For the opportunity to review the Pancolar 1.8 / 50 ausJena lens, many thanks to Dyachuk Roman.
Review Pancolar 50mm 1.8 ausJena
This review features the Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena lens , serial number 8551345. Based on the lens number, it was likely manufactured between 1967 and 1970. There's talk that Pancolar isn't a genuine Cazl Zeiss lens, but this lens, which doesn't have the Cazl Zeiss inscription , is the source of this theory. The prefix "aus" means "from" in German, meaning "Pancolar from Jena." You can find interesting thoughts about the demise of the company on Dmitry Evtifeev's blog.
Pancolar 50mm 1.8 ausJena - view from different sides
I already have a review of the Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar 1.8/50 DDR —it's a newer version of the lens, so I won't cover the Pancolar again. The main information is in the Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar 1.8/50 DDR review , but here I'll try to describe the differences between the old and new versions.
Pancolar 50mm 1.8 ausJena - view on Nikon D40
My Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena lens , unlike the new version, doesn't have a multi-coating. The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena has a single coating. Because of this, the lens produces a strong yellow tint in the image, almost as if it were fitted with a yellow filter, resulting in a warm color rendition. On my DSLR, the automatic white balance handles the yellow tint well and produces a very pleasing color rendition. In some ways, the yellow tint is a plus.
Pancolar 1.8 50 ausJena. bokeh
Although the Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena does not have multi-coating, it tolerates backlighting well and can catch hares, but the lens hood helps to avoid unnecessary flare.
Sample photo on Pancolar 1.8 50 ausJena
Another significant difference from the older version is the 8-blade aperture, which produces smoother bokeh than the 6-blade aperture of the newer versions of the lens. The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena aperture is matte and features a user-friendly aperture ring. The aperture settings on the ring are: 1.8, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, with one intermediate value in between.
Note: Older zebra-patterned lenses come in several variations: with a 6- or 8-blade aperture. I also used the zebra-patterned version with 6 aperture blades—optically and visually, the lens is identical to the one presented in this review.
Sample photo on Pancolar 1.8 50 ausJena
The lens barrel is also different from the new one. The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena is a classic "zebra" lens. "Zebra" is most often used to refer to older Cazl Zeiss lenses, which have a black-and-white striped focus ring and aperture ring, reminiscent of a zebra pattern. Old "zebra" lenses are incredibly legendary among photographers. While the lens is indeed very old, it produces stunning image quality.
Sample photo on Pancolar 1.8 50mm ausJena
My Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena has a strange switch, and I couldn't determine its purpose. The lens doesn't have a jumping aperture, so the switch can't control the aperture mode.
Sample photo on a Pancolar F1.8 50mm ausJena
How to use on modern cameras
The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena has an M42 camera mount. To mount it on a modern DSLR, simply find the right adapter. I used the Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena with a Nikon D200 and a KP-42/N adapter, which negates infinity focusing. I described adapters and compatibility with Nikon cameras in the article about Soviet lenses , some of which also have an M42 mount. For Canon lenses, you'll need an M42/Canon EOS adapter; for more information, see the article about older lenses for Canon.
Sample photo on a Pancolar F1.8 50mm ausJena
Sample photos on Pancolar 1.8 / 50 ausJena
All photos were taken with a Nikon D200 , unprocessed. Size 2048*1536 , EXIF data imprinted , RAW -> JPEG, auto WB , Q80%.
For what purposes is it suitable
The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena is an excellent portrait lens, especially on cropped-sensor cameras. With a crop factor, the equivalent focal length is 75mm for Nikon and 80mm for Canon. At full aperture, the lens produces a beautifully blurred background and foreground, which is essential for a good portrait. Furthermore, the Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena is a fast prime lens that can handle low-light conditions without raising the ISO or reducing shutter speed. All 50mm lenses are very similar, but the Pancolar stands out for its distinctive character.
On my cropped-sensor camera, I couldn't detect any significant vignetting or distortion. CA is very minimal. At full aperture (F1.8), images are quite sharp (even very sharp).
Example photo on a Pancolar F1.8 50mm ausJena
Personal experience
The lens is very easy to use. The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena is small, with a smooth focusing ring. The front element extends 1 cm when focusing, and the lens does not rotate. The ring itself rotates approximately 220 degrees. It comes with a wonderful lens hood, which gives the lens a very vintage look. The hood screws into place of the filter. Two filters are also included.
Example photo on a Pancolar F1.8 50mm ausJena
Catalog of modern Carl Zeiss lenses can look at this link.
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Conclusions
The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena is an excellent 50mm lens. It produces good bokeh and pleasant color rendition. The bokeh is slightly swirled at the edges of the frame. It's sharp even at its widest aperture. The ergonomics are excellent. The Pancolar 1.8/50 ausJena has very few downsides. I recommend it for use on cropped frames as a decent portrait lens.
This material was prepared by Arkady Shapoval . The greatest support for the site is if you use links on this site, such as Amazon , when purchasing anything . It costs you nothing, but for this site, and therefore for my family, it's the main source of support.
I want to fix it. The lens did have a jumping diaphragm, and that lever was clearly associated with it, I just got it in this "modified" form :)
thanks. I wrote by what was available.
In general, the question is this: I can’t adjust the diaphragm, the version with the jump, and how much I don’t switch, nothing comes out and doesn’t change. That is, it is constantly open, what should I do ??
Arkady, great photo and article. Good examples of bokeh.
Thanks for the great reviews!
Tell a beginner what is better to take: Pancolar 1.8 / 50 ausJena, Pentacon 50 / 1.8 or SMC Takumar 50 / 1.8?
All three are good, I would take SMC Takumar 50 / 1.8 or Pankolar
A small correction for the Cazl Zeiss Pancolar with 6 and 8 diaphragm blades, Zebra type.
Yet they are different, I have two of these options.
The one with 6 petals Cazl Zeiss Jena DDR Pancolar 50 / 1.8 has a diaphragm drive switch (manual and auto), such a small leash on the side, lenses with a purple tint and a thinner tube leaves when focusing.
The model with 8 petals has the inscription Cazl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50 / 1.8, glasses in them with a yellow sheen with Thorium coating Carl zeiss pancolar 50 1.8 lanthanum-thorium, they say that such specimens are rare! ???, it does not have a diaphragm mode switch, but only a manual "jump rope" and when focusing, a thicker tube comes out, like in the MC Volna 50 / 1.8 manufactured by LOMO. Both have a jump rope. There are also differences in disassembly.
Good evening, Arkady! I have just such a “Pancolar Zebra” (serial number 8896024), I would not say that it is so sharp, at first I was not very happy with it (comparing with Helios 81H) I even wanted to sell it, but after playing with it I changed my mind, bokeh not the same as that of the G-81N but also interesting in its own way.
As far as I know, it is the most radioactive of all ever released luminescent glass.
Maybe you are confused with Takumar. If not difficult, share a link to the information.
How can I put it on the D-90 without losing infinity. and is it worth buying Nikonovsky 1.4 ??
1. Grind to Nikon
2. Use an adapter with a ninja, in more detail in the Soviet lenses section.
I can’t know what photographic tasks you are following, therefore, I can’t know if you need fifty fifty dollars.
If you take Nikor 50mm 1.8 and Pancolar 1.8 / 50, which gives the best picture ?? And is it worth sharpening Pancolar 1.8 / 50, is it possible to grind it yourself?
50 1.8 old ai-s, or new 50 1.8D? Pankolar will be more interesting. Remaking yourself is a challenge.
New D
Then Pankolar will be much more interesting.
Thank you
I have such a Yellow Pankolar at work in the editorial office, lanthanum, it is very phonoradiated, but fucking sharp, three times more than the usual blue. But nobody takes pictures of them, they are afraid.
Nikon D5000
What do you recommend as a budget portrait painter Pankolar or Helios 81n?
For normal work with Pankolar, you will need either a lens or alteration, Helios-81n will become like a native, I recommend it.
thank you
and given that there is an adapter with a lens
which of these two instances is sharper?
Helios is sharper, if Pankolar is with a lens, then even more so.
Arkady, can you advise what to choose? I choose between Helios-77 and Pankolar, I plan to shoot for myself, there are no particularly specific tasks: family, friends, outings.
Thank you for your blog! It helps to gain knowledge and experience of many keen photos, including me :)
here's another question ...
I had MC Helios 44m-4 KMZ and so the drawing is beautiful but the pictures are soapy (open) ...
was also MC Helios 44m-7, it was not much better in terms of sharpness ...
I tried to unscrew the lens from the adapter, there were no special changes ...
how about G - 81n is there any sense in trying?
See examples of photos in the Helios-81H review.
Pankolar with a serial starting with 84 # is lanthanum, it has a very yellow glass in the light, differs both in the number of lenses and the number of petals and in weight, much more weighty, such a gnome. Really strong fonit from the side of the rear lens, in theory it should light up the film.
Thanks for the review. Today I bought this lens. Wandered around a bit and took off.
Fine glass, honestly!
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Pancolar&w=54154889%40N05&s=rec&m=tags
Great shots! Thanks! I see that the matter is not so much in the lens as in the author :) I also have pankolar, though not a zebra, but an MS. Recently sawn under Nikon. I almost did not use it yet. I have a problem getting into focus. Maybe it's in the camera?
Loved the work.
The "Pancolar" claim that "in fact, it wasn't Zeiss who made it, but someone else at the Zeiss factories in Jena" is nonsense and nonsense. The inscription "aus Jena" instead of "Carl Zeiss Jena" was used for a time on lenses exported to capitalist countries. The reason is purely litigious and bourgeois: the "crooks and thieves" from Oberkochen fought a long battle for the exclusive right to the "Carl Zeiss" brand (even though they initially had no rights to it and were simply called "Opton"). Amidst a series of lawsuits, appeals, bribes, and scandals, Carl Zeiss Jena was temporarily prohibited from using its "native" trademark. The decorative ring with “aus Jena” was simply screwed on top of the original one – see http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/6612/42019826.16/0_9cb2c_6e764ecb_XL.jpg
Thanks for the addition.
Tell me what’s the matter, this lens when shooting outdoors under even lighting gives some kind of blueness (soap or what)? I use with an adapter on the Nikon F mount.
What is special about zebra lenses?
Good day! And where can I find and purchase such a Pancolar?
Good afternoon!
Refinements that may be helpful.
Your text.
There is a strange switch on my Pancolar 1.8 / 50 ausJena, it was not possible to determine its purpose. The lens does not have a jumping aperture, because the switch cannot be responsible for the aperture control mode.
Reply.
I hold the same lens in my hands. It has a diaphragm jumper. You can see from the photo on the back of the body there is a hole for the diaphragm pusher. It can be seen on yours someone blocked this pusher for installation on a digital. A strange switch is responsible for covering the aperture manually to the set value. If you pull it towards you, the diaphragm closes, when you release it, it opens.
Thanks for the work you are doing !!!
Good afternoon, I have this lens, but it has 7 lenses, not 6, judging by the reflections, the glass is very yellow, I read that it is from a rare series, I found a link here, which can be dangerous: http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Radioactive_lenses
I try not to remove them once again, but I really like the bokeh and the sharpness is killer, thank you for the review !!!
Is it worth taking for a full frame? if not this one which one can be taken from the zeyats ???
auto-revuenon 135 / 2.8