ZEISS Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4 ZM Lens (Silver)

What can I say it's a Zeiss! For as much as I love Leica lenses I have to admit I have always been drawn to how the Zeiss sense has an almost 3d rendering. This has become my go to lens

I love manual focus prime lenses and I absolutely love the Zeiss 35/1.4 zm. It's size marries well with the SL-S. Sharp, Micro contrast with 3D pop. Focus and aperture rings feel really good. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys manual focus primes even on non M bodies.

This is the second time I've owned this lens. I sold my first copy a couple of years ago. I recently update my Leica M to the M10R. I had entertained the idea of buying the newly released 35mm APO Summicron but balked at the price. I bought this Zeiss lens instead. NO Regrets. Apart from some very minor fringing around some challenging lighting this lens works very well on my M10R. I would say it might have just a slight bit less pop than a similar Leica lens but that is not too difficult to adjust for in Photoshop. The savings in cost more than offset any additional work in processing I might want to do. Highly recommended.

This Zeiss lens is an amazing performer, I sold my Lux FLE and kept this. It just has a very special rendering at 1.4, there's a glow that I didn't get from the Summilux. It's at least as sharp and keeps high micro-contrast all the way through the apertures. it's a wonderful street, hiking, landscape and even portrait at f1.4-2. This and the .95 Noctilux will always be in my bag.

I used to own the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux FLE and loved it, but circumstances forced me to let it go. I now own this Zeiss Distagon and despite being only about 40% of the Leica's price, this lens is every bit as good, perhaps better. Better? This lens seems a bit more flare resistant than I recall from the FLE, and has a slightly flatter field and is sharper at the edges, even wide-open. Bokeh is slightly different, but not in any way worse. As are color, transitions and just about anything else I care about from a lens. Optically, this thing is at least as good as the Leica in every way. So why is it so much cheaper? Well, first it's made in Japan by Cosina instead of by Leica in Germany. It's also quite a bit bulkier than the FLE, and you know the adage, Fast, Sharp, Cheap; pick any two. Leica made their lens very small for it's performance, speed and formal length, and Zeiss chose to forgo compact dimensions to get the same performance at a lower price point. This is a large lens for rangefinder cameras and especially with the hood (optional, and highly recommended) it significantly intrudes into the lower right of the frame. The Leica intrudes too, but much less. Personally I don't mind it much. I'm usually pretty aware of everything in my frame and a quick flick to the low right and back and get pretty much what I expect in the shot. The larger size has one advantage, and that is comfort. This is a very comfortable lens to shoot, with smoother focusing than any other lens I've ever tried on any system, which is saying a lot as I own a Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron which is legendary for it's handing. This lens is beautifully corrected at all distances and apertures (uses floating elements just like the Leica FLE) and is internal focusing as well. While no M mount lenses are advertised as weather sealed, I've had this for two years now and there still isn't any dust inside. If you have the money and want the smallest and most elegant 35mm f/1.4 lens the Leica Summilux FLE is it. If, however, you want the same (or perhaps better) optical performance and don't mind a slightly larger lens to save about 60%, you'll love this Zeiss Distagon. I sure do.

...and have an M body. It's heavier but the image quality is untouched. Had a Leica 35mm ASPH summicron and I did not like the image quality produced by that lens. I even considered selling the M body because the output was disappointing. Got the Zeiss lens and my opinion was entirely turned around. The M body is fun to shoot now and the output I get is rewarding.

Having just returned from a trip to Italy and using this lens extensively, I was motivated to pass on these words. This lens is a marvel. Outstanding saturation and contrast and subject separation. It is built remarkably well. The hood connection is excellent while the hood itself is obscenely expensive. Aperture clicks are sure as is focusing. Ditch the lens cap, it stinks. It actually got stuck on the lens a few times. Mounted on the M240 results in a heavy load in rangefinder terms, but the weight is worth the effort.