The Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 distagon (ZK / Pentax mount) in 2024

Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZK (pentax mount)

By some considered as the best of 35mm lenses made for Pentax mount (ZK), discontinued in 2010 resulting in rather high prices (especially in comparison to the same lens with Nikon or Canon mount.

I got the 35mm f/2 after having worked with a Carl Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/2 macro with a Nikon D3 for various projects.

The Carl Zeiss Milvus 2/50 (makro-planar design) weighs in at 730 grams, the Zeiss 35mm f/2 (distagon design) is ‘only’ 570 grams.

Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 distagon lens, ZK (Pentax) mount.
Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 distagon lens, ZK (Pentax) mount.

Significantly heavier than my Pentax 77mm 1.8 limited (270 grams) with general more solid feel to it. The focusing ring of the 35mm Zeiss is a lot tighter and the throw a lot longer as compared to the 77mm 1.8 Pentax.

Some compare the ZK mount family of lenses with older lenses produced by Zeiss for Hasselblad cameras.

Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 specification (ZK / Pentax mount)

Manual focus only
9 elements in 7 groups

Minimum focusing distance: 30cm
Full frame compatible: yes
Design principle: Distagon
Precise manual focusing
Full-metal construction
Focal length: 35mm
Range: f/2 – f/22
Max diameter of image field: 43mm
Image ratio at close range: 1:5.3
Weight: 530 grams.

Photos taken with the Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2

The Time Is Out of Joint - Pentax k5 & Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2
The Time Is Out of Joint – Pentax k5 & Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2
Black and white photo of Kaktus Towers, Copenhagen. Tower 1 in the left-hand side of the photo.
Black and white photo of Kaktus Towers, Copenhagen. Tower 1 in the left-hand side of the photo.
Miniature flowers floating on seaweed in Saint George's Lake, Copenhagen, June 2024
Miniature flowers floating on seaweed in Saint George’s Lake, Copenhagen, June 2024. From the ‘Flora Excursoria Hafniensis‘ series.
The Palmhouse in Copenhagen's central Botanical Gardens, photographed with a vintage Pentax K10D and a Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens.
The Palm House in Copenhagen’s central Botanical Gardens, photographed with a vintage Pentax K10D and a Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens.

Also see:
Tube Amplifiers from Japanese Leben
Copenhagen Photographer ~ Bergholt Photography