Postwar Sonnar History

[ferider]

Hi,

Can somebody do me a favor and summarize the different flavors the Contax mount 50/1.5, please ? Zeiss, Zeiss Jena, Opton, etc.

Thanks !

Roland.

 

[Hatchetman]

This is a place to start: http://www.cameraquest.com/conrf.htm

 

[Highway 61]

Postwar ?

If so, three models.

Immediate postwar : Carl Zeiss Jena. Not many were made. They were made to match the first series of the Contax IIa (agreement between the two branches of Carl Zeiss optics). Aluminum barrel, brass inside.
Then, Zeiss Opton produced at Oberkochen. Brass inside and out.
Afterwards, Carl Zeiss, still produced at Oberkochen. Brass inside and out. Those are now infamous for having separation problems due to a questionable synthetic cement used.

All have the same optical formula and all perform the same way.

 

[ferider]

Postwar ? If so, three models. Immediate postwar : Carl Zeiss Jena. Not many were made. They were made to match the first series of the Contax IIa (agreement between the two branches of Carl Zeiss optics). Aluminum barrel, brass inside. Then, Zeiss Opton produced at Oberkochen. Brass inside and out. Afterwards, Carl Zeiss, still produced at Oberkochen. Brass inside and out. Those are now infamous for having separation problems due to a questionable synthetic cement used. All have the same optical formula and all perform the same way.

Perfect. Thanks !

 

[uhoh7]

I had my 1937 CZJ out the other day on M9:

Zeiss Buddha by unoh7, on Flickr

79 years old now 🙂

A bit dreamy WO above but at 2.8:


Peeling Bricks by unoh7, on Flickr