Carl Zeiss is one of the prominent names in the lens market. The company has created some of the best optics as a third-party lens manufacturer, with series such as Milvus, Batis, Otus, and Loxia, each offering something for different users. Of the prominent focal ranges, the 50mm was important for photographers working with documentary, portrait, and event photography. However, it now appears that the company has potentially discontinued one such 50mm, which is not surprising, as it may seem.

According to Asobinet, the company has discontinued the Zeiss 50mm f2 Loxia. The lens is available in some stores, but major retailers such as Camera Kitamura and Map Camera in Japan have the ‘discontinued’ tag. The lens will be available as long as the stock is there.

For the uninitiated, the Loxia lens is designed for Sony users, just like the Batis lens options. However, the Zeiss 50mm f2 was launched in 2013, making it over a decade old. It featured a close focusing distance of 45cm, a reproduction ratio of 1:7.1, and no autofocus capabilities. Some of the things the lens is known for include colors and ergonomics, which are quite great. The rendition of skin color is great, and the sharpness is also spectacular. As we praised the 50mm in our review, “If you’re a fan of the DSLR lens color rendition, then we’ve got great news for you. The Zeiss 50mm f2 Loxia has more vivid, punchier, and saturated colors than its 35mm f2 counterpart. It’s everything that you’ve come to know with modern Zeiss optics.” However, the lack of autofocus made it a challenge to use with earlier Sony cameras. It was also quite pricey for its time.

Considering how old the lens is, it makes me think that Carl Zeiss is actually halting production. The company, which was said to have left the industry back in 2022, is now focusing on reviving the Otus series. In fact, as we noted in our other article, Zeiss could also revive the Loxia lineup with newer lenses, which are more compact, and could feature autofocus for newer Sony cameras.

Either way, the discontinuation does not mean you won’t get the lens. You can always rely on second-hand models, available on Amazon and eBay. However, if you are working with newer Sony mirrorless cameras, then you have a plethora of third-party lenses to choose from.