Zeiss Sonnar Opton 50 f2, original?

[mkok]

Hi,
I would like to know if this lens (I've bought...) is an original Zeiss, because of the rear element of the lens is quite different than the usual.
Thank for answers.

 

[jarski]

it can be either "Jena" (on lens) or "Opton" (on subject), not both. so something does not match.

 

[sevo]

That is no Opton (Zeiss Oberkochen, West Germany) lens, but a Zeiss Jena (GDR) lens from around 1953-54.

The former have never been faked, being entirely incompatible to all generations of Jena lenses and their Soviet offspring. And so far I haven't come across fake 50's GDR Sonnars either. The effort needed for a reasonably convincing imitation of a post barrel redesign lens would be out of proportion to the modest value of a GDR f/2 Contax Sonnar - even repairs with Jupiter parts would be hardly worth while. So that will in all probability be the real Jena thing.

 

[Highway 61]

It's an original and genuine postwar CZJ Sonnar 50/2 T.

It's made of light alloy outside and alodine inside (hardened alloy which matches aeronautics specs.).

The triple retaining rings of the rear optical element and the thick lens mount locking tab are typical of this series.

I have the very same lens and it's by far the best Contax mount Sonnar that I own.

Their production started in 1946 to match the so-called "Jena Contax II" cameras (produced in Saalfeld) and their production went on until the early 1950's to fit the early Contax IIa and IIIa bodies, at a time when the Oberkochen Zeiss plant hadn't begun the Opton lenses production.

EDIT : some of them randomly had a chrome brass outer barrel, which seems to be the case on this one given the shape of the lens mount locking tab, similar to the one of all the other Sonnars.

 

[mkok]

Thank you all for the answers.
I was perplexed because of the exterior rear element is black instead of crome
as the most sonnar lens I've have seen till now, and in this lens I think there isn't the typical written "Made in Germany" as the lens posted under....
What are the difference between the "T" Carl Zeiss Jena "Sonnar" and Zeiss Opton "Sonnar"?

Regards

Rocco

 

[sevo]

Zeiss Jena, being in the GDR, was not permitted to use "Made in Germany", at least on exports to Western Block countries - you'll see that only on Opton/Carl Zeiss Oberkochen (or pre GDR) lenses.

Both the Opton and the late (brass) Jena lenses were made for the Contax IIa/IIIa (Jena filling the gap until Oberkochen could produce sufficient volumes - at that time, the holding still claimed ownership of both Zeiss even though they had lost much of their control over the Eastern half). They are not parts compatible with each other, nor with the earlier alloy Sonnar or the Jupiter-8 and -8M (but the GDR lens is a bit closer to the original).

 

[mkok]

So the Zeiss Opton has a collectible value higher than Zeiss Jena (GDR), but what about the performances?
are both useful with Amedeo's adapter for Leica M?

 

[sevo]

So the Zeiss Opton has a collectible value higher than Zeiss Jena (GDR),

I don't know whether it actually has - there were far more of them made than of the Jena one, and its "from the good side" advantage of cold war times must be wearing off by now as well. But either are more widespread than original Contax body caps, so their collectible value will always be limited...

but what about the performances?
are both useful with Amedeo's adapter for Leica M?

No difference.

Sevo