Zeiss Jena · Praktica B · 1979–1982
Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 50mm f/1.8
When the Praktica B 200 introduced Pentacon's new bayonet in 1979, Carl Zeiss Jena put its Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 into the new mount as the Prakticar 1.8/50. Inside is the multicoated second-version Pancolar, six elements in five groups, and it still focuses to 0.35 m. It didn't last long. Jena built it only from February 1979 to June 1982, roughly 30,000 copies, so it came only on early Praktica B cameras. Watch the name when you shop. Every lens for the B series was called Prakticar, and Pentacon's own Prakticar 1.8/50 looks very similar, so read the front ring for Carl Zeiss Jena or aus Jena. The PB bayonet passes the set aperture to the camera electrically through three contacts. It isn't an M42 lens, so you'll need a Praktica B adapter for your mirrorless body.
Spec at a glance
- Maker
- Zeiss Jena
- Mount
- Praktica B
- Mount version
- Praktica B (PB) bayonet with three electrical contacts; it needs a PB adapter, not M42
- Focal length
- 50mm
- Widest aperture
- f/1.8
- Made
- 1979–1982
- Optics
- 6 elements in 5 groups
- Aperture blades
- 6
- Filter thread
- 49mm
- Closest focus
- 0.35 m
- Also listed as
- Prakticar 1.8/50, Prakticar 1:1.8 f=50mm MC
On a mirrorless camera
Which adapter, and what it becomes
It’s a Praktica B lens, and its mount sits 44.4 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.
- Praktica B to Sony E →26.40 mm adapter · 50mm on Full frame · like 75mm on APS-C
- Praktica B to Fuji X →26.70 mm adapter · like 75mm on APS-C
- Praktica B to Micro Four Thirds →25.15 mm adapter · like 100mm on Micro Four Thirds
- Praktica B to Nikon Z →28.40 mm adapter · 50mm on Full frame (FX) · like 75mm on APS-C (DX)
- Praktica B to Canon RF →24.40 mm adapter · 50mm on Full frame · like 80mm on APS-C
Versions
Which Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 50mm f/1.8 is it?
Jena's Prakticar 1.8/50 says Carl Zeiss Jena on the front ring, or aus Jena in Western markets. Pentacon also made a Prakticar 1.8/50 that looks very similar, and lenses marked Carl Zeiss Jena P were made by Pentacon after 1985, not by Jena. The M42 equivalent is the multicoated Pancolar 50mm f/1.8.
What to check
Expect the usual age faults, like haze, oily aperture blades and stiff focus grease. Many listings mix up the Jena and Pentacon lenses, so check the maker before anything else.
- 01Maker: Read the front ring in the photos. It should say Carl Zeiss Jena or aus Jena, not Pentacon or Carl Zeiss Jena P.
- 02Mount: Look at the back of the lens in the photos. You should see a bayonet with three small contacts, which means you need a Praktica B adapter.
- 03Aperture blades: Ask for a photo of the blades stopped down to f/8. All six should be dry and matte, with no oil shine.
- 04Haze and fungus: Ask for a photo through the lens with a flashlight behind it. The glass should look clear, with no fog, threads or spots.
- 05Scratches: Look at the front element in the photos at an angle. Faint cleaning marks are common, but deep scratches show up as bright lines.
- 06Focus ring: Turn the focus ring from 0.35 m to infinity on arrival. It should move smoothly, with no grinding or loose spots.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Find one on eBay
We haven’t been through this lens’s listings yet. Search eBay and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for a photo through the lens toward a bright light, and pass on any seller who won’t send one.
Search “Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 50mm 1.8” on eBay ↗eBay searchRelated lenses
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