Carl Zeiss

Pancolar

M4250mmf/1.8
฿6,885Sold

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Condition assessed 20/1/2026

How we grade
Optical
4.0/5
Mechanical
4.0/5
Cosmetic
4.0/5
BVery goodWeighted across three axes

Inspector’s condition notes

Lens in well-kept condition. Optical elements are flawless, no scratches. Focus and aperture operate smoothly like new. Internal components are solid, no internal lens rattle. Exterior body condition is like new. No scratches, no scuffs, no paint loss.

How this lens renders

Compared to 50mm lenses of the same spec from the same era, this Pancolar stands out for its sharpness right from wide open. Even at f/1.8 it's already sharp and genuinely usable; stop down to f/2.8 and it's razor-sharp, and pushing to f/8 it captures every detail across the entire frame. The real highlight is the excellent micro-contrast, delivering depth and color intensity that many modern lenses still can't match. Colors are rich and bold in classic East German style (the MC version is slightly more vibrant than the zebra version). With a minimum focus distance of just 0.35m, you can get close to your subject and melt the background into a soft, creamy blur. The bokeh is smooth and beautiful, non-swirly. The purple-toned flare is part of its unique charm. If you'd rather avoid flare when shooting into backlight, we recommend using a lens hood. Another thing worth noting is that the color tone shifts slightly when you stop down (a signature trait of this lens family, not a defect). This vintage lens is ideal for those looking for 50mm — beautiful sharpness paired with bold color character. Well worth adding to a collection.

In the box

ฝาหน้าแท้ ฝาหลังแท้

Honest disclosure

MinimalDust
NoneHaze
NoneFungus
NoneSeparation
NoneCoating marks
NoneOil on blades
90-day warranty on every lens
As-pictured (ตรงปก) guarantee
Next-day dispatch, order by 22:00
100% authentic inspected & verified
Lens heritageExact match

Carl Zeiss Pancolar

The Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 is a cult-classic East German standard prime offering sharpness usable wide open, rich color, and excellent microcontrast in a compact all-metal body.

The history below is for this exact model — it matches the lens you’re viewing.
Introduced
1964–1990
Optical formula
6 elements in 5 groups (early versions 6 elements in 4 groups), Double Gauss origin.
Signature
Rich color rendering, with MC versions more vibrant; exhibits a notable color shift when stopped down.
Read the full legend
Carl Zeiss Pancolar
Sample shots

What this lens can do

Example photos of this lens model, gathered from around the web — not shots of this exact copy.

Carl Zeiss Pancolar — sample 1
via Atheist_Lenses · CC BY
Carl Zeiss Pancolar — sample 2
via be creator · CC BY
Carl Zeiss Pancolar — sample 3
via Atheist_Lenses · CC BY
Carl Zeiss Pancolar — sample 4
via Atheist_Lenses · CC BY
Carl Zeiss Pancolar — sample 5
via _ustas · CC BY-SA
Carl Zeiss Pancolar — sample 6
via Atheist_Lenses · CC BY