Carl Zeiss Jena mark question.

netsun111 · Joined: 08 Jun 2020 Posts: 3

Hello, I have a third-generation "biotar 75mm f/1.5" lens. I am writing because I have questions.

Most of the time, if you look at the front of Carl Zeiss Lens, the "Carl Zeiss Jena" mark is marked on the Lens mark, and my biotar lens is marked "jena."

Is there a difference between "Carl Zeiss Jena" and "jena" on the mark?

Alex TG · Joined: 13 Oct 2019 Posts: 221 Location: Ukraine

In my understanding, Jena marked lenses were made for exporting to Western Germany to avoid confusion with products made by 'new' (post-WWII) Zeiss factory in Oberkochen, Western Germany.
And they are the same as equivalent Carl Zeiss products made by 'original' Zeiss factory in Jena, which happened to belong to Eastern Germany after WWII.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Alex is right, as far as I know - Jena marked lenses are for sale in markets where the GDR's Carl Zeiss did not have rights to the Carl Zeiss name. You see the same thing with western Carl Zeiss - in markets where they did not have rights to the Carl Zeiss name, their lenses were marked Opton.

Here are two identical CZJ Prakticar (Pancolar) 1.8/50s, with two different markings:

netsun111 · Joined: 08 Jun 2020 Posts: 3

I'm learning so much today. Thank you for your kind reply.

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09