Old Zeiss Lens

[mkmiller]

Anyone know anything about a Carl Zeiss Jena 16.5cm 1:2.7? It is in a helical mount. Just wondering if it is a decent performer? Its a tessar, I assume it will cover 4x5.

 

[df cardwell]

STATE OF THE ART ... in 1930. It's a press lens, and it's safe to assume it will be better on 3x4 than 4x5. Before coatings made the double-gauss designs workable, there was improvement in Tessar speed from f/6.3 to f/4.5, and eventually to f/2.7. But don't expect razor sharp images wide open --- it was simply meant to make a well exposed image in poor light. Have fun, see what it'll do !

 

[Ole]

F:2.7 is a lot for such a long Tessar, are you sure that's what it is?

Tessars were generally made in f:2.8 (up to 60mm), F:3.5 (to 120mm) or f:4.5 (135mm and up, occasionally f:6.3 for longer than 360mm).

A 165mm Tessar would be a normal lens for "post card size", 10x15cm, and would cover that with a little movements.

 

[Steve Hamley]

I have one, in sunken mount. It's uncoated, soft wide open, and not particularly sharp stopped down, but it is fast. It will cover 4x5 with some falloff. If you want a softer rendition for portraits, its fine. For general photography there are lots better choices, especially since these speed lenses have been bringing high dollar. Lens and Repro has one for (a looong time) at $600. I paid $45 for mine. if you're doing general photography, sell it or trade for a 150 Apo Sironar N or S, or 150 Apo Symmar.

It's a direct fit for a Compound #4 which houses a 32cm f:5.5 Xenar which also fits a 21cm f:3.5 Xenar. The Compound #4 is relatively rare compared to #3 or even #5 shutters.



Steve

 

[mkmiller]

Thanks for the info. I just bought an old 5x7 and it came with. I don't have it yet and didn't know anything about it. (but I figured there was no way it would cover 5x7)

 

[mkmiller]

What a heavy hunk of glass and metal! I put it up in the classifieds if anyone wants it. I can't think of anything I would use it for.

 

[bennoj]

I just picked up a similar lens - 12cm, f/4.5 Tessar in a helical mount - just because it looked unusual and was pretty cheap at a local antique shop. I thought it might be interesting to play around with. Any thoughts on what I might get out of it?

The aperture scale runs 4.5-6.3-9-12-18-25-36. I assume this is the older aperture scale the name of which I can never remember. Can someone point me to a conversion chart? I'm pretty sure I saw one several years ago somewhere on the net (Or at least remind me what to call that aperture scale so I can search myself.).

 

[Dan Fromm]

Benno, the aperture scale goes in full stop intervals, starting from wide open. They're normal ordinary f/ numbers. f/5.6 will be midway between f/4.5 and f/6.3. Gotta be a little flexible.

 

[bennoj]

Thanks, Dan. Plenty of flexibility here, but something about the progression of the stops made me recall the other f/stop scale.

 

[jolefler]

Just curious, Ole....I have a 165 f3.5 CZTessar (uncoated) that used to be in a helical cone shaped focussing mount as well. Anyone hazard a guess on decade of mfg.? Just haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but it's remounted and ready. Where does all my time disappear?

Jo