CZJ Sonnar 180mm F/2.8 Lens

Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2.8/180mm (P6 medium format, M42/PK adapters) on Pentax LX 35mm SLR camera.

Picture taken with Tamron SP 90mm F/2.5 model 52BB lens on Canon 400D.

The first Sonnar 2.8/180mm 'Olympia Sonnar" introduced for Berlin Olympic Games in 1936 was a range finder lens. SLR versions did not appear until after the WW2 when Carl Zeiss was split into western and eastern companies. Carl Zeiss Jena DDR continued manufacture for Pentacon, Exacta and M42 mounts until reunification in early 1990s. Carl Zeiss West Germany introduced a Contax Sonnar T* 180mm f/2.8 a new design, derived from the famed Olympia Sonnar in the 1980s.

Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar may also be labelled "Carl Zeiss Jena S" or "Aus Jena S" lens remains exactly the same.

Four basic versions of Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 180mm F2.8:

1. Aluminium finish often with leather band grip - 1956-1963
2. Black with hard plastic focus ring with raised ovals sometimes referred to as "Star Wars edition" 1961 - 1963.
3. Black with bright aluminium stripes on focus ring "Zebra" 1963 - 1967.
4. All black 1967 - 1978. From 1978 - 1990 with Multi-coating denoted by "MC" marking. All previous were single coated.

The lens here is the type 2 "Star Wars" Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2.8/180 ASB

5 elements in 3 groups, Single coating.
F/2.8 -F/22 auto diaphram.
Min Focus distance ~ 2m
Rotatable tripod mount
Filter size 86mm
Weight: 1.1 kg bare ~1.5 kg including M42 adapter and hood
Diameter: ~100mm
Length: 140 - 160mm including M42 adapter
215 - 235 with hood.

Interesting to note this lens has automatic diaphragm compensation mechanism that opens the diaphragm at close focussing distance to maintain correct effective aperture.