Sonnar 50/1.5 for Contax question

[dyao]

This came up for sale locally, what appears to be a late postwar Sonnar:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48860592@N02/4826722201/in/set-72157624453835591/

The seller claims the glass is nearly-perfect. How much would you pay for it (lens + B+W filter + Amadeo Leica M adapter)?

Thanks

 

[Highway 61]

It seems that there is some of the infamous late postwar Carl Zeiss rainbow cement separation in this one, on the "Sonnar 1:1,5 f = 50 mm" edge.

 

[splitimageview]

I paid $75 for my CZO 50/1.5 with perfect glass, and a barrel in similar shape. Mine has some brassing on the front edge. Amedeo adapters are $220 shipped. Looks like that one has an original cap and shade, which may be of value to collectors.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I should add that, more than a year later, the adapter CZ 50/1.5 remains my absolute favorite lens, for any camera system, and it has been for quite some time.

 

[dyao]

Thanks for the help guys, the seller's price is way too high (around $900)

 

[splitimageview]

I should add that, more than a year later, the adapted CZ 50/1.5 remains my absolute favorite lens, for any camera system, and it has been for quite some time.

Ditto. The one lens I'll never sell, I think I've said that a few times in various threads. 🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The 50/1.5's Carl Zeiss and Carl Zeiss Optons are going up in price, probably tahnks to the M9, u43, and Amedeo. $150~200 is reasonable for the lens, many Ebay sellers are shooting for $300+.

My last one ran $50, it was a parts lens with no front element. I had a spare, works great. It will be my project lens for an LTM or M-Mount conversion. Have not given up.

 

[raid]

The 50 1.5 CZJ adapter to LTM is used by me more than any other lens, and I have many to choose from. It is always surprising me how good such an old is. It is a bargain buy, in my opinion.

I have today a CZ Opton on an M6 using an Amedeo adapter.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The uncoated Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 is my favorite, like Raid's- converted to LTM. Coincidence? Separated at Birth?

 

[Highway 61]

I have today a CZ Opton on an M6 using an Amedeo adapter.

Raid - there is no "CZ Opton".

Carl Zeiss Jena
Carl Zeiss Jena T
Zeiss Opton (for a few early postwar uncoated Tessar lenses mounted on Zeiss Ikon folding MF cameras - doesn't regard the Contax series)
Zeiss Opton T
Carl Zeiss

And that's it.

 

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

my Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50/1,5 is a pre-1945, "red-T " one.

Its serial no. is 2520013, on the front ring; on the rear ring, the no. is 520013.

I need to say that it's one of the best 50mm. lenses I've ever used, if not the best. I also use the Jupiter 3 (same design and maximum aperture, but arriving to f:22, instead of CZJ's F:16), both with Contax and 39x1 mount, the first, serial no. 6008917, the second, no. 5803651 (from a 1958 Leningrad camera outfit). The Jupiter 3, as already said in other threads, is capable of nearly excellent performances.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That Sonnar 'T' of yours is one of the early ones, and i have seen uncoated Sonnars with a later Serial number- 254xxxx. Soon after your batch, the Sonnar "T" went to F22 like the J-3.

Here are some shots with my SN267xxxx lens, converted to Leica mount using a J-3 focus mount. This lens goes to F22, and seems to by 1939 vintage according to some SN guides.

 

[Elmar Lang]

Actually, my Sonnar 50/1,5 closes a step more than f:16, although the step is not market on the ring. Maybe, it's an transitional piece, from the older minimum aperture, to the new one. The mount is bright chrome-finished brass.

Just a question: why, in the collectors' community, serial nos. are quoted with the initial numbers followed by "x"s? Personally, giving the complete serial no. of a lens can be highly informative.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Because I am not looking at the lens and cannot remember all of the digits. I remember just enough to tell mine apart. 175, 201, 267, 272, 285, 286, 305. I can't remember the Opton ones. They changed the scheme.

 

[Xherion]

Hi guys,
What do you think about the new Zeiss Sonnar for S-mount?
Is the performance much better than the zeiss opton? Because the price definitely is much higher.

Or should i stick to looking for the opton?
Thanks.

 

[Doug]

Hi guys,
What do you think about the new Zeiss Sonnar for S-mount?

This is a limited-production mount variation, basically the same lens as the recent C-Sonnar ZM for Leica mount, and produced in Japan.

 

[Highway 61]

Hi guys,
What do you think about the new Zeiss Sonnar for S-mount?
Is the performance much better than the zeiss opton? Because the price definitely is much higher.

Or should i stick to looking for the opton?
Thanks.

What Doug wrote, plus it's made for the Nikon rangefinder mount and won't focus accurately enough at close distance and wide-open when mounted on a Contax camera.

Okay I know about what some "experts" have said OTOH... 🙄

 

[ZeissFan]

Plus, the newer lens should have better lens coating, which should make it more resistant to light flare.