Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?)
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 9:14 pm    Post subject: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
I recently got a small lens turret with 4 Zeiss Jena DDR lenses. Three of those were Tessar lenses with fixed aperture (37.5/3.5, 50/2.8 and 70/3.5), the forth one is unlabeled but definitely isn't a Tessar. From a quick look I would say that it probably is a significantly more complex design with 7 or 8 lenses. I wasn't able to define its focal length exactly, but after a quick comparison and a measurement I suspect that it's a 25 mm lens with a max aperture of f/2.8 or f/3.5.

Do you know the what kind of device this piece of equipment was used in? It was sold as part of an enlarger, but so far I wasn't able to find it.

Here's an image:


I'm really curious what device it is from and also what kind of lens the shortest focal length one actually is, so any information is highly appreciated!


PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 10:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
Very interesting equipment. Unfortunately I have never seen any of those parts.


PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 10:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
What's on the other side of the turret?
Any mount? A picture?


PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 11:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
What's on the other side of the turret?
Any mount? A picture?


No mount. Just a rotating disk with a hole for the currently used lens. So the whole thing seems to be a kind of lensboard for the enlarger or whatever device it was used in.



PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
With fixed apertures, maybe also don't rule out a lens carousel for either a projector or industrial equipment?

Possibly even something to do with field illumination in a microscope setting? (a very wild guess Wink )


PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Congrats Friends

I would like to have a lens turret for my agfa projection lenses too. Laugh 1


PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 2:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
simple.joy wrote:
I recently got a small lens turret with 4 Zeiss Jena DDR lenses. Three of those were Tessar lenses with fixed aperture (37.5/3.5, 50/2.8 and 70/3.5), the forth one is unlabeled but definitely isn't a Tessar. From a quick look I would say that it probably is a significantly more complex design with 7 or 8 lenses. I wasn't able to define its focal length exactly, but after a quick comparison and a measurement I suspect that it's a 25 mm lens with a max aperture of f/2.8 or f/3.5.

I'm really curious what device it is from and also what kind of lens the shortest focal length one actually is, so any information is highly appreciated!


Hi, I don't exactly know which device had this turret before, but similar lenses were used for microfilm documentation. Tessar 37,5 mm can be found in the reading device of the Documator. I have two other Tessars (prototypes) from the same series 95/4.5 and 100/5.6 with 25 mm Tubus. They fit very well into the Minolta MC Microscope adapter and can be used with the bellows.




PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 3:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The lenses pop up on ebay all the time, three of them are tessars - 2.8/35, 2.8/50 amd 3.5/75 if memory serves me correctly. Plain barrels, no iris

The fourth is more interesting as it is a retrofocus type 28mm, a lens Zeiss never sold for photographic use. Not sure of the design, I think it is 8 elements and is the same as the 2.8/28 Visiogon seen in other industrial/scientific uses.


PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 8:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
RokkorDoctor wrote:
With fixed apertures, maybe also don't rule out a lens carousel for either a projector or industrial equipment?

Possibly even something to do with field illumination in a microscope setting? (a very wild guess Wink )


Thanks - you're not far off actually... see below!


calvin83 wrote:
Congrats Friends

I would like to have a lens turret for my agfa projection lenses too. Laugh 1


Indeed... but it's not much use if there's no proper mount I guess.


Max78 wrote:


Hi, I don't exactly know which device had this turret before, but similar lenses were used for microfilm documentation. Tessar 37,5 mm can be found in the reading device of the Documator. I have two other Tessars (prototypes) from the same series 95/4.5 and 100/5.6 with 25 mm Tubus. They fit very well into the Minolta MC Microscope adapter and can be used with the bellows.


Thank you so much - that's it! They are from one of the "Dokumator Lesegerät (reading device) DL2". Here's an older listing: https://archiwum.allegro.pl/oferta/czytnik-mikrofilmow-mikrofisz-carl-zeiss-i7403600685.html

The lenses are the same as on your spec sheet, only difference being the Tessar 50 mm which is f/2.8 in my case. The fourth lens might very well be the Visiogon 28/2.8.


iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The lenses pop up on ebay all the time, three of them are tessars - 2.8/35, 2.8/50 amd 3.5/75 if memory serves me correctly. Plain barrels, no iris

The fourth is more interesting as it is a retrofocus type 28mm, a lens Zeiss never sold for photographic use. Not sure of the design, I think it is 8 elements and is the same as the 2.8/28 Visiogon seen in other industrial/scientific uses.


Many thanks - yeah that describes the group of lenses I have, just some slight differences in focal length/max aperture. As seen above the fourth lens (highly likely it's the Visiogon as you suggested) is a 7 element design according to the document posted above.


PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 8:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There's a 2.8/28 Visiogon and a later 2/28 version. Other than that, I know nothing other than they were found in microfilm machines etc.


PostPosted: Tue May 02, 2023 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I guess they are from a DDR CZJ Dokumator microfilm reader.

https://www.vatera.hu/jena-dokumator-mikrofilm-dia-megjelenito-carl-zeiss-gyartmany-3241815821.html


PostPosted: Tue May 02, 2023 6:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
fotografiasol wrote:
I guess they are from a DDR CZJ Dokumator microfilm reader.

https://www.vatera.hu/jena-dokumator-mikrofilm-dia-megjelenito-carl-zeiss-gyartmany-3241815821.html


Thank you! Yes, indeed - as stated two posts above that seems to be the case. I think the name is "Dokumator Lesegerät (reading device) DL2"

iangreenhalgh1 wrote:

There's a 2.8/28 Visiogon and a later 2/28 version. Other than that, I know nothing other than they were found in microfilm machines etc.


You're right - I found an old thread where you mentioned you having the f/2.8 version. Have you ever tried it? It's said to be working on APS-C. After comparing mine to some samples online, I suspect that it is the later f/2 version.


PostPosted: Tue May 02, 2023 6:39 am    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
Max78 wrote:
I have two other Tessars (prototypes) from the same series 95/4.5 and 100/5.6 with 25 mm Tubus. They fit very well into the Minolta MC Microscope adapter and can be used with the bellows.



Like 1

That looks like a really nice setup by the way and well done images! Have you ever presented it here or do you have some samples elsewhere?


PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2023 8:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
simple.joy wrote:

That looks like a really nice setup by the way and well done images! Have you ever presented it here or do you have some samples elsewhere?


Thanks! Some recent uncropped FF samples from a similar setup handheld are given below. Zeiss Jena Tessar 95/4.5 with parts of Minolta Microscope Adapter on Minolta Compact Bellows. The fotos are taken with 45 MP camera, slight PP (auto levels + sharp) and resize. Different scales are due to the different bellows extensions. I'm not a macro shooter in general. Actually the lens shows very thin DOF and good sharpness in the focus area. I'm looking for the shorter adapter to try it for my normal shootings, e.g. portraits or landscapes.









PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2023 8:05 am    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
Max78 wrote:


Thanks! Some recent uncropped FF samples from a similar setup handheld are given below. Zeiss Jena Tessar 95/4.5 with parts of Minolta Microscope Adapter on Minolta Compact Bellows. The fotos are taken with 45 MP camera, slight PP (auto levels + sharp) and resize. Different scales are due to the different bellows extensions. I'm not a macro shooter in general. Actually the lens shows very thin DOF and good sharpness in the focus area. I'm looking for the shorter adapter to try it for my normal shootings, e.g. portraits or landscapes.



Like 1 small Looks great - thanks for showing! My setup is similar, but with a different bellows. Being used to the versatility of bellows extension I'm regularly forgetting about the fact that lenses have MFD... Wink


PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2023 6:34 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
simple.joy wrote:
Being used to the versatility of bellows extension I'm regularly forgetting about the fact that lenses have MFD... Wink


Until the subject touches the front element that is, surely! Wink


PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2023 7:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
RokkorDoctor wrote:
simple.joy wrote:
Being used to the versatility of bellows extension I'm regularly forgetting about the fact that lenses have MFD... Wink


Until the subject touches the front element that is, surely! Wink


You're not wrong...

A big drop is just around the corner... by simple.joy, on Flickr

but why stop there?

Oh, fork! Got too close... by simple.joy, on Flickr

Wink


PostPosted: Wed May 17, 2023 8:30 am    Post subject: Re: Zeiss Jena DDR device with lens turret (enlarger?) Reply with quote
simple.joy wrote:
but why stop there?

Oh, fork! Got too close... by simple.joy, on Flickr

Wink


Laugh 1
Maybe you should try 'contact prints' of subjects placed directly on the sensor?; no lens needed at all Wink


PostPosted: Fri May 19, 2023 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The unmarked lens might be a Visiogon. Some time ago I bought a similar set of lenses in a revolver mount.
A pictuer o Visiogon:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129563138@N03/31745170114/in/album-72157676028672524/


PostPosted: Sat May 20, 2023 11:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
macheck wrote:
The unmarked lens might be a Visiogon. Some time ago I bought a similar set of lenses in a revolver mount.
A pictuer o Visiogon:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129563138@N03/31745170114/in/album-72157676028672524/


Thanks a lot! Yes, coincidentally I had already found your image via flickr...It really looks the same, but appears my copy is missing the ring with the inscription. Have you used the lens?


PostPosted: Sun May 21, 2023 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, it happened that I have two of them so the flickered photo is a picture of Visiogon by another Visiogon of the same type but haven't use it extensively.
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Page 1 of 1