Zeiss Biotar 40mm for Robots?

[hlpgtf]

Has anyone shot with this lens (preferably the uncoated version of it), either on a Robot camera or on digital? I'm thinking about getting one to use on my NEX, but can't find much in terms of hands-on use. Sample photos would be great, of course. Thanks.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've used one, but not for decades, and mostly for B+W. I recall it as moderate contrast, reasonable sharpness, nothing remarkable. It would take forever to find sample pics: sorry.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

Has anyone shot with this lens (preferably the uncoated version of it), either on a Robot camera or on digital? I'm thinking about getting one to use on my NEX, but can't find much in terms of hands-on use. Sample photos would be great, of course. Thanks.

I see the Zeiss as Biotar as a collectible and something perhaps to mount on early Robots (I and early II with the O mounts) and not much more--- the later Schneider objectives don't fit. If one has one its, of course, interesting to mount them on one's digital toys but I would not consider it terribly wise to purchase one for the expressed purpose of using them on a digital camera. Among the Zeiss Robot objectives of this era--- 30mm and 37,5mm Xenar, 40mm Biotar and 75mm Sonar--- its probably the less photographically interesting. In its day the whole advantage of the Biotar was speed. Films one need recall were slow and grainy. I do not own nor have I tried one of the rare coated Biotars but in their day most people choose the Schneider Xenon over the Biotar--- and for colour (Agfa introduced color photography in the early to mid-1930s) the Schneider Xenon was considered the "upgrade".

 

[bowieknife]

Hi, I have an uncoated ( ca 1939 ) Biotar on my Robot 2, scale focusing only, at f/2.0 pics aren't really sharp, also lack contrast. My postwar coated Xenon 40mm is much better. The Biotar is a collectible and therefore demands high prices. I tried it with an adapter on M39 Barnacks, but it vignettes on 24x36 and pics aren't remarquable. On the Sony Nex (APS-C format sensor ) results are quite good. While most C-mount lenses will vignette, or give a circular image on the Nex, the M26 Robot lenses are usable. The later Robot Royal lenses would be an even better choice, if you can find an adapter.
Cheers