A rumour has shaken the photography world: Zeiss is said to be leaving the photo market. Can it be that one of the world’s most famous names disappears from this scene? Not quite, Zeiss asserts. But how bright is the outlook for the much-loved ZM lens line?
Zeiss is one of these brands that most people know – maybe even more than Leica, Nikon or Canon. Founded in Jena in the year of 1846, it has stood for optical excellence for almost two centuries now. However, lenses for photographic purposes are just one of the many Zeiss products made.
For Zeiss, the photo market is only one of many activities
Zeiss also makes binoculars, cine lenses, eyeglass lenses, microscopic devices, glass (from the subsidiary, Schott AG), optoelectronic devices, medical technology, especially in the field of ophthalmology, and semiconductor manufacturing devices. Furthermore, Zeiss licences products in the consumer segment, for example to Sony (as does Leica with Panasonic, think of the Micro Four third lenses). All in all, an impressive company for sure.
Zeiss’ photo market products were often milestones
Zeiss lenses for cameras have an impressive reputation, to say the least (read more about milestones in this article). The Planar was a ground-breaking design at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries, and the Sonnar for the Contax camera was another major achievement. The T* coating sets an industry standard to this day. The Hasselblad used Zeiss lenses, and NASA took it to the moon (and back). And many Macfilos readers may have been impressed by the performance of the Zeiss ZM lenses for M-Mount, which proved to be very interesting alternatives to Leica’s products.
A Zeiss photo market exit would be disturbing, to say the least
With all this in mind, any thought of Zeiss giving up on the photography market can’t be other than disturbing. Some might see the writing on the wall for the whole industry. Others believed this could lead to the disappearance of another big German name. Which is nonsense. Zeiss’ photo-related activities might be particularly prominent, but they contribute just a tiny fraction to Zeiss’ overall business. On the other hand, we have not seen many new products from Zeiss, have we? This was the soil for a rumour that ended in many blog articles, for example, this one on photorumors.
Zeiss: SLR is over, lenses for mirrorless still in high demand
The people from digitalkamera.de, a well-reputed German website on digital photography, spoke to a Zeiss representative at the photographic festival, Horizonte, in Zingst on the Baltic Sea. They met Andreas Horn, responsible at Zeiss in the Camera Lens Division for sales in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, apparently in the Zeiss booth of the product exhibition, which is part of the festival.
The answer was: No, Zeiss will not leave the photo market. They confirmed that Zeiss will no longer develop and produce SLR lenses (like many other companies). Lenses for mirrorless cameras, however, are in high demand, according to Mr Horn, and there are no plans to discontinue them. However, ZM lenses for M-Mount didn’t come into the discussion. It’s certainly a very small part of the whole photo business. And this, again, is a very small share of Zeiss’s overall activities.
Since 2014, we have not seen new Zeiss M-Mount lenses
I have heard (and reported in episode 11 of the M Files) that the ZM lenses are now leading a somewhat shadowy existence. No new lens has been introduced since the Distagon 35/1.4 was launched at photokina back in 2014. As of June 2023, Zeiss still lists the ZM lenses on the homepage – including the Distagon 15/2.8, the last remaining German-made lens in the ZM range. However, they sell this one now without the circular grey filter. This was (and still is) necessary to compensate for natural vignetting in analogue use (in digital, post-processing can help).
Nine Zeiss ZM lenses are still available; four are already discontinued
In Summer 2023, Zeiss still has nine ZM lenses in the line-up, most of which have already been reviewed for the M Files (click for the related article): Distagon 15/2.8, Biogon 21/2.8, Biogon 25/2.8, Biogon 28/2.8, Distagon 35/1.4, Biogon 35/2, C Biogon 35/2.8, C Sonnar 50/1.5, and Planar 50/2. This is still impressive, despite a remarkable gap in the telephoto sector. That’s mainly because four ZM lenses have been discontinued: Distagon 18/4, C Biogon 21/4.5, Sonnar 85/2, Tele-Tessar 85/4.
I asked them: Is Zeiss’s photo market exit imminent?
I asked Zeiss for a statement about the future of the ZM range and got the following reply (my translation): “There are no restrictions on products and services, including ZM lenses.” And concerning my question of whether we can expect any new ZM lenses, the press department answers as follows: “Zeiss is and will remain focused on value-creating innovations. We are constantly examining opportunities for further products with market potential, but will maintain confidentiality on future products for reasons of competition.”
Zeiss’ photo market future is open – and depends on us all
All in all, there is still hope. But let’s face it: In the end, the customers will decide. I hear from dealers that the Voigtländer lenses for Leica M-Mount are in high demand. Zeiss ZM lenses, on the contrary, are not selling so well. Maybe Voigtländer is giving better support to dealers (the brand belongs to the Ringfoto group, which in turn is owned by independent merchants, mainly in Germany). Maybe it is also the lack of innovation that has removed Zeiss from the awareness of the photo media.
At any rate, many of the Zeiss ZM lenses are excellent and certainly more than an ersatz for their Leica counterparts. If Zeiss were to actually discontinue this great series, it would be a bitter loss for the rangefinder world.
What do you feel about the future of Zeiss’ photography division? Will they be the victim of the dramatic market shrinkage we have been seeing you years now? Or are you confident that they will carry on this market that is no less than part of Zeiss’s DNA? Which Zeiss products would you particularly miss, or is this just another overrated brand? Let’s discuss this in the comments section.
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It’s interesting to learn about their collaboration with Sony and the development of innovative products like the ZX1 camera. This partnership is surprising for me.
Hi Patrick – I used the Nikon Z for over a year with the Milvus 18/2.8 – it’s an extraordinary lens with equally extraordinary resolution at 40+mps: I only gave it up together with the Nikon because of the weight when traveling- the 33/2.8 for M mount is still the sharpest I know on the M11.
I truly hope Zeiss isn’t planning to abandon the photo/lens market. I always love the bokeh and color rendering of Zeiss lenses. My first Zeiss lens was the F-Mount 50mm f2 Makro Planar which I used with my Nikon Df. Unfortunately I never had the chance to use it with my Nikon FM2 before it was stolen along with my Df. After getting my Leica CL with the M to L-Mount adapter, I got the 35mm f1.4 Distagon and fell in love with it. The micro contrast is unbelievable, especially in B&W. The bokeh is just right for me, less creamy than Leica but not as chaotic as Voigtländer. I am planning to add the Nikon Z system into my gears and will definitely adapt the Distagon to it as well. I am also debating should I get the native Z-Mount 14-24mm f2.8 S or adapt the Sony E-Mount Zeiss 18mm f2.8 Batis for my future Nikon Z camera. Hopefully my journey with Zeiss will not be cut short!
Yours Truly,
The Planar 50mm f/2 was the first M-mount lens I ever bought whereas the Distagon 35mm f/1.4 was the best M-mount lens I ever bought. I still have both. I also have 5 Carl Zeiss lenses for the Contax 645 that I still use on the (equally dead) Leica S system. The Leica C-to-S adapter allows to use them with autofocus which is pretty amazing. And then there is the Planar 80mm f/2.8 lens for the Hasselblad V system… If I were to associate Zeiss with only one lens it would probably be this one… Lots of quality but unfortunately nothing very recent…
Yes, SlowDriver, this is impressive. I hope such pure optical quality has a future in a time when all kind of corrections and “improvements” are being carried out digitally. For Leica, I am very confident because they have the legacy – and the analogue cameras that can be pretty unforgiving in matters optical. No post-processing possible… JP
Their 35mm f/1.4 lens is by far the best m mount lens for rendering in my opinion. Buy before it disappears.
I think Zeiss is out of any new general camera lens market but will milk current inventory of parts. No recent releases is a clear signpost.
Hi Brian, glad to hear about your experience with the 35/1.4. As I wrote in my reply to Andrew above, this is a wonderful lens. And I am sure prices will go up fast once it is announced to be discontinued. Think of the Sonnar 85/2 which has become a collector’s item which costs far more today than when it was new. The Distagon 35 was certainly built in much higher amounts but it might well have a place in history as the last rangefinder lens with the Carl Zeiss name on it and with all stops pulled that 21st century lens design can take advantage of: Floating elements, aspherical lenses, special glass, you name it. JP
Bland ‘nothing’ statements from Zeiss, but if you look at the stock availability at two of the UK’s biggest ZM dealers, Robert White and Ffordes, you will find very few lens available, and the few that are I would guess to be residual stock. Great shame, but ZM lenses have lost out on price to the excellent Voigtlander range that has developed in the last few years.
Hi Keith, I have not heard from availability issues here in Germany/Austria. But then again, I have no idea how often these lenses are sold at all. Let’s hope the best. And I agree, Voigtländer was far more innovative in the last ten years. They issued a number of really interesting lenses, mainly a very reasonable prices. JP
I shot with the ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon for years and other than its bulk, prefer it over the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux FLE. Ditto the 50mm f/1.5 C Sonnar, which is such a beautiful and unique, though temperamental lens.
Hi Andrew, I couldn’t agree more. Apart from size and viewfinder blockage, I can’t see many reasons to prefer the 35 Summilux ASPH over the Zeiss Distagon. The Zeiss 35 offers stunning results. See some of the images im my review. The Sonnar I have not really uses so far. It will be one of the next candidates for the M Files. JP
“..The Sonnar … will be one of the next candidates for the M Files..”
Aaarrggh! Not the nasty, horrible, truly awful C-Sonnar 50mm, please!! (Perhaps Mike will lend you his!)
Problem with ZM lenses they are almost perfect in their own right. See the Planar 50/2 for instance, which other M lens can reach the Planar’s level aside from the Summicron 50/2 apo? Or the C-Biogon 35/2.8, not sure what more or better i would need for it. Even terminated lenses like the superb C-Biogon 21/4.5 or a flawless lens such as the Tessar 85/4. Sure Voigtlander innovated with its compact 90/2.8 but it causes much more color fringing than the Tessar. Also, the C-Sonnar 50/1.5 suffers from focus shift to be honest but again it shows less color fringing than the Nokton 50/1.5 v2 with more character than the latter. FWIW.
Hi LCT, you are saying it in a few sentences. Many ZM lenses are excellent and offer more than most of us will ever need (only on the 85/4 I have a somewhat different view). In fact, they were one reason why I created the M Files where I collect knowledge and experience about “non-Leica-M” cameras and lenses with M-Mount. There are so many great options but I have to admit that Voigtländer was far more innovative in the last years. JP
Cosina list Zeiss lenses on their Japanese website https://www.cosina.co.jp/
I could not see the English site but browsers may be able to translate.
Thanks, Mike. It’s interesting that the 15/2.8 is not listed but this one is (was) made by Zeiss themselves here in Germany. Maybe the appeal of the Zeiss brand in the Far East helps to svce the ZM line… JP
The Zeiss answers are typical political cant and don’t inspire too much confidence…
It is not just ZM. Zeiss was quite active early on in the mirrorless market but they also went very quiet there. The latest Touit releases also date back to 2014, the latest Batis and Loxia to 2018! During that time, first- and third-party lens manufacturers kept releasing new, more modern lenses (see recent Sony GM/G lenses, Sigma DG/DN…). As a consequence, these Zeiss lenses start to look dated (some) or too expensive (most), and in need of an update.
Let’s also not forget most if not all of these consumer lenses are made in Japan by Cosina. There might also be industrial and contractual issues at play here…
Yes, fiatlux, I have been working a journalist for over 30 years now and I am still annoyed by these “answers”. They can mean everything indeed, and even the spokesperson might not know what is really going on. I do hope Zeiss will stay in the market, not because their products are so incredibly relevant but because a withdrawal would be a fatal signal for the whole industry. But this is just my opinion. JP
I have appreciated the “look” that Zeiss lenses in Leica M-mount afford for years. I wish they would 1) provide M-mount flanges with 6-bit coding, and 2) market L-mount lenses. More market share to be sure!
Agree, Rick, but in an overall shrinking market it is about limiting losses or costs and searching opportunities. Bitter diagnosis, but true. JP
That would be a pity. For many years in the analog era I’ve shot with various C/Y lenses. The 35 mm f. 2.8,the planar 50mm and the Sonnar 85mm f. 2.8 were amazing lenses. I moved to the Contax G1 lenses and owned all the lenses except the Hologon f.8. They were stellar. I don’t understand why they would abandon the zm lenses and what would happen to the Milvus and Otus series. They probably put a lot of research in R&D to produce these lenses. What about Sony and Fuji users with the Loxia and Touit lenses plus all the Zeiss lenses made by Sony? That would be a shame. If they stopped products, the lenses would reach rocketing price on the used market. My wife uses Zeiss binoculars and my ophtalmologiste uses Zeiss machine to test vision but what a pity if they abandoned their lens department.
Jean
True, Jean, it would be a pity. All ZM lenses I have used so far were very good or excellent. The Contax 45 I used in an M-Mount conversion, also a magnificent lens. We will see, and it is certainly a good idea to recommend the ZM line if we are asked for Leica alternatives. Because low sales are the biggest menace to these beautiful products. JP