Today Zeiss officially announced new lens for its Loxia line, made exclusively for Sony E mount (for now). New lens occupies traditional portrait focal length and we hope to get hands on it at upcoming Photokina.

While this is certainly interesting proposition, I have to admit that it makes me feel very old and confused. I doubt that I would be able to understand why Zeiss decided to put Loxia 85/2.4 against their own Zeiss Batis 85/1.8, considering that both lenses has to fight in rather limited Sony E mount ring.
Beside those two Zeiss lenses, there is also Sony 85/1.4 GM and most importantly – many legacy propositions, usually much cheaper.
Hmm, with a price tag of approx. 1400 EUR, it won’t be easy life for this new Loxia, but Zeiss believes in its compact size and optical excellence. If I may add – it better should be brilliant considering circumstances.

Knowing that new Loxia should be announced, I was hoping to see another lens – namely Loxia 35/1.4 made out of existing Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM. That lens, I would buy imminently. Let’s hope that Zeiss will reveal more Loxias soon.

Here is official Zeiss Press release – http://www.zeiss.com/corporate/en_de/press-and-media/news/press-releases.html?id=Photokina-2016—ZEISS-Loxia-Telephoto

Telephoto lens for the ZEISS Loxia family

With the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85, the optics company expands its compact lens family for mirrorless Sony full-frame cameras with E mount

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 15/09/2016.

The newest member of the ZEISS Loxia family is a short telephoto lens called the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85. It supplements three focal lengths that are already available for this lens family, namely the ZEISS Loxia 2.8/21, Loxia 2/35 and Loxia 2/50, and was specially designed for mirrorless full-frame cameras with E mount. The compact ZEISS Loxia lenses are the ideal choice for travel and street photographers who value light and compact camera equipment. “In terms of its technology and the feel of its surface, the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 fits perfectly with the existing focal lengths, and is particularly well suited for portrait photography,” said Christophe Casenave, product manager with ZEISS Camera Lenses. The ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 will be available in stores starting mid of December 2016.

Optimized ZEISS Sonnar^® design

The new ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 has been designed for digital sensors. Based on an optimized ZEISS Sonnar design, it has seven lens elements in seven groups. “With the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85, we have managed to develop a well-rounded and new interpretation of the original ZEISS Sonnar optical design that meets all the requirements of digital photography and videography,” continued Casenave. The lens has a minimum object distance of 0.80 meters and a manual focus ring with a rotation angle of 220 degrees, enabling the subtlest variations of focusing. The large aperture of f/2.4 combined with the high-quality optical design ensures an appealing bokeh. The electronic interface transfers both lens data (EXIF) and focus movements, and activates the magnification function of the camera if desired by the user. “Precise manual focusing with hard stop and the mechanical setting of the aperture (working aperture priority mode) provide sophisticated photographers who don’t want to leave everything to the camera abundant possibilities for composition,” said Casenave.

Also suitable for cine applications

With the well-known De-Click function of the ZEISS Loxia lenses, the optics company is also targeting videographers. The De-Click function allows to mechanically deactivate the click stops on the aperture ring — a condition for silent and smooth adjustments of the aperture. As a result, the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 is also an attractive lens for video cameras that have an E mount, such as the Sony PXW-FS7 and PXW-FS5. A robust metal barrel, the filter diameter of M52 (which is identical across all focal lengths) and protection against penetration of dust and spray onto the lens mount complete the entire package. In addition, the external diameter, which is uniform across all ZEISS Loxia lenses, simplifies film shoots.

ZEISS Lens Gears

ZEISS Loxia lenses can also be used with a follow focus system. Made of high-quality aluminum with a hardened surface coating, the ZEISS Lens Gears are slid onto each respective lens and, through simple mounting, attached to the focus ring of the lens by turning two rings that each go in the opposite direction. Supplemented by a follow focus system, precise focusing is therefore possible and ZEISS Loxia lenses become endowed with similar features as a full-scale cine lens. The ZEISS Lens Gear Rings in the sizes mini (62 – 69mm, 60 – 67mm with GumGum) fit the ZEISS Loxia lenses.

Price and availability

Global delivery of the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 will begin mid of December 2016. The lens shade is included with delivery. The recommended retail sales price is 1,399 euros (including 19% VAT in Germany) or 1,399 US$.

With the ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85, the ZEISS Loxia lens family has grown to four focal lengths and is therefore able to cover the focal length range from 21mm to 85mm.

The ZEISS Loxia 2.4/85 is particularly well suited for portrait photography and, due to its optical design, meets the demands of modern still photography and videography.