Contax · Contax/Yashica (C/Y) · From about 1983
The Tessar 45mm is the Contax system's pancake, under 2 cm long and about 90 g, the lightest standard lens Zeiss made for it. It uses the classic four-element, three-group Tessar formula that Paul Rudolph designed at Zeiss in 1902, and Zeiss's own data sheet still called the Tessar the "eagle eye of your camera". It came late to the range, around 1983, with a 49mm filter instead of the usual 55mm and a 0.6 m close focus. Early AE copies are mostly West German and MM copies Japanese. For the Tessar's hundredth birthday Contax sold a silver "100 Jahre" edition, an MM lens made in Japan. On a mirrorless body it adds almost nothing to the adapter's length. Zeiss itself suggested it for celebrations and sporting events.
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
Early AE copies are usually marked Made in West Germany and MM copies Made in Japan, though at least one AE lens marked Made in Japan has turned up. MM copies have a green 22 on the aperture ring. The silver "Tessar 100 Jahre" edition marking the Tessar's centenary is an MM lens made in Japan. The Contax G Planar 45mm f/2 is a rangefinder lens and won't fit a C/Y adapter.
Expect the usual age problems of haze, fungus and oily blades. The rear group is a cemented pair, so check for balsam separation too.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy a black AEJ pancake graded Top MINT by a Japan dealer at $295 delivered, under the $310–430 band, or the US seller's AEJ at the same price with free shipping. There are at least 63 for sale, nearly all from Japan dealers, and most ask $310–430 delivered, while the silver 100 Jahre centenary edition asks $655–1,114. A green 22 on the aperture ring means MM, and most early AE copies are marked Made in West Germany, so check the barrel if the country matters to you. The rear group is a cemented pair, so ask for a flashlight photo through the back for haze or separation and one of the blades at f/8, and skip the $1,114 100 Jahre copy when another asks $686 here. It needs a Contax/Yashica adapter, where it adds almost nothing to the length, and the model page lists the adapters by camera.
![Read![Exc+5] Contax Carl Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8 AEJ Pancake Lens C/Y From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mk0AAeSwqM1qt9o0/s-l500.jpg)
$239.99est. delivered
The lowest delivered copy here at $240, an AEJ graded Exc+5 with both caps in the photo. The title starts with Read!, so the dealer notes something in the description; read it before you buy.
Read![Exc+5] Contax Carl Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8 AEJ Pancake Lens C/Y From JAPAN
![[Top MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8 AEJ Pancake Lens C/Y From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/h7wAAeSwuKZqderB/s-l500.jpg)
$294.99est. delivered
An AEJ graded Top MINT by the same Japan dealer, with a rear cap in the photo, at $295 delivered, $15 under the band. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back for separation in the rear group.
[Top MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8 AEJ Pancake Lens C/Y From JAPAN
![CONTAX Carl Zeiss Tessar F/2.8 45mm T* MMJ 100 Jahre 100th [Top Mint] US Stock](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EisAAeSwE01qq2US/s-l500.jpg)
$686.34delivered
The silver 100 Jahre edition made for the Tessar's centenary, an MMJ graded Top Mint and sold as US stock, at $686 with free shipping on a Refurbished card. Other 100 Jahre copies here ask $655–1,114, so it sits near the bottom without the wait from Japan.
CONTAX Carl Zeiss Tessar F/2.8 45mm T* MMJ 100 Jahre 100th [Top Mint] US Stock
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 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 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$239.99est. delivered
$209.99 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$209.99
Good buy
AEJ, caps in the photo. Titled Read!, so check the description first.
Seller: yutajapan777
99.6% positive
Used$294.99est. delivered
$259.99 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$259.99
Good buy
AEJ. Top MINT is the Japan dealer's grade, rear cap in the photo.
Seller: yutajapan777
99.6% positive
Refurbished$686.34delivered
$686.34 · free shipping
Buy It Now$686.34
Good buy
Silver 100 Jahre edition, US stock, on a Refurbished card. Top Mint is the dealer's grade.
Seller: flagshipcamera
99.8% positive
Used$295.00delivered
$295.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$295.00
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
US seller, free shipping. AEJ with no grade in the title.
Seller: spydrxx715
100% positive
![[Top MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Tessar T* 45mm F/2.8 AEJ MF Pancake Lens C/Y JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VnAAAeSwUHVqyFnh/s-l500.jpg)
Used$349.99est. delivered
$309.99 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$309.99
Our take
AEJ with a 49mm filter in the photo. Top MINT is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: chunmar_99
100% positive
Used$356.99est. delivered
$263.99 + $93.00 shipping
Buy It Now$263.99
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
MMJ with caps in the photo. No grade in the title, and $93 shipping.
Seller: shutter-samurai32-japan
100% positive
![[Almost Unused] Contax Carl Zeiss Tessar T* 45mm F2.8 MMJ Pancake C/Y Lens JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/S3YAAeSwG5NqzOFJ/s-l500.jpg)
Used$364.99est. delivered
$324.99 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$324.99
Our take
MMJ. Almost Unused is the Japan dealer's grade, with caps and a filter in the photo.
Seller: omero_japan_camera
100% positive
Used$1,114.49est. delivered
$994.49 + $120.00 shipping
Buy It Now$994.49
Priced high
100 Jahre edition, but $428 over the cheapest other 100 Jahre copy we found, with $120 shipping.
Seller: kyoto_camera
100% positive
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