Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 | S/N: 6413966

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 Standard Prime Lens - Good Condition | Vintage M42 Screw Mount Lens Featuring the Legendary "Eagle Eye" Optical Formula

Introductory Paragraph The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 is a legendary, beautifully compact manual focus standard prime lens produced in Jena, Germany. Universally revered for its historic four-element "Tessar" design—often nicknamed the "Eagle Eye" due to its exceptional biting sharpness and lack of distortion—this lens delivers outstanding micro-contrast and deep, organic color saturation. Outfitted with the time-honored M42 screw mount, this highly scannable Carl Zeiss Jena prime is a massive favorite for analog purists and modern mirrorless digital filmmakers seeking a classic, pocketable standard lens with a uniquely rich vintage character.

Key Features

• Acclaimed four-element Tessar optical architecture, providing legendary geometric correction, minimal distortion, and remarkable central sharpness.

• Fast f/2.8 maximum aperture geometry, rendering beautifully smooth background separation and providing confident low-light capabilities.

• Versatile 50mm standard focal length perspective, mirroring the natural human field of view for distortion-free street scenes and portraits.

• Tactile semi-automatic or manual aperture mechanism, allowing for easy stop-down exposure tracking when adapting to modern systems.

• Close 0.35-meter minimum focusing distance path, letting creators capture intimate, highly detailed close-ups with spectacular background separation.

• Universal M42 thread screw mount design, making it highly adaptable across virtually all vintage film and modern mirrorless camera lines.

• Robust all-metal mechanical construction, showcasing classic mid-century German engineering built to last for generations.

Condition Report Good condition. Body: Shows standard light signs of past creative handling, including minor cosmetic paint scuffs on the black anodized barrel and typical light rubbing along the raised ridges of the focus ring. The rear M42 mount threads are clean and thread smoothly. Sensor/Optics: The internal glass elements are bright and clear. The optics are free from internal fungus, heavy haze, optical separation, or deep structural scratches; typical minimal micro-dust is visible under tight inspection lighting but does not alter performance or image clarity. Mechanics: Fully operational. The manual focus ring turns evenly across the entire range, the aperture selection ring clicks cleanly into place, and the internal aperture blades are completely dry, free of oil, and snap open and shut instantly.

Specialist Note "The Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f/2.8 Tessar is widely celebrated as one of the most honest and sharp vintage lenses you can shoot with. While it has a simple four-element layout, the micro-contrast it produces is stunning—giving your subjects a distinct pop that feels almost three-dimensional. When shot wide open at f/2.8, it yields a smooth, circular bokeh with just enough vintage character around the edges to give your photographs or videos an unmistakably authentic, high-end classic look. It is an exceptionally satisfying, completely transparent tool."

What's Included

• Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 Standard Prime Lens (S/N: 6413966)

• Front Protective Clip-On Lens Cap

• Rear M42 Screw Mount Protective Cap
  

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Carl Zeiss Jena

• Model: Tessar 50mm f/2.8

• 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

• Category: 2. Lenses ▸ Prime Lens

• Battery Type: None Required (Fully Mechanical)