Legacy Lenses 8 - Carl Zeiss Distagon 18mm F4 (Contarex)

The Carl Zeiss Distagon 18mm F4 in Contarex mount is a true classic. It's wonderfully made and optically excellent. One of the best ultra-wide-angle lenses ever made.

CZ Distagon 14mm F4 (Contarex mount)

The main highlight of this lens is the ultra-low distortion, and that it covers a full 35mm (24x36mm) sensor size.

It shows some light fall-off wide open but it vanishes at F8. The resolution is excellent even when used on my 24MP Sony A7-II, especially at mid apertures when even the corners are very sharp. Contrast is moderate / low. Not a problem if you plan to use it on a digital camera, it's easy do adjust those "flaws" in post-processing.

It's not the sharpest lens at F4 but remember that it's a 70 year old design made for 35mm film! Again easy to compensate in post-processing.

This lens can take filters and light hoods. The original ones are bayonet style, but it can handle thread in ones. Beware with vignetting.

There are some little caveats with this lens:

• There's no aperture control on the lens. The control is on the camera. If you plan to use it on digital cameras, be sure to order an adapter with can handle the lens iris, NOT those ones with a secondary iris on the adapter itself.
• Be careful with flare. Although coated, this lens suffers from severe flare when receiving oblique light. Use a proper lens hood.

It's not a cheap lens. In good condition, it can cost easily $800 on eBay. Check for haze and fungus. 

P.S.

For my taste, I would go for the Minolta W-Rokkor 17mm F4. It has an incredibly sophisticated optical design and with some luck, you may find one for the same price of the Distagon 14mm F4