Zeiss Jena Biotar 140 mm f:1.4

[Miguel Coquis]

Is there anybody that have work with this lens and can tell his/her experience ?
I am interested in fast lenses and would like to know if these are "sharp" wide open. Any source of data for this lenses would be appreciated (or if you know of one available...).
Thanks for your help.

[CCHarrison]

You may have seen this lens at ebay

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Zeiss-Jena-Biotar...item25588ae898

I have also read this was produced in 1927 for 16mm movie cameras.....

There was also a brother-lens made, the 200mm 1.4 Biotar lens seen here on this translated page http://translate.google.com/translat...z%3D1I7ADSA_en

Dan

[Dan Fromm]

Miguel, if you want a relatively fast lens that will cover 4x5, think Dallmeyer Super Six. f/1.9 to 150 mm, f/2 at 200 mm. They exist, aren't common but are much more common than long Biotars. I've had a 6 incher, it weighed 3.5 pounds.

There are also some long fast aerial camera lenses. Perkin-Elmer made a 6"/1.5 for 4.5" x 4.5". Central resolution wide open with unspecified filtration is 40 lp/mm. But not well achromatized and is three stops down 25 degrees off-axis.

You might want to marvel at lenses made in the Soviet Union that was. Look in the catalogs here: http://www.lallement.com/pictures/files.htm These lenses are very hard to find. The resolutions quoted in the catalogs are for the lens wide open, generally aren't very good. This should be a hint.

FWIW, I have one ex-FSU aerial camera lens, a 100/2.5 Uran-27, and have shot it. Usable, but the 4"/2.0 TTH Anastigmat sold for, e.g., Vinten F-95, is better. Neither of these lenses is better from f/5.6 down than a decent modern f/5.6 plasmat type, both are larger and much heavier.