This is the second entry in a 3-part series where I shoot with classic Zeiss lenses on modern mirrorless cameras. In this article, I share my impressions of the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount). You can start with the 35mm post here, or check out how the 28mm performed during a day in Venice here.

Shooting with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount)

On the second days I took the Distagon 28mm and went for a small hike not far from home. The trailhead starts in a small village known for its clocks and beans, believe it or not.

I parked the car in front of the church and I was struck by the clock tower next to it.

Black and white photo of an old clock tower in Italy, shot with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Clock Tower, 1/1000, ISO 100*

Seen the door of the church open absolutely I had to go inside and take a look. I was the only one and I could roam around freely. On the way out I noticed how the light coming in from the main door created a nice glow and snapped a photo.

Interior of a church in Italy with light streaming through the open door, photographed in black and white with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Church, 1/320, ISO 800*

After this initial detour I was finally ready to star walking. I came across what seemed an abandoned RV under some trees. I got closer and shot the reflections of the landscape in the side window. The different layers create a nice scene in my view.

As I started getting deeper into the forest I noticed the morning dew on some plants on the ground.It seemed as if someone patiently places the water droplets on the outer edge of the leaves as an ornament.

Close-up of rain-covered leaves in black and white, taken with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Morning dew, 1/125, ISO 400*

The next is also a top down photo of some small plants. In this picture I like the contrast between the dark soil and the light leaves. I also enjoy the geometry of the plants with most of the leaves pointing in similar directions.

Top-down view of a leafy plant on forest soil, shot using the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) in black and white — *Small plants, 1/125, ISO 400*

I kept waling along a small stream when I noticed a tall truck that lost it’s head. The light filtrating from the leaves above created a nice scene.

Moss-covered tree trunk in a dense forest, rendered in black and white with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Tall trunk, 1/160, ISO 400*

And of course the day would not be complete without some fern photos. The diffuse light on these two plants is stunning. Removing the distracting element on the bottom right corner would have made the composition cleaner but overall the image is still good.

Two sunlit fern fronds standing out from the forest floor, beautifully lit and captured in black and white with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Ferns, 1/320, ISO 400*

After a bit more walking I reached the destination for the day: a waterfall. The water was coming down from a respectable height and it created a constant breeze filled with small water particles. I tried a couple of different compositions but in the end the one I liked the most was framing the waterfall between two trees. The branch in the middle is a bit distracting but I really like the contrast between the bright waterfall and black trees.

Black and white photograph of a waterfall framed between two dark tree trunks, made with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Waterfall, 1/80, ISO 200*

On the way back I kneeled down next to some grass because the light was very interesting and I ended up taking two nice backlit shots here.

As I reentered the village I saw a wooden fence with some plants growing next to it. What initially caught my eye was the difference in texture between the fence and the plant as well as their different direction: the fence is pointing straight up while the plant is reaching for the sun at a slight angle. But then I also appreciated the coexistence between the fence being artificially put there by a human and the plant growing naturally.

Detail of weathered wooden fence with overgrown plants, shot in black and white with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Fence, 1/200, ISO 100*

The last shot of the day again involves some plants. I think the consistent patters of the plants all reaching for the sun and the light coming from the top work very well together.

Dense cluster of tall grass-like plants reaching toward the sky, captured in black and white with the Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) — *Reaching for the light, 1/640, ISO 100*

Closing Thoughts

The Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y Mount) is truly a joy to use. The focusing ring has just the right amount of resistance and feels butter-smooth, making manual focus feel effortless. The images it produces are timeless — sharp without being clinical, and beautifully balanced overall. This lens is perfect for a reflective outing, or for whenever you want to reconnect with the essence of photography.

If you’d like to keep exploring my impressions of classic Zeiss lenses, check out the posts below:

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