Biotar 75mm f1.5, postwar version, later type. Equipped with a preset aperture, the barrel is notably thicker and more robust. Coated optics. This particular lens has the serial number 422xxxx, indicating it was manufactured in 1954.
A high-speed medium telephoto lens made by Carl Zeiss Jena, featuring a 4-group 6-element double Gauss design. The distance scale shows both meters and feet. Constructed with an aluminum barrel. Minimum focusing distance is 80 cm, and it has a 10-blade aperture.
The Biotar 75mm was produced over a long period, from the late 1930s when it featured a slimmer brass body and uncoated optics. The version offered here is the most commonly seen type.
In recent years, a reissue of this legendary lens has also been released, attesting to its enduring popularity. It delivers sharp and high-resolution images at the center with a smooth rendering, along with distinctive swirling bokeh. The color rendition is rich, and the lens produces a unique three-dimensional look, making it especially suitable for portrait photography. A classic old lens with plenty of character.
The barrel shows minor scuffs and slight signs of oxidation, but for an aluminum-bodied Biotar, it maintains a remarkably clean appearance.
Fully overhauled in 2024. Thanks to meticulous servicing, the aperture and helicoid still operate with a smooth, well-dampened feel—completely free from the typical stiffness often found in Biotar lenses. The aperture blades are also in excellent condition.
The glass is clear and free from haze, with no noticeable cleaning marks or cloudiness. It is rare to find a Biotar with optics this clean—an exceptional example.
Comes with the original front cap and a Kenko MC filter.
