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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

For sale - SEt of 4 Zeiss Superspeed lenses F=25/1.2 ,F=35/1.2 ,F=50/1.2 ,F=85/1.2

S

Sergey Kravchenco

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For sale Set of Zeiss prime superspeed lenses F=25/1.2 , F = 35/1.2 , F = 50/1.2 , F = 85 /1.2 - lenses used but optics fine , multicoating fine , lens is clean and clear movement smooth , all has focus gear ring with ARRI 32 pitch , PL mount . Lens F = 35 mm on front glass has minor mark on multicoating ( not scratches ) , below a photos of this lens .Other lenses exterior in the same condition , glasses , multicoating is fine without any defects .All lenses has front and rear caps .I want $ 12500 for this set , if need I restored front glass multicoating on Optica Elite or on LOMO - no problem , but this minor mark not problem for image .

Best regards

Sergey
 
It reads Obercochen on the front.

Obercochen is Black Forrest area, former west Germany where the headquarter of Zeiss West is located, the part of the company that made all the lenses for Arri.

Why they are called Opton, I don't know. But there was a strong exchange with the countries behind the iron curtain. In East Germany for instance stressing the budget for propaganda was in no question and film/tv was considered as a very powerful instrument. The East German TV and DEFA had the best western gear - all the Arri cameras and Zeiss lenses available at that time.

I'm purely guessing here, but Opton can be a brand solely used for "socialist" customers. That does also explain why all Super Speeds lenses I came across and came from those former socialist countries were branded Opton.

If I recall correctly Super Speeds with T1.2 are Mk2s and Mk3s whereas the so called B-Speeds or Mk1 are wide open at T1.3. I would be not surprised if these lenses have a round iris and hence are renamed Super Speeds Mk2s.

Unfortunately this set is missing the 18mm which the quite hard to find. But 12.500 USD is a very reasonable price, IMO.

Hans
 
A web search revealed this.

Lennart Åström , Sep 08, 2001; 05:59 p.m.

I have seen a lens for sale for the SL 66. It is named Opton and it is a 250 mm/5,6. Do any of you readers of this forum know anything about this lens? Quality? Lennart

Answers

Christoph-Erdmann Pfeiler , Sep 08, 2001; 06:08 p.m.
Opton is Zeiss! Why? The former German Democratic Republic and the remaining Federal German Republic had a legal dispute about the right to use the name Zeiss, the GDR lost - Zeiss was not allowed for the eastern Zeiss company. By retaliation, exports from west to east had to use the name "Opton". This is a real collector item, because it is rare! It does not differ from the lens with the Zeiss name. Sometimes, the name was on a sort of sticker or label and can be removed. Don't do that! It will downgrade the value of the lens significantly!

roger michel , Sep 08, 2001; 08:41 p.m.
the only thing i will add to the above concise and accurate answer is that the "opton" designation also dates the lens to the immediate postwar years. things were patched up by the very early fifties and the opton prefix vanished.

Marc James Small , Sep 09, 2001; 10:45 a.m.
Sorry, Roger -- "Zeiss-Opton" -- the last being an acronym for "OPTisches werke OberkocheN" was used from 1947 until 1954, when "Carl Zeiss" began to be used. But Carl Zeiss continued to mark lenses sold in the Eastern Bloc "Opton" in place of "Carl Zeiss", which was forbidden in Communist nations, until the later 1980's. Hasselblad and Rollei SL66 lenses were so marked, as were the Tessars on Rollei 35's. You really should buy and read Prochnow!

roger michel , Sep 09, 2001; 12:33 p.m.
that's interesting -- thanks for the correction!! my experience with the zeiss/opton business is limited to contax RF cameras and lenses. i knew the opton designation was dropped in the early '50s and never reappeared on the contax RF optics. i thought it had disappeared forever (even ivor matanle says as much in his classic cameras tome). HOWEVER, had i been thinking straight, i would have realized that this could not be the case since you were talking about an sl-66 lens!! anyway, i would love to have the full citation for the book you mentioned. zeiss has an interesting history, and i would love to learn more. thanks!!

Lifted from here.

http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/001dgY

Marc is the one to give you a full explanation. It has to do with the legal mess about who owned the Zeiss name after WW-2 when there were two groups claiming to be Zeiss.

http://m1.2mdn.net/1488497/OSDir_be...graphy.equipment.rollei/2005-09/msg00080.html

Dave
UK
 
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Hi !
Russian ( Soviet ) goverments have bought many sets of this lenses with Arriflex 35 BL II movie camera in set during Moscow Olympic Games 1980 year .I think it set made in 1980 year .

Best regards

Sergey
 
Opton Zeiss from Russia.

Opton Zeiss from Russia.

:umm: I have seen a set of these lenses before way back in my past. The glass was ok but when you pulled focus the picture moved about. This was/is becos the threadwork was very poor. Beware! TC.:sad:
 
these are pl converted zeiss b-speeds (triangular iris, t1.4). They do not optically and mechanically differ from "western" zeiss b-speed. They were manufactured by the same factory, the only thing that differs is the front inscription Ring that says Opton instead of Zeiss. Zeiss was not allowed to sell under their name in the eastern block because there was a competing, lesser quality East German (DDR) Zeiss company. Zeiss Oberkochen came up with the name Opton to be able to sell in those territories.

It is a myth that they were manufactured to lower standards. If you can find an 18mm to complete the set and it's in the condition stated it's a bargain in the current market.
 
Sergey,
Where are these lenses located at?
 
Привет, Сергей. Меня зовут Игорь. Я из Питера. Хочу купить Red one with 18-85. Можете что-нибудь посоветовать относительно комплетка и объектива. Заранее благодарен. Корнеев Игорь
 
They are identical. I've had both my sets (Distagon and Opton) serviced at ARRI at the same time. There's no difference between them, except for name and I can say that from experience.

I have a set for sale both in mint condition, just serviced with ARRI. PM me if your interested, but I won't sell for 12K hahaha.
 
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