Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

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Archive 2006 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

Airborne_
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p.1 #1 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

I searched around, but found no threads on this marvelous lens. I've played with a bunch of "legendary" manual lenses, but this one is definitely my favourite one.
Below is a link to a comparison with the Super-Takumar 85/1,9 (which isn't a bad lens either).

http://photo.zvezdov.com/tests/bio_tak/

I wanted to ask whether someone has compared optically this version
http://www.fotoherbst.de/ebay/shop/aa6858.jpg

with this one, since it appears to be cheaper on ebay (~400 EUR) than the one I own:
http://www.fotoherbst.de/ebay/aa8044.jpg

Cheers,
JB

May 29, 2006 at 07:37 AM

foges
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p.1 #2 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

could be just me, but the mount seems different, i think the first one is m42, the second one doesnt seem like it.

May 29, 2006 at 03:57 PM

Airborne_
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p.1 #3 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

Actually, both have the samem42 screw mount, except the second one has some elongated shape, so it can only be used with adapters, which do not push the lever for the aperture all the time. Had two copies- both looked just like the latter.
Nevertheless, it has no problems with the mirror on 5D and makes just maginificent photographs (wanted to see some, that's why I posted here).
Anyway, here is a shot with it:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

and a 100% crop of the same shot!

This image is copyrighted by the owner

May 29, 2006 at 07:40 PM

thomas wong
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p.1 #4 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

I have the second version, but it my case, it sports the Exakta mount. It's indeed a very good lens.

Thomas W

May 30, 2006 at 01:57 AM

thomas wong
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p.1 #5 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

I forgot to mention that Stephen Gandy of cameraquest has some information on this lens.

Thomas

May 30, 2006 at 04:19 AM

Airborne_
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p.1 #6 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

Thanks for the web site, though the article on the biotar is not entirely correct, I think

May 30, 2006 at 01:05 PM

robsteve
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p.1 #7 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

The Biotar seems pretty good at the wider apertures, but does not improve as much on stopping down compared to the Takumar. For the 400 euro, you might be better buying a used 90mm Summicron. The Summicron at f2 is probably better than the sample Biotar shot at f2.

May 30, 2006 at 02:27 PM

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p.1 #8 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

The above was also shot at f/2. Do you reckon the Summicron would outperform it in terms of sharpness/contrast and bokeh? Which version should I be looking for? Any issues with the EOS system, compated to m42?

May 30, 2006 at 04:47 PM

bob_dodds
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p.1 #9 · Zeiss Biotar 75/1,5

http://www.pbase.com/recbo/zeiss
http://www.pbase.com/recbo/image/92519049

Fat biotars are about the same optically, as far as glass, but skinnies from 1930's and 1950's have 18 diaphragm blades for the best bokeh of any lens ever made when shooting at low f-stops. Tomioka 55mm f1.2 is another top bokeh lens but it might be soft wide open while Biotar 75/1.5 is sharp wide open, another thing it's known for.

At the above link you can see a 1930's biotar with bubbles in its glass competing favorably with Carl Zeiss Planar 85/1.4 on sharpness at low-f and better on bokeh. My particular 1930's is sharper than my particular 1951, but that is probably just not a primo 1951.

You would probably find the Summicron 90 to compare to CZ 85/1.4.

Sep 03, 2008 at 07:27 AM

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