Carl Zeiss presents the Distagon T* 2,8/21 with EF Bayonet

Thornwood, NY – Dusk is falling in Manhattan, and a swarm of commuters on their way home are hurriedly crossing the street toward Grand Central Station. Behind them, the skyscrapers reflect the golden light of the setting sun. To capture this unique atmosphere, photographers need a fast wide-angle lens.

Carl Zeiss is proud to present the Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE, an ultra-wide-angle lens with EF bayonet designed specifically for such tricky shooting moments. Designed to fit all analog and digital EOS camera models, it is ideal for architectural, landscape and a wide variety of other applications. It is also ideally suited for shooting HD video due to its wide focus rotation, superb image quality and minimal breathing characteristics. Following the recent release of the Distagon T* 3,5/18 ZE, the new Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE is now the second Carl Zeiss wide-angle lens with EF bayonet on the market and the fourth lens in the ZE product range.

Photographers taking wide-angle shots often encounter image errors at the transition between bright and dark light as a result of lenses breaking the various wavelengths differently. The Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE’s ability to flawlessly correct color errors prevents color fringing and unwanted lack of focus that can result from chromatic aberrations. Thanks to these capabilities, the Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE is ideal for contrast-rich scenes and intense lighting angles. The lens’s floating elements design also guarantees high imaging performance, from close-ups to infinity. Thanks to the Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflex coating and meticulously-crafted lenses, the Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE is not affected by reflections or stray light. Capturing scenes with tough lighting conditions, such as the summer dusk in downtown Manhattan, works every time — even with wide aperture settings.

The Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE will be available in the Autumn of 2009 for a suggested retail price of $1,540.

For more information, visit www.zeiss.com/photo.

The Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE lens. Photo provided by Carl Zeiss AG.

Technical specifications:

* in 35 mm format

Images taken with the Distagon T* 2.8/21 ZE are located at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silver2silicon/sets/72157622342804647/

Front and rear views of the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE lens. Photo provided by Carl Zeiss AG.

About Carl Zeiss AG
Carl Zeiss AG is a leading group of companies operating worldwide in the optical and opto-electronic industry. The five independently operating business groups are active in the future-oriented markets of Medical and Research Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Lifestyle Products. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The company has been a technological pioneer in optical innovation for more than 160 years.

Carl Zeiss develops and distributes products and services under the ZEISS brand name for biomedical research and medical technology, as well as for the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries. Planetariums, binoculars, and camera and cine lenses are valued by millions of users around the world. The eyeglass business is now bundled in Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH, the number two eyeglass provider in the world. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation). During fiscal year 2007/08 (ended Sept. 30), the company generated revenues of EUR 2,731 million. Carl Zeiss has around 13,000 employees in more than 30 countries, including more than 8,000 in Germany.

Carl Zeiss' Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE lens in use. Photo provided by Carl Zeiss AG.