Carl Zeiss Jena DDR ” Tessar “, Zebra version (M42) – 50mm F2.8.

The CZJ Tessar 50mm F2.8, is fast standard lens for a 35mm SLR with a M42 screw mount or eventually Exakta mount. First year of production related THIS LENS (Zebra) is 1966 / Last year of production: 1975.

Specs: Focal 50mm | Aperture F2.8 to F22 | Blades 5 | Min. Focus 0,35mt ! Filter 49mm | Weight 180gr ! Length 45mm

Personal Evaluation: Mechanical Quality 4,0 | Optical Quality 4,25 | Usability 4,25 | Price 4,25 | Bokeh 4,0

*** The evaluations refer to the specimen in my hands, and also to the use of the relative adapter ***

Photos taken with lens. Manual focus with M42/NEX adapter mounted on camera.

My opinion about this lens, since the purchase in JANUARY 2022, is positive. This lens it’s a good lens, sharp and defined. Not so sharp as ” CZJ Pancolar “, but it’s sharp enough. F4 / F5.6 / F8 / F11 are better sets in my opinion, but some nice images also stepping down… loosing eventually some little sharpness and acquiring some nice blur and bokeh. Easy to use, dozens of photographic shots testify to the goodness and quality of this vintage lens. Quite common lens, easy to grab from local camera shops and from remote sources like Ebay. If you need a cheap but quality lens, this model is a very good choice. I can recommend it, it has satisfied me. This item was sold on October 4, 2024.

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm is a representative example of a vintage lens. “Eagle’s eye” nickname due to its outstanding image quality and sharpness. The realization of this project dates back to 1902 and is due to the German physicist P. Rudolph, who conceived and designed the optical scheme. The TESSAR lens scheme was then widely used not only in the photographic field, but also for other products such as compact cameras, enlargers, double lenses for reflex and SLRs. This ZEBRA version was manufactured both in M42 (model I own) and/or EXAKTA mount.

Dry leaves on branch, in autumn

Dry leaves on the branch, in autumn

A nice bubble bokeh effect on the back of the photograph

Sony Alpha 6400 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F2.8 – 1/60 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: October 21, 2023

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Saint Lorenz church, in Fontana. Landscape

19th Church, located in Bergamo city. Fraction Fontana

Sony Alpha 6400 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F13 – 1/200 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 04, 2023

Location: Fontana (Bg) – Italy

Fontana, Saint Lorenz Church
Corylus avellana, L.

Corylus avellana, L.

Common hazel, is a species of flowering plant in the birch family Betulaceae.

Sony Alpha 6400 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F2.8 – 1/2000 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 04, 2023

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Coenonympha pamphilus, L.

The small heath is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, classified within the subfamily Satyrinae.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F5.6 – 1/200 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: May 10, 2022

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Coenonympha pamphilus, L.
Lithodora diffusa, I.M.Johnst.

Glandora diffusa, I.M.Johnst.

Purple gromwell, is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F11 – 1/200 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: March 22, 2022

Location: Bergamo (Bg) – Italy

Prunus cerasifera, Ehrh.

Cherry plum, is a species of plum known also as myrobalan plum.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F8 – 1/640 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: March 20, 2022

Location: Castello di Malpaga (Bg) – Italy

Veronica persica, Poir
Leucojum vernum L.

Leucojum vernum, L.

Spring snowflake, is a perennial bulbous flowering plant species in the family Amaryllidaceae that includes the onions, daffodils and Agapanthus.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F5.6 – 1/160 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 13, 2022

Location: Imbersago (Lc) – Italy

Lamium purpureum, L.

Red dead-nettle, is an annual herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe and Asia.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F8 – 1/200 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 12, 2022

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Lamium purpureum. L.
Hedera helix, L. (berries)

Hedera helix, berries

Common ivy, is a species of flowering plant of the ivy genus in the family Araliaceae, native of Europe and W. Asia.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F8 – 1/250 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 12, 2022

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Hedera helix, leaves

Common ivy, is a species of flowering plant of the ivy genus in the family Araliaceae, native of Europe and W. Asia.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F5.6 – 1/200 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 12, 2022

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Hedera helix, L. leaves
Stellaria media, L.

Stellaria media, L.

Chickweed, is an annual and perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae.

Sony Alpha 6000 – Carl Zeiss Jena “Tessar” 50mm – F8 – 1/250 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 12, 2022

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Stellaria media, L.

Chickweed, is an annual and perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae.

Sony Alpha 6000 – CZJ “Tessar” 50mm – F8 – 1/160 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Sunny – Date: February 12, 2022

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy

Stellaria media, L. (I)
Ranunculus asiaticus, L.

Ranunculus asiaticus, hydrid

Persian buttercup, is a species of buttercup (Ranunculus) native to the eastern Mediterranean region

Sony Alpha 6000 – CZJ “Tessar” 50mm – F2.8 – 1/160 – ISO 100 – AWB auto.

Indoor photo – Date: January 27, 2022

Location: Trezzo sull’Adda (Mi) – Italy