Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 5,8cm f/2 T
MADE IN GERMANY!
Standard fast 58mm f/2 lens in m42 mount. Great for photo & video on DSLR via adaptors(m42 to Nikon/Canon etc), mirrorless systems: Sony NEX, Olympus Pen, Panasonic G, Canon EOS M, Nikon 1, FujiFilm X-mount etc.
Legendary German 58mm Biotar lens which Soviet clones are so popular today on all camera systems!
A TRUE GEM IN ANY COLLECTION!
This is the early post-war chrome m42 version with preset aperture and 17 aperture blades – one of the early post-war variants, before the later 12- and 10-blade versions. The 17-blade diaphragm keeps out-of-focus highlights round even when stopped down. The focal length is still engraved in centimetres (“f=5,8cm”), and the red “T” marks the Zeiss anti-reflection coating.
The lens s/n 3349234 was made in the early 1950s.
It is a very heavy, solidly built all-metal lens.
Lens barrel has light signs of age and use.
Glass: micro scratches on the front element; blemishes on the coating of the rear element are present but seem to not affect image quality.
Mechanics are excellent.
Small amount of clear oil on the aperture blades – does not affect functionality or image quality.
See photos for cosmetics.
Creates beautiful Biotar style bokeh – out of focus highlights are rendered as beautiful discs, making the background swirly.
Comes with original Carl Zeiss Jena front cap and rear cap.
Features:
Mount: M42 screw mount
Focal length: 58mm
Maximum aperture: f/2, preset
Nr. of aperture blades: 17
Optical design: 6 elements in 4 groups
Filter size: 49mm
Min. focusing distance: 0.5 m
Focus: manual
Produced: Biotar 58mm f/2, 1946-1960 in many variations
This product ships from 🇺🇦Ukraine with tracking number
Why Collectors Want This Lens Today
The Biotar 58mm f/2 is the lens the Soviet Helios-44 was copied from. Zeiss introduced it in 1936 for the Kine Exakta, to a design by Willy Merté, and after the war Carl Zeiss Jena kept making it until about 1960, with 17-, 12- and 10-blade diaphragms and with manual, preset and semi-automatic aperture control. The Helios-44 became one of the most mass-produced lenses in the world; the Biotar is the German original behind it.
This example is one of the early post-war versions with a 17-blade diaphragm, still engraved in centimetres (“5,8cm”) and marked with the red “T” of the Zeiss anti-reflection coating. So many thin blades keep the opening close to round when stopped down, so out-of-focus highlights stay round too. It is the same quality collectors look for in the early 13-blade Helios-44.
Went through recent CLA (Cleaning Lubrication Adjustment) and guaranteed to work well!
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