No photo available for this lens
Production
1976
Country
East Germany (German Democratic Republic)
Optical
6 elements in 6 groups
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4
M42
Overview
The Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 is legendary among wide-angle enthusiasts. The Flektogon design — Zeiss Jena's retrofocus wide-angle formula — produced some of the best-regarded wide lenses of the era. This 35mm version achieved near-macro close focus capability (unusual for a wide-angle), excellent sharpness, and beautiful rendering. It's considered one of the finest M42 wide-angles ever made.
Verdict: The M42 wide-angle champion. Sharp, versatile, with unique close-focus capability — the Flektogon 35/2.4 delivers results that compete with modern lenses. If you shoot M42 and need a wide-angle, this is the one.
Optical Character
Bokeh
The out-of-focus areas render nicely, with a smooth, portrait-friendly bokeh. The depth of field is surprisingly shallow for an f/2.4 lens.
Color
The lens exhibits a very slight green color cast in the extreme corners.
Sharpness wide open
The lens is very sharp, especially in the center, even wide open. Performance improves significantly when stopped down to f/4 and beyond.
Flare resistance
The lens has good flare resistance, especially when stopped down.
Contrast
The lens produces excellent contrast and micro-contrast, giving images a nice 3D pop.
Vignetting
There is strong vignetting at wide apertures, improving but still noticeable even at smaller f-stops.
Community Insights
What people love
- Exceptional sharpness for M42
- 0.2m close focus — nearly macro!
- Excellent build quality
- Rich, vibrant colors
- Versatile 35mm focal length
- Great for landscapes and close-ups both
- The best M42 35mm by many accounts
What people dislike
- Some barrel distortion
- Heavy for its size
- Focus throw is long
- f/2.4 slightly slower than competitors
Pro Tips
- Use the close focus! It's nearly macro capable
- Great for environmental portraits
- 35mm ideal focal length for many photographers
- MC version worth the premium for landscapes
Sources (4)
phillip_reeve-
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-carl-zeiss-jena-35mm-2-4-flektogon/
unknown-
https://www.mflenses.com/carl-zeiss-jena-flektogon-35mm-f24-mc-lens-review.html
unknown-
https://allmyfriendsarejpegs.com/2020/07/08/carl-zeiss-jena-prakticar-35mm-f2-4-mc-flektogon-lens-review/
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 is legendary among wide-angle enthusiasts. The Flektogon design — Zeiss Jena's retrofocus wide-angle formula — produced some of the best-regarded wide lenses of the era. This 35mm version achieved near-macro close focus capability (unusual for a wide-angle), excellent sharpness, and beautiful rendering. It's considered one of the finest M42 wide-angles ever made.