Sonnar 135mm for IIa

[santino]

Hi fellow contax users!

today I got a 135mm 4 Sonnar for my IIa on ebay. it went for 31 € so the price is more than just ok. my question is, do you think that it's a real Zeiss Jena Sonnar? I don't really mind cause a J11 would be fine too but a Sonnar is a Sonnar. any advice is welcome thanks

[outfitter]

There are points to look at like large "M" rather than small "m" on the distance scale, large screw heads, purple coating etc. Yours looks like an un-coated pre-war 135mm Sonnar in heavy chrome mount. If so it would not be a J-11 as they are coated (usually deep purple) and in light aluminum mounts (the post-war Jena and CZO lenses are also in aluminum mounts). BTW the pre-war 135mm Sonnar lenses are great performers.

[darkkavenger]

Hey Santino! Check if the scale indicator meters symbol is written in lowercase... German lenses used a lower case "m" while russian lenses bear an uppercase "M"... there's a 135/4 sonnar on ebay (ending in a few hours) you can look how is the depth of field scale on the body.

I see you're in Linz... I was pretty close, in Ceske Budejovice monday evening for the 1st day of my exhibit at the Café Français - Le Chat Noir (on the main square, close to Austrian Consulate) I've got to visit Linz someday

[santino]

thanks!
the "m" is written in lowercase as far as I can tell from the pictures.

I know Ceske Budejovice, been there twice or so, beautiful city krumlov is great too, a must to visit. btw. give me a hint when you'll be going to linz, we should take some pics, contax style RF rule

[darkkavenger]

I guess that'll be after my Contax-III and the 50/2 Sonnar are serviced ... else I can come before with my Kiev... probably counting on a 2 days trip this summer

[furcafe]

It's probably genuine. Real Carl Zeiss Jena, & even the W. German Zeiss-Opton & Carl Zeiss, 135/4 Sonnars are pretty common & probably not worth counterfeiting.

Originally Posted by santino

Hi fellow contax users!

today I got a 135mm 4 Sonnar for my IIa on ebay. it went for 31 € so the price is more than just ok. my question is, do you think that it's a real Zeiss Jena Sonnar? I don't really mind cause a J11 would be fine too but a Sonnar is a Sonnar. any advice is welcome thanks

[santino]

a kiev would be great, it's still a contax style rf, isnt it

[darkkavenger]

It's a great comrade