Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA
Optical design
Has 7 aperture blades, mid-grade lenses usually have this amount of blades. Having rounded blades provides out of focus circle shape closer to a circle. Bright lens thanks to the high aperture valuePhysical characteristics
With a lens filter diameter of 49 mm commonly filter size, offers a wide range of filter options. Weights 120 grams so convinient to carry. 36 mm long, this small lens should be always in the camera bag.Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA purchase historyStable
Prices have held steady across 48 months of tracked sales — pay around the $312.00 fair value and watch for outliers below it.
Best deals
330 of 652 tracked sales (51%) closed at or under the $312.00 fair value.
- Aug 4, 2025$84.00$-228.00 / typical
- Aug 18, 2024$170.00$-142.00 / typical
- Aug 18, 2024$172.00$-140.00 / typical
- Jun 4, 2025$185.00$-127.00 / typical
- Jun 4, 2025$187.00$-125.00 / typical
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Technical Specifications
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Reviews
Excellent lens. The lens is very sharp, corner to corner and wide open (f2.8). It is very small and light (feels about like a potato chip) and the strange hood is very convenient. The cap goes on the hood. Mounting a protective filter does not interfere with the hood. It is an ideal walk about single lens for travel etc. With the full frame high resolution bodies, there is so much detail that you can crop out a very nice portrait from distances usually photographed with an 85 or 100 mm. With an image stabilized body you can take pictures at 1/5 second or or longer which deals with the 2.8 aperture. The focal length is also ideal for an "environmental" portrait, i.e. a person in a setting. On an APS-C camera the framing is equivalent to 52mm. Cartier Bresson found this a convenient focal length. The rest of us could probably manage. In conclusion, I find it a superb lens. With a full frame body, if I could have only one lens, this would be it.
A true keeper of a lens! Great quality (IQ and build) in an impressively small package. f2.8 is somewhat slow for dim lit indoors shooting or taking photos of kids indoors, otherwise it is perfect. Easy fix for indoors is to bounce a flash from wall/ceiling or crank ISO up. No matter what gets released in the future, I can't see myself parting with this lens. Between this one and a stellar bokeh render of a Sonnar 55mm ZA most people would have 90% of their photo needs covered. Got it as an open box at 20% off through Best Buy eBay outlet and after testing it performed sharper at f8 than the same 35mm I bought earlier at a full retail price.
The best lens to balance full frame Sony bodies. I have had my Sony A7iii body for just over a year. I have bought several lenses for it including the 24-105 f4 and 55mm f1.8. To me this Zeiss lens is THE lens for this camera. Why, the focal length is the most versatile prime, this Zeiss gives tack sharp results, and it feels just right on this camera body. With this lens the Sony A7iii actually feels right in the hand. I have not found this to be the case with heavier lenses unless you put on the extra grip on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA?
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA is a camera lens with 35mm focal length, a maximum aperture of f/2.8/22, for the Sony E mount, supporting the Full frame format, weighing 120g.
What mount is the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA compatible with?
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA uses a Sony E mount and supports the Full frame format.
How much does the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA cost?
Based on recent eBay sold listings the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA typically sells for around $84.00. Actual prices vary with condition and seller.
Is the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA a good lens?
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA has a community rating of 4.8/5 from 100 review(s).
Which lenses are similar to the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA?
Similar lenses include Carl Zeiss Distagon T FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA, Sigma DG A 35mm f/1.2 DN, Voigtlander NOKTON 40mm f/1.2 Asp FE.