Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is a Fixed aperture Manual Focus (MF)
Ultra-Wideangle Prime lens with 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with
KAF Mount cameras.
The Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is also available in the Canon EF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
What type of photography is the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 lens good for?
The choice of photography type for which you intend to use the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is a crucial decision factor. Below, we have assessed its suitability for various photography scenarios:
Reasons to Buy the Carl Zeiss Distagon T 3,518 Lens
Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Carl Zeiss Distagon T 3,518 lens in a list form to assist you in determining whether it offers the features you need.
| Aperture Ring |
| Distance Scale |
| DoF(Depth of Field) Scale |
| Hood supplied |
| Covers Full-Frame Sensor |
Report a correction
Buy Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 from Amazon or B&H PHOTO
| No Weather Sealing |
| No Autofocus |
| Not so fast for a short Prime Lens |
| Pricey |
Lens Mount
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is compatible with cameras that have a Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF lenses are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
The size and weight are crucial factors to consider when searching for your next lens. Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a maximum diameter of 87mm and a total length of 84mm. It weighs 470g / 16.6 oz.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a filter thread of 82mm. Below are links to the filters that we recommend you to consider for your Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18:
You can also check All Pentax KAF Mount Lenses with 82mm Filter Thread Size to find the matching lenses.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a fixed focal length of 18mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 27mm.
Optical Image Stabilization
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 doesn't have an optical image stabilization system so the only option to stabilize the image taken with this lens is to mount on a camera body with IBIS (sensor based In-body image stabilization).
Maximum Magnification Ratio
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.083x with a minimum focusing distance of 0.3m. 0.083x ratio is quite low, making this lens unsuitable even for modest close-up photography.
Below are the 2 Ultra-Wideangle Prime type Pentax KAF mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:
Aperture
The Carl Zeiss Distagon T 3,518 features a maximum aperture of F3.5 and can be stopped down to a minimum aperture of F22. While a maximum aperture of F3.5 requires a bit more ambient light or a bump in ISO when shooting indoors, it keeps the physical size of the lens much smaller and easier to carry. Given the wider 18mm field of view, the background will naturally stay a bit more in focus, making it ideal for environmental portraits, street photography, or landscapes where context matters. The minimum setting of F22 is excellent for deep depth of field work like macro photography, though you may want to avoid the absolute smallest settings to skip the sharpness loss caused by optical diffraction.
Optical Formula
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18's optical formula consists of 13 elements in 11 groups .
Lens Hood
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 comes with a removable lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos.
Popular Comparisons of Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18
Here are the 8 most popular comparisons of the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 amongst Camera Decision readers.
Top Alternatives of Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 Lens
In addition, it would be interesting to check which lenses from other mounts are most commonly compared with the Carl Zeiss Distagon T 3,518.
Top Alternatives of Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 in Other Lens Mounts
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.