expert Contax opinion requested

dexdog

dexdog

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The following lens is posted on eBay. Standard disclaimer, i.e., no connection with the seller.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZEISS-OPTON-TES...537417335QQcategoryZ30028QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Is this lens legitimate? I am only asking because it is kinda rare, and I have never seen one in person. It has the standard "Made in Germany" engraved on the lens base, a Zeiss-Opton front ring, and looks just like the one displayed in book on Contax cameras. Whaddya think?
 
The 50/3.5 Tessar was badged as Carl Zeiss Jena, Carl Zeiss, and Zeiss Opton -- it is legit. I expect this lens will close for $300 to $400; often a better deal can be found by buying a camera with the 50/3.5 included. I bought a 50/3.5 this way and paid about the same for the lens with a very nice IIa CD attached (and other extras) :). Good luck if you are going for it!
 
Honu-Hugger is correct. That appears to be the real thing.

A small correction, though: that particular (rigid) version of the 50/3.5 Tessar was only produced in W. Germany under the "Zeiss-Opton" & "Carl Zeiss" names. AFAIK, Carl Zeiss Jena in E. Germany made a collapsible 50/3.5 Tessar that resembles the pre-WWII collapsible 50/2.8 & 50/3.5 Tessars, but didn't make a rigid version.
 
I am glad these guys answered. I saw this lens earlier this weekend and it looked good to me, but I am far from an expert. I have noticed that this seller has offered a few LTM Sonnars in the past. I don't know if they are all legit as it seems odd that one seller would have a stock of them, but again, I would not know for sure.
 
expert Contax opinion

expert Contax opinion

yeah, it makes me drool too...

I am considering making a last minute bid on it this AM. Thanks for the replies everyone!
 
dex:

FYI, if the 'bay doesn't come through for you, I have an extra Tessar (same version) I can sell you (Carl Zeiss or Zeiss-Opton, take your pick). Since you're local, you could even see it in person!

dexdog said:
yeah, it makes me drool too...

I am considering making a last minute bid on it this AM. Thanks for the replies everyone!
Click to expand...
 
expert Contax opinion requested

furcafe, I wish I had known this about 90 minutes earlier! I would like the opportnity to buy from an RFF member when possible (we're all such friendly folks, ya know). I ended up buying the eBay lens for $301. Thanks for the offer anyway. You would happen to have a spare 35mm orthometar sitting around, would you? (although I would settle for a 25mm topogon, too).

Dexdog
 
Don't take this the wrong way - what is so special about the West German rigid Tessar 50/3.5 in Contax mount? I mean, half the cameras I own have Tessars or copies of the Tessar. The Contaflex Super B has the recomputed 50/2.8 and usually sells for $100 or less.

???
 
A lot of the vintage Zeiss Ikon gear and lenses have entered the realm of collectibles. And once you get collectors involved, price is no object.
 
Mike Kovacs said:
Don't take this the wrong way - what is so special about the West German rigid Tessar 50/3.5 in Contax mount? I mean, half the cameras I own have Tessars or copies of the Tessar. The Contaflex Super B has the recomputed 50/2.8 and usually sells for $100 or less.

???
Click to expand...
Along with the market being moved by collectors the Tessar has its own unique qualities. The 50/3.5 is also apochromatically correct, although I have never been able to discern if this was intended or coincidental (it was a very low price lens when sold new). It is also very good for macro work.

This is a funny occurrence when collectors enter the market: the 50/1.5 Sonnar, 35/2.8 Biogon, and 85/2 Sonnar are generally considered to be superior designs to the 50mm Tessar's, 35mm Planar, Orthometar, and Biometar, and the 85mm Triotar. Contaxes were expensive cameras when sold new and most consumers equipped them with the best lenses which were of consequence produced in greater numbers. The lenses that have been considered to be lower quality and were produced in lower quantities now command a premium because of their scarcity.
 
After WW II there was a legal problem which was taken to the Court in regard of the use of the name Carl Zeiss in both lenses and other optical products. The Court ruled that only the Zeiss Ikon company (in West Germany) was allowed to use the name Carl Zeiss and Zeiss Ikon in their products, and the factories which belonged to the ZI group but remained in East Germany were not allowed to use them anymore. During the trial period, the lenses made in WGermany were marked Zeiss Opton, to diferentiate them from those made in E Germany which were still marked Carl Zeiss Jena.
 
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