CZJena

CZJena · 6th March 2005

CZJena
I am starting this thread to hear and encourage Jena-user to share their passion, works and applications with their German equipments. Also their woes and ways to overcome the limitation they face e.g. manual stopdown metering.

blurblock · 6th March 2005

Originally Posted by CZJena

CZJena
I am starting this thread to hear and encourage Jena-user to share their passion, works and applications with their German equipments. Also their woes and ways to overcome the limitation they face e.g. manual stopdown metering.

Hi, you have so many CZJ, can you borrow some of us a few to test out? I only have a 35mm CZJ which provide Awesome output, thus dying to try out other CZJ

.....

whoelse · 6th March 2005

There was this shop call cosmo trading hidden inside sim lim tower and he has alot of old gem. So many old lens maybe in the number of hundred and very good price. I saw a k mount CJZ 135mm f2.8 and it doesnt look like a modified mount. Beautiful selling $100 and look mint. Din buy somehow and now the shop is gone.

Most CSers are into modern marvels and L series stuff if not techno geeks. Only a few people into out of date equipments

We are out of fashion

CZJena · 6th March 2005

Do be very very careful whoelse of those lens, you could even find them in cityplaza in katong area. These are junk lenses to be reckon, made by the crude hands of Cosina Japan. I ever had that sort of lens (mint) and spit after try so many shots initially believe err on my part, but give up after so many. Thats junk lens i bundle to sell away worth only SGD30.00 or less, looks nice but junk optically. Sorry Cosina, thats the truth about you!
One good hint for you:
The CZJena lenses coating are very similar to those of leica, and i mean those leitz from Germany Weimar.

CZJena · 6th March 2005

Whoelse, FYI, i have Zero zoom lens in my keeping, Zero autofocus camera except for my spoilt EOS-50 lay in coffin 3years ago, I use Zero in-built metering (most of the time with my Spotmeter), less than 15% of my 30+lenses are japan (namely takumar55/1.8, vivitar series-I 90macro and Canon-SSC50/1.4, Canon LTM 35/3.2)
I really love those built of my 3 dageurreo LF lens from the 19th century (>100yrs).

singscott · 6th March 2005

The person to look for with good old Carl knowledge and sell them is Mr Wong from fotographis in lucky chinatown plaza. The man know his stuff. I come to know this wonderful cheap and goooodddd lenes from this gentleman. My flavourite is the 80mm pancolar F1.8 a good one in ebay will set you back us$380.00

When I start on photography many years ago, poeple kept telling me the best combination is a Japanese camera with Gremany Optics. With CZJ M42 lenes and an adapter I can do that combination into almost any Japanese camera.

CZJena · 6th March 2005

I have heard alot about Mr.Wong MK, i had brought most of my early CZJena lenses from him. But after a trip to munich and frankfurt Germany, and onto ebay since 1998, i seldom visit him. He had moved his shop near the outram mrt to present luckchinatown. He is a quiet man and you really hard to bargain with him, he got his source from Germany too. Most of the lens i got from him cost at least SGD100 extra. He has his fans and network of Jena user in Singapore and frequently "buy back" worn lenses from them and markup high. Well he is a good businessman i guess, but i am a shewd Jena man afterall.

My combo for my M42 are chiefly Spotmatic-F, Canon-EF (FD with adaptor), Praktica etc. I have a couple of MF cameras for CZJena too but less frequently used unless needed for special assignment. I once owned a 500/5.6PTC, an antitank bazooka which wear me down before i move 100 steps.

Phew finally got rid of it to cam-x's nick. I only took 3 shots of it, and its a challenge even with a steady tripod, to keep it still!

CZJena · 6th March 2005

Originally Posted by blurblock

Hi, you have so many CZJ, can you borrow some of us a few to test out? I only have a 35mm CZJ which provide Awesome output, thus dying to try out other CZJ .....

Well if someone offers to supply film, and provided they use my own camera (me around obviously), i don't mind the project :-) If possible test my LTM and MF lens and LF lens as well.

whoelse · 6th March 2005

Hi CZJ,
Yes, I've seen regular CZJ. The one is the real CZJ len, exactly the same as the M42 version and beautiful coating as well.

fuwen · 7th March 2005

I started photography with Praktica and thus the very good value for money Pentacon/Jena lens. It is so sad that Praktica and Carl Zeiss Jena had to closed down when Gernamy unified, and there goes all the good value East German stuff.

Stop down metering really is a problem for fast shooting but if u can get a Praktica MTL50, Pentax Spotmatic or a Rollei SL35 then they are wonderful and fast to use.

CZJena · 7th March 2005

Originally Posted by fuwen

I started photography with Praktica and thus the very good value for money Pentacon/Jena lens. It is so sad that Praktica and Carl Zeiss Jena had to closed down when Gernamy unified, and there goes all the good value East German stuff.

Stop down metering really is a problem for fast shooting but if u can get a Praktica MTL50, Pentax Spotmatic or a Rollei SL35 then they are wonderful and fast to use.

To be fair, CZJena is not as sharp (less expensive) as Carl Zeiss (Contax, Hasselblad etc.), however you will generally find good contrast, saturation , better built as compared to the modern japanese lenses (maybe less the L lenses). As most lenses are prime and without electronic, you do lack the autofocus and convenience. Because of my strong will to take the challenge, i managed to speed compute with my analog distributed neuron (ADN for short)

All you have to do is practise thus make prefect (almost). The handling of the aperture and shutter becomes second instinct, while i concentrate on focusing the subject. For street or sport, i preset most of my exposure variable before hand, take meter reading and compensate accordingly as light condition changes. The prime lens further stretch my endurance and mind for details. I am so used with my spotmatic that handling my EOS is a heavy chore. Most modern camera has rid out the split prism thus focusing with laser-matte is no easy, i will dare to bring my spotmatic out into the indonesia's street but not carefree with EOS and definitely not my leica (just sold it).

fuwen · 7th March 2005

I use more often the PB Pentacons and Jena. Actually some of them can rival Zeiss like the lazor sharp 35/2.4 and the very nice 135/3.5. The 55/2.8 macro sometimes can fight my 60/2.8 macro planar. And of course many other possibilities.

I do not have much problem with the 35mm Jena but I do find the medium format Jena not so consistent. The medium format Jena IMHO at least a class away from the Zeiss but I felt that the 35mm ones are pretty close, and for that price really can contest the Japanese.

Some of the Pentacon/Jena however should avoid taking at full aperture. One of them is the 28/2.8 or the 29/2.8.

CZJena · 7th March 2005

I hope to do lens chart test soon. If anyone has tested them with chart pls share your skill and knowledge. thks

metalgear · 29th March 2005

CZJena - waiting for your post !

CZJena · 1st April 2005

Originally Posted by fuwen

I use more often the PB Pentacons and Jena. Actually some of them can rival Zeiss like the lazor sharp 35/2.4 and the very nice 135/3.5. The 55/2.8 macro sometimes can fight my 60/2.8 macro planar. And of course many other possibilities.

I do not have much problem with the 35mm Jena but I do find the medium format Jena not so consistent. The medium format Jena IMHO at least a class away from the Zeiss but I felt that the 35mm ones are pretty close, and for that price really can contest the Japanese.

Some of the Pentacon/Jena however should avoid taking at full aperture. One of them is the 28/2.8 or the 29/2.8.

i see you are quite experienced with the jena league as well. i totally avoid the 28 & 29mm. somehow the quality of image produced is very subjective. some people are very used to leitz kind of images where you get higher resolution (can be with mid - high contrast) and better distortion correction across the field. Some like me like the color and (higher) contrast of the zeiss/jena produced images. Generally you get sharper image with lesser elements, however unless some elements are aspherical (uncommon in old lens) you get uneven sharpness across the field (center-corner). i owned a summicron50mm, compared with my other 50mm, former is much robust and heavier. Ultimately you have to actually use them to get the feel & appreciation. Somehow the PTC series a grade lower IMO.

Recently one finding i'd got is to notice the alignment of the lens with the camera body, does you find offset of the infinity-line away from the center, it may tell you that it may not actually focus to infinity (focal distance problem). So far i find that my best combo besides spotmatic, are with my FD series of camera.

Just like to know how you use the MF lenses? adaptor or pentacon66/kiev60?

my_photography · 2nd April 2005

Can someone point me to a good website on CZ Jena? I am interested to learn what are the lenses available - especially wide angle and ultra wide angle lens and might be interested to get one.

don juan · 4th April 2005

Recently bought a mint biometar 80mm 2.8 for $100. Supose to be a standard lens for the pentacon six 120mm system. Need 2 adapters to work on my canon eos. An alpha adapter and a m42. Have not tried out the lens. Heard that the Flexagon 50 F/4 is amazing sharp. Trying to look for it. I am not so sure how these lens would compare with the Japanese optics such as sigma or tamron. Heard from a friend that such lens have poor colour and more suitable for black and white photography. As for sharpness and contrast, it is still below third party lens such as sigma, tamron despite being prime lenses. Any coments....

PQ23 · 6th April 2005

Got this lens for < $100. Sharpness is clearly better than 18-55 (300d kit lens) whether wide open and stop down. As compared to tokina 28-70 atx pro, CZJ loss out when stop down at f8, sharper when wide open at f2.8. CZJ a bit of yellowish cast in terms of colour. But can always correct in PS.

PQ23 · 6th April 2005

I may be creating a MO for M42 to EOS adapter. It will be around S$18 each. Just wondering if there's demand for it.

Firefox · 6th April 2005

Originally Posted by PQ23

I may be creating a MO for M42 to EOS adapter. It will be around S$18 each. Just wondering if there's demand for it.

Wouldn't mind a piece so I can perhaps use my CZJ lenses if I decide to get a Canon DSLR in future...

Anyway, anyone knows if there are CZJ macro lenses available?

Fuwen: Can I drop by your place when you're free to try out the 55mm macro, please? I didn't get to see the CZJ's the last time.. But the Minox was cute.. =D

6th March 2005	#1
CZJena Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: WestCoast SG Posts: 210	CZJena CZJena I am starting this thread to hear and encourage Jena-user to share their passion, works and applications with their German equipments. Also their woes and ways to overcome the limitation they face e.g. manual stopdown metering.

6th March 2005	#4
CZJena Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: WestCoast SG Posts: 210	Do be very very careful whoelse of those lens, you could even find them in cityplaza in katong area. These are junk lenses to be reckon, made by the crude hands of Cosina Japan. I ever had that sort of lens (mint) and spit after try so many shots initially believe err on my part, but give up after so many. Thats junk lens i bundle to sell away worth only SGD30.00 or less, looks nice but junk optically. Sorry Cosina, thats the truth about you! One good hint for you: The CZJena lenses coating are very similar to those of leica, and i mean those leitz from Germany Weimar. __________________ See Thru Your Mind =STYM= My Simple Collection Last edited by CZJena; 6th March 2005 at 08:13 PM.

6th March 2005	#5
CZJena Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: WestCoast SG Posts: 210	Whoelse, FYI, i have Zero zoom lens in my keeping, Zero autofocus camera except for my spoilt EOS-50 lay in coffin 3years ago, I use Zero in-built metering (most of the time with my Spotmeter), less than 15% of my 30+lenses are japan (namely takumar55/1.8, vivitar series-I 90macro and Canon-SSC50/1.4, Canon LTM 35/3.2) I really love those built of my 3 dageurreo LF lens from the 19th century (>100yrs). __________________ See Thru Your Mind =STYM= My Simple Collection

6th March 2005	#7
CZJena Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: WestCoast SG Posts: 210	I have heard alot about Mr.Wong MK, i had brought most of my early CZJena lenses from him. But after a trip to munich and frankfurt Germany, and onto ebay since 1998, i seldom visit him. He had moved his shop near the outram mrt to present luckchinatown. He is a quiet man and you really hard to bargain with him, he got his source from Germany too. Most of the lens i got from him cost at least SGD100 extra. He has his fans and network of Jena user in Singapore and frequently "buy back" worn lenses from them and markup high. Well he is a good businessman i guess, but i am a shewd Jena man afterall. My combo for my M42 are chiefly Spotmatic-F, Canon-EF (FD with adaptor), Praktica etc. I have a couple of MF cameras for CZJena too but less frequently used unless needed for special assignment. I once owned a 500/5.6PTC, an antitank bazooka which wear me down before i move 100 steps. Phew finally got rid of it to cam-x's nick. I only took 3 shots of it, and its a challenge even with a steady tripod, to keep it still! __________________ See Thru Your Mind =STYM= My Simple Collection Last edited by CZJena; 6th March 2005 at 08:31 PM.

7th March 2005	#13
CZJena Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: WestCoast SG Posts: 210	I hope to do lens chart test soon. If anyone has tested them with chart pls share your skill and knowledge. thks __________________ See Thru Your Mind =STYM= My Simple Collection Last edited by CZJena; 10th March 2005 at 09:21 AM.

6th March 2005	#3
whoelse Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,227	There was this shop call cosmo trading hidden inside sim lim tower and he has alot of old gem. So many old lens maybe in the number of hundred and very good price. I saw a k mount CJZ 135mm f2.8 and it doesnt look like a modified mount. Beautiful selling $100 and look mint. Din buy somehow and now the shop is gone. Most CSers are into modern marvels and L series stuff if not techno geeks. Only a few people into out of date equipments We are out of fashion

6th March 2005	#6
singscott Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: www.whltelightphotographer.com Posts: 1,659	The person to look for with good old Carl knowledge and sell them is Mr Wong from fotographis in lucky chinatown plaza. The man know his stuff. I come to know this wonderful cheap and goooodddd lenes from this gentleman. My flavourite is the 80mm pancolar F1.8 a good one in ebay will set you back us$380.00 When I start on photography many years ago, poeple kept telling me the best combination is a Japanese camera with Gremany Optics. With CZJ M42 lenes and an adapter I can do that combination into almost any Japanese camera.

7th March 2005	#10
fuwen Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Singapore, Woodlands Posts: 1,974	I started photography with Praktica and thus the very good value for money Pentacon/Jena lens. It is so sad that Praktica and Carl Zeiss Jena had to closed down when Gernamy unified, and there goes all the good value East German stuff. Stop down metering really is a problem for fast shooting but if u can get a Praktica MTL50, Pentax Spotmatic or a Rollei SL35 then they are wonderful and fast to use.

29th March 2005	#14
metalgear Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 590	CZJena - waiting for your post !

2nd April 2005	#16
my_photography Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 67	Can someone point me to a good website on CZ Jena? I am interested to learn what are the lenses available - especially wide angle and ultra wide angle lens and might be interested to get one.

4th April 2005	#17
don juan Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 100	biometar 80mm 2.8 Recently bought a mint biometar 80mm 2.8 for $100. Supose to be a standard lens for the pentacon six 120mm system. Need 2 adapters to work on my canon eos. An alpha adapter and a m42. Have not tried out the lens. Heard that the Flexagon 50 F/4 is amazing sharp. Trying to look for it. I am not so sure how these lens would compare with the Japanese optics such as sigma or tamron. Heard from a friend that such lens have poor colour and more suitable for black and white photography. As for sharpness and contrast, it is still below third party lens such as sigma, tamron despite being prime lenses. Any coments....

6th April 2005	#18
PQ23 Advertiser Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 3,125	flecktagon 35/2.8 Got this lens for < $100. Sharpness is clearly better than 18-55 (300d kit lens) whether wide open and stop down. As compared to tokina 28-70 atx pro, CZJ loss out when stop down at f8, sharper when wide open at f2.8. CZJ a bit of yellowish cast in terms of colour. But can always correct in PS.

6th April 2005	#19
PQ23 Advertiser Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 3,125	Adapter I may be creating a MO for M42 to EOS adapter. It will be around S$18 each. Just wondering if there's demand for it.