CLA'd Carl Zeiss Jena BIOTAR 1:1.5/7.5cm Exa 'Wartime Slim' 1949 18 Blades Iris
A vintage item used previously. Production date: October 1949. Lens bayonet (mount): Exa/Exakta originally to fit famous German 35mm film cameras. Material: chromed steel. The lens could nearly be my grandfather! A professionally CLA'd/overhauled lens (05/2024) - clean, buttery smoothly running, well adjusted - no further investments necessary. For further details kindly read item condition report and see the item gallery. If you need anything feel free to contact me prior to purchase. Sony A7RII tested OK item - buy with confidence.
Trivia: valuable 'middle' or '2nd generation' of legendary Biotar 75/1.5 still maintaining popular many blades (18 blades iris) aperture - bokeh bubbles practically always to have rounded shape. Very strong swirly character (on FF). Good for 35mm film, digital with adapter - or video. Even though the latter 'Fat' Biotars may be tad sharper, this on has always been my favourite/soft spot lens as having very cool, really timeless construction which I find the most practical among Biotars (while having basically the same T-coating as latest version).
Mechanical & surfacial condition: Item recently serviced by a professional mechie so expect to receive very clean and buttery smoothly running item (focus ring always slightly more easy to rotate than aperture ring on Biotar lenses). Me and my technician do have quite a long track record of positive eBay feedbacks gained on various Biotar items; kindly check my profile :) Lens chassis shows some patina after previous use as normal for 75yo lens (eg. see Fig. 8 details with red arrow pointed at).
Some sort of vintage filter like collar (ring) present on the front barrell. Both screwable cap and actual filter can be mounted on with ease. We were unable to remove this thing as it is super stiff from earlier history. You can treat it as some sort of small, basic lens hood (which this model originally never been equipped with).
Glass condition: Glasses generally clean after a recent overhaul (no haze no fungus). A couple of tiny micro scratches here and there but nothing serious. Production made mineral glass air bubbles characteristic for hi-quality Biotars locally present in all glasses (normal situation). Both front & rear coating layers are moderately "flicky" (see Fig 3 & 4) - possibly after an old fungus unprofessionally removed in the past. Image quality wise the lens doesn't care (no noticeable drop of image quality and yes, I was shooting wide-open against the low morning sun). The flaw sligthly affects collectible value. Apart from this factor the lens coating layers are coherent without "maps" or dramatic loss. You are buying a 75yo lens that has been used previously a number of times so please adjust your expectations!
Accessories: two metallic caps; frontal one with custom made print. They are both newly purchased and are not 'vintage' as the originals have been lost.
This is a private sale with no returns or refunds, hence I describe anything imaginable I found or noticed to avoid controversy and possible misdescription. If something really stresses me, it is an eBay return from the other part of the planet! If you feel there is something I missed or did not mention please contact me before the purchase for possible answers.
Worldwide shipping from Czech Rep., EU thru priority, trackable, insured parcel (no package undervaluing). For more pricey speedy shipping outside EU - FedEx, UPS etc. - kindly go ask in advance, everything is usually doable. Buyers from neighbouring or close countries to Czechia kindly quote for updated cheaper invoice prior to purchase, if realistic.