Contax · Contax/Yashica (C/Y) · From 1975
This is the fast fifty Zeiss designed for the Contax RTS, which launched the C/Y mount in 1975, and it stayed in the range for about 25 years. It's a seven-element, six-group Planar with T* multicoating, a 0.45 m close focus and a 55mm filter. The very first copies were made in West Germany, but production moved to Japan in 1976, so most you'll see say Made in Japan. In 1985 the MM version arrived for the Contax 159MM, with a small extra prong on the mount and the smallest f-number painted green. Optically the AE and MM lenses are the same. AE copies have six blades that can form a jagged ninja-star shape for a stop or two below wide open, which some people like and some don't. On a mirrorless body any plain C/Y adapter works, since you set the aperture on the ring yourself.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Contax/Yashica (C/Y) lens, and its mount sits 45.5 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
Three versions, one optical design. AE copies made in West Germany came first (1975–1976), then AE copies made in Japan, then the MM version from 1985, also made in Japan. MM lenses have a green 16 on the aperture ring and a small extra prong on the mount; AE lenses have a white 16. AE copies can show a jagged ninja-star aperture shape between wide open and about f/5.6.
Expect the usual age problems of haze, fungus and oily blades. People who service Zeiss C/Y lenses say haze and balsam separation turn up more often in MM lenses than in AE ones.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy an AEJ copy from a Japan dealer for $230–320 delivered, like the Near MINT one with a hood and caps at $230, under the $280–410 band. There are at least 154 for sale, almost all from Japan dealers who grade on their own scale and add $18–120 shipping, and the one US-located seller asks $368 delivered for an MMJ. Any plain Contax/Yashica adapter works, since you set the aperture on the ring, and the model page lists the adapters by camera. AE and MM copies share the same optics, but people who service these see haze and balsam separation more often in MM lenses, the ones with a green 16 on the aperture ring, so ask for a flashlight-through photo and read the dealer's description, where most list faults. Skip the $670 late MMJ at about twice the median.
![[Near MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 AEJ MF Lens C/Y Mount JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lUwAAeSwbu5qtG4I/s-l500.jpg)
$230.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered complete Planar here, an AEJ at $230 with a hood and both caps in the photo. Near MINT is the dealer's own grade, so read the description and ask for a flashlight-through photo.
[Near MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 AEJ MF Lens C/Y Mount JAPAN
![[Almost MINT w/ filter] Contax Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 AEJ Lens JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tCcAAeSwLjhqxIve/s-l500.jpg)
$264.99est. delivered
An AEJ with a filter, graded Almost MINT by a 100% Japan dealer, at $265 delivered, under the band. Read the description for faults and ask for a backlit photo of the glass.
[Almost MINT w/ filter] Contax Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 AEJ Lens JAPAN
![Tested [MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 C/Y AEJ MF Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4UUAAeSwuhlqt5Zf/s-l500.jpg)
$319.99est. delivered
The only copy here titled tested, an AEJ graded MINT, at $320 delivered from a 100% dealer, right at the median. Ask what the test covered, and know $40 of the price is shipping from Japan.
Tested [MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 C/Y AEJ MF Lens From JAPAN
![[For parts] Contax 50mm f1.4 Planar Lens Carl Zeiss, Inoperable](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YV8AAeSwpAVqtAZp/s-l500.jpg)
$106.20est. delivered
Titled for parts and inoperable, at $106 delivered from a 100% seller in Canada, about a third of the median. Buy it as a donor or a repair once you know what's wrong, and the front glass looks clean in the photo.
[For parts] Contax 50mm f1.4 Planar Lens Carl Zeiss, Inoperable
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$230.00est. delivered
$200.00 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$200.00
Good buy
AEJ, Near MINT by the dealer's grade. Hood and caps in the photo.
Seller: mh_camera_japan
100% positive
Used$264.99est. delivered
$234.99 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$234.99
Good buy
AEJ with a filter, Almost MINT by the dealer's grade.
Seller: noma6724
100% positive
Used$319.99est. delivered
$279.99 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$279.99
Good buy
AEJ, titled tested. Filter and caps in the photo.
Seller: yutacamerajapan
100% positive
For parts$106.20est. delivered
$97.50 + $8.70 shipping
Buy It Now$97.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Titled for parts and inoperable. Ships from Canada.
Seller: jef-9005
100% positive
![Contax Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 CY Mount AEJ [Near MINT] From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zWkAAeSwMOpos~-8/s-l500.jpg)
Used$317.00est. delivered
$299.00 + $18.00 shipping
Buy It Now$299.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
AEJ, Near MINT by the dealer's grade. Filter and caps in the photo.
Seller: ma3n0ri
100% positive
![[Almost Unused] Contax Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 AEJ MF Lens C/Y From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YogAAeSwBk1qvvj~/s-l500.jpg)
Used$359.99est. delivered
$284.99 + $75.00 shipping
Buy It Now$284.99
Our take
AEJ titled almost unused. $75 shipping from Japan.
Seller: kyo_camera
100% positive
Used$367.99delivered
$367.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$367.99
Our take
The only US-located seller. MMJ version, free shipping.
Seller: 427rjt
99.6% positive
![Rare Final Late [MINT] Contax Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.4 MMJ Lens C/Y From Japan](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/t3cAAeSw8aBqwFh6/s-l500.jpg)
Used$669.99est. delivered
$549.99 + $120.00 shipping
Buy It Now$549.99
Priced high
About twice the median, $120 of it shipping from Japan.
Seller: leilanipo_65
99.5% positive
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