Carl Zeiss Jena's Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 — a popular, close-focusing East German M42 wide-angle.
The Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 is an East German wide-angle prime made in M42 mount from the mid-1970s. It was the later fast 35mm Flektogon, following earlier f/2.8 versions, and is one of the most popular and well-regarded lenses of the Carl Zeiss Jena M42 range.
This is a manual-focus M42 screw-mount lens with a 35mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.4. Focus and aperture are set by hand on the barrel and it is an all-metal retrofocus wide-angle noted for very close focusing. Detailed element and filter figures are not asserted here beyond the verified focal length and aperture.
A fast 35mm suits street, travel, landscape and general work, and the Flektogon is famous for notably close focusing that allows near-macro wide-angle shots with strong subject-background separation. It renders with characterful sharpness and pleasant out-of-focus areas, making it one of the most-loved classic CZJ wide-angles.
Used copies are popular and priced accordingly among CZJ glass. Inspect for haze, fungus and cleaning marks, confirm the aperture blades are clean and oil-free, a known weak point on some Jena lenses, and check the aperture-ring and focus feel. Verify the M42 mount. An M42 adapter makes it a favourite versatile wide on mirrorless.