Contax · Contax/Yashica (C/Y) · From 1975
Zeiss offered three 35s for the Contax, a fast f/1.4, a shift lens and this small everyday Distagon. Zeiss said it skipped a wider aperture on purpose to keep the front element and the weight down. The result is a six-element, six-group retrofocus lens of about 240 g that focuses to 0.4 m and takes 55mm filters. It came out with the system in 1975, and every copy was made in Japan, both the AE lens and the MM version from 1985, which has a green 22 on the aperture ring. Zeiss pictured it as one third of a basic kit, alongside a standard Planar and a medium Sonnar. On a mirrorless body it's a light, easy 35 for walking around, and any plain C/Y adapter works.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Contax/Yashica (C/Y) lens, and its mount sits 45.5 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
There are two versions, both made in Japan, the AE from 1975 and the MM from 1985. MM copies have a green 22 on the aperture ring and a small extra prong on the mount. Zeiss also made a 35mm f/1.4 Distagon and a 35mm f/2.8 PC-Distagon shift lens, which are different, bigger lenses.
Expect the usual age problems of haze, fungus and oily blades. People who service Zeiss C/Y lenses say haze turns up more often in MM lenses than in AE ones.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy an AEJ copy graded Near Mint by a Japan dealer, like the one at $246 delivered with free shipping, under the $260–360 band. There are at least 89 for sale, all from Japan dealers on this page, and AE copies mostly ask $228–365 delivered while MM copies ask $317–415. Every copy was made in Japan, and people who service these see haze more often in MM ones, so the cheaper AEJ is the one we'd pick; a green 22 on the aperture ring means MM. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back and one of the blades at f/8, check that the front ring reads Distagon 2.8/35 rather than a 1.4 or a PC lens, and skip the seller at 95.7% feedback. It needs a Contax/Yashica adapter, and the model page lists the adapters by camera.
![[Near Mint] Contax Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f/2.8 AEJ Lens C/Y mount #8180](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SQsAAeSwcWdqEj-M/s-l500.jpg)
$228.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered copy here at $228, an AEJ graded Near Mint by the Japan dealer, with both caps in the photo. Treat the grade as a claim and ask for a flashlight photo through the back.
[Near Mint] Contax Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f/2.8 AEJ Lens C/Y mount #8180
![[Near Mint] CONTAX Distagon T* 35mm f/2.8 AEJ Lens for C/Y Mount VTG JAPAN 1046](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ppoAAOSwMKRke-AF/s-l500.jpg)
$246.09delivered
An AEJ graded Near Mint at $246 with free shipping, $14 under the band. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back and one of the blades at f/8.
[Near Mint] CONTAX Distagon T* 35mm f/2.8 AEJ Lens for C/Y Mount VTG JAPAN 1046
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$228.00est. delivered
$182.00 + $46.00 shipping
Buy It Now$182.00
Good buy
AEJ. Near Mint is the Japan dealer's grade, caps in the photo.
Seller: japan_cameras_4u
99.7% positive
Used$246.09delivered
$246.09 · free shipping
Buy It Now$246.09
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
AEJ, free shipping. Near Mint is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: auth_lucky_jp
100% positive
Used$267.87est. delivered
$237.88 + $29.99 shipping
Buy It Now$237.88
Our take
Titled light haze by the Japan dealer. Ask for a flashlight photo to judge how much.
Seller: kabutonyajapan
100% positive
![[TOP MINT] Carl Zeiss Contax Distagon T* 35mm f/2.8 AEJ Lens CY Mount From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Js4AAeSwb-FpmWe7/s-l500.jpg)
Used$304.99est. delivered
$264.99 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$264.99
Our take
AEJ. TOP MINT is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: tokyo-works
100% positive
![[Top MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F2.8 MMJ Lens C/Y Mount From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/S10AAeSwcGlqUPeX/s-l500.jpg)
Used$316.99est. delivered
$279.49 + $37.50 shipping
Buy It Now$279.49
Our take
MMJ. Top MINT is the Japan dealer's grade, with a Contax P-Filter in the photo.
Seller: kobe_japan_camera
99.4% positive
![[Near MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F/2.8 MMJ MF Lens C/Y Mount JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0FAAAeSwTPdpiEf3/s-l500.jpg)
Used$319.99est. delivered
$289.99 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$289.99
Our take
MMJ. Near MINT is the Japan dealer's grade, caps in the photo.
Seller: ok_s.camera
100% positive
Used$342.21est. delivered
$312.21 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$312.21
Check the seller
Seller feedback is 95.7%. MMJ with a bare title.
Seller: dramaticphoto2_9
95.7% positive
![CONTAX CARL ZEISS DISTAGON 35mm F/2.8 T* AEJ C/Y Lens From JAPAN [Exe+5]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NswAAOSwTSJjjMy~/s-l500.jpg)
Used$500.00delivered
$500.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$500.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
AEJ graded Exe+5, at about 1.6 times the median. Other AEJ copies here ask $228–365.
Seller: k.express168
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 14, 2026.
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