You can't truly state that you play around with legacy lenses without at least including one real Carl Zeiss Tessar lens. Carl Zeiss is royalty amongst lenses. In this case, with my budget, I selected the most affordable, and most available Carl Zeiss lens. It's not high royalty, but for sure a Duke in some well known but little country.
Several version exist of the 50mm F2.8. From an early silver metal lens to a later all black version. I got the “zebra” version as it looks nice and I was able to scoop one up at a good price. It's probably the most looked after version, so other versions can even be found cheaper.
It has a very simple optical construction, not to fast with F2.8 and a 5-bladed aperture that could be nicer. I did have some problems focussing on my specimen, as the focus ring was almost stuck going one direction. A little more work and something to fix one day...
It was also the first Carl Zeiss Tessar with “normal” aperture settings.
The lens does provide a nice smooth Bokeh when used in Macro (see the tulip picture below),
All in all a nice lens. Not as sharp as a latest brand-name lens, and not as premium as some of my other older lenses, but not to bad either. Nice retro looks and solid metal feel to it, a little big (wide) for a 50mm, and a tad to slow. But nice to have in your collection. Hope to try some other Carl Zeiss lenses soon.
Lens Specification:
Focal Length: 50mm
Maximum Aperture: F2.8
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: M42
Optics: 4 elements, 3 groups
Blades: 5
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 35cm
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 170g
Length: 35mm - 47mm
Production: 1963 - 1967
Serial Number: 8831566
Made in: Germany
Tessar
Maximum Aperture: F2.8
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: M42
Optics: 4 elements, 3 groups
Blades: 5
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 35cm
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 170g
Length: 35mm - 47mm
Production: 1963 - 1967
Serial Number: 8831566
Made in: Germany
Tessar
The Tessar, a camera lens designed in 1902 by Paul Rudolph, is normally used as a standard lens. Versions of it have been fitted to many millions of cameras.
The basic design consists of four elements in three groups; the front element is positive, bi-convex (with the rear almost flat), the central a negative bi-concave and, following an aperture, at the rear is a cemented doublet of plano-concave and a bi-convex elements. The original design had a maximum aperture of f/6.3, but the developments in design allowed f/2.8 by 1930.
In addition to production by Carl Zeiss, the Tessar name and design (under license) was used in the production of numerous lenses by Bausch & Lomb, Ross and Krauss.
The Tessar design has been widely copied by nearly all major optics companies.
Samples:
MB Photography
Vintage Camera Lenses
CameraPedia
The basic design consists of four elements in three groups; the front element is positive, bi-convex (with the rear almost flat), the central a negative bi-concave and, following an aperture, at the rear is a cemented doublet of plano-concave and a bi-convex elements. The original design had a maximum aperture of f/6.3, but the developments in design allowed f/2.8 by 1930.
In addition to production by Carl Zeiss, the Tessar name and design (under license) was used in the production of numerous lenses by Bausch & Lomb, Ross and Krauss.
The Tessar design has been widely copied by nearly all major optics companies.
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Vintage Camera Lenses
CameraPedia
Thank you for not being the typical web reviewer and complaining it is a "slow lens." Idiots. This is a 1902 lens design!!! And in 1930, 2.8 was lightening fast. Almost unheard of. I hate idiots who compare these vintage designs to modern lenses. it begs the question- Why would these fools eben be interested in them? In any case, you are one of the good reviewers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I often use "slower" lenses that feel "faster" then other lenses with better f-stops. The number is not always the only thing that maters.
ReplyDeleteI have this lens, mine is also really hard to turn in one direction but easier going the other way. Did you ever figure out what the issue was? Great lens by the way. I payed $5 for mine.
ReplyDeleteI have this lense, the serial number is different? I searched the serial number but nothing will come up? 8337086?
ReplyDeleteEach serial number is unique to a specific lens. and if you you know the secret formula, could help you to know more about original manufacturer, time of manufacturing, technical details of a series, etc... but for most manufacturers, this information is unknown or lost. See my section on Vivitar as an example.
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