Pb(Zn1/3Ta2/3)O-3 ceramics, compositionally modified by the incorporation of Fe to the octahedral lattice sites, were prepared and characterized in terms of perovskite development, dielectric properties, as well as microstructure evolution. The powders of the B-site precursor compositions were synthesized separately and reacted with PbO to form Pb[(Zn1/3Ta2/3),(Fe1/2Ta1/2)]O-3. The perovskite contents increased continuously with the Fe concentration. The maximum dielectric constant values of the ceramics increased tremendously with the fraction of Fe, whereas the dielectric maximum temperatures were rather insensitive to the compositional change. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.