Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Review

10/01/2015 - 00:16
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180. Review




Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 a fast telephoto lens for medium-format cameras. This lens can be safely called a legend. First Sonnar 2.8/180 was released specially for the Olympics 1936 in Berlin. The name comes from the German word «Sonne» means the sun.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 optical design

Optical design is the 5 elements in 3 groups. Initially, the design Sonnar was developed in order to create a compact fast lens, smaller in size than the Planar. Designers have turned out or not, it does not matter now. But what gave the world the firm Zeiss Sonnar lens with excellent artistic qualities, it is a fact. Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 was issued more than half a century, with a practically unchangeable optical design.

There are 5 versions of this lens:
The first version, the Olympia Sonnar. It produced since 1936 and is expected before the end of the WW2. There are even versions of the lens for rangefinder cameras, despite such a large focal length.

The second version of the lens. About 1950-60 years. There was a significantly redesigned the barrel. There was a single layer coating.

The third version. About 1960-70 years. It has a new barrel design "zebra", and 18 aperture blades.

The fourth version. About 1970-75 years. Significantly reworked barrel design, 6 aperture blades.

The fifth version. After 1975. Almost no different from version 4. Add multi-coating only and letters «MC» in the title. Here are the version released in the DDR (Carl Zeiss Jena DDR).

In West Germany, also produces lenses with the name Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/180 for bayonet C/Y. But in these lenses, despite the name, using a different optical design, and they are designed for 35mm film format. And accordingly, have a smaller size.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180

So let us return to our copy. This lens was manufactured for the camera system Pentacon Six. It refers to the fourth version, according to the above classification. And it has a single coating. It can be mounted on any camera using an appropriate adapter. I mounted it on a Nikon using Soviet KP6/H adapter (Pentacon Six - Nikon analog).

 

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Specifications

Focal length: 180mm

Aperture: f/ 2,8 - f/ 32

Weight (gr): 1350

Length (mm): 120

Filter Ø (mm.): 86

Aperture blades: 6

Min. focus distance (m.): 1.7

 

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Mechanics and Handling

The lens has a huge size and the camera looks unusual and attracts attention. Due to the large diameter of the front lens, it seems short, in fact, together with the adapter is normal to telephoto

length.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180

Ahead is the rubberized focus ring and has a width of about 3 cm. At MFD, the front of the lens is extended by 2 cm. The front element is not rotating. The aperture ring is placed. It is metallic. There is also a switch A/M, to switch between auto and manual aperture control. On the barrel is the ring there is tripod mount. The lens has a 6 aperture blades, which glisten in the sun.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180

Also included is a huge lens hood and cap.

 

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Example Photos

All examples are taken on Nikon D3100. RAW export, no post-processing.

 

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sharpness

At wide-open, the lens has good sharpness for such a focal length and aperture. It seemed to me that at short distances sharpness better.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

For portraits, sharpness enough. If may seem that the weak sharpness, it is most likely associated with a very narrow depth of field on this focal length, and as a result misses to focus.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

In certain scenes, at wide-open, you can watch the chromatic aberration.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

Of course, when you close the aperture increases the sharpness and depth of field as well.

 

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Character and Bokeh

The Nice character is probably the strongest side of the lens. Photos obtained voluminous, airy.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

The lens is intended primarily for shooting portraits. and the task it copes by 100%.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

If you shoot facial portraits and busts, get the best background blur, and in certain scenes, you can get a wonderful bokeh.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

However, for growth portraits of the lens good separates the background from the object.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample PhotosCarl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

 

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Color Render and Contrast

The lens has a good contrast. I did not even use its huge hood.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

Colors saturated, rich, and at the same time natural.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

On the strong backlit contrast falls. In general, the lens is resistant to the backlight.

 Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

 

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos

 

Summary

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 is a great portrait lens. The optical quality is good. Confused, perhaps, only its size and weight.

Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 2.8/180 Sample Photos





Jonathan's picture
Hi, Really like the review you put here. I just got the same lens (I think it should be the fifth edition because it got MC letter in its title). I am a Canon shooter and I have 70D and several 600D, and I tried to use it without the adapter and I was blown away by its image quality and the bokeh it creates. This lens really shine, mine is broken the aperture ring, so I can only shoot in wide open, f/2.8. I was wondering if you can help me find the adapter for EF/EF-S cameras, so that I can start shooting video with this lens.
Olivier's picture
Here is a Pentacon 6 to EOS mount adapter: http://www.amazon.com/Concept-Pentacon-Canon-Mount-Adapter/dp/B00LECY0KY
Otakar Šulc's picture
Your aperture ring is most probably don't broken. I get it it's not working but the reason is probably old grease on aperture. Take it to same servis. They take the old grease from aperture and aply new one and it will be working like a new.
Allan's picture
what is the minimum focus distance for this lens adapted to Nikon? I recently bough one but unable to focus after adapting to Sony A6000. It comes with P6 to M42 adapter, then I added M42 to Sony E mount adaptor. The minimum focus is crazy too far....
Ivan K's picture
Minimum focus distance must be same as in specs, 1.7m. If you have different, your adapter is not correct.
Allan's picture
Right, the adapter that I had was not correct. The lens is great! Although the lens suffers from color fringing so bad, but can easily be corrected. I love the lenses, both 180mm f/2.8 and 300mm f/4.0
Mahmoud Rashad's picture
I recently got the lens, I heard about it too much positive talking, but unfortunately I have two problems, first: the aperture ring its not working so I can shot only using f2.8, second: the sharpness (on nikon D800 + pentacon m42 adapter + screw adapter) is barely accepted when I tested this lens before on sony NEX with only one adapter and the sharpness was great any comments please?
Allan's picture
get the pentacon 6 to nikon adapter...
Sinan's picture
What is the version of 7 bladed one. I have one with seven blades and Carl Zeiss Jena DDR on name plate
Arved's picture
Yes, I also have seven blades. Everything else matches description of version number 5.
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