Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35
The Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 is a remarkably fast moderate wide-angle lens for Canon and Nikon single-lens reflex cameras. With a focal length of 35mm and a maximum aperture of f1.4, the manual-focus Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 has been designed with ultimate sharpness and excellent bokeh in mind. Plus, with the Zeiss T*‘s anti-reflective coating, its sophisticated stray light reduction and the excellent flare control the new Distagon also takes pictures of bright light sources without artifacts, the manufacturer says. Constructed of 11 elements arranged in 9 groups, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 can focus down to 30cm, enabling full-frame camera users to fill the frame with an object that measures 18x12cm (0,2x magnification). The lens will be available in first quarter of 2011 at a recommended retail price of €1385.71+VAT.
Zeiss Press Release
The fast all-around talent
Carl Zeiss presents a new moderate wide-angle lens
OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 01.09.2010.
A woman is sitting at the bar of a dimly-lit cafe. Lost in thoughts, she doesn’t notice the glass of wine the bartender places before her. From a distance, a photographer tries to capture her mood. He brings her face, which is leaning toward her phone, into focus. Everything around her becomes a blur, and the lights in the background coalesce into a wild “dance” of diffuse shapes.
This shot will only work with a fast lens with short focal length and harmonious bokeh. Carl Zeiss introduces a new lens for just such images: the Distagon T* 1,4/35.
By introducing the Distagon T* 1,4/35, Carl Zeiss is complementing the Planar T*1,4/50 and T*1,4/85 lenses with a wide-angle lens that shares the same high speed. Crisp, sharp images work every time, whether at dusk or in the weak lighting conditions of a café, and without the need for a tripod. With its 35-mm, the Distagon T* 1,4/35 matches the classic and versatile standard focal lengths when used on cameras with APS-C sensor formats.
Due to the special bokeh effects in both the foreground and background areas, the Distagon T*1,4/35 opens up new creative possibilities, giving photographers more options to ‘play’ with focus. Thanks to its large focus ring, photographers can also create highly accurate, sharp pictures, even at maximum aperture opening. In addition, the optical construction of the lens guarantees high image quality across the entire image range. Furthermore, with one step less than the full aperture opening, the light fall-off toward the edges is just one f-stop.
With the ZEISS T*‘s anti-reflective coating, its sophisticated stray light reduction and the excellent flare control the new Distagon also takes pictures of bright light sources without artifacts. The Distagon T*1,4/35’s extremely long-lasting and robust all-metal precision mechanics, for which Carl Zeiss is known, make this lens perfect for use on-the-go and for photo reports.
The Distagon T* 1,4/35 will be available in first quarter of 2011 at a recommended retail price of €1385.71 (excluding VAT)*.
Technical specifications
Focal length: 35 mm
Aperture range: f/1.4 - f/16
Number of elements/groups: 11/9
Focusing range: 0.3 m - infinity
Angular field**
(diag./horiz./vert.): 63/54/37 °
Coverage at close range: 18 x 12 cm (close-up)
Image ratio at close range: 1:5 (close-up)
Filter thread: M 72 x 0.75
Weight: 830-850g
Length with caps: 120-122mm
Mounts: ZF.2 (F bayonet)
ZE (EF bayonet)
* As of September 01, 2010
** relates to small camera format



#1 Dave
Is it going to be 3X better than a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 or are we just paying an insane premium for the Zeiss brand and FF compatibility?
7:54 pm - Wednesday, September 1, 2010
#2 Mladen RADMAN
Comparison to Sigma is out of place as DX lens produces much smaller image circle - diagonal of 16x24mm image frame instead of 24x36mm.
It is expensive and premium optics always is. For the price it better be outstanding at f1.4.
My money is ready.
10:13 am - Thursday, September 2, 2010
#3 rob
Dave, how can you bring even a remote possibility of comparing those two lenses? It's like comparing - I don't know - a Hasselblad and a Lomo?
). The difference in quality is unimaginable, until you actually try both brands. Especially, when you factor-in such small detail as a nonexistent/nonfunctioning QC at Sigma.
I would be willing to pay even 5x more money for ANY Zeiss lens than for ANY Sigma lens - even with Zeiss having no auto-focus (if I only had that kind of money
I know that for me owning this 35/1.4 Zeiss lens is a slim possibility, but I will not buy a Sigma lens just because I can't afford a Zeiss lens. Instead, I will probably go for a happy median (Canon EF 35/1.4 L - $1370). As a matter of fact, I will not buy any Sigma lens, priced more than $10 - which, of course, means no Sigma lenses ever for me...
6:39 pm - Tuesday, September 7, 2010