Introduction

Specifications

Loxia 25mm 2.4 Loxia 21mm 2.8 Diameter 62mm 62mm Length 69mm 67mm Filter Thread 52mm 52mm Weight 380g 370g Max. Magnification 1:6.4 1:7.8 Min. focus distance from sensor 25cm 25cm Number of aperture blades 10 (straight) 10 (straight) Elements/ Groups 10/8 11/9

These comparisons are a lot of work and take quite a bit of time, so if you want to support our independent work please consider using one of our affiliate links when you make any purchase. It won’t cost you more but we will get a small comission. Thank you!

Loxia 21mm 2.8, 1499$ new: amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate links) | our review

Loxia 25mm 2.4, 1299$ new: amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate links) | our review

Handling / Build quality

These lenses are almost the same. I always have to look at the aperture ring to be sure to pick the right one.

Only difference: the focus ring on the 25mm has less resistance than that on my 21mm and the spacing between 2m and oo is a bit narrower on the 25mm which made precise focusing at infinity a little harder with this lens.

There are almost no non moving parts to grab to mount or unmount the lens, if this is something that may bother you have a look at the Loxia Lens-Grip from PocketPano.

Sharpness Infinity

Center

100% crops from center, A7rII

The 21mm has a bit more edge acuity at f/2.8 than the 25 at f/2.4 and f/2.8. Both reach their peak resolution at f/4.0, after that you can notice the impact of diffraction.

Midframe

100% crops from midframe, A7rII

Pretty much the same as the center.

Corner

100% crops from corner, A7rII

Both lenses have a slight field curvature which seems to hurt the 25mm more until f/2.8. At f/4.0 the 25mm looks better in the corners, at f/5.6 the 21mm catches up a bit again.

Both are very high resolving, well corrected lenses, you will be happy with either in terms of resolution.

If you want to nitpick: the 21mm looks better to me at f/2.8 than the 25mm at f/2.4 and f/2.8. At f/4.0 the 25mm looks better across frame. At f/5.6 there barely is any difference.

Sharpness Close up

Center

100% crops from center, A7rII

In the center the 21mm looks better to me and you barely gain anything from stopping down. The 25mm needs to be stopped down to f/4.0 at least to show a similar performance.

Far midframe (12mm from center)



100% crops from midframe, A7rII

In the 12mm region the Loxia 21mm faces some astigmatism issues wide open and really needs stopping down to f/4.0 for decent performance. Both lenses fare worst in this region of the frame and should better be stopped down to f/5.6.

Border (17mm from center)



100% crops from border, A7rII

In the border region it is pretty much a draw, they both look very similar to me.

All in all a good performance for both lenses as they focus rather close.

Coma

100% crops from corner, A7rII

Similar performance at shared apertures. Despite the high vignetting both can be used for shooting stars, which are less demanding than this cityscape I am showing here.

Bokeh

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Scene 6

Scene 7

When adjusting the distance so the subject has the same size (e.g. Scene 1 and 6) the differences in terms of bokeh (quantity and quality) are not really meaningful in my view and I would not base my decision for or against either lens based on this.

The shots from this comparison can be found in full resolution in this album.

Chromatic aberrations (longitudinal)

close up

50% crops from center, A7rII

Both lenses feature the same minimum focus distance (25 cm) so the crops of the 25mm show a larger magnification.

The correction of loCA looks pretty similar to me at shared apertures in this comparison.

Strong backlight

100% crops from center, A7rII

The shots from this comparison can be found in full resolution in this album.

Conclusion

These two lenses are both so good, you can base you decision on what focal length you prefer. Simple as that.

These comparisons are a lot of work and take quite a bit of time, so if you want to support our independent work please consider using one of our affiliate links when you make any purchase. It won’t cost you more but we will get a small comission. Thank you!

Loxia 21mm 2.8, 1499$ new: amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate links) | our review

Loxia 25mm 2.4, 1299$ new: amazon.com | amazon.de | B&H | ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate links) | our review

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