Just scored a Tessar 50/3.5 collapsible

[Joerg]

Hi,

I just scored a 50/3.5 collapsible (black nickel) Tessar on Ebay.
Now for the exciting part :
the serial number indicates that the lens is from 1931!!! Of course that makes it uncoated 🙄
It seems to be 3 years older than my dad 😀

Pics to follow......

Ciao

Joerg
(in Very Excited, MA)

 

[Ash]

Congrats... you need a Contax-I to stick it on now! 😀

 

[peter_n]

Joerg you are becoming quite the collector!

 

[Joerg]

Joerg you are becoming quite the collector!

Peter,

not a collector just an amasser.....😱
Some stuff will have to go soon....

Thanks Ash, but the IIa will have to do...😀


Ciao

Joerg

 

[back alley]

this is for a contax, i assume?
tell me more about the lens as i know nothing.

and i AM interested in the stuff that has to go soon 😉

joe

 

[rover]

this is for a contax, i assume?
tell me more about the lens as i know nothing.

and i AM interested in the stuff that has to go soon 😉

joe

How come you always beat me to that last statement.

I picked up a 3.5 Tessar too and it is in line with my lot at Harry's spa (currently #2!!!).

One of the reasons I like Ivor Matanle's books so much are that they are loaded with photographs taken by the equipment he discusses.

(These are my 2 favorite camera books of all time, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...type=ss&index=books&field-author=Ivor Matanle)

Well, in the end, as I flip through, I keep looking at the photographs and consistently am most impressed by those taken with Tessars. To me, these images are the ultimate example of the "classic" look. Sharp but with low contrast, an image that just says 1930. In all formats, the Tessars stand out as appealing to me.

Congratulations Joerg, these are tough to come by, I know you have been looking for a while.

 

[peter_n]

Isn't the current Leica Elmar-M 50mm/f2.8 a derivative of the Tessar design?

 

[rover]

Yes it is. The Zeiss Tessars peaked in performance with the 3.5 lenses. 2.8 was said to be too wide an aperture for the Tessar design. Leitz modified the Tessar in creating their Elmars.

 

[Joerg]

Rover,
thanks.
I usually prefer coated lenses, but the 50/3.5 Elmar surprised me ver yvery positively.
Now I just needed the original ;-)
Does anyone know if collapsing the lens is OK on a IIa?

Joe, you like a camera bag? ;-)

Ciao

Joerg

 

[back alley]

are you selling it already?
or selling the one it replaced?

joe

 

[rover]

I do believe it is OK to collapse the lens, I have a collapsible Tessar and early 2.0 Sonnar so I guess I have to check. I will let you know if I find out different.

 

[Joerg]

are you selling it already?
or selling the one it replaced?

joe

😕 😕

I am thinking of letting a nice 85/2 Canon (just CLA'd) and a lovely 50/1.8 go, just cannot get myself to it right now...
A crumpler 5 Million whatever bag has to go for sure. Just moved the contax gear to the M-Classic bag ....I now it ois heresy....

Ciao

joerg

 

[back alley]

i always liked my canon 85/2 lens, so sharp.
i am tempted but then i think about my very nice hex 90/2.8 that rarely gets used.

if only summer would come...i promise to shoot every day when the temp warms up 🙂

joe

 

[furcafe]

Yes, it's perfectly OK to collapse the Tessars & Sonnars on the IIa & IIIa. The only Contax mount lens that can't be mounted on the IIa/IIIa is the pre-WWII 35/2.8 Biogon (& the post-WWII Jena version & Jupiter copy that are basically just coated versions of the prewar model).

IME, the only thing to worry about w/the old prewar Tessars is that many of them have acquired haze over the years (something that doesn't seem to afflict the Sonnars I've seen for some reason), which can make them a little too low-contrast. If yours is clear, then you're in for a treat. The Tessars on my Super Nettel & Nettax (same lens as that made for the Contax) are some of my favorite lenses (slow, but w/that classic '30s look as rover wrote). You might want to try shooting Velvia or other highly-saturated films w/it.

Does anyone know if collapsing the lens is OK on a IIa?

Joerg

 

[Joerg]

Wow,

great! thansk for the help furcafe.
I assume it is without haze, but we will see.

I am already happy that it is not dark anymore on my way back from work. It helps my willingness to get the camera out and snap a few....

Ciao
Joerg

 

[raid]

How does the Tessar compare with the 3.5 Elmar? Are they similar?

Raid

 

[Joerg]

Raid,

i do not have the tessar yet ;-(

All I know is that the Elmar is based on the Tessar design....
Would be nice to compare the two.....

Ciao

joerg

 

[raid]

Joerg: I love my Elmar 3.5. It really is sharp and classy looking on my Standard Leica. It is special with B&W and with color.

Raid

 

[peter_n]

All I know is that the Elmar is based on the Tessar design....
Would be nice to compare the two.....

Ciao

joerg

Joerg I have an f3.5 Elmar and you are more than welcome to borrow it. 🙂

 

[Joerg]

Joerg I have an f3.5 Elmar and you are more than welcome to borrow it. 🙂

Thanks for the offer Peter!
But I am using one right now (OK in a few minutes) on my stroll back from work.

We really need to catch up......

Ciao

joerg