Zeiss Introduces a Super-Wide 21mm f/2.8 Lens for the Compact Loxia Line

The number of lens options for Sony’s a7 series of full-frame mirrorless cameras is growing fast, especially thanks to partners like Zeiss, that just today released a super-wide 21mm f/2.8 lens for the compact Loxia line. These manual lenses aim to blend mechanical precision with modern digital technology and are optimized for both stills and video capture, fulfilling the needs of many shooters needing to take full advantage of the hybrid nature of the a7 cameras. Additionally, this E-mount lens can be used on APS-C cameras or in the a7’s APS-C/Super35 mode, resulting in a 31.5mm equivalent focal length.

The Loxia 21mm f/2.8 adds a much requested wide-angle option to the full-frame Sony E-mount lens ecosystem and will find itself well suited for use in architecture, landscapes, and more, thanks to an advanced Distagon design that maximizes image quality while minimizing distortion and aberrations. This optical construction utilizes 11 elements in 9 groups, including four anomalous partial dispersion elements and one aspheric lens, which ensure users will be able to capture crisp, contrasty images. Along with this, the lightweight 21mm features a fast f/2.8 aperture that will allow photographers and videographers to capture images with shallow depth of field, as well as work more easily in low light. A minimum focus distance of 9.8" makes it easier for users to get close to their subjects.

A major benefit of the Loxia line is a unified design, ensuring similar handling and operation when moving between different focal lengths. This includes durable all-metal construction with an easy-grip focus ring with 180° of rotation, a rubber gasket on the mount for protection, and the use of a 52mm filter thread on all the lenses. Also, the lens’s aperture can be de-clicked, allowing users to choose between hard stops or a smooth rotation, making it exceptionally useful for both stills and video.

Zeiss has implemented electronic communication between the lens and camera body, allowing for manual focus zoom assist to automatically be activated when turning the focus ring and for EXIF data to be recorded to the image files. Included with the lens is a metal lens hood, de-click key, and front and rear lens caps.