Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T* Lens
The Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T* is a 21mm f/2.8 lens designed for Contax G mount cameras. Used copies start from $1,099 on GearFocus, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T* Lens
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Lens Overview — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
Key Features — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
21mm Biogon Optical Design: The symmetrical Biogon formula delivers exceptional corner-to-corner sharpness and minimal distortion across the full frame — characteristics that wide-angle designs often struggle to achieve.
Zeiss T* Coating: Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating suppresses flare and ghosting, maintaining contrast and color fidelity even when shooting toward light sources.
f/2.8 Maximum Aperture: Offers useful light-gathering capability for a wide-angle prime, allowing handheld shooting in lower-light conditions without sacrificing depth of field control.
Full-Frame Coverage: Designed to cover a full 35mm image circle, making it compatible with full-frame Contax G bodies without vignetting.
Contax G Autofocus: Supports the motorized autofocus system built into Contax G-series bodies, a rare convenience for a lens of this focal length and era.
150g Compact Build: Extremely lightweight and small in hand, making it well-suited for travel, street, and documentary photographers who want a minimal kit.
Lens Specifications — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Landscape, Architecture, Travel |
| Lens Type | Wide-Angle |
| Format | Full Frame |
| Zoom/Prime | Prime |
| Focal Length | 21mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Camera System | Rangefinder |
| Lens Mount | Contax G |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Focus Type | Auto |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Filter Thread | 46mm |
Description — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
The Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T* is a prime wide-angle lens designed exclusively for the Contax G rangefinder camera system. With a fixed 21mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, it offers a wide field of view alongside respectable low-light capability for a lens of this type. It is built to cover a full-frame image circle, ensuring it works correctly with full-frame Contax G bodies without vignetting concerns inherent to smaller-format designs.
Weighing only 150g, this lens is among the lighter options available in the wide-angle prime category, making it an excellent companion for photographers who value a minimal kit. Autofocus is supported, a notable feature for a rangefinder-system prime. The 46mm filter thread allows straightforward use of standard photographic filters. Image stabilization is not included.
The lens mounts via the Contax G bayonet mount, and is compatible only within that system.
Pros — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
- ✓Compact and lightweight at just 150g, ideal for travel and street photography
- ✓Wide 21mm focal length offers a broad perspective for landscapes and architecture
- ✓Maximum aperture of f/2.8 provides solid light-gathering for a wide-angle prime
Cons — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
- ✗No image stabilization, as confirmed in specifications
- ✗Mount is limited exclusively to the Contax G system, restricting broader compatibility
- ✗Single focal length of 21mm offers no zoom flexibility
Reviews — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
Videos — Contax 21mm f/2.8 Zeiss Biogon T*
🔴 Best 21mm Lens for Leica? | Zeiss 21mm 2.8 Review (ZM Biogon 21mm vs Voigtlander 21mm f4) — Matt Osborne