Zeiss Planar Rollei 85mm 1.4 htf

DanielV · Joined: 27 May 2011 Posts: 3

Hello, recently I found a Zeiss Planar Rollei 85mm 1.4 htf lens, sadly i don't know very much about it or what it is even worth, I was hoping you all cound give me some info it, it has a really interersting 3 blade aperture.

I ordered the Rollie to EOS adapter for my 7D but it hasn't arrived yet.

-Daniel

Himself · Expire: 2013-05-30

Welcome aboard!
How much did you pay for it?

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

General information on the lens by Marco Cavina:
http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Zeiss_Planar_85mm_1,4/00_pag.htm
(use google translate if you don't understand italian)

The "Best of Lenses" gallery thread dedicated to this lens:
http://forum.mflenses.com/carl-zeiss-planar-hft-1-4-85-rollei-sl-t39760.html

In short: the lens is a classic design, first realized for the Contarex line of lenses by Heinrich Basista and Bernhard Sonnenberg, under the supervision of the genial Erhard Glatzel, in the end of the 60s.
The design was so successful that is was later ported over to other line of lenses, such as the Arriflex line for movie cameras (see in Marco Cavina's article some images samples taken from the movie "Taxi Driver" that used this lens), the Rollei SL line for SLR cameras, and the Contax line, also for SLR cameras. It's later incarnation is in the Z line of lenses for SLR cameras, currently in production.
While the Contarex, Contax, and Z lines exemplars have a (more or less) normal iris shape, the Rollei and Arriflex version use the triangular iris shape.

My personal impression of the lens:

1- it has slightly more CA than the Contax exemplars (but it might be my copy). It is not however a major issue for me (for some people it is, especially those who make studio work with the lens wide open).

2- depending on the camera you use, it might be impossible to reach infinity focus with an adapter. For instance, I use the lens with the EOS 5D Mark II and it can not reach infinity focus. I don't care because I don't take landscape images with this lens. But if you do, this might be an issue for you.

Under all other respects, the lens renders identically to the commonly known Contax version.
The triangular highlights can be annoying, or they can be a plus, this depends on your image. For instance, I think that with traffic lights in the evening they look very cool Smile

:
(I missed the focus in this image, but it conveys the point)

rbelyell · Expire: 2014-01-31

OT, i am constantly amazed at the depth and quality of knowledge we have on this forum, and how much time people like orio take to share that knowledge with others.

aspen · Expire: 2014-02-20

DanielV · Joined: 27 May 2011 Posts: 3

Thnaks for all the great info!!!!!! I'm learning a lot about the lens!

berraneck · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:45 am Post subject:

tkbslc · Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 194 Location: Utah, USA

Cistron · Joined: 25 Feb 2011 Posts: 238 Location: London/Vienna

Yes, I wouldn't sell it again for less than $500-1000, if it is in good condition.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

100 dollars? Shocked

This lens is commonly sold around 600 Euros!

DanielV · Joined: 27 May 2011 Posts: 3

Thanks everyone!

rbelyell · Expire: 2014-01-31

keep it man! $100 for the best ever portrait lens is a sign providence is smiling on you, and one should never kick providence!

Cistron · Joined: 25 Feb 2011 Posts: 238 Location: London/Vienna

gearsNcogs · Joined: 20 Oct 2010 Posts: 215

i personally love the 3 bladed aperture, it's a very interesting effect, and definitely gives the lens a lot of character. on top of that, you got it for a killer price! i agree with rbelyell and Cistron -- keep it!

ChromaticAberration · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 819 Location: Portugal

This is one of those cases that neither your nor the original owner knew what they were buying and you were the one that came out on top.. I envy you! Very Happy

jatt · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 2

Hello,
Do you still have the lens and are you interested in selling for decent price...

fferreres · Joined: 27 Mar 2019 Posts: 4

I think the mention that 3 blades would be less complicated and more durable needs to rest. I had the situation where I had to open one of this, and it has in total 9 blades where the triangular part is because only the outer blade shows. So it's 9 in groups of 3. I've read Marco Corvina guess that the mechanism in Contaflex would benefit and that maybe this design minimized the torque needed for each blade. However, there being 9, I am not so sure this is the explanation. Also, this lens appeared on Rollei 1 year before Contare, and Contarex had about 400 units produced while Rollei about 4000.

I'd like to ask the designer regarding the triangular aperture. It is really unique, and having cleaned one, i'd also venture the mechanism on Rollei was also in need of something that would require less torque. The mechanism resembles that of the Rollei Tessar 200mm 4.0 and 35mm f1.4 Hopefully, you'll never have to deal with it. It really was hard to put back together, and had to learn it because of my love for this lens. It was 3 days of learning and extreme patience.