Zeiss's prized Contax wide-angle — the Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8, manual-focus glass for the C/Y mount.
The Zeiss Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8 was a wide-angle prime for the Contax/Yashica mount, released in the early 1990s and regarded as one of the strongest performers in the Contax wide range. It arrived later than most of the founding lineup.
This is a manual-focus C/Y-mount lens with a 21mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8. The retrofocus Distagon design was engineered for even edge-to-edge results and low distortion. Construction figures are omitted here where they cannot be verified.
The 21mm angle of view suits landscape, architecture and immersive street work, giving a wide field with well-controlled straight lines. Photographers valued its combination of sharpness and colour rendering across the frame at working apertures.
This lens is highly sought after and expensive on the used market, one of the more coveted Contax wides. Check for haze, fungus and coating scratches, confirm smooth focus and a positive aperture ring, and verify the deep front element is clean. A C/Y adapter enables mirrorless use.