APS-C ultra wide angle Touit 12mm F2.8
A review and sample photos taken using the ZEISS Touit 12mm F2.8 with the FUJIFILM X-Pro2.
Table of contents
Gallery
- The sample photos were taken with the Fujifilm X-PRO2
Review
1．Overview
The Touit 12mm F2.8 is one of the three lenses released by Carl Zeiss in 2013 for mirrorless cameras with APS-C size sensors, and is an ultra-wide-angle lens.
The lenses are released under the unified brand Touit. The lens itself also bears the name Distagon, which is given to CARL ZEISS lenses with a retrofocus lens configuration.
I mostly used the X-Pro2’s AF-S mode for autofocus, and although the focus speed wasn’t particularly fast, the focus position moved at a satisfactory speed. The autofocus accuracy was not a problem for landscapes or larger targets. I didn’t try it with subjects that would cause autofocus problems, such as moving objects or shots through wire mesh
Please refer to the specifications section for detailed specifications, but the main features are a focal length of 12mm, a retrofocus lens configuration of 11 elements in 8 groups, aspherical lenses, anomalous dispersion glass, floating mechanism, and a minimum shooting distance of 0.18m.
Compatible mounts are Sony E and Fujifilm X.
The Touit lens brand has stopped expanding after the release of three lenses.
2．Usability
I purchased the Touit 12mm F2.8 for the Fujifilm X.
It is a modern ultra-wide-angle lens, with almost no distortion and little mysterious light even in backlight. It is inevitable that lens flare and ghosting will occur when the sun is included in the frame.
As for operation, it is a prime lens, so it is simple, and the Fujifilm version is equipped with a focus ring and aperture ring. The A position is automatic aperture, and the aperture ring can be used to mechanically set the aperture value.
The Sony version only has a focus ring and does not have an aperture ring. Aperture control is performed from the camera side.
The lens’s large hood is impressive, but it gets in the way when storing it in a camera bag.
It is unfortunate that the thick lens hood that comes standard with the lens and the rubber-wrapped focus ring detract from the quality of the lens.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the Touit 12mm, when you remove the hood, it is not a very large lens and is highly portable and easy to handle. The image quality is modern and problem-free, and if you are a Fujifilm user and think that 8mm is too wide, this lens is a good choice for a wide-angle prime lens of a moderate size.
For Sony users, the genuine E 11mm F1.8 has almost the same focal length, is bright, and is compact and upwardly compatible with the Touit, so if you are not particular about the ZEISS brand, it is reasonable to choose the E 11mm.
Specification and Competitor
There are not many wide-angle prime lenses for APS-C, and major manufacturers include Sony’s 11mm and Fujifilm’s 8mm, but surprisingly SIGMA does not offer a prime lens in this focal length.
Fujifilm’s ultra-wide-angle has a focal length of 8mm, so the Touit 12mm is a perfect complement.
Sony’s 11mm has a focal length that is 1mm different from the Touit, and has a large maximum aperture of F1.8.
Wide-angle lenses are often used with a narrow aperture, so there is little point in having a large aperture, but they do have the advantage of being able to be used when shooting in low light.
Comparing the Touit 12mm with the SONY E12mm, the SONY is smaller and has a larger aperture, showing 10 years of progress.
| Lens name | Distagon 12mm | SONY E 11mm |
| Focal length | 12 | 11 |
| 35mm equivalent focal length | 18 | 16.5 |
| Max aperture | 2.8 | 1.8 |
| Min aperture | 22 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 9 | 7 |
| Lens Construction | 11 elements in 8 groups | 12 elements in 11 groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.18 | 0.12 |
| Lens length(mm) | 68 | 57.5 |
| Max diameter | 88 | 66 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 67 | 55 |
| Weight(g) | 270 | 181 |
| Lens mount | FUJIFILM-X SONY-E | SONY-E |
| Release date | 2013 | 2022.6.24 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | ¥126,200 | ¥63,000 |
Touit Series lens Specification
| Lens name | Distagon 12mm | Planar 32mm | Makro Planar 50mm |
| Focal length | 12 | 32 | 50 |
| 35mm equivalent focal length | 18 | 48 | 75 |
| Max aperture | 2.8 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| Min aperture | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Leaf blade | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Lens Construction | 11 elements in 8 groups | 8 elements in 5 groups | 14 elements in 11 groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.18 | 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Lens length(mm) | 68 | 58 | 91 |
| Max diameter | 88 | 75 | 75 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 67 | 52 | 52 |
| Weight(g) | 270 | 210 | 290 |
| Lens mount | FUJIFILM-X SONY-E | FUJIFILM-X SONY-E | FUJIFILM-X SONY-E |
| Release date | 2013 | 2013 | 2014.3.29 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | ¥126,200 | ¥94,600 | ¥120,600 |
Reference links
- Touit 12mm Official PDF
- Touit 32mm Official PDF
- Touit 50mm Official PDF
- SONY E 11mm・Article of Digicame Watch
- SONY E11mm Official page
Update history
- 2025.5.7
Affiliate links
- ZEISS・Ads by Amazon
- ZEISS TOUIT・Ads by Amazon
- ZEISS books・Ads by Amazon
- FUJIFILM Digital camera・Ads by Amazon
- CARL ZEISS Touit lens Fujifilm X Used・Ads by Rakuten
- CARL ZEISS Touitlens SONY E Used・Ads by Rakuten
- SONY E mount E11mm F1.8 Used・Ads by Rakuten
- FUJIFILM X camera Used・Ads by Rakuten
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