes 46mm filters with dimensions of 2.1 x 2.5", 53 x 64 mm whereas the Nokton weighs 250 g, with 43mm filters and dimensions of 2.1 x 1.8", 54 x 45.5 mm.
The two lenses feel very similar in the hand and are both of high build quality with a solid feel and nice aperture rings.
The Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 ZM does not have the standard focus lever as seen on many Leica lenses but it does have a small indent to substitute this.
Image Quality
In the DSLR camera days, I was pining for the Zeiss ZE 21mm f/2.8 and once rented it for a trip to Mexico. I loved the images that I came back with.
As for the ZM 21mm f/2.8 version, I am suspicious that it may perform better on native M-Mount cameras. Upon scrutiny, the images are not as sharp in the center as my Nokton 28mm and it gets worse in the corners. If you view the images full-screen, I don’t mind them at all and found the colors rather pleasing.
Using an adapter with this lens may result in a slight image quality loss. For the photos in the review, I used a Novoflex M to L adapter.
The sample images in this review can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide depending on your monitor size. Please click to view larger photos if viewed on your PC or laptop, or pinch-zoom if you are viewing on your phone.
Final Thoughts
The Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 ZM is a twenty-year-old lens and perhaps it is starting to show. It will not be my first pick as an adapted lens to my Leica SL2-S. Leica M-Mount users may get better results so I wouldn’t completely write this lens off, by far.
I liked the handling, build quality, weight, and size but in the image quality department, it falls a bit short of expectations.
I have already tried another lens at 21mm, the Voigtländer Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical. I will have a review coming up soon. Spoiler alert! Image quality is better, it is bigger and heavier but with a maximum f-stop of f/1.4 it is a very interesting option.
Please keep scrolling for a few more sample images.
English Bay Beach, Vancouver, Leica SL2-S, Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 ZM. Please click to view a large image. Of course, you can bring an ultra-wide-lens to an airshow :)
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