Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm F2.8 Cine Mod Prime Lens | Arri PL Mount!

🎬 Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm F2.8 Cine Mod Prime Lens – Arri PL Mount

A professionally cine-modified Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm F2.8 adapted to the industry-standard Arri PL mount, ready for professional cinematography and video production. This classic East German Zeiss prime has been fully serviced, cleaned, adjusted, re-lubricated and precisely adapted to the PL system, providing reliable mechanical performance for demanding filmmaking environments.

The aperture has been de-clicked for smooth, silent exposure adjustments during recording, while a 0.8 mod follow focus gear installed on the focusing ring allows accurate focus pulling with professional follow focus systems.

This Tessar comfortably covers full-frame sensors, making it suitable for modern cinema cameras including RED, Blackmagic, ARRI, Sony (with PL cameras), Canon Cinema EOS and many other PL-compatible systems.

The optical glass is in very good vintage condition. There are only very minor cleaning marks and light signs of age, typical for lenses of this era, with no effect on image quality or contrast during practical use. The body remains in excellent working order with only normal cosmetic signs of careful use.

Originally introduced as one of Carl Zeiss Jena’s most respected standard lenses, the DDR-era Tessar 50mm F2.8 continued the legendary Tessar optical formula, originally designed by Paul Rudolph in 1902. The four-element Tessar design became famous worldwide for its remarkable sharpness, high contrast and compact construction. During the 1960s–1980s, Carl Zeiss Jena produced this version for Praktica SLR cameras, earning an outstanding reputation among photographers. Today these lenses are increasingly appreciated by cinematographers for their organic rendering, natural contrast, smooth tonal transitions and classic vintage character that modern optics often lack.

After professional cine conversion by TerPhoto, this lens combines timeless Zeiss image quality with modern cinema usability, making it an excellent choice for narrative filmmaking, documentaries, commercials and music videos.

⚙️ Technical Specifications

• Lens Mount - Arri PL
• Focal Length - 50mm
• Maximum Aperture - F2.8
• Minimum Aperture - F22
• Aperture Blades - 5
• Minimum Focus Distance - 0.35m
• Filter Thread - 49mm
• Focus Type: Manual
• Serial Number - 81945

🎬 Why Choose This Lens?

The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm F2.8 offers the unmistakable vintage Zeiss rendering that has made classic German optics highly desirable among filmmakers. It delivers impressive center sharpness, pleasing micro-contrast, smooth focus transitions and a naturally cinematic image without the overly clinical appearance of many modern lenses. Thanks to its professional Arri PL conversion, de-clicked aperture and cine follow focus gear, this lens integrates seamlessly into professional cinema workflows while preserving the timeless optical character that has made the Tessar design legendary for more than a century.

📦 This Offer Includes

✔ Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm F2.8 Cine Mod Lens
✔ Professional Arri PL Mount Adaptation
✔ 0.8 Follow Focus Gear (Focus Ring)
✔ 80mm OD Cine Lens Hood
✔ Front Lens Cap
✔ Rear Lens Cap