Carl Zeiss Sonnar [HFT] 85mm F/2.8

akaOpton Oberkochen So HFT 85mm F/2.8

akaRollei-HFT Sonnar 85mm F/2.8

akaVoigtlander Color-Dynarex 85mm F/2.8

Short telephoto prime lens • Film era • Discontinued

Carl Zeiss Sonnar [HFT] 85mm F/2.8

Carl Zeiss Sonnar [HFT] 85mm F/2.8:

Rollei-HFT Sonnar 85mm F/2.8:

  • Announced:
  • · 1970
  • Production status:
  • ● Discontinued
  • Country of design:
  • · FRG (Federal Republic of Germany)
  • Original name:
  • · Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2,8/85
  • · Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2,8/85 HFT
  • Class:
  • · Fast full-frame short telephoto prime lens
  • System:
  • · Rolleiflex SL35 (1970)

Abbreviations

HFT Multi-layer High Fidelity Transfer coating is applied to the surfaces of lens elements. This anti-reflection coating increases light transmission, eliminates flare and ghosting, and maintains color consistence among all lens models. Learn more

Sample photos (1)

ILCE-7 @ ISO 500, 1/200 sec. ???mm F/???. Werner Paukert, https://www.flickr.com/photos/wpau/
F/???

Specification

Optical design:
35mm full frame
85mm
F/2.8
4 elements in 4 groups (Ernostar)
M42 [45.5mm]
Rollei QBM [44.46mm]
28.5° (35mm full frame)
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:
Automatic
Aperture control:
Aperture ring (Manual settings only)
6 (six)
Focusing:
1m
<No data>
Focusing modes:
Manual focus only
Manual focus control:
Focusing ring
Physical characteristics:
190g (Rollei QBM)
⌀62×52mm (Rollei QBM)
Accessories:
Screw-type 49mm
Screw-type round
<No data>

Sources of data

  • Rollei SL35 M in practical use booklet.
  • Rollei SL35 ME in practical use booklet.
  • Rolleiflex SL35 in practical use booklet.
  • Rolleiflex SL350 in der Praxis booklet (in German).
  • Voigtlander VSL1 instruction manual.
  • Voigtlander VSL2 automatic instruction manual.
  • Rolleiflex SL35 booklet.
  • Lens specifications for SLR's booklet (January 1978).

From the editor

The lens was produced under the following names:

  • Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2,8/85 (first without HFT, later HFT coated) - made by Carl Zeiss
  • OPTON Oberkochen So 2,8/85 HFT - made by Carl Zeiss - for sale in the countries of the Eastern Bloc
  • Rollei-HFT Sonnar 2,8/85 - made by Rollei under license from Carl Zeiss
  • VOIGTLÄNDER COLOR-DYNAREX 2,8/85 - made by Rollei under license from Carl Zeiss

The reason for the release of this lens by Rollei in different names was that Rolleiflex SL35 series cameras were sold under the name Voigtlander in a number of markets.

The optical layout of the QBM Sonnar is slightly different from the C/Y type.

Sonnar 85mm F/2.8 and Tele-Tessar 135mm F/4 lenses use the same screw-in round lens hood designated as "Typ D" in the "Rolleiflex SL350 in der Praxis" instruction manual.

Frequently asked questions

Why were Carl Zeiss lenses also sold under the OPTON brand?

In February 1954, Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, filed a suit against the continued use by Carl Zeiss Jena of the name Carl Zeiss, the lens logo, and other trademarks and product names in West Germany. Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, referred to itself, wherever it could legally do so, simply as "Carl Zeiss". After proceedings lasting nearly 18 years, the London Agreement in April 1971 regulated how the trademark and the Carl Zeiss company name was to be used in the East and West. Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen and VEB Carl Zeiss Jena divided the global hemispheres between them for business purposes and each agreed not to use the ZEISS brand in the respective other half of the world. The Oberkochen-based company operated in the Eastern Bloc countries under the name "Opton". VEB Carl Zeiss Jena used the name "Jenoptik" and the trademark "aus Jena" (from Jena) in the Western countries.

What does the Carl Zeiss lens designation "Sonnar" mean?

The original Sonnar lenses contributed much to the early development of 35mm photography. Their outstanding optical performance coupled with compact size and short focal lengths were important factors for use with the rangefinder type cameras of that time. Continuous improvements have been made over the years, and Sonnar lenses feature high speed, superior definition and excellent illumination of the image field. They are widely prized by both professional and amateur photographers for use in portraiture, sports and stage photography, news photography and technical applications. / Source: Carl Zeiss Oberkochen literature /

Other short telephoto prime lenses in the Rolleiflex SL35 system

■Rollei QBM mount (3)
Rolleinar-MC 85mm F/2.8
akaVoigtlander Color-Dynarex AR 85mm F/2.8		A4 - 40.85m⌀52 1977 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar HFT 85mm F/1.4
akaOpton Oberkochen Pl HFT 85mm F/1.4		A6 - 51.00mE67 1972 ●
Rolleinar-MC 105mm F/2.8
akaVoigtlander Color-Dynarex AR 105mm F/2.8		A4 - 41.20m⌀52 1977 ●

Lenses with similar focal length

■M42 mount (25)
Asahi Auto-Takumar 85mm F/1.8 [342, 43420]S5 - 40.85m⌀55 1960 ●
Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F/1.8 [43832]A6 - 60.85m⌀58 1972 ●
Asahi Super-Takumar 85mm F/1.9 [364, 43640]A5 - 40.85m⌀58 1962 ●
Asahi Takumar 83mm F/1.9 [322]P7 - 41.10m⌀49 1957 ●
Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F/1.9 [43461]A5 - 40.85m⌀58 1971 ●
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
Enna Munchen Ennalyt 95mm F/2.8M3 - 31.00m⌀52 ●
Enna Munchen Ennalyt 85mm F/1.5M6 - 51.00m⌀62 ●
Enna Munchen Lithagon SII 85mm F/1.5 C
akaEnna Munchen Ennalyt 85mm F/1.5 C
akaEnna Munchen Ennaston 85mm F/1.5 C		P6 - 51.20m⌀58 1956 ●
Enna Munchen Tele-Ennalyt 90mm F/2.8M4 - 40.70m⌀52 ●
Mamiya/Sekor SX Auto 85mm F/1.7A6 - 40.90m⌀58 ●
Mamiya/Sekor SX Auto 85mm F/2.8A4 - 40.85m⌀52 1974 ●
Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Primoplan 75mm F/1.9 VP5 - 41.00mS.VII 1952 ●
Sankyo Kohki Komura 85mm F/1.4P7 - 51.00m⌀67 ●
Helios-40-2 85mm F/1.5
akaГЕЛИОС-40-2 85mm F/1.5		P6 - 40.80m⌀67 1969 ●
Jupiter-9 85mm F/2 [MC]
akaЮПИТЕР-9 85mm F/2 [МС]		P7 - 30.80m⌀49 ●
Helios-40-2 85mm F/1.5P6 - 40.80m⌀67 2012 ●
Steinheil Munchen Culminar 85mm F/2.8 VLM4 - 31.00m⌀40.5 ●
TTArtisan 75mm F/1.5M6 - 40.75m⌀58 2024 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Pancolar 75mm F/1.4A7 - 70.65m 1966 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biotar 75mm F/1.5 [T] Type 3P6 - 40.80mE58 1953 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Pancolar 80mm F/1.8 auto / electric MCA6 - 50.83mE58 1977 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biometar 80mm F/2.8 [T] Type 1P5 - 40.80mE49 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 80mm F/2.8 TP4 - 31.00mS.VII ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biotar 75mm F/1.5 [T] Type 2M6 - 41.00mE55 1949 ●
■Interchangeable mount (6)
Kenko 85mm F/2.5 Soft MC [T]M3 - 30.80m⌀52 1987 ●
Sankyo Kohki Komura 85mm F/1.4 [Unidapter]P7 - 51.00m⌀67 1965 ●
Soligor 85mm F/1.5 (s/n 3xxxxxx) [T]P7 - 50.90m⌀62 1966 ●
Soligor 85mm F/1.8 (s/n 3xxxxxx) [T]P? - ?0.90m⌀58 1966 ●
Spiratone Telephoto 85mm F/1.7 [YS]A? - ?0.90m⌀55 ●
Vivitar Tele 85mm F/1.8 [T]P6 - 41.50m⌀55 ●

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