Prewar Exa Zeiss Tessar 12cm f/4.5: a never seen lens

[Marek]

Hello, as I am a bit into collecting not only prewar Exa Meyers but also prewar exa Zeiss lenses, did some research and found this mysterious Tessar stuff:



Possibly being a low performer, this lens looks pretty cool and never-yet-seen to me. I just see Tele Tessars 18 and/or 25cm rarely from time to time and I do own both already, but this one is a mystery for me.

Any veteran here with a copy in your collection? Any info about?


Marek

[exaklaus]

Not very common, had around 3 or 4 during my collecting time. Mine has the 1132236.
Lenses were made long before the Kine Exakta appeared.
Surly surplus stock that was later adapted (by an Exakta importer, or maybe through Zeiss)

Klaus

[luisalegria]

The 12cm was just a standard focal length in the Zeiss Tessar series. You will find its a very common option on old Medium Format plate and rollfilm cameras (6.5x9 plate and 120 rollfilm in 6x9 format). It got sidelined by 10.5cm for this role later in the 1930s.
I think because Zeiss managed to improve corner performance on the wider Tessars.

[Marek]

Thank you, as you both truly are an endless info source! If my information is right, Nr. 1132236 means to be made in 1930! Lucky to still be alive in 85!

I have no particular need of 12cm Tessar, I just want to collect that lovely Exa prewar bunch at it looks lovely as well as pretty good comodity to the future.

So far I have a couple of Tele Tessar brothers posted earlier:
http://forum.mflenses.com/carl-zeiss-tele-tessar-250-6-3-silver-t69261,highlight,%2Btele+%2Btessar+%2B25.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/carl-zeiss-tele-tessar-180-6-3-exa-t69706,highlight,%2Btele+%2Btessar+%2B25.html

Any thoughts what will be the market value of Tessar 12cm now?


Marek

[exaklaus]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Carl-Zeiss-Jena-f-Exakta-12cm-4-5-Tessar-12265-2-/351607514821?hash=item51dd70e6c5:g:05YAAOSwPe1T64AM

Another one at Leica-Shop, Vienna

[Marek]

I googled up the very same both on Leicashop and on Ebay but thought it is slightly different one. The different metal-ish tint confused me, thank you very much to get my wheels on the track again Klaus