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live November 21 | 11:00 AM
OstLicht Photo Auction

170 - Carl Zeiss Jena | Biotar 2/85 mm Prototype

Starting price

€2,600

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Estimation

€5,000 - 6,000

Sale fees

27%

Carl Zeiss Jena | Biotar 2/85 mm Prototype Estimate: €5,000–6,000 Year: c. 1961 Serial No.: 6163012 Condition: B+ English: Experimental Carl Zeiss Jena portrait lens in original M42 screw mount. Engraved “Biotar 1:2/85 6163012” and bearing the Q1 quality mark, the lens is housed in a substantial aluminum preset focusing mount characteristic of Carl Zeiss Jena production in the early 1960s. The Biotar 2/85 mm never entered regular production; Carl Zeiss Jena’s established Biotar portrait lens was the famous 1.5/75 mm, while the 85 mm focal length was normally represented by the Sonnar 2/85. It is in very fine condition with clear and clean optics. An exceptionally rare and apparently factory-made experimental Carl Zeiss Jena lens, representing an unpublished 85 mm development of the legendary Biotar family. German: Carl Zeiss Jena prototype portrait lens with original M42 screw mount. Engraved “Biotar 1:2/85 6163012” and marked with the Q1 quality mark, in a solid aluminum focusing barrel with a preset aperture ring, as was typical for Carl Zeiss Jena production in the early 1960s. The Biotar 2/85mm was never regularly mass-produced. The established portrait Biotar from Carl Zeiss Jena was the 1.5/75mm, while the 85mm focal length was normally covered by the Sonnar 2/85mm. In very good condition with clear, clean lenses. An exceptionally rare, apparently factory-produced experimental Carl Zeiss Jena lens that represents a previously unpublished 85mm development variant of the legendary Biotar family.

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Auction details

OstLicht Camera Auction: Fall 2026
Saturday, November 21
11:00 AM
Absberggasse 27
1100 Vienna, Austria

Auction house

OstLicht Photo Auction +43 6 64 20 11 850 coeln@ostlicht.org
On Drouot for 5 years avec More than 2,000 lots published

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