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Mini Review: Zeiss ZF/ZE 35mm f/2 Distagon
Related: bokeh, Canon, Canon Standard, digital sensor, distortion, field of view, Nikon, Nikon Standard, optics, Zeiss, Zeiss 35mm f/2 Distagon, Zeiss Distagon, Zeiss DSLR Lenses, Zeiss lenses
The Zeiss 35mm f/2 Distagon offers bitingly-sharp image rendition, coupled with gorgeous bokeh, extremely low flare and outstanding image quality across the field. With excellent control of aberrations, performance is very satisfying when used wide-open at f/2, improving significantly at f/2.8, then a bit more until f/5.6. Your main challenge as with any top lens will be focusing perfectly so as to extract that performance on today’s high-resolution digital cameras.
When the exquisite sharpness of the 35/2 Distagon is combined with its graceful blurring away from the focal plane, image rendition is simultaneously sharp and smooth, producing vividly three-dimensional images. I’ve been shooting the 35/2 Distagon since mid 2007, and it has been a stalwart performer.
Mounted on the Canon 1.3X crop sensor like the EOS 1D Mark IV, it makes a formidable “normal” lens, equivalent in field of view to about 45mm on a full-frame camera. The shade for the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 may be used in lieu of the standard lens shade on such cameras, and for increased shading for the smaller sensor.
On a full frame camera it serves its intended purpose as an all-around “normal” lens with a slightly wide field of view, a fine choice in lieu of a 50m lens for those who want a slightly wider field of view.
As with all ZF and ZE lenses, focusing is manual with the 35/2 Distagon.
Flare resistance is excellent, and one could almost dispense with the lens shade, but a lens shade also affords some “bump” protection, so its use is advised.
With high resolution digital cameras, the 35/2 Distagon can exhibit traces of color fringing on high contrast edges, varying by camera/sensor. Alternatives do not fare better however.
Specifications
For ZF/ZF.2/ZE. Weights vary slightly by mount. Versions for Canon and Nikon and Pentax are optically identical.
| Focal length: | 35.0mm |
| Aperture scale: | f/ 2 – f/22 (1/2 stop clicks for ZF/ZF.2) |
| Focusing range: | 0.3m – infinity |
| Angular field, diag./horiz. | 63° / 54° |
| Coverage at close range: | 196 X 129mm |
| Image ratio at close range: | 1:5.44 |
| Number of elements/groups: | 9 / 7 |
| Filter thread: | M 58 X 0.75 |
| Weight: | 534g (ZF), as weighed |
| Dimensions (with caps): | 65mm, 73mm long |
| List price: | $1004 street price |
Zeiss 35/2 Distagon distortion
Distortion is more than I would prefer, but about what one expects from a 35mm lens. It is easily corrected with various tools, because it is a consistent barrel distortion.
Examples
Close-ups
While not a macro lens, the 35mm Distagon offers excellent close-up capabilityto a pseudo-macro 1.54, with very pleasing delineation between the plane of focus and both the background and foreground.
Astrophotography
The 32/2 Distagon is a terrific lens for low-light shooting because it delivers pinpoint sharpness over most of the frame, minimizing the common aberrations (like coma) that plague most lenses, even the very expensive Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L. Accordingly, it makes an excellent choice for starry skies, or any subject with fine points of light. That is not to say it’s perfect at f/2 (no 35mm lens is), but it yields very high quality results. Stopping down to f/2.8 helps clean things up significantly, as even the finest lenses benefit from doing so.
35/2 Distagon @ f/2
Black and white
Black and white reveals the pleasing smoothness possible with the 35mm Distagon, background blur (bokeh) is very pleasing in every situation.
Night shooting
The high degree of correction lends itself to sparkling and detailed night scenes.
Conclusions
The Zeiss 35mm f/2 Distagon ZF offers outstanding imaging qualities that go well beyond high sharpness and contrast to other more subtle and pleasing effect simply not available with most lenses. Over the course of nearly 2 1/2 years of shooting, I’ve come to appreciate it as a standout lens.
You can get the 35/2 Distagon at B&H Photo for Canon or Nikon.
Learn more
For in-depth coverage to these Zeiss lenses for Nikon and Canon, please subscribe to our Guide to Zeiss ZF/ZE Lenses.
The Guide has numerous examples at much higher resolution, along with actual-pixels crops for each and every lens, in most cases several pages of examples per lens.
New material is constantly being added to the Guide, so don't wait, subscribe now!
