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 – ARRI PL Mount

A professionally prepared vintage Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm F2.8, converted by TerPhoto for cinematography and professional video production. This conversion combines the distinctive rendering of a classic East German Zeiss photographic optic with practical cinema-oriented controls and an ARRI PL mount.

The lens has been fully cleaned, adjusted and re-lubricated, then adapted and precisely adjusted for ARRI PL mount use. The original aperture mechanism has been de-clicked, providing smooth, continuous iris adjustment during filming. Two follow-focus gears are installed: one for precise manual focusing and another for aperture/iris control, making the lens much easier to integrate into a cinema rig with follow-focus or FIZ equipment.

The lens covers a full-frame sensor, making the classic 50mm field of view available on compatible full-frame PL-mount cinema cameras. It can also be used on smaller Super 35 sensors, where it provides a tighter field of view.

Glass is in good vintage condition. There is very minor age-related wear on the optical surfaces, typical for an original vintage lens of this period. These minor signs of use do not affect the final image under normal shooting conditions. The exterior also shows normal vintage cosmetic wear. Please examine the supplied photographs for the exact cosmetic condition of this individual lens.

The Tessar is one of the most historically important Zeiss optical designs. Paul Rudolph developed the original Tessar for Zeiss in 1902, using four elements arranged in three groups. The 50mm F2.8 version was later developed for the 35mm format and became one of the classic standard lenses associated with Zeiss. This particular lens is from the later black Carl Zeiss Jena DDR family produced in East Germany.

Its four-element optical construction is valued today not because it looks like a modern clinical cinema lens, but because it retains genuine vintage character. The 50mm focal length is particularly useful for narrative filmmaking, portraits, interviews, music videos, commercials and projects where a classic optical signature is preferred over a highly corrected modern look.

⚙️ 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 - Various

🎬 Why Choose This Lens?

The Tessar 50mm F2.8 is an excellent option for filmmakers who want authentic vintage Zeiss character in a practical cinema configuration. Instead of adapting a bare photographic lens every time it is used, this example has already been serviced, de-clicked, geared and adjusted for ARRI PL mount operation. Its full-frame coverage makes it especially versatile across modern cinema bodies, while the dual follow-focus gears allow controlled focus and iris pulls. The classic Tessar 4-element design gives you a genuinely vintage optical foundation rather than a modern lens attempting to simulate an older look.

📦 This Offer Includes

✔ Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm F2.8 Vintage Lens
✔ ARRI PL Mount Adaptation
✔ 2x Follow Focus Gears – Focus & Aperture
✔ 80mm OD Cine Lens Hood
✔ Front Lens Cap
✔ Rear Lens Cap
✔ Professional Cleaning, Adjustment & Re-lubrication