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How do the Sony Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2.8 and Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 lenses compare on the Sony a7? (I am interested more with image quality than ergonomics, build quality, price, etc.)

I am particularly curious about sharpness and detail preservation for large landscape prints. Also, good corners in the f/5.6 to f/14 range. Lastly, chromatic aberration around high contrast areas (like purple fringing around leaves in front of a bright sky).

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    I don't have the loxia yet, but it doesn't seem like it is a line centered on resolution and correction. It seems to be a line that revives the classics. I have the sony and it is excellent within the range you are mentioning. I haven't used it on a7r yet. Maybe there it reaches its limits.
    – retrography
    Jan 14 '15 at 1:33
  • Huh. That would be disappointing. For the extra money, I was hoping for better glass.
    – john_science
    Jan 14 '15 at 19:46
  • The extra money is justified by extra aperture opening! ;)
    – retrography
    Jan 14 '15 at 19:47
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Here is an example of the Sony Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 on the A7ʀ at f/5.6:

And here's a crop of the extreme bottom left corner (right click -> "view image to see it at 100%"):

Sharpness in the corners is very impressive for a 36 megapixel sensor. Chromatic aberration is well handled by lightroom, I've not had any problems with it

I don't have the Loxia to compare it to but that's a lens geared towards a classic rendering and bokeh, I wouldn't expect it to match the Sony lens for landscape use, if you're after image quality stopped down then I would definitely go for the Sony Zeiss f/2.8 lens.

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  • As it turns out, people are tending to agree with you: fstoppers.com/originals/… The Loxia still seems like a solid lens, but the design is more about classic feel and luxury than performance.
    – john_science
    May 11 '15 at 15:22

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