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Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50/1.8: statements / questions
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:00 pm    Post subject: Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50/1.8: statements / questions Reply with quote
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50/1.8: statements / questions

I got this lens by chance for a few Euro at a flea market. It looked very used and the manual focus was a little bit damaged, so that it was hard-steering. By time I recognized its high picture quality and found, that it can match with my Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35/2.4, which is "the reference" in my M42-collection. So I bought as a connaisseur a second version, mint.

Recherches in the web confirmed my subjective view. But I found over and over two statements, which I will discuss here:

(1) It was stated, that the nostalgic Jena-Pancolar is nearly equal to the Zeiss/West-Planar nowadays. People bought an expensive new lens and were disappointed. The see only a slight progress in contrast.
Examples:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7qf7h/zeiss/pancolar.html
http://slrlensreview.com/content/view/398/94/
http://www.lupomesky.cz/czj_vs_cz/comp50.html
As a Pancolar owner, I hear this with delight, but a voice inside is warning: "dont´t believe what you are wishing to hear - stay critical!"

(2) It was stated, that the Jena-Pancolar would be good, but much cheaper japanease lenses like the Pentacon would do the same job.
Example:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=26118725
Here I have the suspection, that it might give differences between several Pancolar variations and/or variations in quality ("spread of standard factory models"). Especially I assume a difference between the old "zebra-design" and newer black designs (some have only an aperture range from 1.8 to 16 instead of 1.8 to 22).
What people didn´t value enough too is the tight focus minimum of the Pancolar with 35cm. This is a precious attribute, it shares with the Flectogon 35/2.4. All the other fast 50mm-lenses beginn with 45cm, usually 50cm, which is a valid con.

So I own a fine trias "Flektogon - Pancolar - Sonnar", which is fitting for many photographic tasks. Cool
The only thing I have to bear, is the awful zebra-design of the Pancolar and a missing real wide-range prime-lens (here I use my Sigma 15-30/3.5-4.5 EX DG)... Confused

Last edited by Retro on Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:01 pm; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Pancolar 50mm f1.8 one of the best 50mm lens. Zebra design is beautiful!


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila, I like you very much, but:
Quote:
Zebra design is beautiful!

Umph!!! Shocked Confused Rolling Eyes

So what: "chacun a sont gout". Arrow Wink


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Laughing All people have different opinion from different things , this is all right.I love zebra and other old designs.


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Retro

I use that Sigma and find it to be a surprisingly good lens especially down at the wide end. Embarassed

patrickh


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Once again for Attila.
That´s the solution for me:
Every time I use the Zebra-Pancolar, I don´t bother about the design, but think about the fact, that I have it in common with you. That ennobles this glas... Idea

to patrickh:
Yes I´m glad to have the Sigma 15-30.
Because of the multiplication factor of digital DSLR´s (with Sigma 1.7) you hardly can get a real WW.

But what about my questions or discussion points (for example: "is there a difference between the zebra or black versions?" - "how much is the Pancolar similar to the new Planar?" - "are there comparisons between the Pancolar and the Pentacon?").


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mmmm, Pancolar. My fave 50 by far. Mine is the electric MC version.


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
You can find samples with all Pancolar in mflenses.com/gallery.I have no experience with Planar. In my opinion no difference between zebra and black one.


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Pancolar 50mm f1.8 one of the best 50mm lens. Zebra design is beautiful!


+1

All old optics Carl Zeiss very remarkable Wink


PANCOLAR have Beautiful colour rendition, sharp on all range of diaphragms, beautiful a side and drawing! An objective soft yes the diaphragm 1.8-2 but should cover a little a hole and an objective becomes sharp and contrast...

I used black MC version:



some my portrets

OLYMPUS E330 + MC Carl Zeiss Jena DDR PANCOLAR auto 50/1.8

resize JPG



F/4




F/8



F/5.6



F/1.8



full size photo here:


http://oly43club.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=71


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I love your samples as you know already .... last two is my favorite.


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Only two pictures load for me, so I will comment on those two:

- second picture, it is probably the sexiest picture I have seen in a long time!

- last picture, has fantastic bokeh!

-


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
VGR

Keep them coming - I agree with Orio on the boke of that last one - it's really like cream.


patrickh


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like cream = Pancolar...


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
how does the Pancolar compare to the 50mm Takumars?
specially the K 1,4 and A 1,7?

optically
build quality wide?

thank you,
andreas


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
No idea I didn't have any of them. I had SMC Takumar 55mm f2 this lens has great bokeh, but I love Pancolar better.

I love any kind of Pancolar better than any other lens it's focal length.

50mm Pancolar the best 50mm lens to me
80mm also.

I have, had so many lenses in these focal lengths, but I can't find better lens than these.

Last edited by Attila on Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:50 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
As build, SMC Takumar 50 is better, more solid for sure.
Image wise, I prefer the Pancolar. But I often prefer German-Russian lenses over Japanese lenses, so my opinion is a bit biased.

-


PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
As build, SMC Takumar 50 is better, more solid for sure.
Image wise, I prefer the Pancolar. But I often prefer German-Russian lenses over Japanese lenses, so my opinion is a bit biased.

-



very interesting Orio,
I wonder what the reasons for your bias are, why you prefer german and russian lenses over japanese, even though the takumars are better build.
well, you say image wise...


PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
kuuan wrote:

very interesting Orio,
I wonder what the reasons for your bias are, why you prefer german and russian lenses over japanese, even though the takumars are better build.
well, you say image wise...


I just like the images better. Generalizing is not always possible. There are some Japanese lenses that I really like. For instance, I like some of the Takumars and all the early Nikkors very much. Lenses like the Nikkor 3.5/135, 2.5/105, and most of all 1.8/85 are for me on the same appreciation level as Germans or Russians.
Sometimes I also happen to like the newer Nikkors like the 1.4/50 AI. But in most cases, I find the AI and AF Nikkors to give images that are too "thin" for my taste, a bit anemic. I prefer images that have more of a "punch" when they come out from the lens.
I have the same feeling in worse degree for the Canon EF lenses, except for one, the EF-S 60 Micro, which is -as of today- the only AF lens that I really like - perhaps because I always use it in manual mode Laughing
Worst of the worst are for me the lenses by Sigma, I really dislike them, I made a mistake to buy some of them because they were affordable, but I already sold them all.
Tamrons are a bit better than Sigma, they have more body to their images, should I have to buy another EF lens again I would always prefer a Tamron over a Sigma.
But... give me a Zeiss, Leica, Meyer, Arsenal, Lytkarino lens over a Japanese lens anytime. Well, I don't mean this as an absolute judgement. It is just what is good for me and makes me happier Smile But I am not totally closed to Japanese lenses, I have more than 10 Nikkors still, and a few days ago I have bought a SMC Takumar 3.5/135 (for a very little price).
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