Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 | S/N: 284367

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 DDR Prime Lens - Good Condition | Legendary East German "Eagle Eye" Manual Focus Lens Featuring Sharp 4-Element Optical Design and Universal M42 Screw Mount

Introductory Paragraph The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 is a legendary, fully manual standard prime lens manufactured in the German Democratic Republic (DDR). Built around Paul Rudolph’s historic four-element "Eagle Eye" optical formula, it is celebrated for its incredible center sharpness, high micro-contrast, and unique vintage character. Utilizing a universal M42 screw mount, this highly scannable Carl Zeiss Jena prime is a favorite tool for analog film purists and digital mirrorless shooters seeking a satisfyingly compact lens with distinctive rendering.

Key Features

• Classic 4-element in 3-groups Tessar optical configuration, renowned for producing exceptional center sharpness and a high degree of fine image contrast.

• Versatile 50mm standard focal field perspective, mirroring the human eye's natural sight for intuitive street, portrait, and daily documentary framing.

• Highly tactile knurled aluminum manual focus ring mechanics, delivering a smooth, damp-feeling rotational throw for pinpoint focusing precision.

• Advanced East German multi-coating layer treatments, boosting light transmission while managing secondary flare and preserving vintage color saturation.

• Ultra-compact lightweight barrel chassis profile, keeping your camera setup incredibly nimble and balanced for extended travel sessions.

• Crisp 5-blade manual aperture diaphragm system, generating a painterly background rendering and a charming, distinctively retro out-of-focus bokeh.

• Universal M42 screw thread mount mechanical architecture, threading perfectly into vintage SLRs or adapting seamlessly onto digital mirrorless camera systems.

Condition Report Good condition. Body: Standard light use, showing typical minor scuffs on the black anodized exterior finish and tiny rub marks on the knurled metal focus ridges. The mounting threads are clean and turn smoothly. Sensor/Optics: Lens elements are bright and clear. The glass is completely free from internal fungus, heavy haze, optical separation, or deep structural scratches. Mechanics/Electronics: Fully operational. The manual focus tracking ring turns evenly across its entire range, the aperture ring clicks decisively into every stop, and the internal aperture blades are dry, snappy, and completely free of oil.

Specialist Note "The Zeiss Tessar 50mm f/2.8 is famously nicknamed the 'Eagle Eye' for a reason—its four-element configuration creates a biting, razor-sharp central focus zone that gives images a distinct pop. This DDR version renders deep, rich contrast and a gorgeous, organic color palette that software filters just cannot replicate. Because it uses the universal M42 mount, it is a completely transparent and incredibly satisfying lens to adapt to modern mirrorless systems for an authentic, cinematic character."

What's Included

• Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 DDR Prime Lens (S/N: 284367)
  

• Rear M42 Mount Protective Thread Cap

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Carl Zeiss Jena

• Model: Tessar 50mm f/2.8 DDR

• Lens Type: Prime Lens

• Lens Mount: M42 Screw Mount

• Focal Length: 50mm

• Maximum Aperture: f/2.8

• Minimum Aperture: f/22

• Focus Type: Manual Focus Only

• Category: 2. Lenses ▸ Prime Lens

• Battery Type: None Required (Fully Mechanical)