Zeiss Opton 50mm f2 broken tab

<p>I just received a very nice Contax iia with a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar T 50mm f2.<br>

A beautiful combo. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, the metal tab on the lens that keeps it locked into place is broken. There is about half of it left, but it is not enough to engage the locking mechanism.</p>

<p>Any suggestions on what can be done?</p>

<p>I would suggest contacting this repair shop, to see if it is a repair that can be accomplished without too much trouble. They may have spare body parts that can be swapped. I'm not necessarily suggesting them as the place to go to, but the conversation may reveal to you whether or not it is reasonably possible, and if so what it might cost.<br>

http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_lens.shtml</p>

<p>I have a Jupiter "Sonnar" in Contax (=Kiev) mount with the same problem. My problem was solved by one of the wonderful people here sending me a lens as a gift, but I hardly think you can hope for that with a real Zeiss one.</p>

<p>I'll be watching here to see if any one has a fix. :(</p>

<p>If you don't have any other Contax mount lenses, for the interim, buy a Helios - it seems to be a copy of a Leica reworking of the old Biotar lens. They are very inexpensive but their optical quality is superb (see http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00bqWG for an example, and the Jupiter story at http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00bxJy )</p>

Look for one with bad glass, or bad separation.

OR- dremel out the old tab and pound/solder in a new Tab.

The thread of the post-war 50/2 Sonnar is different from the pre-war lenses, and from the post-war German lenses. It is

different from the Jupiters.