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Manual Focus Lenses Forum

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Zeiss Ikon Contessa - Tessar 45 / 2.8 (folder)
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I love this little gem. I know a few others among you have one, and am slightly amazed no-one else has opened a thread for this little beauty before now.

I have to admit I am not sure of the origin of the film in the first 2 B&W shots, but I suspect they are Ilford XP2, like the third shot. The last (colour) shot is Provia-100.

C&C welcome.










Thanks for viewing,


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As you might expect the Tessar delivers a good IQ.
Nice results!


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Your Tessar looks to be in better shape than the one on my Contessa... I've been meaning to see if I could fix that at some point.

23_24 by Nesster, on Flickr

Draka spools by Nesster, on Flickr

very large staples by Nesster, on Flickr

Last two Fuji Xtra 400, the first is Fuji 100 expired


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Nesster, I like your first one a lot!

Towards the top it appears to lose contrast - is that due to the expired film? All three seems very soft in the corners: is that the lens problem you're referring to? I think I've been very lucky with this Contessa. I really do like it's contrast and tone, though don't point it at the sun. It doesn't like it much.

-- we should start a thread of industrial rubbish: I have a folder in Aperture called Decay, and it's full of shots like your second one...