Some things in life don’t require you to know every detail—just believing you’ve got it figured out is enough. Photography is one of those things. Without a spark of confidence, you’re stuck before you even start. Forget about listening to other people’s advice or so-called “wisdom.” The moment you start doubting yourself, thinking you’re not good enough, you’ve already lost. Your past photos, your future shots—they’ll all crumble if you let self-doubt creep in. So, when it comes to photography, you need unwavering confidence in yourself. Whenever someone tries to talk to me about the art of photography, I pivot the conversation to gear. Why? Because the real drive to create, the true passion for photography, has to come from deep within you. It can’t be sparked by external opinions or tips.
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not here to discuss photography techniques—just talk to me about cameras and lenses. Gear and the art of photography are like oil and water; they don’t mix. When it comes to gear, though, it’s smart to listen to others, especially those who’ve spent years testing and using it. You don’t have to take their word as gospel, but keeping an open mind and learning from their experiences can save you from costly mistakes.
Here’s my personal mantra: Trust your gut when it comes to photography, but when picking gear, check out the reviews. Just don’t get those two mixed up!
Beijing is a fascinating city. While it’s now filled with skyscrapers over 20 stories tall, you can still find pockets of “urban villages” – neighborhoods where humble residents maintain a simple, neighborly lifestyle. I’ve grown fond of these communities where clean alleys echo with friendly greetings, radiating warmth and camaraderie. In contrast, the concrete towers with their constant noise and commotion have left me weary of high-rise living.
Whenever I use a Leica lens, I just can’t help but switch to black and white. For some reason, while with Zeiss lenses, I always feel compelled to preserve their original colors…
The Leica R 35-70mm f/3.5 E67 (often called the Vario-Elmar-R) is a legendary zoom lens from Leica’s R-series, known for its compact design, high optical quality, and distinctive rendering. Paired with the Nikon D700, a 12.1MP full-frame DSLR with excellent dynamic range for its era, this combo likely enhances your inclination toward black-and-white due to the following factors:
Candid shots might feel brash or intrusive, but they capture raw, unfiltered truth. Posed shots seem polite and composed, yet they often hide behind a polished mask. It’s like life’s paradoxes—sometimes what seems “wrong” reveals deeper authenticity, while what’s “right” can feel staged. Could it be that society’s ideas of “proper” or “improper” in photography actually miss the heart of what makes a moment real?
Let’s get real: the Carl Zeiss Jena 35mm f/2.4 is the unicorn of vintage glass. It’s a Cold War relic that somehow outshines modern lenses, a socialist-era gem that laughs at capitalist logic, and a pancake lens that’s somehow also a macro beast. Released when disco was still cool, this little DDR darling proves that East Germany did more than just build the Berlin Wall—they built a damn fine lens.
Is it perfect? No. Is it ridiculously fun to shoot? Abso-freaking-lutely.
ziess jena 35mm f2.4 + sony a7s
2. Build Quality: “Chunky Charm with a Side of Nostalgia”
Specs:
Weight: 248g (or “heavy enough to feel German, light enough to avoid chiropractor bills”).
Materials: Metal, glass, and a dash of communist stubbornness.
Aesthetic: A brushed-metal brick that whispers, “I survived the ’70s, and I’ll outlive your mirrorless camera.”
The Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 is built like a Trabant—quirky, indestructible, and weirdly lovable. The focus ring turns smoother than a Bowie vinyl, and that M42 mount? Pure retro flex.
Pro Tip: If your lens doesn’t double as a self-defense tool, you’re not holding it right.
3. Optical Performance: “The F/2.4 That Out-Bokehs F/2”
Specs:
Focal Length: 35mm (the “Goldilocks” of street photography).
Aperture: f/2.4 (because East Germany loved almost breaking rules).
Special Sauce: Magic dust stolen from a Wes Anderson film.
Bokeh Sorcery:
This lens defies physics. At f/2.4, backgrounds melt into a watercolor dreamscape that’s creamier than a Bavarian latte. It’s like Zeiss said, *“Who needs f/1.4 when you’ve got socialist engineering?”*
Fun Fact: The bokeh is so smooth, it could convince a Leica fanboy to defect.
Sharpness:
Center: Cuts through reality like a Stasi agent interrogating a capitalist spy.
Edges: Soft enough to make you question capitalism… but who looks at edges anyway?
4. The “Swiss Army Knife” Superpowers
Macro Mode: Focuses down to 0.19m—close enough to count a ladybug’s freckles.
Street Photography: 35mm lets you capture life’s chaos without getting punched.
Portraits: f/2.4 serves just enough blur to make your subject pop like a strudel at a bake-off.
Pro Tip: Use it for everything. Literally. Flowers, faces, UFO sightings—this lens doesn’t care.
ziess jena 35mm f2.4 + sony a7s
5. Color Science: “The Rainbow Factory Called Dresden”
Straight-out-of-camera JPEGs: Cold-war cool with a dash of Ostalgie (that’s “East German nostalgia” for you capitalists).
RAW Flexibility: Desaturate it, and it morphs into a moody poet. Crank the vibrancy, and it’s a disco ball.
Golden Hour Glory: Turns sunlight into liquid amber.
Warning: Shooting with this lens may cause sudden urges to wear Adidas tracksuits and hum 99 Luftballons.
6. Quirks & Quibbles: “Love Letters from 1975”
Pros:
Versatility: Does macro, street, and portraits like a caffeinated octopus.
Character: Delivers that “I shot this on expired film” vibe without the expired film.
Price: Cheaper than a weekend in Berlin (if you avoid eBay scalpers).
Cons:
Aperture Blades: 6 straight blades make bokeh balls look like ninja stars at f/2.8. Embrace the chaos.
Flare Drama: Shoot into the sun, and you’ll get artistic ghosting. Or just call it “Soviet ambiance.”
7. The “Leica vs. Zeiss” Cold War (Spoiler: Everyone Wins)
Leica Comparison: Sharper than a Leica Summicron in the center, but with 10% of the pretentiousness.
Modern Zeiss: Less clinical, more “let’s drink schnapps and write poetry.”
Verdict: This lens is the lovechild of Leica’s soul and Zeiss’s brains—raised behind the Iron Curtain.
8. Final Verdict: “The People’s Lens”
The Carl Zeiss Jena 35mm f/2.4 isn’t a lens. It’s a time machine. It’s for photographers who crave character over perfection, who think bokeh should be felt, not measured, and who’d rather shoot than flex their gear on Instagram.
ziess jena 35mm f2.4 + sony a7s
Buy it if:
You want vintage charm without the vintage price tag.
You enjoy confusing millennials with “ancient tech.”
You’ve ever wondered, “What if Wes Anderson designed a lens?”
Skip it if:
You need autofocus (or basic human patience).
Your idea of fun is pixel-peeping at 400%.
Rating: 4.7/5 stars (minus 0.3 for the ninja-star bokeh balls, because priorities).
ziess jena 35mm f2.4 + sony a7s
Spec Sheet for Geeks (Because We Know You’re Reading This):
1. Introduction: The Unlikely Lovechild of Precision and Rebellion
Let’s get real: the Leica R 35-70mm f/3.5 E67 is the power couple of the lens world. It’s half German tank, half Japanese anime mech—sturdy enough to survive a nuclear winter, yet sleek enough to make your hipster friends weep into their pour-over coffee. Born from Leica’s obsession with perfection and Minolta’s “hold my sake” innovation, this zoom lens is proof that opposites attract… spectacularly.
Is it perfect? No. Is it the most interesting lens in your bag? Abso-freaking-lutely.
2. Build Quality: “Built Like a Mercedes, Priced Like a Porsche”
Specs:
Weight: 450g (or “light enough to lift, heavy enough to bludgeon a thief”).
Materials: German metal, Japanese pragmatism, and enough heft to double as a dumbbell.
Aesthetic: A brushed-metal brick that whispers, “I’m here to work, not to accessorize.”
The E67 is built like a Bavarian bank vault—over-engineered, indestructible, and slightly intimidating. Minolta might’ve designed the optics, but Leica slapped on enough Teutonic polish to make even a Rolex feel insecure.
Pro Tip: If your lens doesn’t leave a dent in your coffee table, you’re not Leica-ing hard enough.
Leica Vario – Elmar – R 35 – 70mm f/3.5 E67 with Nikon D700
Some say that Minolta-designed lenses lack a bit of the Leica magic, but looking at this lens – the Leica R 35-70mm f3.5 E67 – I think it still has some Leica characteristics, especially in black and white. Both highlights and shadows retain a remarkable amount of detail and smooth transitions. It still has that Leica magic.
Leica Vario – Elmar – R 35 – 70mm f/3.5 E67 with Nikon D700
No wonder they say Nikon’s old masters excel at capturing landscapes—its scenery shots brim with an exhilarating vitality. Take Nikon’s 58mm f1.4 Auto lens, the first f1.4 large-aperture lens crafted for the formidable F-mount. Its lineage traces back to the rangefinder 50mm lenses, yet the reflex mirror of SLR cameras nudged it to 58mm. In truth, apart from a slightly narrower field of view compared to a 50mm, it transcends the standard in the ethereal realm of bokeh and that elusive, almost mystical quality. Heehee, here’s a little secret few know: when it comes to background blur, early standard lenses with focal lengths between 50mm and 65mm—think 58mm, 55mm, or 60mm—are truly exceptional. They share a deep kinship with that German flavor, steeped in a certain metaphysical allure.
Oh, and by the way, Leica’s 50mm lenses? They’re all ever so slightly larger than 50mm 😉—a subtle truth Leica kept quietly to itself back in the day.
1. Introduction: When Germany Decided to Make a Zoom Lens (And Forgot to Apologize)
Let’s get real: the Contax CY 40-80mm f/3.5 is the unicorn of vintage zooms. It’s German-engineered, absurdly niche, and about as subtle as a polka band at a library. Released in the ’80s, this little gem is proof that Germans can do zooms—they just choose not to most of the time.
Is it perfect? No. Is it ridiculously charming? Absolutely.
2. Optics: “Zeiss Colors, No Calorie Count”
Specs:
Focal Length: 40-80mm (the “Goldilocks” of zoom ranges).
Aperture: f/3.5 (or “how to make your photos look intentional”).
Construction: German steel, Japanese efficiency, and pure Zeiss magic.
