Simplicity In Design: The Carl Zeiss Planar 35mm f/2

Zeiss Planar lenses are highly regarded for their symmetrical optical design (depicted above), which provides edge-to-edge sharpness with minimal aberrations. While several Planar-designed lenses are available on the market, the one I’m highlighting here is the Carl Zeiss Planar 35mm f/2. It’s officially called the Contax G 35mm f/2, designed for the Contax G autofocus rangefinder camera. These cameras are still usable today and can deliver stunning results on film. However, adapting the lens to a mirrorless system offers greater control over focusing.

The Contax G 35mm was released in 1996, during a decade known for producing some of the finest modern lenses. By that time, many camera brands had perfected their optical designs, and the market was flooded with excellent options. When comparing the Contax G 35mm to other lenses (with the same focal length) from the 1990s, it stands out for its exceptional image quality and is arguably one of the sharpest 35mm’s of that era.

This is why many Contax G lenses are converted to Leica M mount, but we’ve made it easy to adapt them without disassembling anything. On the original Contax G cameras, the lenses are focused via a worm drive mechanism that couples with the lens. Our adapter replicates this mechanism, allowing for precise focus control. When focusing with the 35mm, I noticed just how short the focus throw is. The difference between sharp focus and being slightly off can be as subtle as the width of a hair. It is no wonder many users of the native Contax G camera system reported poor focus. Pair that with a single focus point, and it's a recipe for disaster.

The absence of traditional manual focus helps keep these lenses compact and lightweight. They’re ideal for travel or situations where packing light is essential. The iconic T* coatings significantly reduce flare and enhance color reproduction. Barrel distortion is minimal and comparable to other 35mm lenses from the same era. Contax 35mm, like all Contax G lenses, features an all-metal housing and standalone aperture control - attributes that are lacking in Nikon and Canon’s 35mm versions of the time.

Overall, what makes this lens stand out is the edge-to-edge sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration. Is this lens worth the price tag? Yes indeed, it's worth every penny in terms of investment and usability. Fotodiox currently offers an affordable Contax G adapter for Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, MFT, Nikon-1, Pentax Q, and Sony E mount cameras. We also have a PRO version available to Canon RF, Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Sony FZ, MFT, Nikon Z, and Sony E mount cameras. Check out some more sample images below: