The Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 5.8cm f2, an early model with a brass barrel and chrome plating, is a beautifully crafted lens with a substantial weight. It has an Exakta mount and was manufactured in 1939, making it a pre-war item. The lens is uncoated and features a 4-group, 6-element Double Gauss design.
The design was created by Willy Merté, who designed the Biotar f1.4 in 1927. In 1936, he designed this lens for one of the world's first single-lens reflex cameras, the Kine Exakta. It was around this time that the Double Gauss design started gaining attention for its ability to provide sufficient back focus for SLR mirrors.
The solid brass barrel with beautiful chrome plating gives it a heft that sets it apart from post-war Biotars with lightweight metal barrels. It weighs in at 320 grams.
The rendering of this uncoated lens features gentle color reproduction typical of uncoated lenses. The center has sharp resolution, providing a highly realistic image. As you move towards the edges, the image starts to blur, and the background bokeh can sometimes produce a swirling effect depending on the distance. It is a classic example of the rendering characteristic of old lenses.
The front end of the lens barrel shows some wear from use, but overall, the plating is in good condition. Considering it is a pre-war product, it reaffirms the high quality of Zeiss products. It underwent a complete overhaul in July 2024. The aperture and helicoid rings operate smoothly and pleasantly.
The front element has minor cleaning marks and slight yellowing, but the glass condition is quite good for a pre-war Biotar. There are no signs of haze, fungus, or separation.
It comes with the original front cap.
