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Anyone know anything about or have experience with this lens?

CARL ZEISS 135MM F3.5 M42 SCREW FIT LENS - 35MM/DIGITAL

Yes, it is a Carl Zeiss Jena optic made in the former East German factory, CZ Jena (the use of the full name Carl Zeiss was not permitted). It is a simple design, probably a Tele-Tessar rather than a Sonnar which the Contax specification 135mm would become (extra cemented doublet in place of a single element), but with good close focusing and decent contrast once multicoating was added in the 1970s. It is not especially high in resolution but makes attractive looking images because of the simplicity of the design. A mint example is worth about £15-£25 ($30-$50).

David

Thanks as always David for your remarkable knowledge base and willingness to share it. Gerard

David Kilpatrick wrote:Yes, it is a Carl Zeiss Jena optic made in the former East German factory, CZ Jena (the use of the full name Carl Zeiss was not permitted). It is a simple design, probably a Tele-Tessar rather than a Sonnar which the Contax specification 135mm would become (extra cemented doublet in place of a single element), but with good close focusing and decent contrast once multicoating was added in the 1970s. It is not especially high in resolution but makes attractive looking images because of the simplicity of the design. A mint example is worth about £15-£25 ($30-$50).

David

Hello David,

Thanks for the info and I do have a question - I have just got 2 M42 CZ Jena lenses and they both use an M42 to Minolta adapter with chip programmed 50mm f1.8 and 135mm f3.5, matching the respective lenses. They are both behaving a bit odd in terms of metering - both would expose correctly under Aperture priority mode at their respective widest aperture, but when closed down to approximately f8 or higher, the camera (a cheap A350) would under-expose consistently when the EV value is at +/-0EV. Of couse there is no problem using manual exposure but even in manual mode the meter would show that the picture will be over-exposed even though the pictures came out ok.

I don't know, have you got any idea how this can be? I checked with some local shops who specialize in old camera gear and they have the slightest idea what gives.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rgds,

Richard

I would suggest checking it out using Live View, which switches the metering to the LV sensor. The most common explanation for failure of stop-down metering (underexposing) is simply light entering the camera viewfinder eyepiece, because your eye is not pressed right against it. On a tripod of course the result will always be underexposed unless you block off the eyepiece entirely. Since LV auto exposure blocks off the eyepiece, it may work better with these lenses.

David

Dear David,

Thanks for the advice and looks like I made a REALLY stupid mistake when setting the Aperture priority mode....I opened up the aperture to allow for the focus confirmation to work but then before actually taking the shot I flipped the auto/manual switch on the lens to close the aperture. As a result the camera thinks that the available light is now much lower and re-calibrated the exposure values based on that setting.

This probably means that I could only use the "Manual" exposure setting on the camera and reply on the in-camera meter, right? Or is there any other way to work around this and use "Aperture" mode on the camera....since the camera has no control on the aperture actuation pin on the M42 lenses I doubt if this is gonna work? Aperture priority mode would be much easier...especially if I used a fill-in flash for portrait taking so it'd be great if I could somehow cheat the camera to expose correctly in A priority.

Thanks again for your great help! =)

Rgds,

Richard

David,

Guess I wasn't thinking like these new(er) cameras do....I believe "AEL" lock is the answer to my question above.
Maybe I should really try to forget what I have learned with my Nikomat from the 70's and starting thinking like newer cameras do....

Thanks again for a great forum!

Richard

mui_richard wrote:David,

Guess I wasn't thinking like these new(er) cameras do....I believe "AEL" lock is the answer to my question above.
Maybe I should really try to forget what I have learned with my Nikomat from the 70's and starting thinking like newer cameras do....

Thanks again for a great forum!

Richard

Memories... I had and used for quite a long time the Nikkormat EL. An armored photographic machine... I loved it. To think that they will work perfectly now if you just use them, after around 40 years, and just ask yourself will any Alpha camera work after such an interval?

Given the amount of electronics involved, I'd be happy if my A350 would work for 10yrs.
I am no electronic expert but I wouldn't think these latest SSM equipped Sony lenses could live as long as those old manual lenses built like a tank! From the minute I decided to buy the ZA24-70 I was kind of worried about the ruggedness of the lens and I still do! The plastic casing just doesn't feel right....
And I have almost completely forgotten the great feeling from using a manual lens until lately...framing slowly and with the turning of that smooth focus ring the subject sloooowly come into focus, it's a joy!

Oh and by the way, my Nikomat still works...despite the screwed-up focusing screen due to the abuse of my 6 year-old son the camera still function perfectly!

Ah yes, the good old days...

I have a Russian 58 f2.0 Helios that makes a great portrait lens on the A700. This one is so high tech that it does not even have an autodiaphragm. Good old preset. The Zenit that it came on still works too, complete with uncoupled selenium light meter. I bought them both for $19 just to get the lens. Never actually used the Zenit as it is a dog.

I still have and occasionally use, SRT 100, XE-1, XD-7 (2x) x700 and Minolta lenses from 17mm to 300mm, including such gems as the 85 f2.0.

Alan