Author Topic: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!  (Read 2646 times)

richardHaw

  • Cute Panda from the East...
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 3133
  • Your lens loverboy
    • Classic Nikkor Maintenance and DIY
carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« on: August 05, 2021, 14:22:02 »

David H. Hartman

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2778
  • I Doctor Photographs... :)
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2021, 19:21:34 »
https://richardhaw.com/2021/08/05/repair-carl-zeiss-jena-tessar-50mm-f-2-8/

rather underwhelming despite its reputation :o :o :o

"The overblown areas of this photo bloom and look washed-out. When metering with this it’s best to underexpose the photo a bit so details look better in the bright areas." --From article linked above

I believe lost diffused highlights in digital images are more unpleasant compared to film. I've never accepted ETTR as a useful method of exposure. When you loose diffused highlights the image will look ugly. I'd much rather accept noisy shadows. The dynamic range of recent DSLR and Mirrorless cameras should end ETTR but it lives on.

Dave
Beatniks are out to make it rich
Oh no, must be the season of the witch!

David H. Hartman

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2778
  • I Doctor Photographs... :)
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2021, 19:22:06 »
Thank you for another good read!
Beatniks are out to make it rich
Oh no, must be the season of the witch!

richardHaw

  • Cute Panda from the East...
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 3133
  • Your lens loverboy
    • Classic Nikkor Maintenance and DIY
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2021, 00:02:21 »
its probably due to the coatings, i have ordered a zebra to see if that resolved this, also going to shoot with my contessa again as i assume that the formula is the same :o :o :o

the cheaper 50/3.5 really beats this guy in mostly everything

MEPER

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 1051
  • You ARE NikonGear
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2021, 15:27:38 »
The classic Voigtländer 50/2.8 and 50/3.5 Color-Skopar lenses (which are also a kind of Tessar design) the 50/3.5 also got a better reputation?
Apart from that I was very happy with 50/2.8 which was soft at 2.8 but very sharp stopped down a bit (5.6 - 8).

richardHaw

  • Cute Panda from the East...
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 3133
  • Your lens loverboy
    • Classic Nikkor Maintenance and DIY
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2021, 15:58:46 »
not sure about those 2 but the CZJ 50/3.5 has something magical in it. ive restored 2 of them and the results are identical to mark the 1st one as a fluke. it really is a magical lens :o :o :o

rosko

  • Homo erectus manualfocus
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 1311
  • France/Uk
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2021, 16:58:02 »
Richard, I am amazed by the new look of this lens after your cleaning !

Also, quite decent pictures.

Francis Devrainne

MEPER

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 1051
  • You ARE NikonGear
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2021, 21:43:11 »
not sure about those 2 but the CZJ 50/3.5 has something magical in it. ive restored 2 of them and the results are identical to mark the 1st one as a fluke. it really is a magical lens :o :o :o

Some few images here with 50/3.5 Color-Skopar. A person has been creative and been able to fit the lens to a digital rangefinder......any similarities with CZJ 50/3.5?
https://www.talkemount.com/threads/color-skopar-voigtlander-finally-mounted-on-the-nex.2627/

I have an adapter for the Prominent version (to Z-mount) but have not yet used the lens.....

richardHaw

  • Cute Panda from the East...
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 3133
  • Your lens loverboy
    • Classic Nikkor Maintenance and DIY
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2021, 01:53:19 »
Richard, I am amazed by the new look of this lens after your cleaning !

Also, quite decent pictures.
the original one looks like it was varnished with a clear coat, that coat is now gone, of course :o :o :o

richardHaw

  • Cute Panda from the East...
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 3133
  • Your lens loverboy
    • Classic Nikkor Maintenance and DIY
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2021, 01:59:25 »
Some few images here with 50/3.5 Color-Skopar. A person has been creative and been able to fit the lens to a digital rangefinder......any similarities with CZJ 50/3.5?
https://www.talkemount.com/threads/color-skopar-voigtlander-finally-mounted-on-the-nex.2627/

I have an adapter for the Prominent version (to Z-mount) but have not yet used the lens.....

im not sure, maybe it does.

these photos illustrate what i mean by "magic". theres a "cleanliness" quality to the photos of the 50/3.5 CZJ absent from all other lenses ive tried from any manufacturer. it is hard to explain :o :o :o






Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2021, 09:00:03 »
"The overblown areas of this photo bloom and look washed-out. When metering with this it’s best to underexpose the photo a bit so details look better in the bright areas." --From article linked above

I believe lost diffused highlights in digital images are more unpleasant compared to film. I've never accepted ETTR as a useful method of exposure. When you loose diffused highlights the image will look ugly. I'd much rather accept noisy shadows. The dynamic range of recent DSLR and Mirrorless cameras should end ETTR but it lives on.

Dave
Yes, I completely agree.
Also thank you for the work Rick.
Erik Lund

Gone

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 141
  • No longer wish to be ignored
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2021, 11:07:16 »
Does the (later?) "zebra" version have the same optics / foibles?

richardHaw

  • Cute Panda from the East...
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 3133
  • Your lens loverboy
    • Classic Nikkor Maintenance and DIY
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2021, 05:27:30 »
Does the (later?) "zebra" version have the same optics / foibles?
zebra looks like the optics have been recalculated but i am not sure.

zebra performs better, much better in my tests :o :o :o

Gone

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 141
  • No longer wish to be ignored
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2021, 09:39:52 »
Better than the 50mm f3.5?

richardHaw

  • Cute Panda from the East...
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 3133
  • Your lens loverboy
    • Classic Nikkor Maintenance and DIY
Re: carl zeiss jena tessar 50/2.8!!!
« Reply #14 on: August 13, 2021, 09:51:13 »