Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f/1.5 Lens Review

Legendary Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f/1.5  I suppose every body heard about this lens. But I suppose a few people see pictures taken with this one.First of all I have to say the truth, all information about quality is TRUE. Outstanding in every point of view build and optical quality both, sharp at wide open as possible.

Vendor name
Type name
Product year
Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar
 1939-1960
Focal min (mm)
Focal max (mm)
Focus min(cm)
75 75 1
Aperture maxAperture min
Lens size (mm)
1.5 22 76x81.5
Elements
Diaphragm ACTION Weight (g)
6 in 4 groups
 manual 450
Filter size (mm)
aNGULAR FIELD
Body mount
55 32 Exa

I tested full manual version pre-war copy, this lens survived more than 60 years and still one of the best.

I really curios today best lenses will still usable 60 yrs later ? I don't think so, this old lens has a mystic feeling I like so much , look the pictures in the gallery. This shoots taken in extremely low light environment at ISO 800 and wide open aperture, have you ever seen same sharp and colorful images at f1.5 ? I guess not many lens close for Biotar. I found Tomioka f1.4 55 mm is pretty close , but Tomioka is getting same sharp just above F2.

 

Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f/1.5

Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f/1.5

Sample pictures:

Gallery

Pbase.com (Hqdesign)

DPChallange.com

Related resources:

ebay.com
ebay.co.uk
ebay.de
google.com
forum

Captain Jack Exakta page

 

 

 

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Comments (2)
Biotar lens
2Saturday, 30 July 2016 12:42
Jim Hall
I found a biotar lens in estate sale box of misc. It is "Carl Meyer Speed No. OE 997 f/1.5 75mm". Would appreciate any specific info on this lens. Looks to be in excellent condition.
This picture shows the PRE-war 7,5cm/1.5 Biotar.
1Friday, 23 October 2015 02:29
Jochen
The post-war Biotar is made from aluminium, has a small aperture of 16 an was made in Exakta, M42 and Praktina mount by CZJ, the later pentacon.
It was followed by the famous Pancolar.

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