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Hi Folks,
I am hoping that someone can shed some light on the history of a pair of Sonnar 135m f4 lenses I recently picked up.
The first lens is made from chrome and has a serial number commencing 22, the second is far lighter, made from alloy and has a serial number commencing 32. Both are endorsed Carl Zeiss Jena and the alloy model also boasts a red ‘T’ around the front element. This lens is unusual in that it has a black collar around the top <font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">• part that comprises of the filter ring.
The alloy lens is similar, but not identical in shape to a 1963 Jupiter 11 whilst the chrome lens is a totally different shape and slightly longer. All three lenses have differing depth of field markings.
When looking through the glass I find that all three lenses have 12 aperture blades and the coating is most evident in the Jupiter and least evident in the chrome Sonnar. I suspect that the alloy Sonnar has an early type of coating consistent with the ‘T’ marking.
My thoughts are that the chrome lens is probably from the mid to late 1930’s before the Zeiss factories were committed to war efforts and later ‘liberated’ to Russia. The alloy lens is the puzzle. Could it be from the period when the East Germans were still using the Zeiss name, but had altered the specifications?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Clive
I am hoping that someone can shed some light on the history of a pair of Sonnar 135m f4 lenses I recently picked up.
The first lens is made from chrome and has a serial number commencing 22, the second is far lighter, made from alloy and has a serial number commencing 32. Both are endorsed Carl Zeiss Jena and the alloy model also boasts a red ‘T’ around the front element. This lens is unusual in that it has a black collar around the top <font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">• part that comprises of the filter ring.
The alloy lens is similar, but not identical in shape to a 1963 Jupiter 11 whilst the chrome lens is a totally different shape and slightly longer. All three lenses have differing depth of field markings.
When looking through the glass I find that all three lenses have 12 aperture blades and the coating is most evident in the Jupiter and least evident in the chrome Sonnar. I suspect that the alloy Sonnar has an early type of coating consistent with the ‘T’ marking.
My thoughts are that the chrome lens is probably from the mid to late 1930’s before the Zeiss factories were committed to war efforts and later ‘liberated’ to Russia. The alloy lens is the puzzle. Could it be from the period when the East Germans were still using the Zeiss name, but had altered the specifications?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Clive