Junk Store Find - Zeiss Tessar, Rotopol, Filters

[slim-jm]

I am rather new to rangefinders, so please forgive my ignorance. I have been looking over the internet and have found little to no information on the following items.

I went into this junk store and found a Carl Zeiss Jena Nr. 3642104 Tessar 1:3,5 f=50mm T (in red). The lens says "Germany" on it and the distance scale is in feet only. There is also some writing or engraving on the outer ring of the lens, it came with a lens hood and a series V filter from Kodak. The mount is a bayonet style vs. screw and the aperture is stepless from f3.5 to 22. I can't find anything about this lens, and I assume this fits a Contax, but which one?

I also found a set of six series #4 filters made by Tiffen in a little leather case. There are three each of a drop-in red and blue filter, such as R-3 or B-12. They are quite tiny, about the size of a dime or penny and I guess you would use them with an adapter or mount of some sort that would screw in or slip on the lens. Would these have fit a Rollieflex or something else?

I also found a polarizer that fits the Zeiss lens and it says HCE Rotopol, is a series V size and comes in a little zippered case. I'm not quite sure how this would work in terms of polarizing light like a polarizer does on a SLR. Anyone?

If anyone has information on these items, I would certainly appreciate it if you could let me know or lead me in the right direction. Thanks.

Jim

 

[wlewisiii]

Does the Tessar look anything like this one: http://kevincameras.com/gallery/albvv52

William

 

[RObert Budding]

Could you post a photo of the lens?

Robert

 

[bmattock]

Because it has a red T and because you said it was a type of bayonet mount, I am going to take a SWAG and say I think it might be a CJZ Tessar 50mm f3.5 T for an Exakta SLR. I'd have to see a photo to know for sure. I have a similar lens in M42 screw mount - currently disassembled. The red "T" indicates that the lens has an anti-glare coating, I believe. Later Carl Zeiss lenses have a T*, which is their famous multi-coating. The red T would make the lens post-WWII, I believe.

I am not familiar at all with Contax lenses, so somebody step in here and tell me if I'm way off base.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - And welcome to the rangefinder community!

 

[slim-jm]

I think you might have got it Bill. I looked at Kevin's lens and it doesn't look like his. I found a site with some Exacta SLRs and the lens looks pretty much identical to one mounted on an Exacta II from the late 40's. I've never seen an SLR lens that was so small. I think it might have been a US export since the measurements are given in feet. I may try to contact the guy that has the Exacta site to query him.

Does anyone have a clue about the filters or the Rotopol? I will try to get some pictures to post later. Thanks for the replies so far.

Jim

 

[pshinkaw]

I have the Exakta version of the CZJ Tessar 50/3.5. Since it's an SLR lens, it has a focusing mount. I do not think that that the Contax lens should have a focusing mount since the focusing mechanism is in the body.

Incidentally, many Exaktra users consider the f3.5 to be the sharpest of the Exakta Tessars, at equivalent f-stops it is reputed to be better than the later f2.8.

-Paul