Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 40mm F/2
Wide-angle prime lens • Film era • Discontinued
- Announced:
- · 1933
- Production status:
- ● Discontinued
- Country of design:
- · German Reich
- Original name:
- · Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 1:2 f=4cm
- · Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 1:2 f=4 1/4 cm
- Class:
- · Fast full-frame wide-angle prime lens
- System:
- · Contax (1932)
Specification
| Optical design: | |
| 35mm full frame | |
| 40mm | |
| F/2 | |
| 6 elements in 4 groups (Double Gauss derivative) | |
| Contax (Outer mount) | |
| 56.8° (35mm full frame) | |
| Diaphragm mechanism: | |
Diaphragm type: | Manual |
Aperture control: | Dial-set aperture ring |
| 11 (eleven) | |
| Focusing: | |
Coupled to the rangefinder: | Yes |
| <No data> | |
Focusing modes: | Manual focus only |
Manual focus control: | Focusing ring |
| Physical characteristics: | |
| <No data> | |
| <No data> | |
| Accessories: | |
| Screw-type 40.5mm | |
| 1281/9 |
Source of data
- Own research.
Manufacturer description
The amateur is also able to combine large aperture with short focal length, namely by the use of the Zeiss Biotar f/2 of 1 9/16 ins (4 cm) focal length. The angle of view is considerably greater than that of the 2-inch Tessar f/3.5, namely 55 deg as against 45 deg, so that the Biotar may be regarded as an ultra-rapid universal lens enclosing a wider angle of view. Although of such exceptionally large aperture and covering power, the definition of the pictures obtained with this lens is excellent. Focussing, however, cannot be done by means of the disc of the distance-meter, as the Biotar, like the long-distance lenses, is supplied in an external bayonet mount provided with separate means for focussing.
From the editor
The lens accepts both 40.5mm screw-type and 42mm slip-on filters.
Mount diameter for filters and/or lens hoods: 42mm.
In 1936, probably for marketing purposes, the lens was renamed to 4 1/4 cm without any optical changes.
Other wide-angle prime lenses in the Contax system
| ■Contax mount (8) | |||||||||
| Carl Zeiss Jena Topogon 25mm F/4 [T] | M | 4 - 4 | 0.90m | 1950 ● | |||||
| Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 28mm F/8 | M | 4 - 3 | 1.00m | E40.5 | 1933 ● | ||||
| Carl Zeiss Jena Orthometar 35mm F/4.5 | M | 6 - 4 | 0.90m | E40.5 | 1937 ● | ||||
| Carl Zeiss Jena Herar 35mm F/3.5 | M | 5 - 2 | 0.90m | 1939 ● | |||||
| Carl Zeiss Planar 35mm F/3.5 | M | 5 - 4 | 3 ft. | E40.5 | 1954 ● | ||||
| Carl Zeiss Jena Biogon 35mm F/2.8 [T] | M | 6 - 4 | 0.90m | E40.5 | 1936 ● | ||||
| Carl Zeiss / Zeiss-Opton Biogon 35mm F/2.8 | M | 7 - ? | 3 ft. | E40.5 | 1950 ● | ||||
| Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar 35mm F/2.8 T | M | 5 - 4 | 0.90m | 1950 ● | |||||
Lenses with similar focal length
| ■Contax mount (3) | |||||||||
| Soligor 35mm F/2.8 for Contax / Nikon | M | 6 - 4 | 3 ft. | ● | |||||
| Jupiter-12 35mm F/2.8 for Kiev akaЮПИТЕР-12 35mm F/2.8 | M | 6 - 4 | 0.90m | ⌀40.5 | 1950 ● | ||||
| Tanaka Kogaku W Tanar 35mm F/2.8 for Contax / Nikon | M | 6 - 4 | 3 ft. | ● | |||||
| ■Nikon S mount (6) | |||||||||
| Cosina Voigtlander SC Skopar 35mm F/2.5 | M | 7 - 5 | 0.90m | ⌀43 | 2001 ● | ||||
| Nippon Kogaku W-Nikkor·C 35mm F/3.5 | M | 4 - 3 | 3 ft. | ⌀43 | 1948 ● | ||||
| Nippon Kogaku W-Nikkor[·C] 35mm F/2.5 | M | 6 - 4 | 3 ft. | ⌀43 | 1952 ● | ||||
| Nippon Kogaku W-Nikkor[·C] 35mm F/1.8 | M | 7 - 5 | 3 ft. | ⌀43 | 1956 ● | ||||
| Soligor 35mm F/2.8 for Contax / Nikon | M | 6 - 4 | 3 ft. | ● | |||||
| Tanaka Kogaku W Tanar 35mm F/2.8 for Contax / Nikon | M | 6 - 4 | 3 ft. | ● | |||||