Anyone know of a web site which lists Contax/Zeiss lenses with their serial# range by focal length and date of manufacture? I can't seem to find this information and it seems unbelievable that it would not be out there as it is for just about everything else.
It'll cost you $59, and is in German. The synopsis reads as follows:
The production started in Oberkochen in the year of 1948 with serial number 1000. Up to serial number 3.980.000, the author researched production planes, auction catalogs, brochures, company papers. From serial number 3.980.000 to 8.000.000 Thiele was able to rely on the companies information from Oberkochen (Germany). Lists include focal length, f-stop, when sold, how many made, serial number starting & ending, Lens-mount, year made, and much more.
Research for this set of volumes was supported by CZ, and gets a link off their web site:
Thanks John. I have seen that Zeiss lens date calculator before but it does not seem to work with Zeiss Contax lenses very well, or at least pre late 90's. I plugged in two different Zooms, a 180mm and an older AE 28mm and the date came back as Unknown. Two later lenses which had serial numbers starting with 8xxxxxx did come back with a date of 1997 but I suspect this must overlap with some Hasselblad Zeiss lens serial numbrer and might be innacurate.
I know on most of my Zeiss Hasselblad lenses, there is actually a date code. Is there anything like that with the Zeiss Contax lenses? I'm just surprised that this information would not be more readily available with Zeiss lenses given their reputation and history.
