Tessar 50mm f3.5. A somewhat rare post-war fixed barrel version. Manufactured in 1957 in Oberkochen, with the Carl Zeiss branding. This model is from the Contax IIa/IIIa era.
It retains the classic Tessar f3.5 rendering, now housed in a sturdy fixed barrel and coated for improved performance. The lens also features a refined design and beautiful finish, adding to its appeal.
As is well-known, it has a 3-group, 4-element Tessar design, with coatings applied. The filter size is a 40.5mm screw-in, commonly seen in Contax products. This lens is renowned for its consistent performance and stable rendering, even at full aperture.
There are minor scratches visible, but the overall exterior condition is good. The lens has a beautiful shine from its plating.
A full overhaul was completed in January 2025, and the aperture operation is very smooth.
There is a slight coating wear at the edge of the middle element, but it is only visible when held under strong LED light, and it should have no impact on photography. There are no visible cleaning marks or fog.
The lens comes with original front and rear caps, as well as a Kenko UV filter.
