Need some help with a CARL ZEISS JENA 135mm f/2.8

sifaan · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Sri Lanka

Hi!

I'm a newbie - both to this site, and to dSLRs, and to using MF lenses... but just like to experiment Smile

I have bought a Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f/2.8 on eBay here for 37 GBP.
Description says its a Prakticar PB MC lens made in Germany with a Bayonet fitting.

I am using a Canon 450D and would like to know what kind of adapter I need for this lens?

I've tried searching around, but mostly what I find is a Zeiss 135mm f/3.5 lens - which seems to sell for much more on ebay... so, did I happen to get a good deal on this lens, or have I just bought an expensive paperweight?

Thanks!
/Sifaan

Chris Watson · Joined: 12 Apr 2010 Posts: 168 Location: Fort Worth

My research hasn't brought anything up other than disappointment on that front. Maybe others will have better news than I but I don't think it's adaptable to the Canon EOS system. Hope I'm wrong though!

Minolfan · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3439 Location: Netherlands

It is possible to adapt: http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/prakticar_to_eos_adapters
but I don't know it is easy to find a ready to use adapter. The lens might be a good one and the price seems quite reasonable.

sifaan · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Sri Lanka

Hi guys,

Thanks for the inputs... I have found some adapters for Prakticar PB to EOS on eBay (mostly in Hong Kong). From this auction it would appear that I can have a plug and play adapter (without hacking the camera or lens), but without infinity focus.

Presumably all these scary modifications are needed to shave it down to achieve infinity focus?

Any recommendations on these adapters? e.g. are these hong kong sellers reliable? (I once bought a laptop motherboard from hong kong and got ripped off)

Thanks!
/Sifaan

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Our supplier Alex did made EOS-Praktica B adapter he could get infinity with some lens and don't get with others. Contact to him hk300 in pm.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Just for info, this is the last version of the Pentacon 135/2.8. The Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135/3.5 was also available in PB mount, and is also labelled Carl Zeiss Jena.

keltzar · Joined: 22 Apr 2010 Posts: 70

The best PB to EOS adapter I know of is one which was hand-made in Poland a few years ago. I bought two for myself and on-sold the next 5 pieces to the same guy - he bought two, and came back and bought all the rest!

The HK ones which are available now are I believe, a rip-off of this guy's design.

Some lenses e.g. PB20/2.8 will foul on the mirror of the FF cameras, but generally any PB lens should go to infinity on the cheaper line APSC cameras like the 450D.