This time I review Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4.
I became interested in the Carl Zeiss brand knowing that the current Cosina (Cosina vintage lens review) manufactures Carl Zeiss lenses.
Looking for a vintage lens from the Carl Zeiss brand, there was a person who said Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 was a huge and “King of vintage lens”.
As a result, I purchased this through ebay. My sense of money has gone crazy…
Carl Zeiss Jena is an East German brand
I got the Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4, and I decided to study a little history.
After World War II, Germany was divided into East and West, and Carl Zeiss was also divided into East and West. Carl Zeiss with the name “Jena” is Carl Zeiss from East Germany.
Because East Germany is communist, Carl Zeiss Jena was later absorbed by PENTACON.
I am not good at history. I didn’t think I would study history because of my interest in vintage lenses.
Furthermore, Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 seems to have been an epoch-making super wide-angle lens as an SLR lens.
Select a mount adapter (to use Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 with a digital camera)
A mount adapter is required to use the vintage lens with current digital cameras. Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 is M42 mount lens.
If you want to use Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 with PENTAX digital SLR, you need a mount adapter called M42-PK. It is a thin adapter.
If you use this lens with a SONY mirrorless camera, you will need a mount adapter called M42-NEX.
I’m introducing the mount adapter installation procedure on YouTube video, so please refer to it.
Use a mount adapter suitable for your digital camera.
Please note that to move the aperture of the Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4, you need a mount adapter with “pin push”.
Photo samples with Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 attached to PENTAX K-7
In December 2017, I brought Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 for my Hong Kong trip. PENTAX K-7 was used for the camera body of this lens.
This was the first time I visited Hong Kong and it was one of my dreams. Because I was a fan of Hong Kong movie director Wong Kar Wai, I wanted to see his film location.
This is a station called “Central” on the Hong Kong Island side. Because it is a wide-angle lens of 20mm, I was able to shoot a wide range regardless of the distance.
Do you know the movie “chunking express” he directed? There was a scene in the movie that passed the above photo market.
I met a funky tourist. I thought this huge lens might have made him lol
This is a famous photo spot. As shown in the photo above, many tourists were taking pictures.
Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4 Review Summary
This time, I reviewed Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm F4.
The appeal of this lens is that it is super wide-angle. In addition, although there was no example, it is also a lens with a macro function that can approach 15mm.
However, the image was not sharp at all. I think that I used this lens mostly with an aperture value of F4. This lens should be used with a higher F value.
Thank you for reading to the end.
