• From: Sydney Australia
  • Registered: 2007-02-07
  • Posts: 17

Topic: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8 online. Unfortunately, I think I overpayed because I got mixed up with currency conversions when bidding. 28 pounds. ($AU70.00) or is that a steal?

Does anyone have one of these babies? I heard they aren't that as sharp as expected? And if possible, could someboy post some examples of shots taken with it?

- Rich -

Last edited by metroside (2007-02-07 20:33:56)

My Gear:  Canon EOS D60 , EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6, EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Super-Takumar 135mm/1:3,5, Super-Takumar 55mm/f1.8, Vivitar Zoom 75-205mm/f3.8, Helios 44M 58/2, Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50/2.8, Helios 44-2 58/2, Protonar 28mm f.28, Rikenon 35mm f2.8, Meyer-Optik Domiplan 50/2.8, Cosinon 55mm f2.8

My Gallery: http://www.metroside.com/default.asp?pa … ;docID=197

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  • From: UK - up north
  • Registered: 2006-02-23
  • Posts: 4,025

Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Rich wrote:

Does anyone have one of these babies?  And if possible, could someboy post some examples of shots taken with it?

Sharp and contrasty when stopped down, not so hot wide open. Take a look at my web site and go to the section on the Railways of Boldon. The photos of the railway station and signal box were taken with an Exa fitting Tessar f2.8 50mm.

Canon 450D, 5D II - Sig f4-5.6 10-20, Sig f4 100-300, f4 70-200L, f2.8 24-70L, F2.4 35 Flek, f1.4 50 Tak, 135 f3.5 SMC Tak, Tamron SP 28-80, Sig 24 f2.4.
Pentax ME Super, MX - K fit lenses 24-500 mm.   Exa 500 50 f2.8 Tessar,  Lydith 30. Olympus OM-1, OM-10
Rolleicord V, Bronica ETRSi Zenzanon 50, 75 and 150mm.
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  • Orio
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  • Registered: 2006-11-28
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Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

The best quality of this lens is the bokeh, not the sharpness.
As for price, I'm afraid that you overpaid a bit. But in the end it all comes down to how much you will enjoy it. If you do enjoy it, then it's not overpaid.

  • lgrabun
  • Focus: Way Over There
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  • Registered: 2006-09-23
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Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

28 pounds seems to be a bit overprices, indeed. But it's pretty good lens anyway and worth having in a collection so I wouldn't think too hard on it and enjoyed it if I were you.

Here a shot taken with Olympus E-1 and Tessar 50/2.8. I'd like to say it was shot wide open but I can't recall it right now. The picture was taken in RAW mode and output JPG is unmodified.

http://grabun.com/tmp/tessar/

Lukasz Grabun http://grabun.com/

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  • From: Sydney Australia
  • Registered: 2007-02-07
  • Posts: 17

Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Thanks Guys, nice shots by the way.....I'm looking forward to testing the lens out against my Helios 44M, that I picked up recently for a few dollars. Should be a good match up.

- Rich -

My Gear:  Canon EOS D60 , EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6, EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Super-Takumar 135mm/1:3,5, Super-Takumar 55mm/f1.8, Vivitar Zoom 75-205mm/f3.8, Helios 44M 58/2, Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50/2.8, Helios 44-2 58/2, Protonar 28mm f.28, Rikenon 35mm f2.8, Meyer-Optik Domiplan 50/2.8, Cosinon 55mm f2.8

My Gallery: http://www.metroside.com/default.asp?pa … ;docID=197

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  • buze
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  • Registered: 2005-08-10
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Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Most Tessars will be very sharp at f8-f11. Before that, only the center is sharp. At f2.8 I wouldn't expect any wonder big_smile

Canon 5DII and a few lens -- Tachihara 8x10. Chamonix 45N-1, Crown Graphic 4x5. Moskva, Zeiss Super Ikonta C
Bronica S2A, Agfa Super Isolette, Iskra, Rolleiflex. Leica M2, Bessa R, Zorki 1,3,3M and a few more...
  • papi
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  • Registered: 2006-11-14
  • Posts: 227

Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Take a look on this gallery http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/german/zeiss/tessar/

Nikkor 50mm 1.4/50 ,Nikkor 3.5/135mm, Nikkor 4/200mm,Nikkor 4,5/300mm
  • From: Sydney Australia
  • Registered: 2007-02-07
  • Posts: 17

Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Thanks for the info. Once I receive it I will post up some of my first shots that I take with it....

My Gear:  Canon EOS D60 , EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6, EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Super-Takumar 135mm/1:3,5, Super-Takumar 55mm/f1.8, Vivitar Zoom 75-205mm/f3.8, Helios 44M 58/2, Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50/2.8, Helios 44-2 58/2, Protonar 28mm f.28, Rikenon 35mm f2.8, Meyer-Optik Domiplan 50/2.8, Cosinon 55mm f2.8

My Gallery: http://www.metroside.com/default.asp?pa … ;docID=197

metroside's Website

  • peterqd
  • Focus: Way Over There
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  • From: High Wycombe, UK
  • Registered: 2006-11-08
  • Posts: 394

Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Hi Rich, welcome to the forum.

I've been taking a peek at your gallery, very nice.  My son (also Rich) is in Sydney and we went to see him last April.  Lots of your pictures brought back memories - Manly, Wollongong and Kiama in particular.  I'm looking forward very much to seeing more of your pictures around Sydney.

Peter

  • From: Sydney Australia
  • Registered: 2007-02-07
  • Posts: 17

Re: Just picked up a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm / 2.8

Thanks Peter, I should post some more of my shots from around the coast. I'm glad you are enjoying them!

Well I receive my CZ Jena DDR 50 / 2.8 in the post yesterday. Here is my first shot that I took with it. I took a shot of my Helios 44M. It seems I have a few scratchs on it...:o

http://www.metroside.com/metroside/data/images/Picture003.jpg

My Gear:  Canon EOS D60 , EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6, EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Super-Takumar 135mm/1:3,5, Super-Takumar 55mm/f1.8, Vivitar Zoom 75-205mm/f3.8, Helios 44M 58/2, Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50/2.8, Helios 44-2 58/2, Protonar 28mm f.28, Rikenon 35mm f2.8, Meyer-Optik Domiplan 50/2.8, Cosinon 55mm f2.8

My Gallery: http://www.metroside.com/default.asp?pa … ;docID=197

metroside's Website