Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [I] [AE]

Super telephoto prime lens • Film era • Discontinued

  • Announced:
  • · 1979
  • Production status:
  • ● Discontinued
  • Country of design:
  • · FRG (Federal Republic of Germany)
  • Original name:
  • · Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar 4/300 T*
  • Class:
  • · Slow full-frame super telephoto prime lens
  • · Professional model
  • System:
  • · Contax/Yashica (1974)

Abbreviations

T* Multi-layer anti-reflection 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.

Model history (2)

■Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [I] [AE]A5 - 53.50mE82 1979 ●
■Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [II] [AE, MM]A5 - 53.50mE82 1982 ●

Specification

Optical design:
35mm full frame
300mm
F/4
5 elements in 5 groups
Contax/Yashica [45.5mm]
8.2° (35mm full frame)
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:
Automatic
Aperture control:
Aperture ring (Manual settings only)
8 (eight)
Focusing:
3.50m
<No data>
Focusing modes:
Manual focus only
Manual focus control:
Focusing ring
Physical characteristics:
1720g
⌀94×205mm
Accessories:
Screw-type 82mm
Built-in telescopic round
Carl Zeiss Mutar T* 2X I (AE) → 600mm F/8
Carl Zeiss Mutar T* 2X II (AE) → 600mm F/8

Sources of data

  • Contax Real Time Photography booklet (PUB. CXS-GB).
  • Contax Real Time System booklet (PUB. CX-28 GB).
  • Contax 139 Quartz booklet.
  • Yashica FX-3 instruction manual.
  • Contax RTS II Quartz booklet.
  • Yashica/Contax Confidential Dealer Price List No. 10 (January 1980).
  • Contax 137 MD Quartz booklet.

Manufacturer description

The 300 mm Tele-Tessar® T* f/4 lens offers a long focal length, remarkably high speed, compact design and easy operation at one and the same time. It is a telephoto design where the distance between the front lens vertex and the rear focus is only about 80% of the focal length. It offers virtually perfect monochromatic correction and excellent image quality even at full aperture - a decisive improvement over earlier telephoto designs.

It is, however, the mechanical construction of the lens that allows full utilization of its superb optical performance. The lens is easy to handle despite its long focal length, and the favourable opto-mechanical transmission ratio of the focusing helicoid offers the photographer more flexibility. The lens hood which is connected with the outer barrel can be pushed back for transport. For shooting from a tripod, the lens has a tripod socket positioned approximately at the centre of gravity of the lens-camera combination. The camera can be swung through 90% for the transition from horizontal to vertical shots.

This Tele-Tessar® lens is ideal for large-size pictures of distant subjects and for photographing at long distances without being observed. The relatively long focal length makes the main subject stand out distinctly against the background, an effect often required by photographers.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Carl Zeiss lens designation "Tele-Tessar" mean?

The Tele-Tessar is a true tele lens comprised of a positive front group and a negative rear element, i.e. a system whose length is clearly shorter than the focal length. It is a compact design which provides a small angular field and long focal length in relation to the image format. There is no similarity to the general design of the Tessar and is simply intended to utilize the popularity of the name. This type of lens is especially suitable for sports and other forms of photography where it is not possible or desirable to approach the subject. / Source: Carl Zeiss Oberkochen literature /

Other super telephoto prime lenses in the Contax/Yashica system

■Contax/Yashica mount (6)
Yashica ML 300mm F/5.6 CA6 - 34.50m⌀58 ●
Yashica ML 300mm F/5.6A5 - 44.50m⌀58 1976 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [II] [AE, MM]A5 - 53.50mE82 1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 300mm F/2.8 [AE]A7 - 63.50m-- 1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 500mm F/5.6 [AE]A9 - 74.90m-- 1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 800mm F/8 [AE]A8 - 64.00m-- 1984 ●

Lenses with similar focal length

■Contax/Yashica mount (4)
Sigma MF 300mm F/4.5 APO Multi-CoatedA8 - 62.50m⌀67 1980 ●
Soligor G/S Tele-Auto 300mm F/4.5 MC (s/n 3xxxxxx)A5 - 54.00m⌀72 ●
Tokina 300mm F/5.6 RMC
akaTokina SL 300mm F/5.6		A6 - 34.50m⌀58 ●
Vivitar Auto Telephoto 300mm F/5.6 (s/n 37xxxxxx)A5 - 36.00m⌀58 1975 ●
■Interchangeable mount (22)
Century Tele-Athenar 300mm F/3.2 IIM4 - 26.00mS.9 1977 ●
Hanimex Tele-Lens 300mm F/5.5 [T]P4 - ?8.00m⌀62 ●
Heinz Kilfitt Munchen Tele-Kilar 300mm F/5.6P4 - 23.00m⌀68 1948 ●
Heinz Kilfitt Munchen Pan-Tele-Kilar 300mm F/4
akaZoomar Muenchen Pan-Tele-Kilar 300mm F/4		P4 - ?⌀88 1956 ●
Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Orestegor 300mm F/4P5 - 43.60m⌀95 1967 ●
Pentacon 300mm F/4P5 - 43.60m⌀95 1971 ●
Sankyo Kohki Super-Komura 300mm F/5 [Unidapter Auto]A5 - ?5.50m⌀62 ●
Komuranon 300mm F/4.5 K·M·CA? - ?4.50m 1974 ●
Sigma[-XQ] MF Macrotel / Telephoto 300mm F/4 [Multi-Coated] [YS]A6 - 54.50m⌀77 1972 ●
Soligor Tele-Auto 300mm F/5.5 Type 1 (s/n 1xxxxxx) [T-4]A5 - 56.00m⌀62 ●
Soligor Tele-Auto 300mm F/5.5 Type 2 (s/n 1xxxxxxx) [T-4]A5 - 36.00m⌀62 ●
Tair-3A 300mm F/4.5 [T]
akaТАИР-3 300mm F/4.5 А		P3 - 32.20m⌀72 ●
Tair-1A APO 300mm F/4.5 [T]P5 - 52.25m 1972 ●
Steinheil Munchen Tele-Quinar 300mm F/4.5P5 - 33.00mS.IX 1956 ●
Tamron SP 300mm F/5.6 MC Tele Macro 54B [Adaptall-2]A6 - 51.40m⌀58 1979 ●
Tamron 300mm F/5.6 CT-300 [Adaptall]A4 - 42.50m⌀58 1976 ●
Tamron Auto 300mm F/5.6 [Adapt-A-Matic]A4 - 22.50m⌀62 1972 ●
Tamron 300mm F/5.6 [T]P4 - 23.50m⌀62 1962 ●
Tamron 300mm F/6.9 [T]
akaSoligor 300mm F/6.9		P3 - 26.00m⌀58 1963 ●
Vivitar Tele 300mm F/5.6 [T]P5 - 44.50m⌀62 ●
Vivitar Auto Telephoto 300mm F/5.5 (s/n 37xxxxxxx) [T-4]A5 - ?6.00m⌀62 1968 ●
Vivitar Auto Telephoto 300mm F/5.6 (s/n 37xxxxxx) [TX]A5 - 36.00m⌀58 1976 ●

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