A note about repolishing: In my service business I regularly have lenses sent to me for servicing that have been repolished. A repolished lens is one whose front element surface has been repolished to remove excessive scratches with the purpose of disguising the fact the lens has been ruined. A ruined lens that has been repolished is still a ruined lens and I consider the undisclosed sale of a repolished lens to be a form of fraud and theft by deception.
Each lens I sell is guaranteed to be in original condition. I inspect each lens under magnification to ensure it has not been repolished. The same thing goes for recoated lenses. I do not sell lenses that have been recoated. All the lenses listed for sale have been carefully selected to provide you with the opportunity to purchase the absolutely highest quality lenses that are available today.
A note about lens image sharpness: When it comes to pure photographic picture taking power, in my opinion, nothing can surpass a Zeiss lens. But just like everything else Zeiss lenses get old and the grease that lubricates the aperture control and focusing helical threads deteriorates and separates into its solid and liquid components. The liquid oil that separates from the grease migrates inside and outside the lens. The oil that gets inside the lens coats the lens elements and severely degrades the optical performance of the lens. Only a lens that is clean inside and out can deliver 35 mm negatives that can withstand 16" x 20" enlargement with ease as they were designed to do. There's no such thing as a 50 or more year old lens that is not full of oil or its residue. This is why I only sell overhauled lenses that are 100% clean and precision aligned to provide like new or better performance.
Another complicating factor is that I find that 90% of the lenses I see were either initially incorrectly focus adjusted at the factory when they were made, or the focus adjustment has been subsequently tampered with and the result being a significant focus misalignment. Every lens I sell has been precision aligned on the most modern precision instruments to absolutely ensure that when you use it the results will be obviously great.
If you have a Contax camera and its results are not giving you delight, write to me, there is a solution to this problem: Mail to Henry Scherer .
In order to provide you with the opportunity to obtain a Mint mechanical and optical condition Zeiss lens for your Contax camera having an exterior cosmetic condition of your desire, and at the lowest possible price, the "Contax Contract Camera Program" has been initiated.
Here's how it works. You contact me and let me know the model and the exterior cosmetic condition of the lens you want. I will then search the Ebay listings daily and will find a lens being auctioned that meets your requirements. I will place a winning bid on this lens and will have it shipped to me. Once it's here the lens will be overhauled and restored to 100% Mint mechanical and optical condition.
The price you will pay is simply the sum of the price I pay for the lens on Ebay (including shipping) plus the normal price for the lens overhaul service and return shipping to you. There will be no additional fees or surcharges. All that is required is a small initial deposit.
Through this program you can obtain the best possible Zeiss lens you want at the lowest possible price with absolutely no risk. You don't have to deal with all the Ebay hassle and risk. You don't have to search the Internet. You don't have to accept any compromises. All the Ebay transactions will be handled by me. If there are any problems with the camera or the seller I will handle them.
I will also find and purchase Contax camera outfits, Contax camera bodies and other accessories for the Contax camera for you. The same terms apply. You will get a fully overhauled and 100% newly cleaned, lubricated and adjusted and 100% reliable Contax Camera or accessory at the lowest possible cost.
If you are interested in this program please send me an email. If you would like to talk about it just ask for my phone number and it will be promptly provided. I would be very happy to talk to you.
You can email me at the email address [email protected] or you can use this convenient link: Mail to Henry Scherer
Current Stock in Hand
Zeiss-Opton 50mm f1.5 T Sonnar Lens for Contax mount cameras. The cosmetic quality of the lens is Excellent+++ and the optical quality is MINT. Fully serviced and ready for immediate shipment. Price $425.00
Zeiss-Opton 50mm f 3.5 T Rigid Tessar Lens for Contax mount cameras. The cosmetic quality of the lens is MINT and the optical quality is MINT. This is the sharpest lens Zeiss made for the rangefinder cameras. Another important feature of the 3.5 Tessar is that it is an unmarked apochromatic fully color corrected lens. This is the rarest regular production lens made for the postwar Contax camera and is exceedingly rare. It is also the best picture taking lens Zeiss ever made. Fully serviced and ready for immediate shipment. Price $825.00
Carl Zeiss Jena Orthometar 35 mm f4.5 Wide Angle Lens for Contax mount cameras. This is an extremely rare lens of the most outstanding optical performance. It is of a unique optical design made to the highest levels of precision possible. This lens will fit on the Contax I, II, III, IIa and IIIa cameras. The cosmetic quality of the lens is Excellent++ and the optical quality is MINT. Fully serviced and ready for immediate shipment. Price $825.00
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm f4.0 Telephoto Lens for Contax mount cameras. Sold, but if you want one please contact me by email: Mail to Henry Scherer
Carl Zeiss Triotar 85 mm f2.0 Telephoto Lens for Contax mount cameras. This is a post war model made for the IIa and IIIa model cameras although it will fit and function on the I, II, III models also. The cosmetic quality of the lens is MINT and the optical quality is MINT. This is truly a museum quality lens. The only signs of wear on it appear to me to be from shelf wear and wear from removal and insertion into its leather pouch. It is as good an example of this very uncommon lens as you are ever likely to see. Needs servicing which is included in the price. Includes original Zeiss front and back caps and leather pouch. Price $875.00
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85 mm f2.0 Telephoto Lens for Contax mount cameras. This is a pre war model made for the II and III model cameras although it will fit and function on the IIa and IIIa models also. The cosmetic quality of the lens is Excellent and the optical quality is Excellent+ due to a very small number of faint cleaning marks that are of no photographic effect. Please also note that Zeiss made only two pre-war color corrected lenses and this model is one of them. Fully serviced and ready for immediate shipment. Comes with the original front and back metal Zeiss caps. Fully serviced and ready for immediate shipment. Price $385.00
Nikon 35 mm f2.5 WA-C Wide Angle Lens for Contax mount cameras. This is a post war model made for the IIa and IIIa model cameras although it will fit and function on the I, II, III models also. The cosmetic quality of the lens is MINT and the optical quality is MINT. This is an extremely rare lens and it is in absolutely like new condition inside and out. This is truly a museum quality example of this wonderful lens. Fully serviced and ready for immediate shipment. Comes with the original front and back Nikon caps and the original leather case. Price $1245.00
Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f2.0 Normal Lens for Contarex SLR cameras. The cosmetic quality of the lens is MINT and the optical quality is MINT. Fully serviced and ready for immediate shipment. Comes with the original front plastic cap and Zeiss plastic bubble package. Sold.
Carl Zeiss Jena 30 cm (300 mm) f 4.0 Sonnar T Coated Flektogon Lens with Flektogon Viewer. The serial number is 3116116 indicating post war manufacture. This lens has contrast and sharpness unlike any you have ever experienced before, and with the f 4.0 aperture it has astounding speed. This is an extremely rare lens and bears many of the unmistakable signs of custom manufacture of a kind only Zeiss can possibly produce. There cannot be more than a handful of these magnificent lenses made. The optical quality is MINT. There are absolutely no coating marks, cleaning marks or scratches of any kind on the front, internal or rear elements. This lens and the accompanying Flektoscope unit have recently been fully and completely overhauled with all parts and elements hand cleaned. The optical lubricants have been replaced.
This is an outfit. It includes a very fine custom made leather case with form fitting velvet fittings to hold the lens, Flektoscope, and other lenses and accessories. The case also has room for your other Contax lenses and accessories. The case is leather and is of the highest quality. It is not a Zeiss case, but is an American made case that uses leather of a much higher quality than Zeiss typically used in such cases. The interior fittings are of the highest quality. While it shows the marks of careful use and travel, the leather is still solid strong and shining, and there are many many years of good life still in it.
The outfit also includes the original Zeiss double cable release, single cable release, lens hood, Zeiss lens cap and three filters.
The Flektoscope has been completely serviced. The view through it is crisp, bright and clear. The action of all the mechanicals is crisp and smooth. The mirror is in extremely fine condition.
The external cosmetic quality of the lens and Flektoscope is high excellent with only very minor and superficial signs of very careful use. This is as good as it gets for telephoto Contax photography and this setup is ready for immediate shipment. The camera in the illustration is not included as are the extra lenses and film shown in the open case. These were included in the photographs only for purposes of indicating the scale of the assemblies. Price $6275.00 Please note that a recent Ebay auction for the uncoated version of this lens sold for $4,000.00 and without the case or other accessories.