Legendary Zeiss microcontrast, best in class "3D" rendering.
Very good MFD performance, and equally as good at infinity.
Sharp wide open within the plane of focus.
Excellent flare resistance even without a hood.

No autofocus.
Stop-down metering.
Adapter needed to use with Canon EOS.

I happened upon this lens on a Craigslist listing. I was able to get 3 C/Y lenses, the 85/1.4, 35/1.4, and 25/2.8. They are all great, but the 35 is on another level. I have heard that this lens was something special, but I believe this to be maybe the best 35 I have tried on my 5D. Sure, the 35L has autofocus, but the Zeiss beats it everywhere else. Better at 1.4, better bokeh, better flare resistance, this lens is almost immune to flair, and of course the trademark Zeiss microcontrast that makes images pop off the page. I will probably get rid of the 85 as I already have the 85Lii and it is not the L's equal. The 25 is good, but the 24Lii is better, so it's going as well. The C/Y 35/1.4 however may remain glued to my 5D for the foreseeable future. It's something special, the best 35 possibly made for EOS users who don't mind manual focus.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 35L.
Canon EF 35/2.
Nikon 35/1.4 AIS.

Sharpness, wide aperture, colors, contrast.
All good

weight. This is heavy and will bring muscles in your little arms.

I was hesitating since I wanted a 35mm prime for my 5D. I've tested the EF-L 35/1.4 and found it weak at full aperture. Then I saw a few shots taken with this lens adapted (contax/EF mount) and bought one.
The first shots are just beautiful. At full aperture the bokeh is as creamy as expected from a zeiss lens, sharpness in the center is awesome, borders a bit weak.
Colors and contrast are so nice that I don't even have to change anything in the raw file but you have to love the "pop" effect: it shines!
The built is rock solid, only metal and glass and a bit of rubber for the focus ring.
Starting F4, everything is razorsharp from border to border.

Similar Products Used:

Leica Summicron 35/2 R adpated

fast

low macro contrast at large apertures.....

fast but awful, bought it tried it and sold it a few months later.

Customer Service

no need

Similar Products Used:

contax 28/2

Sharpness, colour, contrast, bokeh....try it and you will love it.

A bit expensive and heavy

Probably the best 35mm lens I have used and the best I can have. (Leica R35/1.4 is at least triple as much as this one) I had a Distagon 35/2.8 for some time used on my Canon via a adapter, which is my first Zeiss and I start to discover the quality of Germany optics (although made in japan) and I love it.I saw one 2nd hand and I think the price is right while i want 1.4 also. After a few rolls i find that it is sharp at all apertures (even sharper when stopped down), excellent colour retention, nice contrast, beautiful bokeh...all that you want from a lens can be found in this lens. I have tried the Nikon AI 35/1.4 Canon 35/1.4L and Minolta 35/1.4G. Nikon is a loser and being knocked out for its softness and vignetting. Minolta is a bit cold on colour and a little soft when open which is not my taste, Canon is soft when open, colour is right but far too expensive (twice as this one). I would say this is One of the best in its class.

Customer Service

none yet

Similar Products Used:

many other 35mm lens...

build quality and tack sharp wide open which often is how I like to use it

Obviously bloody heavy.

I love this lens. It took me by surprise really as didn´t expect all that much. I already have the 35 2.8 and I like it also, but I couldn´t knock this deal back. It is great lens wide open, very sharp! I can use it as a portrait lens wide open , with obvious care, or simply as an available light lens of people generally, whether it be inside or out. Its tack sharp and the colours remain vibrant and punchy. Whether it´s better optically than the 35 2.8 for other uses I cannot say, but it does seem a little warmer. The luxury of 1.4 with a 35 is easy to get used though.

Customer Service

contax (Tasco)Syd. helpful but at times somewhat unsure

Similar Products Used:

none except 35 f2 fd concave & convex 35 f 2.8 cz

with this lens is a compliment with the 85 1.4, most contax users tend to have high appraisal for this two as the kings of the primes line.

It is heavy ,but a trade off for it speed.

The 35 mm 1.4 is amoung the best at it range.The 351.4 ASPH M Leica seem to be better corrected at the near range than this T* when shooting at infinity, but bear in mind this is a Retrofocuss type where the focal plane is far back than the Leica M. Colour rendition is better than the Leica and the focussing is very quick within a quadrant tilt will bring your picture in focuss.

Customer Service

Never apply

Similar Products Used:

35 1.4 ASPH, 35 f2.8HFT ,35 f2.8 schneider screw mount.

Very fast lens, produced very sharpe image and good color.

Big lens for 35mm focus length.

This is the best 35mm lens I've ever used. You can see for yourself from printed. Try to enlarge the picture and you will see.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Zeiss 35mm/2.8, Nikon 35mm/2