Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 80mm f/1.8

Overview

The Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 80mm f/1.8 is the rare, exotic sibling of the common 50mm version. This fast short-telephoto was a technical achievement — 80mm at f/1.8 was ambitious for its era. Produced in limited quantities, it became a cult lens for portrait photographers seeking the Zeiss Jena character in a portrait focal length. Finding one today requires patience and luck.

Verdict: The unicorn Pancolar. If you can find one in good condition, you'll have a unique portrait lens with genuine Zeiss Jena character. Not practical to seek out, but magical if you stumble upon one.

Optical Character

Community Insights

Summary: The community has a very positive outlook on the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm F/2.8 lens. Despite its low cost, the lens is praised for its impressive optical performance, including good sharpness even when shot wide open. The build quality is also noted as better than most modern low-end lenses, though the focusing ring may require some servicing in some cases. Sentiment: Positive Top Praised: - Excellent optical performance and sharpness, even when shot wide open - Compact and lightweight design - Affordable price point - Robust all-metal construction - Easy to modify for cine use Top Complaints: - Focusing ring can be stiff in some cases, requiring servicing - Slightly slow maximum aperture of f/2.8 - Not as high-end as modern or Contax Zeiss lenses Use Cases: - General photography and videography - Vintage/retro aesthetic - Budget-conscious Zeiss lens option Disagreements: - None noted Confidence: 0.9 (The review provides a comprehensive and consistent overview of the community's experience with this lens.)

Sources (3)