Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4
Whenever Zeiss brings out a new lens, chances are it'll be something special. With the Loxia 25mm f/2.4, however, you might be forgiven for wondering what the firm is thinking. It's not that this small manual-focus wideangle prime looks undesirable – quite the opposite. However, its £1,190 price tag is significantly higher than Zeiss's own autofocus Batis 25mm f/2, which costs around £1,000 and gives superb results. So why pay extra for a slower lens you have to focus yourself?
The answer, of course, is that many serious photographers value the shooting experience this brings. The fully manual operation is also advantageous for video work, where it's essential for any adjustments to be smooth and silent. Even so, any f/2.4 manual-focus prime is going to have to be seriously good to justify this kind of price tag.
