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on Aug 17, 2019 4:18:22 GMT
Posted: Aug 17, 2019 4:18:22 GMT
After finishing up the Yashica draft list as a spreadsheet, I started on a similar one for the Zeiss T* C/Y list. It's also another read-only Google Sheet that's shared for anyone to create a copy or download for use in their own software. It's available here , for anyone who wants a copy. I think it has every lens that was sold at retail while they were available - but - if anyone finds something that isn't in the list, please let me know a few details, and/or a link to them, and I'll make an addition.
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on Aug 17, 2019 9:05:34 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 17, 2019 9:11:25 GMT by biggles3
Hi lumiworx,
Thank you for your hard work!
The four most obvious lenses that are missing are the 85mm f1.2 Planar T* (2 versions; 50th Anniversary AE mount and 60th Anniversary MM mount, both of 8 elements in 7 groups), the S-Planar 100mm f4 Bellows T* (6 elements in 4 groups) and the 210mm N-Mirotar f0.03 AE (it used an image intensifier) which was in effect 2 lenses: a mirror front with 3 elements in 2 groups and a relay lens at the rear with 14 elements in 9 groups. A fifth lens that was sold (I believe 5 were manufactured and 2 were sold; I was lucky enough to receive one from Yashica in Hamburg) was the 600mm f4 Tele-ApoTessar T* which had a MM mount; it came with its own 1.4x Mutar (which I did not receive) and featured 10 elements (+ 1 internal filter) in 9 groups.
You can see the 2 different 85 1.2 Planars either side of the 35mm PC-Shift lens.
P2077488r
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on Aug 17, 2019 9:19:42 GMT
Posted: Aug 17, 2019 9:19:42 GMT
Hello again lumiworx,
Just for information, it's worth noting that the Zeiss 25mm f2.8 had 3 iterations; in addition to the final MM type, there were two different AE versions as those with early serial numbers were something of a failure being deemed far too soft. Zeiss received a number of complaints and quietly revised the lens - though it never recalled the first batches and did not publicise the changes - continuing to sell it as though nothing had ever happened. So, if you ever see an AE lens for sale, go for a late serial number or simply wait for a MM version.
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on Aug 17, 2019 16:55:36 GMT
Posted: Aug 17, 2019 16:55:36 GMT
biggles3 ... Thanks for your help and insight, and the valuable details. I had chosen to leave the versioning details out of the list, and just enter the latest version produced under the diaphragm type. I assumed that those interested in the info - or having a copy - might already be aware of the progression of AE first, and MM second, as the 2 'versions' of the lens... but with there being 3 (or possibly more) on some models, I think I'll just make a notation under a particular lens' 'Note' column for now. I might want to revisit that idea and create multiple columns to denote v1, v2, v3, etc., to clarify if there are a fair number that had 3+ versions. I've made the additions/corrections to the sheet, so it's now up to date.
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on Aug 17, 2019 17:15:56 GMT
Posted: Aug 17, 2019 17:15:56 GMT
Hello again lumiworx,
Just for information, it's worth noting that the Zeiss 25mm f2.8 had 3 iterations; in addition to the final MM type, there were two different AE versions as those with early serial numbers were something of a failure being deemed far too soft. Zeiss received a number of complaints and quietly revised the lens - though it never recalled the first batches and did not publicise the changes - continuing to sell it as though nothing had ever happened. So, if you ever see an AE lens for sale, go for a late serial number or simply wait for a MM version. Yes, the MM Type is really being better....but i've seen some weird on ebay, the 25/2.8 Distagon, which should being a "MM" MultiMode Lens by it's Serial No, but it's still being a AE Version...no green "16" Aperture letters...which means AE. Perhaps into the Transition Era from AE to MM Types (1984) some "MM" Type Lens was being put into AE Bodies...at least, i've written something like this, decades ago....
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on Aug 27, 2019 0:10:12 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 27, 2019 0:10:49 GMT by lumiworx
I've made a few additions and changes to the sheet, and it now includes optical diagrams for all the lenses. All of the original Zeiss datasheets are hyper-linked to their appropriate lens, except for the N-Mirotar 210mm f/0.03 AE.
I won't assume that the diagrams that are embedded into the marked 2nd tab will automagically stay in place when anyone other than me makes a copy. If they don't stay put if/when someone saves a copy or exports in another format, let me know and I'll post a link to some copies.
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on Aug 27, 2019 11:13:42 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 27, 2019 11:26:04 GMT by biggles3
I've made a few additions and changes to the sheet, and it now includes optical diagrams for all the lenses. All of the original Zeiss datasheets are hyper-linked to their appropriate lens, except for the N-Mirotar 210mm f/0.03 AE. I won't assume that the diagrams that are embedded into the marked 2nd tab will automagically stay in place when anyone other than me makes a copy. If they don't stay put if/when someone saves a copy or exports in another format, let me know and I'll post a link to some copies. Excellent work! Thank you. I do have an illustration of the 600mm f4 Tele-ApoTessar's optical configuration - it's not good quality (I never had the data sheet) but is quite readable; would you like it?
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on Aug 27, 2019 20:17:58 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 27, 2019 20:19:39 GMT by lumiworx
I've made a few additions and changes to the sheet, and it now includes optical diagrams for all the lenses. All of the original Zeiss datasheets are hyper-linked to their appropriate lens, except for the N-Mirotar 210mm f/0.03 AE. I won't assume that the diagrams that are embedded into the marked 2nd tab will automagically stay in place when anyone other than me makes a copy. If they don't stay put if/when someone saves a copy or exports in another format, let me know and I'll post a link to some copies. Excellent work! Thank you. I do have an illustration of the 600mm f4 Tele-ApoTessar's optical configuration - it's not good quality (I never had the data sheet) but is quite readable; would you like it? Thank you... Yes, if you wouldn't mind sharing, that would be terrific. I can always try a bit of graphics magic on it if it needs it.
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on Aug 29, 2019 5:10:28 GMT
Posted: Aug 29, 2019 5:10:28 GMT
Thanks to biggles3 and a bit of magic, the optical diagram has been added for the Tele-Apo Tessar T* 600mm f/4.
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on Oct 12, 2019 21:00:10 GMT
Posted: Oct 12, 2019 21:00:10 GMT
Hi Lumiworx,
Great list and very useful, but I can’t see an entry for the 40-80 Vario-Sonnar.
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on Oct 12, 2019 21:41:13 GMT
Last Edit: Oct 12, 2019 21:42:35 GMT by lumiworx
Hi Lumiworx, Great list and very useful, but I can’t see an entry for the 40-80 Vario-Sonnar. Thanks bp_reid ... I'm surprised I missed it, but it's added to the sheet now. I'll have to go through the list again and double-check that there isn't another one.
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on Oct 13, 2019 15:23:15 GMT
Posted: Oct 13, 2019 15:23:15 GMT
Thanks to all who have been contributing to this list--or any other topic, for that matter--for their time and effort!
Michael
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on Oct 14, 2019 13:42:22 GMT
Posted: Oct 14, 2019 13:42:22 GMT
I think I've managed to fill in most of the blanks and unknown values and verified the details as best I can. I've also added 2 of the monstrous prime Tele-ApoTessars that I'd also missed... the 500mm f/5.6 and the 800mm f/8. That should make the list complete with only a very few exceptions in the individual details that I haven't found any reliable data on.
After a bit more reading I found out that the N-Mirotar 210mm f/0.03 AE was apparently built as a classified military lens and only sold for government use (i.e., covert 'spying/surveillance'). They were still produced as a 'small batch' production-run lens (a total of only 47 were made), and they weren't publicly available after their initial release - but - at some point they were declassified and a few were sold as surplus equipment.
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on Oct 14, 2019 18:05:16 GMT
Posted: Oct 14, 2019 18:05:16 GMT
Hi lumiworx,
I got to play with the N-Mirotar on the Wet-East German border nearly 40 years ago and it had one BIG drawback - a high-pitched whine which I hardly noticed but it sent guard dogs crazy! It was a common problem with those first generation light intensifiers. So, for covert, military observation at the border it was not too good but for use at a static OP it was quite effective but we did have fun annoying those East German dogs especially as it was a while before their handlers caught on to why the dogs went barking mad!
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on Oct 30, 2019 15:47:49 GMT
Posted: Oct 30, 2019 15:47:49 GMT
I think I've managed to fill in most of the blanks and unknown values and verified the details as best I can. I've also added 2 of the monstrous prime Tele-ApoTessars that I'd also missed... the 500mm f/5.6 and the 800mm f/8. That should make the list complete with only a very few exceptions in the individual details that I haven't found any reliable data on. After a bit more reading I found out that the N-Mirotar 210mm f/0.03 AE was apparently built as a classified military lens and only sold for government use (i.e., covert 'spying/surveillance'). They were still produced as a 'small batch' production-run lens (a total of only 47 were made), and they weren't publicly available after their initial release - but - at some point they were declassified and a few were sold as surplus equipment. I had quite forgotten to mention 2 lenses that were proposed and prototypes manufactured but never made it into the Contax RTS Zeiss catalogue in the late 1970s:
Distagon T* 18mm f2.8 - 12 elements in 11 groups and used the Contax 70/86mm slip-on adapter to mount a dedicated 86mm slim filter, especially designed to prevent vignetting.
Distagon T* 25mm f1.4 - 13 elements (1 floating) in 11 groups and used a slim 86mm filter attached to a dedicated 90mm lens hood. This lens was designed to provide a wider option for the 35mm, 50mm and 85mm series of f1.4 lenses.
There was a much later lens designed and at least one prototype built which was an amazing beast; sadly, I only ever saw a photo of one attached to a RTSIII so never got to see it up close and personal:
PC-ApoDistagon 25mm f3.5 - I can't find the data for its optical formula but this perspective shift lens was huge and would have been quite a weight; you would have needed either the RTSIII or AX to balance it in the hand.
I'm not suggesting that they should necessarily be added to the list; I merely mention them for information and completeness... I know I still have the Zeiss Data Sheets for the 18mm and 25mm lenses somewhere here...
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