Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens with retrofocus 9-element design and M42 mount. Defined East German DEFA cinematography through warm color rendering and soft bokeh.
Technical Details
The Flektogon 20 utilizes a 9-element, 7-group retrofocus construction, allowing for a flange focal distance of 45.5mm with an M42 mount. The smallest aperture is f/22, and the minimum focusing distance is 0.19m. The lens weighs 320g, has a length of 64mm, and a filter diameter of 67mm. The f/2.8 version from the 1970s is considered optically superior with MC (Multi-Coating) while earlier models had single coating. At f/11 and a distance of 2m, the depth of field ranges from 0.7m to infinity.
History & Development
Zeiss Jena introduced the first Flektogon 20/4 in 1965 as a response to Western wide-angle developments. In 1969, the faster f/2.8 version followed, produced with a Zebra design until 1979. From 1979 onwards, the design switched to a black barrel with rubberized rings. Production ceased in 1991 with German reunification and the dissolution of the VEB system. Approximately 180,000 units of all versions were produced.
Practical Use in Film
East German productions of the 1970s and 1980s frequently used the Flektogon 20 for landscape shots and interiors. DEFA employed it in films like "Solo Sunny" (1980) for wide-angle cityscapes. Its low distortion makes it ideal for architectural shots, while its high sharpness allows for precise focusing even at wide apertures. The smooth focus fall-off (bokeh) and warm color rendition characterize the visual style of many Eastern Bloc productions.
Comparison & Alternatives
Compared to Western counterparts like the Canon FD 20/2.8 or Nikkor 20/3.5, the Flektogon offers comparable optical performance at a significantly lower price on the used market. Modern alternatives such as the Zeiss Distagon 21/2.8 ZF surpass it in sharpness and contrast but do not achieve its characteristic color rendition. For digital cameras, adapters require a correction of the flange focal distance, altering the field of view to approximately 30mm full-frame equivalent.