Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon In the Field

2014-09-24 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Inyo National Forest, Leica, Leica M, Leica M240, peak bagging, rangefinder, White Mountains, Zeiss, Zeiss Distagon, Zeiss Lenses, Zeiss ZM, Zeiss ZM 15mm f/2.8 Distagon, Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon

The new Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon is a joy to focus wide open, and its results at f/1.4 are outstanding. I’ve been shooting it for over a week now, also its two siblings and the Voigtlander Nokton 35/1.2 II and the Leica M 35/1.4 and 35/2.

My emphasis is on covering the ZM 35/1.4, but naturally its place among those other lenses and the relative merits of all of them are a secondary goal. Many lens characteristics matter including sharpness and contrast, flare control, flatness of field and so on.

It’s very hard to cover six 35mm lenses, but I expect to have some good insights shooting on the Leica M240

Aspen Scrub
Leica M Typ 240 + Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon @ f/1.4

White Clouds in White Mountains
Leica M Typ 240 + Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon @ f/1.4

Earth Shadow Rises as Black Horse Grazes
Leica M Typ 240 + Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon @ f/1.4

Fading Sunglow over White Mountain Peak
Leica M Typ 240 + Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon @ f/5