leica M2 fan
Veteran
when this Carl Zeiss 50/1.5 in chrome was made: 18864xx? I just came across it at a reasonable price. It's in tremendous shape and I'll be shooting with it tomorrow. 
leica M2 fan
Veteran
I did some searching on this same site and I believe the year was 1936. For 73 years old this lens is in fantastic shape. It is coated, probably after market since the lens doesn't have the Red "T".
ZeissFan
Veteran
Is this a 5cm lens or a 50mm lens? Is it marked Carl Zeiss or Carl Zeiss Jena? And what's the aperture range? Also, what's the physical construction -- what does it look like?
leica M2 fan
Veteran
Mike, thanks for your response:
The lens has 50mm inscribed and marked Carl Zeiss. The aperture range is 1.5- 16 with no click stops and has 11 leaves in the diaphragm. The lens is chrome and very solid and heavy.
The lens has 50mm inscribed and marked Carl Zeiss. The aperture range is 1.5- 16 with no click stops and has 11 leaves in the diaphragm. The lens is chrome and very solid and heavy.
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dexdog
Veteran
ZeissFan asked the questions needed to ID the lens. Lenses marked Carl Zeiss are post-WW2, made in Oberkochen, West Germany. They are not engraved with a red T because at this point in time, all Zeiss lenses were coated. Also, the switch from 5cm to 50mm focal length is a post-war thing. The change from lenses marked Zeiss-Opton to Carl Zeiss happened in 1954, so yours is later than this date. I am away from home, so can't look your lens up in my copy of John Keesing's book to see if the date of manufacture can be narrowed down.
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leica M2 fan
Veteran
Thanks Dexdog for your input. It would be good to know when this lens was made and where. Thanks again.