Near Mint! Coated F1.5/50mm Zeiss-Opton Sonnar Lens. For Contax rangefinder cameras<

Camera NOT included

The 50mm Zeiss Sonnar developed for the Contax rangefinder cameras is well known, well loved and is recognized as a master piece of design. It was the absolute top 35mm lens of its day, a title it held until the end of the 1950’s. This is the lens that inspired numerous copies and variations and helped launch Nikon and Cannon to greatness. For years and years it was the benchmark of speed and sharpness. But its greatness is not simply defined by high resolution. What artists and photographers love about the lens is the beautiful rendition in the fore and back ground. It’s something the Japanese refer to as bokeh. Simple said this lens has an absolutely gorgeous bokeh. Open up the lens or narrow the depth of field by getting closer and the focus rolls on and off silky smooth as cream… Soft out of focus foreground moves lovingly into sharp focus on your subject matter and then off again into gently blurred background. There are few lenses that do it as nicely as this. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, well then you’re in for a treat….

The serial number on this superb lens indicates that it was produced in circa 1953. It was intended to be used on the Contax IIa & IIIa cameras, but it will of course also fit and work on the earlier Contax I II & III cameras. There’s a touch of oil on the diaphragm but that’s normal for these lenses because the aperture doesn’t have move suddenly as it does in an SLR camera). In short this is the finest fast 50mm lens available for these cameras. I have an identical lens in my personal collection and I’ve always been delighted with the results. 

The lens is in near mint condition. (Please see photos). The glass is perfect and looks like new. There is no crystallization, separation, fungus or haze. There are no scratches or cleaning marks. All functions operate smoothly and it is capable of producing beautiful photos with modern color and B&W films.

If cameras are pretty boxes and lenses are paint brushes. Then this is a brush you shouldn’t go without. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! 

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