I already have a lens for the old M40x1 SLR mount (Praktiflex). It is a triplet called the Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9. I was thinking about a Tessar for the M40x1, but usually these are coated versions (with a red T mark). In the end I chose such the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3,5 f=5cm:
As you can see, there is no red T mark. So there is no lens coating (or at least I don't see it).
According to the serial number, the lens was made around 1945-1947. So it is as old as the mentioned Victar. These two are my oldest lenses. And both have no lens coating.
The main difference is of course the optical design. The Victar is a triplet. The Tessar is "surprisingly" a Tessar. Today the Tessar is a trademark, not related to the optical design.
The Tessar 50/3.5 has 4 elements in 3 groups.
The aperture has 14 blades.
That is a lot for a 50mm lens! Practically round shape at any aperture.
The aperture ring has no clicks, it turns smoothly (from f/3.5 to f/22).
Although it was a budget lens, the focusing mechanism was quite advanced. The front (threaded) part doesn't rotate when focusing or changing the aperture.
The minimum focusing distance is about 0.6-0.7m according to the scale. But my copy can focus much closer, I think the copy is modified.
Comparison of the Tessar (in the center) with the Industar-50 50/3.5 SLR M39x1 (on the left) and the Industar-50-2 50/3.5 SLR M42x1 (on the right):
The Industars (Tessar-like USSR lens series) are much cheaper: fewer aperture blades and simpler focusing design. The Tessar is much nicer to use. Maybe the rarer Industar-22 50/3.5 (unfoldable M39x1 version for SLR) is closer to the Tessar.
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