Info needed on unusual Zeiss 50mm f/2.8

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Gott23

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Hi,

I got lucky on ebay and got a job lot for £10 including a near mint Trip 35 and a Zeiss 50mm lens.

No I'm a bit new to the mounts thing, but I do have some praktica bodies with m42 mount. The lens fits but doesn't allow the mirror to move. I've managed to fit it on my DSLR via an adapter but it's a distance out, and not focusing at infinity.

Furthermore, the labelling of it is unusual in that it's c. Z. Jena and no mention of Germany/ddr on front. (photos below).

Person bought from says stuff was from 50s.

I'm wondering if it's Exa mount? Didn't fit an m39 Fed either.

(checked serial numbers and it dates between 56 and 58, supposedly, so Exa might be it)

Pictures below;

44400381210_330079b406_b.jpg


44400377580_b578cf4c4c_b.jpg
 
It may be in Exakta mount. I have one like it. I also have one that was changed from M42 to ltm.
 
Yeah it's just that it's not fitting any of the m42 mount cameras I have. As I'd the thread is. Longer. If it is an Exa mount it just gives me an excuse to get an Exa. �� (or another adapter..)
 
Gott23 said:
Yeah it's just that it's not fitting any of the m42 mount cameras I have. As I'd the thread is. Longer. If it is an Exa mount it just gives me an excuse to get an Exa. �� (or another adapter..)
Click to expand...


:D

"M42 screw-mount Exas

Additionally, from 1977 to 1987 another Exa line was made: Exa Ib (later renamed to Ic without practically any other changes). This camera was basically an Exa Ia accepting M42 screw-mount lenses (Pentax/Practica standard). Therefore it was not a part of the Exakta/Exa system, although its family relationship with Exa cannot be denied. I decided to add the screw-mount Exas to this list, if only to avoid confusion."

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exa-serial.html


Your lens is much older than 1977 ;)
 
Gott23 said:
Yeah it's just that it's not fitting any of the m42 mount cameras I have. As I'd the thread is. Longer. If it is an Exa mount it just gives me an excuse to get an Exa. �� (or another adapter..)
Click to expand...


Then: You now need a Contax/Praktica/etc. of the 1950s! :D
 
Sumarongi said:
Then: You now need a Contax/Praktica/etc. of the 1950s! :D
Click to expand...

Thank hell this stuff is cheap! 😂

Saying that, even just with some rough test shots this is a beautiful lens for what really was about £1.

Wonderful contrast and circular bokeh. I'm going outside in a bit to give it a proper shot.
 
Re the variants, that's what I figured. Given the split of Germany around that time it was obviously a bit chaotic. So the name they could use probably changed with the weather at times. Just never seen a c.z. Jena one until now.
 
Your lens was quite a bargain! See eBay item number:312336963038; there's a «C.Z.Jena Tessar 2,8/50», Nr. 4766313 :D
 
Given I'd figured it'd be worth 50 that's pretty neat..

Heres a shot I took with it earlier, despite the focus being off.

46220814351_43c53ffe39_k.jpg
 
An m42 lens from the fifties should work on a current m42 body. It’s possible that the lens is simply not adjusted properly and needs to be collimated.

It’s most definitely not an Exakta mount as Exakta is a bayonet system and not a screw-mount.

Carl Zeiss Jena went through many, many naming iterations during the time there was legal wrangling between the Eastern and Western halves of the company. Some lenses don’t have any mention of Zeiss at all and simply say “Jena” on them. It was a big mess for CZJ but they’re all pretty comparable regardless of which version of labeling is used.
 
Pentode said:
An m42 lens from the fifties should work on a current m42 body.
Click to expand...

Basically yes, except those lenses made before implementation of auto-diaphragm; the preset lenses that simply have more flesh can collide with the larger mirrors of later cameras.

[Well, depends what you mean by «current» —— if you mean «(then) contemporary», then a clear yes :)]
 
raid said:
This is my Tessar. It cost $200. Someone machined a beautiful LTM mount for it.


carlzeissfront14176854.jpg
Click to expand...

I also have exactly this type w/red T and 1st Q, but a tad older: #3922xxx — wouldn't have guessed that it's worth that much!
 
This lens will fit early Prakticas - the earliest had no stop down mechanism, and the later models (IV and V) had a button to disengage the stop down mechanism. I have 2 x 58mm f2 Biotars with this type of mount.
 
Sumarongi said:
I also have exactly this type w/red T and 1st Q, but a tad older: #3922xxx — wouldn't have guessed that it's worth that much!
Click to expand...

Is your lens modified to Leica LTM too? Without LTM modification, it may be worth $50.
 
raid said:
This is my Tessar. It cost $200. Someone machined a beautiful LTM mount for it.


carlzeissfront14176854.jpg


carlzeissangleback4176854.jpg
Click to expand...

I have been looking at one of these on e Bay but in the original M42 mount. The thing putting me off is that the Oz / US exchange rate is diabolical, on top of which the rapacious Oz government has put a 10% tax on all eBay sales inbound to Australia. So I have to add about 50% to the US ticket price. Makes it hard to justify buying anything much unless it is an ultra bargain or something I can get no other way.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Carl-Zeiss...h=item260bd7cff7:g:GygAAOSwr4Zb5fSe:rk:6:pf:0

They are nice looking lenses and I imagine would perform well within the limits of a Tessar lens. I also have an LTM copy from Russia. How does yours shoot Raid?
 
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