Announced back at the Photokina 2008 Zeiss has finally released the Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8 ZE. The "E" in ZE refers to the dedicated EOS version of the lens which is also available in Pentax K-mount (thus ZK) and Nikon F-mount (ZF). It is a manual focus lens but otherwise it's fully compatible to EOS cameras including a camera-controlled aperture. Unfortunately we weren't able to get our hands on the ZE version so we had to use the ZF variant via adapter. However, there aren't any differences apart from the mount specific aspects so our conclusions will be fully valid for ZE lenses as well.

So what the fuzz about this lens ? The Distagon is actually not a newcomer but a lens with a history which dates back to the Contax C/Y era. The lens was one of the latest additions to the system (discontinued just after the Millennium). Soon after its release the news spread that this lens is something special - user comments and reviews suggested that it was the best mass production ultra-wide lens ever produced. Due to the rather mediocre alternatives in the EOS land some Canon users were even desperate enough to use it via adapters on their EOS cameras ... and to pay more for it over at ebay than its original MSRP. At the peak of this crazy hype it was almost more an investment rather than a purchase. Well, these times are over because Zeiss did finally listen and the lens is now available again for the three mentioned systems. The new Distagon is not 100% identical to the original design. According to Zeiss it has been modernized with respect to flare and environment-friendly glass and the optical design has also been altered slightly. This price has not changed though - at around 1500EUR/US$ it is still not exactly a cheap item.

The build quality of the full-metal Zeiss lens (brass with chromium-plated brass front bayonet) is superb. The fluted focus ring feels exceptionally well damped. The supplied lens hood is made of metal as well. Unfortunately the high build quality is not inherited to the lens front cap which feels quite fragile. Distagon lenses feature a rear-focus design (IF - inner focusing) so the front element does not rotate. The length of the lens remains constant regardless of the focus setting.

Specifications
Optical construction	16 elements in 13 groups
Number of aperture blades	9
min. focus distance	0.22m (max. magnification ratio 1:5)
Dimensions	87x110mm
Weight	620g
Filter size	82mm (non-rotating)
Hood	petal-shaped, snap-on, supplied
Other features	-

Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8 Specification

Available mount(s)	Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K
Application(s)	Landscape, Architecture
Category(s)	Wide angle prime
Multiplier	1×
Stabilizer	no
Focal length	21 mm (prime)
Lens construction	16 elements in 13 groups
Angle of view	35mm: 99° digital: N/A
Number of blades	N/A
Maximum aperture	f/2.8
Minimum aperture	f/22
Minimum focusing distance	22 cm
Magnification	0.5×
Filter size	82 mm
Size	∅ 87 × 109 mm
Weight	600 g
Notes
AF speed	N/A
AF sound
Internal focusing	N/A
Internal zoom	no
Fix front lens	yes
Mount type	metal
Weather sealed	N/A
Drop in filter	no
Ultrasonic AF	no
APS-C sized circle	no
Low dispersion lens element	N/A
Hard case	N/A
Soft case	N/A
Lens hood	N/A
Tripod adapter	N/A

لنز دوربین عکاسی کارل زایس Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8 ZM

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