Carl Zeiss CY vs Minolta MD – 28mm lenses – comparison

Published by Tony on 2020-03-302020-03-30

• Carl Zeiss Distagon 28mm 1:2.8 CY (AE)
• Minolta MD 28mm 1:2.0 (MD III)
• Minolta MD 28mm 1:2.8 7el7gr (MD III)
• Minolta MD 28mm 1:3.5 (MD III)

This article was made specifically for this Carl Zeiss because Minolta 28mm lenses have already been enough studied and the site contains a lot of materials about them.

Carl Zeiss Distagon 28mm 1:2.8 (AE) for the test was provided by Egor Nikolaev (Егор Николаев) – many thanks.

This comparison is correct only for conditions and equipment used for tests. Test results can differ if any element is changed

Tested lenses reviews

Carl Zeiss vs Minolta 28mm comparison – sharpness/resolution

Long-distance test description

• Camera Sony A7II (24mpx, full frame) – RAW (ARW), tripod, A-mode, ISO 100, WB fixed, SteadyShot OFF, manual focus correction for every shot
• Targets (buildings) – fixed by gravity power on the distances in more than 200 meters
• ARW post-processing – Capture One, default settings, 100% crops 300×200 px

Carl Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 vs. Minolta MD 28mm f/2.8 (7×7) long distance

Scene preview

Test results

Carl Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 vs. Minolta MD 28mm f/3.5 long distance

Scene preview

Test results

Short-distance test description

• Target: 10-15 cm picture, printed on glossy photo paper
• Distance: 1.7m
• Camera: Sony A7II (24mpx, full-frame, tripod, remote control). M-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot – OFF.
• The test was repeated for every F-stop on every focus position with manual focus adjustment for each shot. That is to avoid the effect of field curvature.
• RAW processing: Capture One, default settings. All quality settings – 100%. Crops – 300×200 px

Original target image (printed in horizontal orientation on 10cm X 15cm glossy photo paper)

Carl Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 vs. Minolta MD 28mm f/2.0 short distance

Scene preview

Test results

Carl Zeiss vs Minolta 28mm comparison – final conclusion:

Carl Zeiss C/Y 28mm f/2.8 vs. Minolta MD 28mm f/2.0

Minolta has a more advanced scheme and one-stop faster – this battle is not fair and Minolta won easily on the short distance:

• Center – Both lenses are the same in this position
• Middle – Zeiss shows better results in the middle position at F2.8, but from F4 up to the end both are the same
  
• Corner -Minolta is better at any aperture
  

Note: I am very upset, but… unfortunately, the long-distance test was ruined. This happens (rarely) – several takes were spoiled at one time. When this became known, I already didn’t have a lens. That’s why I can demonstrate only a test at a short distance. For myself, I can conclude which lens is better on the long-distance – based on tests between Zeiss and Minolta 28/3.5 and also between Minolta 28/3.5 and Minolta 28/2.0 – any of readers can do it of course too. I just avoid posting conclusions here because I can not attach simply understandable diagrams.

Carl Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 vs. Minolta MD 28mm f/2.8 (7×7)

Independently of the fact that this battle is fair, it was very easy to predict who would be a winner because the Minolta 28mm 1:2.8 with 7 elements in 7 groups optical design is the weakest 28mm Minolta’s lens from MD III era.

Carl Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 vs. Minolta MD 28mm f/3.5

This is another unfair battle, just now Zeiss has a 2/3 stops advantage. Zeiss is the winner – no doubts, both lenses give a similar IQ at F8.0. Yes, I always recommend 28mm Minolta with F3.5 as an economy wide-angle lens, and yes – I consider that Zeiss is worth its money too.