Zeiss Biotessar 16.5cm/2.8..Lens porn

[luisalegria]

A (probably) rare lens from my collection, a Zeiss Biotessar.



Here with a Mamiya 50mm for scale -



With its original hood -



With a custom hood (made in the 1940's) - this includes a sliding gel filter compartment -



Old leather lens caps -



It also has custom Speed-Graphic and Meridian lens boards, with custom retaining rings. Someone put quite a lot of work into adapting this lens 60+ years ago.

This I inherited from my father-in-law. It dates back to @1930 based on the serial number series. It may have been made for an old German reflex camera. It covers 4x5, and my father-in-law used it for portrait work. This is exactly the kind of lens the large format people are after when they convert WWII aerial photo lenses or Oscilloscope lenses.

I have used it through my DSLR-Speed Graphic contraption, and it is very soft at 2.8 - available light -

[Katastrofo]

That is one cool lens, Luis! Love the portrait shot, too.

Bill

[Attila]

Nice portrait!

[blende8]

What a beautiful girl!

[ChrisLilley]

[Maxim]

What a great "ancient" lens... what a beautiful girl!

[LucisPictor]

[luisalegria]

My Speed Graphic contraption was described here -

http://forum.mflenses.com/what-to-do-with-a-speed-graphic-in-a-digital-world-t5798.html

As for the lens, I can take no credit for it, I just have it through luck. With the girl, on the other hand, I am 50% responsible. She hates having her picture taken though.

[Richard_D]

Lovely lens and portrait!

[BKSPicture]

Awesome lens !
The lens hood look ... interesting.
Looks like it can be used as a grill just face it upwards add some come coal and a cooking grids.

[rawhead]

Have you shot it with 4x5 film? I'd love to see results from that!

[iangreenhalgh1]

Bio-Tessar is an interesting lens, according to a book on Zeiss Ikon I read it's an entirely different lens design to the Tessar and has more air-glass surfaces so lesser contrast.



They are rare to see for sale and fetch high prices.

This was the top of the range Zeiss LF lens design until the advent of coating made the Planar types more practical.

[luisalegria]

I have only used it on 4x5 with paper negatives -

http://forum.mflenses.com/meridian-field-camera-zeiss-biotessar-kodak-polycontrast-t28106,highlight,%2Bbiotessar.html

Some on 120 focus on groundglass -

http://forum.mflenses.com/mushrooms-with-zeiss-biotessar-16-5cm-t35264,highlight,%2Bbiotessar.html

I have been trying to get this is in a more usable camera for a while. I have utterly failed to get my Speed Graphic rangefinders synced with this.

I have three old focal plane shutter SLR's I have been experimenting with. They will al require a great deal of rework on the front standard to get this lens to mount. The ultimate goal is to mount this lens. Unfortunately all three now need shutter repairs.

[mmelvis]

Very nice lens indeed

[my_photography]