A modern interpretation of BIOGON ZM 35mm

Last updated on 2026-01-13

Cosina/Zeiss M-mount wide-angle lens, Biogon ZM 35mm / F2 review and photo examples

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Gallery
Review
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Gallery

The following cameras were used to take the film photographic examples.
- Camera: Rollei 35RF, film: Konica Simbi 100P (reversal film), film scanning: MINOLTA DIMAGE Scan Pro
- Digital photo examples are taken with an EPSON R-D1

HEXAR RF BLACK +CARL ZEISS BIOGON ZM 35mm

1．Overview

The CARL ZEISS Biogon 35mm F2 ZM is a Carl Zeiss-branded lens manufactured by Cosina that was released in 2005.

The main specifications are as follows, and detailed specifications are listed in the table.

Lens construction: 9 elements in 6 groups
Aperture blades: 10
Aperture click stops: Every 1/3
Minimum focusing distance: 0.7m
Linked with Leica M-type rangefinder rangefinder over the entire range
Hood: Bayonet hood sold separately

The CONTAX G Planar 35mm F2, released by Kyocera Contax in 1996 under the same CARL ZEISS brand, also uses a planar lens. I compared the lens configurations based on the specifications.

2．Usability

TheCARL ZEISS Biogon 35mm F2 ZM lens is housed in a metal barrel, making it compact but quite heavy.
It fully meets the image quality standards expected of a modern lens, and thanks to Cosina’s latest design and advanced lens coatings, there is no mysterious light or loss of contrast, even in backlight. The weight balance is good when attached to film rangefinder cameras such as the Zeiss Ikon or HEXAR RF, and there are no issues with the operability of the focus and aperture rings.

As for the image quality of the film camera, based on the results of shooting with reversal film, the resolution is about the same as the PLANAR 50mm ZM used at the same time, but the image clarity and sharpness seem to be less. I felt that the CONTAX G PLANAR 35mm was better, especially in terms of sharpness. This is my impression with a film camera, and impressions may be different when using a digital camera with a 35mm full-frame center lens.

When mounted on the Epson R-D1 digital rangefinder camera, the focal length is converted based on the sensor size, making the 35mm focal length equivalent to a 50mm standard lens. While the imaging characteristics are different, it can be used as a substitute for the Planar 50mm focal length.

The R-D1 captures images with the best quality from the center of the lens, resulting in excellent resolution and overall image cohesion. However, there are many 35mm lenses available, and when viewed with an APS-C sensor, this lens lacked the distinctive character that made it essential. It eventually passed away, waiting for the release of digital rangefinder cameras with larger sensors.

The ZM Biogon 35mm has a symmetrical lens construction, but is designed with a long back focus to preserve peripheral illumination and optimize various corrections. It’s slim for a 35mm focal length rangefinder lens, measuring 43mm in length, roughly the same length as the Leica Summilux M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. (46mm). As a result, it gives the impression of being elongated when attached to a camera.

The wide-angle Biogon 21mm and 25mm lenses in the same ZM lens series also have a slender style, which is understandable considering the focal length. However, the Biogon ZM 28mm, which was released later, has a compact lens barrel while maintaining the symmetrical shape of the lens construction, so it would have been nice if the Biogon ZM 35mm had been given a little more thought.

Perhaps not as a result of learning from that experience, the 21mm and 35mm lenses in the later-released ZM C series have shorter lens lengths and a more compact style overall, making them lenses that suit compact rangefinder cameras.

3．Summary

In conclusion, to sum up the CARL ZEISS Biogon 35mm F2 ZM, the lens is well-made overall and its modern, sharp images are also suitable for digital cameras.

There are many options for 35mm rangefinder lenses, so the impression you get when attached to your camera will directly affect how often you will use the lens, so whether the slender, long appearance of the lens matches your camera will be one factor in deciding whether to own a lens.

Specifications, considerations, etc.

The Planar 35mm uses a planar (double Gauss type) lens configuration, which is different from the modern Biogon of the BIOGON 35mm ZM, so the lens size is also significantly different. In terms of image quality, the Planar produces a softer image than the sharp modern Biogon, so the direction of depiction is also different.

The lens construction diagrams are quoted from each company’s PDF, and the sizes have been adjusted by us, so they are not exact.

Item	CARL ZEISS Biogon 35mm F2 ZM	PLANAR
focal length(mm)	35	35
Maximum aperture	2	2
Minimum aperture	22	16
Leaf blade	10	7
Lens configuration	9 elements in 6 groups	7 elements in 5 groups
Minimum distance(m)	0.7	0.5
Lens length(mm)	43.3	31.5
Lens max diameter(mm)	52	56
Filter type	43	46
Weight(g)	230	160
Hood	Bayonet	GG-1
Lens mount	ZM	CONTAX-G
Release date	2005	1996
Price	¥95,000	¥47,000

ZM Lens list

Distagon T✻ 15mm ƒ/2.8 (Made in Germany)
Distagon T✻ 18mm ƒ/4
Biogon T✻ 21mm ƒ/2.8
C Biogon T✻ 21mm ƒ/4.5
Biogon T✻ 25mm ƒ/2.8
Biogon T✻ 28mm ƒ/2.8
Distagon T✻ 35mm ƒ/1.4
Biogon T✻ 35mm ƒ/2
C Biogon T✻ 35mm ƒ/2.8
C Sonnar T✻ 50mm ƒ/1.5
Planar T✻ 50mm ƒ/2
Tele-Tessar T✻ 85mm ƒ/4
Sonnar T✻ 85mm ƒ/2 (Made in Germany)

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