old Tessar 50mm f2.8

[Maxim]

My cousin lent me this Tessar a few days ago. The lens is newer than Orio's Tessar, but it's also old (I think - first series 2.8/50). It's small and lightweight. Much smaller than Helios 44M-6. Filter screw is totally damaged (poor Tessar), but focus and aperture rings work well. Glass is clean, without scratches or fungus.





I took some test shots in late afternoon sunlight. I'm surprised - sharpness is pretty good at f2.8, bokeh also looks nice. It's only my opinion... look at these photos (taken at f2.:

[Orio]

Yes, second picture shows similar qualities as my lens

I had a very bad experience with the last version of Tessar 2.8/50 - the black and green one. A real lemon.
But I am persuaded it was fault of lousy quality control in Jena factory in the Seventies, especially on standard low cost lenses.
I think that the old, aluminium versions of the 2.8/50 should be more carefully crafted and should have similar quality to the 3.5/50.
Of course by widening aperture there is the risk of compromising the performance wide open, but your cousin's exemplar seems to perform really well
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[Maxim]

I agree with U, Orio - older East German products (lenses, cars etc.) probably were better, more durable than newer from 70's or 80's. My cousin's Tessar was made in 50's (certainly after 1952). I'll take more test shots this weekend

[Orio]

niblue, the fact that it's new does not mean that it must be bad - it's just that amongst the newer ones there seem to be more chances of getting bad copies. This happens not only with the Tessar 2.8/50 but also with other Jena lenses such as the Flektogon 2.4/35, of which a number of very bad copies is reported.
I personally bought two copies of the Flek 2.4/35 and one was bad.
It's unfortunately the limit of the late Jena lenses. But the good copies, are surely just as good as the older ones. In the case of multicoated lenses, certainly even better.

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[Orio]

Shit ! I once again edited the original post instead of quoting it!

Sorry Niblue!

If you remember what you wrote originally, please rewrite your message.

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[Orio]

[Orio]

For Flektogons you have a very good chance, being here in this forum: you can buy one from Attila.
Attila often has them for sale and he can tell you when he has a very good copy in his hand. That will be a safe purchase.

In any case, don't let the copy variation factor on the Jena lenses scare you away. The copy variation factor on the Jenas is still certalnly better than the copy variation factor that you risk when you buy a new Canon Tamron or Sigma autofocus lens. The AF forum messages are the living proof of that.

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[peterqd]

[Attila]

Tessar was the budget lens in CZJ product line so you can get really good ones and lemon too. I have many copies from them. Small ones like this and MC version are perfect from my copies, alu finish big one is lemon.

If you need perfect CZJ lens take any of variant of Pancolar 50mm that was the highest level in CZJ product line.I never seen any lemon Pancolar...

[Maxim]

Nice to read your posts, guys!
Attila - I'm lucky "My" Tessar isn't a lemon, my other lenses are also quite good. I don't need Pancolar... but I'm dreaming of Biotar 75mm f1.5. I know, it's only dream I've never seen this lens in Poland. IMHO it's one of the most beautiful lenses - and also very good, fast and sharp. Some budget CZJ lenses also are interesting for me - especially one: Triotar 13,5 cm f4. Not for general use (the lens is rather slow) but for its beautiful, simple designed alu body and pleasure of use. I hope, I'll grab soon some interesting lenses.

[Attila]

If you have a chance to try a Pancolar I am sure you will take it.. Some reseller from Poland selling Biotar 75mm on ebay, so might be you will find locally. I have three copies from them one from USA two from local shops.

[Attila]

I have different type of Triotars really old one and latest ones. Yes they are pretty, but not a quality champions.

[Orio]

[Maxim]

About 3 PM I took some new test photos. As you can see at my photos, the weather was really bad. I'll be waiting for better weather conditions

f2.8; 1/100; hand-held


f2.8; 1/80; hand-held


02.12.2007

Today the weather was better (WAS - because now it's raining again), so I took more test shots with my Tessar. The results are satisfisfacting. I think that "not the best sharpness" is partly caused by small size of sensor in my E-300. Unfortunately, a full frame DSLR is too expensive for me (~8000 PLN for EOS 5D body; my stipend is only 400 PLN/month). However, I like my E-300 and Tessar too

F/3.5; bokeh looks rather nice


100% crop


some shots taken at F/3.5