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Production
-
Country
West Germany/Japan
Optical
9 elements in 7 groups (Distagon)
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Contax Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4
Contax/Yashica (C/Y)
Overview
The Contax Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 is a unicorn — the first 35mm f/1.4 SLR lens ever made, and still one of the most coveted. Introduced in 1975, it was a technological tour de force that proved fast wide-angle lenses were possible. For decades it commanded king's ransom prices, and even today with modern alternatives, it remains a collector's grail. Those who've shot with it speak of a rendering unlike anything else.
Verdict: A legend among legends. This isn't a lens you buy for technical perfection — it's a lens you buy for magic. The rendering is unique, the history is unmatched, and the results are unlike anything else. If you can find one and afford it, it will change how you see 35mm photography.
Community Insights
What people love
- Legendary status — the original fast 35mm
- Unique, irreplicable rendering
- Exceptional bokeh and 3D pop
- Amazing for environmental portraits
- Rich, dimensional color
- Build quality is exceptional
- Holds value — investment piece
- The mystique and history
What people dislike
- Extremely expensive ($800-2000+)
- Heavy and large for a 35mm
- Soft wide open (for pixel-peepers)
- Focus is challenging at f/1.4
- Some barrel distortion
- Heavy vignetting
- C/Y mount requires adapter
Pro Tips
- f/2 is the magic aperture — sharp but still dreamy
- Use for environmental portraits and street at dusk
- Embrace the vignetting — it's part of the look
- Best on full-frame where you get the full effect
- Accept the softness or wait for f/2.8 — it's not a flaw
Sources (1)
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The Contax Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 is a unicorn — the first 35mm f/1.4 SLR lens ever made, and still one of the most coveted. Introduced in 1975, it was a technological tour de force that proved fast wide-angle lenses were possible. For decades it commanded king's ransom prices, and even today with modern alternatives, it remains a collector's grail. Those who've shot with it speak of a rendering unlike anything else.