The Professional's Source 800.606.6969 / 212.444.6615

Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black)

  • Price: $1,087.00
Receive 2% Reward
  • B&H # ZE352B
  • Mfr# 1365-659

Product Highlights

  • For Zeiss Ikon & Leica M Rangefinders
  • Manual Focus
  • Superior Craftsmanship
  • ZM (M) Lens Mount
  • Delivers Images without Distortion
 

What item is right for you?

Ask our Experts!

800.606.6969
Live Chat
Close

The Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon T* ZM is a small size wide-angle manual focus lens that offers high speed, stunning resolving power and next to zero distortion. The 35mm f/2 ange of T* ZM-mount lenses offers high standards in terms of performance, reliability and, of course, image quality. You can count on highly advanced flare control for crisp and brilliant images. And virtually zero geometric distortion, ensuring precise accuracy when reproducing shapes, especially useful when photographing products and architecture.

This lens is ideal for travel, photojournalism, street photography, human-interest reportage (outdoors and indoors) and documentation.

1/3 stop interval click stops allows for exact exposure
Precise 10 bladed aperture creates pleasing unfocused highlights
Wear resistant filter mount for long-term reliability in tough conditions
Filter Size 43mm
f/Stop Range 2-22
Minimum Focus Distance 2.3' (0.7 m)
Magnification 1:18
Angle of View 63 degrees
Groups/Elements 6/9
Length Not specified
Maximum Diameter Not specified
Weight 8.5 oz (240 g)
Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black)
  • Front & Rear Lens Caps
  • 2-Year Warranty
  • REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

    by PowerReviews
    Zeiss35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black)
     
    4.8

    (based on 18 reviews)

    Ratings Distribution

    • 5 Stars

       

      (16)

    • 4 Stars

       

      (1)

    • 3 Stars

       

      (1)

    • 2 Stars

       

      (0)

    • 1 Stars

       

      (0)

    89%

    of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

    Pros

    • Durable (13)
    • Strong construction (13)
    • Consistent output (11)
    • Nice bokeh (10)
    • Easily interchangeable (8)

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Landscape/scenery (12)
      • Low light (10)
      • Weddings (7)
      • Night photography (5)
        • Reviewer Profile:
        • Photo enthusiast (8), Semi-pro photographer (4)
        • Was this a gift?:
        • No (12)

      Most Liked Positive Review

       

      outstanding lens

      This is my 'standard' lens on my Zeiss Ikon. It is used for about 75-80% of my shooting, which consists of street, environmental portraiture, landscapes, abstracts and "quotidian lif...Read complete review

      This is my 'standard' lens on my Zeiss Ikon. It is used for about 75-80% of my shooting, which consists of street, environmental portraiture, landscapes, abstracts and "quotidian life".

      It has a very solid build quality: hefty (without being heavy), smooth focus, positive clicks for the aperture stops (in 1/3rd stop increments). My results with it have been wonderful in both color and black and white. Some people have complained that it is a tad too high-contrast for black and white work, but I do not find it so (this may be because I use a highlight-restraining two-bath developer for my black and white up to 400 ISO). I love the Biogon's sharpness, distortion-free rendering, and its focus fall-off. Bokeh too is very fine. And as a bonus, it is highly flare-resistant even without the lens hood.

      My two complaints are: (a) with the lens shade on it is not a compact lens and (b) the lens cap is just awful...hard to put on and almost impossible to seat properly with the lens shade mounted.

      Highly recommended!

      VS

      Most Liked Negative Review

       

      Nice Optics, Mechanically Second Rate

      I own this lens.

      Optically, it produces some nice results: Very low curvilinear distortion. High resolution ability (Not superb sharpness, but very good to excellent sharpness). Very low chromatic abe...Read complete review

      I own this lens.

      Optically, it produces some nice results: Very low curvilinear distortion. High resolution ability (Not superb sharpness, but very good to excellent sharpness). Very low chromatic aberrations. Very good color reproduction.

      However, mechanically, the lens is not designed well, and I'll explain:

      When shooting vertical, due to gravity, tight tolerances of the mechanical design of the barrel, and an unstabilized barrel when shooting in the vertical position - the lens is very difficult to focus when shooting subjects with the camera held vertically.

      The lens does not have this problem when the camera and lens are focused while in the horizontal position.

      I have owned 40 lenses from 35mm to Large Format, and worked with 20 more, and this is the first time I ever saw this problem.

      So my feelings about this lens are mixed.

      Nice Optics, poor mechanical designing in the barrel.

      Reviewed by 18 customers

      Sort by

      Displaying reviews 1-18

      Back to top

       
      5.0

      Very smooth lens

      By Stainer

      from New York, NY

      About Me Semi-pro Photographer

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Durable
      • Nice Bokeh
      • Strong Construction

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Landscape/Scenery
        • Sports/Action

        Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

        I use this on an X-E1, it's alright. The focus ring could turn a bit further. Focus is sharp as expected, fall off is nice. Great lens, not for everyone.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

         
        5.0

        "I would buy this product again and agai

        By gilad

        from Israel

        About Me Photo Enthusiast

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Consistent Output
        • Durable
        • Easily Interchangeable
        • Lightweight
        • Nice Bokeh
        • Rugged
        • Strong Construction

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Indoors/Low Light
          • Landscape/Scenery
          • Night Photography
          • Weddings/Events

          Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

          I bought this lens to shoot with my Leica M9P.
          The short experience I have had with her she seems to be high quality and precise as the Leica lenses I have. Color and contrast are perfect and very same the source of Leica lenses and look in some parameters even more. The Hood I have not bought yet I think it is expensive and I will try to buy tha same in the Internet.
          In of Third of the price (from leica) this lens does an excellent job and I highly recommend to all lovers of Leica buy it.

          • Was this a gift?:
          • No

          Share this review

          (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Carl Zeiss has also been my No 1 choice!

          By Wong Suew

          from Malaysia

          About Me Photo Enthusiast

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Consistent Output
          • Durable
          • Easily Interchangeable
          • Lightweight
          • Strong Construction

          Cons

          • No lens hood

          Best Uses

          • Indoors/Low Light
          • Journalism
          • Landscape/Scenery
          • Weddings/Events

          Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

          I am currently using a Carl Zeiss 35mm 1.4 ZF2 for my Nikon D800.

          That is why I have decided to purchase the 35mm f/2 Biogon by Carl Zeiss.

          Before my purchase I have read reviews all over the internet and Steve Huff too(The Leica reviewer)!

          I paired this lens with my Leica M7 and it does great with colors and sharpness

          • Was this a gift?:
          • No

          Share this review

          (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          A Quality Lens

          By Angers

          from Australia

          About Me Photo Enthusiast

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Durable
          • Nice Bokeh
          • Rugged
          • Strong Construction

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Indoors/Low Light
            • Landscape/Scenery
            • Weddings/Events

            Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

            This lens oozes quality. Having used the Carl Zeiss T* lens on the Contax G series I wanted to do the same with my m43 system via an adapter. This lens renders beautifully and I love the 3D pop in the image. Highly recommended for a photo enthusiast who is looking for a quality manual focus lens.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No
            • Similar:
            • Carl Zeiss T* 35mm F2.0 Planar for Contax G, Carl Zeiss T* 90mm F2.8 Sonnar for Contax G

            Share this review

            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            SUPERB LENS

            By Swiss boy

            from Geneva

            About Me Photo Enthusiast

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Durable
            • Nice Bokeh
            • Strong Construction

            Cons

            • NONE

            Best Uses

            • Indoors/Low Light
            • Video

            Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

            No distorsion ... perfect lens

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

            Share this review

             
            5.0

            Just great!

            By M the Observer

            from South Texas

            About Me Photography Student

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Consistent Output
            • Durable
            • Easily Interchangeable
            • Lightweight
            • Nice Bokeh
            • Strong Construction

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Indoors/Low Light
              • Landscape/Scenery
              • Weddings/Events

              Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

              I just got the M9 and had been set on this lens, it became available and I got it asap! I had the distagon version of this on my old camera and I loved it. So far I am very happy with the biogon, the hood is still on backorder but I had a Voigtlander hood lying around which was sent to me by mistake when I got the M9 and it fit right on to this biogon. 35mm is the perfect range for me and I think it is good for just about anything.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Share this review

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              Awesome lens with Sony NEX-5N camera

              By gameplyr

              from Springfield, VA

              About Me Photo Enthusiast

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Consistent Output
              • Durable
              • Easily Interchangeable
              • Lightweight
              • Nice Bokeh
              • Strong Construction

              Cons

              • Slow Focus

              Best Uses

              • Indoors/Low Light
              • Landscape/Scenery
              • Night Photography

              Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

              Colors are wonderfully vibrant and the sharpness is also very good wide open although the depth of field is narrow as expected when wide open. I love how pictures look with this lens compared to my Sony 18-200mm e-mount lens or my Sigma 10-20mm a-mount lens. I haven't had a chance to compare it to the 24mm Zeiss e-mount lens yet but I thankfully will be able to soon. Note that so far vignetting hasn't been a problem and I haven't seen any color shifting problems with my NEX-5N. Highly recommended! Note that I am not a professional photographer but I do appreciate higher quality glass. My previous camera was the Nikon D700 with only Nikon lenses.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Share this review

              (9 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              superb lens for M9, unbelievable bargain

              By rmkline

              from Charleston, SC

              About Me Photo Enthusiast

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Beautiful images
              • Compact
              • Excellent Construction

              Cons

                Best Uses

                  Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                  I may be the only person in the world who thinks this lens is optically superior in any way to the 35 Summicron, but there you have it. I've owned and used both lenses as my "primary walkaround" on my M9, I sold the Leica, I still have the Zeiss. When I look back at 35 Cron images and this lens' images, I always feel like I made the right choice. If I had to pin down the reason why, I would say the color rendition of the Zeiss is just phenomenal. For B&W images, the Leica and Zeiss I find very similar. I strongly recommend storing the Zeiss lens cap and getting a Schneider 47 mm push-on cap, as I've found it to be much more secure. I use the 35/2 non-ASPH profile on the M9 with great results. Mechanical construction and function is first rate, ergonomics are wonderful.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

                  Share this review

                  (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  5.0

                  Great lens

                  By Rogier

                  from San Mateo, CA

                  About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                  Verified Reviewer

                  Pros

                  • Consistent Output
                  • Durable
                  • Easily Interchangeable
                  • Nice Bokeh
                  • Rugged
                  • Strong Construction

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Indoors/Low Light
                    • Landscape/Scenery
                    • Weddings/Events

                    Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                    I went in circles with Leica, Zeiss and Voightlander glass for my Leica M8.
                    Ended up choosing this lens above all!
                    If you like images with a defined contrast, deep colors that are razor sharp look no further! This lens is a great value.
                    Also use it with film on my M4-P with amazing results to.

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

                    Share this review

                    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    5.0

                    On my M9 90% of the Time

                    By Ty the Nomad

                    from Houston, TX

                    About Me Photo Enthusiast

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Consistent Output
                    • Durable
                    • Easily Interchangeable
                    • Lightweight
                    • Nice Bokeh
                    • Rugged
                    • Strong Construction

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Indoors/Low Light
                      • Landscape/Scenery
                      • Night Photography

                      Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                      This is the first Zeiss lens I've used, and I just love the colors and contrast. This thing is small, light, and the quality is excellent.

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Share this review

                      (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                       
                      4.0

                      nice lens

                      By bo

                      from toronto, canada

                      About Me Casual Photographer

                      Verified Buyer

                      Pros

                      • Consistent Output
                      • Durable
                      • Easily Interchangeable
                      • Fast / accurate auto-focus
                      • Nice Bokeh

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                          Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                          kinnda soft at 2, become super sharp when u turn it down to 2.8

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                          (4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          5.0

                          Great Lens!

                          By Troy Bradford

                          from Greenville, Tx

                          About Me Photo Enthusiast

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Consistent Output
                          • Durable
                          • Lightweight
                          • Nice Bokeh
                          • Rugged
                          • Strong Construction

                          Cons

                          • NONE

                          Best Uses

                          • Indoors/Low Light
                          • Landscape/Scenery
                          • Portraits
                          • Street photography
                          • Weddings/Events

                          Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                          Bought this lens for my M8 camera. Was nervous about buying a non-coded lens for this camera because of all of the comments and reviews of the M8. However, after receiving the lens and taking pictures with it, all my concerns went away. I have no issues with color casting and the lens provides tack sharp images at all apertures. I have only had the lens a couple of weeks and I have taken some great pictures. The lens is built solid and it is comparable in size to the equivalent Leica lens (slightly longer). The focus ring has a super-smooth operation and the aperture/distance markings are easy to use and read. This will not be my last Zeiss lens. I am already researching my next one.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                          (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          5.0

                          If it is made by Zeiss, it must be good!

                          By Tonysg

                          from Quezon City, Philippines

                          About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Consistent Output
                          • Durable
                          • Fast / accurate auto-focus
                          • Lightweight
                          • Quality Construction
                          • Rugged
                          • Strong Construction

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Indoors/Low Light
                            • Landscape/Scenery
                            • Night Photography
                            • TravelLeisure

                            Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                            I use this Zeiss Lens in my Leica M6 camera, in fact, all of my lenses for the M6 are non-Leica but all Carl Zeiss Lenses. I have the ff. lenses: 21 f/2.8, 28 f/2.8, 35 f/2 and 50 f/2. My first encounter with Zeiss lenses was with my Contax G2 and because I have been so impressed with the contrast and clarity of the pictures, I decided to use Zeiss instead of Leica. The lenses are made by the same Japanese company "Cosina" who has proven that they can compare, if not surpass, the German quality and at a more reasonable price.

                            Share this review

                            (6 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            5.0

                            Perfect Optics

                            By Udoindesert

                            from Red Sea

                            About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                            Verified Buyer

                            Pros

                            • Consistent Output
                            • Durable
                            • Easily Interchangeable
                            • Lightweight
                            • Quick Focus
                            • Rugged
                            • Sharp Focus
                            • Strong Construction

                            Cons

                            • No lens case

                            Best Uses

                            • Landscape/Scenery
                            • Night Photography
                            • Portraits
                            • Street photography
                            • Travel
                            • Weddings/Events

                            Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                            That's the most frequently used lens on my M8.2. It is one of the sharpest lenses I ever owned. Color rendering is fantastic. There is absolutely no chromatic aberration, even in high contrast scenes. Mechanics is perfectly made, focusing is smooth and aperture ring clicks smoothly and precisely in 1/3 stops. Lens hood is not in the box and needs to be ordered separately.

                            Share this review

                            (6 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            5.0

                            Worth Every Penny

                            By FG

                            from Long Island, NY

                            About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                            Verified Reviewer

                            Pros

                            • Consistent Output

                            Cons

                            • Did not include lens hood

                            Best Uses

                            • General Use
                            • Street scenes

                            Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                            I bought this lens from B&H in August of 2009 for my trip to Europe. It has been my primary lens on my Leica M Rangefinder. The pics are very sharp with no noticeable distortion. The focus ring is buttery smooth and the aperture has firm uniform clicks. My main reasons for buying this lens instead of the Leica Summicron was the price, which is more than 3 times the price with hood included. I don't think there is a better 35mm rangefinder lens at this price period. Another plus is the 1/3 aperture stops.

                            Share this review

                            (8 of 28 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            3.0

                            Nice Optics, Mechanically Second Rate

                            By Apprentice_941

                            from Los Angeles, California

                            About Me Semi-Professional

                            Verified Reviewer

                            Pros

                            • Sharp Focus

                            Cons

                            • Gritty Focus in Vertical

                            Best Uses

                              Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                              I own this lens.

                              Optically, it produces some nice results: Very low curvilinear distortion. High resolution ability (Not superb sharpness, but very good to excellent sharpness). Very low chromatic aberrations. Very good color reproduction.

                              However, mechanically, the lens is not designed well, and I'll explain:

                              When shooting vertical, due to gravity, tight tolerances of the mechanical design of the barrel, and an unstabilized barrel when shooting in the vertical position - the lens is very difficult to focus when shooting subjects with the camera held vertically.

                              The lens does not have this problem when the camera and lens are focused while in the horizontal position.

                              I have owned 40 lenses from 35mm to Large Format, and worked with 20 more, and this is the first time I ever saw this problem.

                              So my feelings about this lens are mixed.

                              Nice Optics, poor mechanical designing in the barrel.

                              Share this review

                              (12 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              5.0

                              outstanding lens

                              By Papercut

                              from Bay Area, CA

                              About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                              • Great image quality
                              • High build quality
                              • Strong Construction

                              Cons

                              • Slightly bulky long

                              Best Uses

                              • General photography
                              • Landscape
                              • Photojournalism
                              • Street

                              Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                              This is my 'standard' lens on my Zeiss Ikon. It is used for about 75-80% of my shooting, which consists of street, environmental portraiture, landscapes, abstracts and "quotidian life".

                              It has a very solid build quality: hefty (without being heavy), smooth focus, positive clicks for the aperture stops (in 1/3rd stop increments). My results with it have been wonderful in both color and black and white. Some people have complained that it is a tad too high-contrast for black and white work, but I do not find it so (this may be because I use a highlight-restraining two-bath developer for my black and white up to 400 ISO). I love the Biogon's sharpness, distortion-free rendering, and its focus fall-off. Bokeh too is very fine. And as a bonus, it is highly flare-resistant even without the lens hood.

                              My two complaints are: (a) with the lens shade on it is not a compact lens and (b) the lens cap is just awful...hard to put on and almost impossible to seat properly with the lens shade mounted.

                              Highly recommended!

                              Share this review

                              (5 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              5.0

                              Same as Zeiss ever was . . .

                              By tasos doctor

                              from karditsa

                              About Me Semi-Professional

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                                Cons

                                  Best Uses

                                  • General Use

                                  Comments about Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZM Biogon T* Manual Focus Lens ( Black):

                                  For an semi-pro like me,this lens is the lens that i feel free to photograph everything when i want to relax away from business.Also i believe that Zeiss always is one step ahead from all the other makers...

                                  Share this review

                                  Displaying reviews 1-18

                                  Back to top

                                  Filters & Filter Kits

                                  Show more >
                                  B+W -  43mm UV Haze MRC 010M Filter
                                  • Price: $38.50
                                   

                                  Hoods & Covers

                                  Zeiss -  Lens Hood for 35mm and 50mm
                                  • Price: $84.00
                                   

                                  Care & Cleaning

                                  Show more >
                                  Pearstone -  Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, 18% Gray (7 x 7.9")
                                  • Price: $4.99
                                   
                                  View all Accessories
                                   
                                   
                                  See any errors on this page? Let us know.

                                  Close

                                  Close

                                  Close