The best 35mm lens I have ever experienced. (Medium Format)
The Distagon ® T* 3.5/35 lens
Shot on GFX50s 1/30 f4.5 120mm ISO400
The Distagon T* 3.5/35 lens is the super wide-angle lens in the Contax 645 autofocus system.
The focal length 35 mm on my the Fuji GFX camera produces images similar to those from a 27mm lens on a 35mm full-frame sensor. It is a perfect choice for that dramatic shot, or to increase a small room, it's not super wide, like the GF23mm from Fuji.
The Distagon is still one of the best lenses I have, and I use it when I'm trying to convey the real world into these light-capturing machines.
Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens
Shot on GFX50s 1/30 f4.5 120mm ISO400
The Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens is a very well built lens, and it fits perfectly with the GFX system.
I use it with an adapter made by Fringer, and it works wonders.
I don’t use the Auto Focus, since I am very used to Manual Focus, doing video productions and adapting all my Leica, and Contax/Yashica lenses, to these new cameras, I kind of like to shoot manually.
This lens has a soft ring to focus, and the lens hood covers a lot of light coming in. It has a robust feeling, and its made of metal parts, even the lens hood is metal extremely tough gear.
I first fell in love with this lens using the Contax 645 kit, shooting film.
It gave me a super wide-angle, (a 21mm on the 645 Medium Format) I was able to create some stunning pictures that almost looked like the shot is tilted.
After purchasing the GFX50s, this seemed like a beautiful partner to dance. It’s incredibly sharp, and it is fun to create wide shots with a distinct look.
The f3.5 is shallow enough for some blur in the background since it represents about f2.8 on a 35mm full-frame camera.
1/200 f3.5 ISO800
Shot on GFX50s with the Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens
1/200 f3.5 ISO100
Shot on GFX50s with the Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens
1/640 f4.5 320 ISO
Shot on the GFX50s with the Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens
Contax 645 with Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens Ilford FP4
Contax 645 with Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens Ilford FP4
Contax 645 with Distagon T* 3.5/35mm lens Ektar 100
Conclusion:
This lens is an essential tool to have in the gear bag, I use it all the time, though I understand the need for the Fuji GF23mm has it brings a super-wide into the game. It does what this lens used to do for the Contax system.
When I use this lens, I see a picture in the viewfinder that I have never seen before, almost like a human eye thing, and it brings a lot of that reality into the shots.
What do you think about this lens? Have you ever shot with a Contax 645 system?
Feel free to comment if you have any questions about this lens.
Pedro Lucas
Photographer/Director