Zeiss expands its full-frame E-mount lens family with a new wide-angle Loxia 25mm f/2.4 prime

For Sony E-mount photographers, Zeiss just announced a new member to their Loxia full-frame, manual-focus prime lens lineup, a 25mm f/2.4 optic. Squeezing in between their ultra-wide 21mm f/2.8 and the classic 35mm f/2 wide-angle lens, the new Loxia 25mm f/2.4 offers a happy medium of sorts for those who want a wide-angle perspective that's not too wide and dramatic yet not too narrow. It's a "Goldilocks" lens in a way. The bright f/2.4 aperture also makes the lens an excellent choice for low-light photography.

In classic Zeiss fashion and just like other Loxia lenses, the new 25mm f/2.4 prime is an all-manual lens, meaning focusing is manual as is the aperture selection. However, there are electrical contacts on the lens mount to register aperture and other information with the camera. The focusing ring is mechanical, too, rather than focus-by-wire that's common on many mirrorless lenses and offers a full 90-degrees of rotation for precise, tactile focusing. Focus distance and depth-of-field markings are engraved on the lens barrel. The aperture ring, too, offers engraved markings, starting at f/2.4 and then whole stop increments from f/4 through f/22. The aperture ring can also be "de-clicked" for smooth iris transitions, making it a versatile prime for both stills and video shooting.

The barrel construction, like other Loxis lenses, is all metal, including the lens mount itself. The lens features some degree of weather-sealing, as well, with a protective gasket around the mount. Although a rather solid lens and weighing-in at 0.87 lbs (393 g), the 25mm f/2.4 is relatively compact at around 3.4 inches (8.6 cm) long and only 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) in diameter -- with a 52mm front filter thread.

Optically, the lens uses a Zeiss Distagon optical configuration and includes a total of 10 elements in eight groupings. The lens utilizes a single aspheric element and two "Anomalous Partial Dispersion Elements" to combat chromatic and other optical aberrations. The Loxia 25mm f/2.4 lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 9.84 ft (0.25 m) with a maximum magnification of 0.16x (max. reproduction ratio of 1:6.4). The aperture diaphragm uses ten rounded blades, which should offer pleasing bokeh characteristics.

The Zeiss 25mm f/2.4 prime is currently available for pre-order with a retail price of US$1,299, and availability is slated for March 2018 according to Zeiss. For more info and to get on the pre-order list, click here. And to visit our Zeiss Lokia f/2.4 page, please click here!