Old Distagon 50mm (1971) or older (1966) ?

[sergio caetano]

I am thinking about purchasing a Hassel Distagon 50mm. I have a 60mm. I have two offers; one, lens was made in 1971 (US$425) and another, lens was made in 1966 (US$285).
Does anybody know whether there is some difference in lens quality between these 5 years which must be considered for decision ?
Another item for my decision is the use of filters (once Hasselblad created a quite non rational filter system for this lens), but that is under my control; I will just test if it fits one of my 67mm filters, if it doesn't, I won't buy.

Thanks a lot

(Sergio Caetano)

 

[Q.G.]

The lens design is the same.
So are the barrel and shutter they are in.

The only difference could be in the coating: T vs. T*.
The 1966 lens will have the T coating (single layer). The change from that to T* coating (multi layer) happened at about the time the second lens you mention was made. So you will have to look or ask if it has T or T* coating (it must say so, in red, on the barrel).

Apart from that, it's a matter of age and associated wear.


Series filters were the common thing back in those days. So using Series VIII filters for this lens isn't as strange as it may look now, so many years later.
But yes, it can make life difficult.

 

[luvcameras]

Hassy Lens Price guide Dead Link Removed

Dan

 

[Sirius Glass]

The lens design is the same.
So are the barrel and shutter they are in.

The only difference could be in the coating: T vs. T*.
The 1966 lens will have the T coating (single layer). The change from that to T* coating (multi layer) happened at about the time the second lens you mention was made. So you will have to look or ask if it has T or T* coating (it must say so, in red, on the barrel).

Apart from that, it's a matter of age and associated wear.


Series filters were the common thing back in those days. So using Series VIII filters for this lens isn't as strange as it may look now, so many years later.
But yes, it can make life difficult.

What he said.

The chrome older lenses will take a B-50 filter; the [newer] black lenses will take a B-60 filter. If you stick to one flavor or the other, the filters will all be the same size, with a few excepts.

Steve

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

What he said.

The chrome older lenses will take a B-50 filter; the [newer] black lenses will take a B-60 filter. If you stick to one flavor or the other, the filters will all be the same size, with a few excepts.

Steve

The 50mm lens didn't take bayonet filters until the CF version came out, which used B60. The older versions the OP is looking at do not have a bayonet filter mount, nor do they have filter threads. They use 'series' filters that drop into a receptacle on the front of the lens and are held in place by a screw in retaining ring that comes with the lens.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The 50mm lens didn't take bayonet filters until the CF version came out, which used B60. The older versions the OP is looking at do not have a bayonet filter mount, nor do they have filter threads. They use 'series' filters that drop into a receptacle on the front of the lens and are held in place by a screw in retaining ring that comes with the lens.

OH. Ok I learned something new today.

Steve