The Sonnar -- another milestone in German lens design

In 1931, photographic designer Ludwig Bertele designed a new lens construction for Carl Zeiss for a lens with a focal length of 135mm It was called the Sonnar.

The lenses from Zeiss were intended to give the Contax cameras a competitive advantage over the lenses for the Leica camera from competitor Leitz. By using new types of glass (heavy fluor crown and lead flint glasses) and newly calculated surfaces of the glass elements, it was possible to produce lenses with higher speed and greater sharpness as well as high resolution and contrast values.

The image quality was so outstanding that the name Sonnar was applied to similar designs. All major lens manufacturers had Sonnar lenses in their range. It became Zeiss' most successful lens design, perhaps even the most successful lens design ever worldwide.

Because of its expressive colors, the Zeiss Sonnar is also known as the "color master". After the war, the lens reappeared on the market in 1957 in the aluminum mount offered here.

Offered is

Carl Zeiss Jena 4/135mm serial number 5898572
with original leather case and two caps

The lens is fully functional. The cosmetic condition corresponds to the age and can be described as good (see photos).

I am selling the lens as a private individual from my collection, therefore no guarantee, no return or other warranty.