Carl Zeiss C Biogon T*2,8/35 ZM ($860 on Amazon) A super-small 35mm lens designed for use with M-mount rangefinder cameras. It is priced at the lower end of Zeiss' spectrum but retains top-end build quality. In terms of sharpness, it actually outperforms other ZM lenses.
This lens is a great choice for Editors Choice and rangefinder photographers who are looking to purchase a 35mm lens. It can be used with mirrorless cameras as well, such as the full-frame Sony Alpha 7R or the Micro Four Thirds Olympus OM–D E-M5 ($200.00 at Amazon). This is via a simple mechanical adapter.
It measures 2.2x2 inches (HD), is 7.1 ounces in weight, supports 43mm front filters and has a dimension of 2.2x2 inches. A Zeiss metal lens hood is available for $84. For $84, Zeiss offers a metal lens hood. The 35mm Summarit f/2.5 is the closest Leica lens, in terms of aperture and focal length. It's smaller than its counterpart at 1.3x2 inches and, despite being expensive ($1,950), it does not include a hood. The add-on Leica hood is $130. The C Biogon's minimum focal distance is 0.7 meters, just like most rangefinder lenses.
C Biogon lenses share the same exceptional build quality as the ZM-series lenses. The C Biogon's barrel is made of metal. It has a smooth, tight focus ring that operates in third-stop increments. There's a small nub on the focusing ring that makes it easy to adjust using a finger; it's not as large as the similar protrusion found on modern Leica lenses, but it gets the job done. The lens has a depth-of-field scale with markings for f/4 to f/22.
Imatest was used to test the lens' performance when it was paired with the Leica M full-frame (Typ 244) ($4,999.99 on Amazon). The lens is extremely sharp at all apertures tested and exhibits absolutely no distortion. It already scored 2,955 lines per inch of picture height in our center-weighted sharpness testing at f/2.8. This is more than what's required for a photo to be considered sharp. The edges of these images measure in at 2,268 lines. The Biogon T*/35 ZM ($1,241.00 on Amazon) won't provide that performance until the aperture is reduced to f/4.
The C Biogon increases to an astonishing 3,668 lines at f/4, while at f/5.6 it is at its highest at 3,764 lines. As you reduce the aperture, resolution starts to decrease. However, even at f/11, it still hits the 3,000-line mark. The lens does not have the maximum aperture at f/2 as its expensive sibling. However, images will be sharp and crisp if the optic is f/2.8.
There's a lot to like about the Carl Zeiss C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM—it's quite compact, extremely sharp from edge to edge, and is priced attractively (for a Zeiss lens). Voigtlander offers other options if you are looking for a M-mount 35mm lens that has a larger aperture but not the Biogon T* 2/335. The Color-Skopar 35mm F/2.5 (409) and Nokton 35mm F/1.4 (629) are two examples.
We haven't tested these as of yet to see how they stack up against the C Biogon, but Voigtlander lenses are generally well built and deliver good—but not off the charts—performance. The Editors Choice Award goes to the C Biogon. It's a great 35mm lens that can be used for both rangefinders and mirrorless cameras.
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