Lens overview
The Iscovitar 50 mm f/2.8 sits among ISCO‑Göttingen’s compact standard fifties from West Germany. The copy most photographers meet today is the Edixa‑Iscotar / Iscovitar in M42 (Wirgin Edixa ecosystem), a Cooke‑style triplet meant to be affordable, lightweight, and easy to use. Typical specimen stats: 3 elements in 3 groups (triplet), f/2.8–16, 5‑blade diaphragm, minimum focus ≈ 0.8 m, 49 mm filter thread, and a sub‑200 g build depending on version. It’s not trying to be an Otus‑like reference lens; it aims to be agreeable, compact, and inexpensive—and succeeds. On today’s used market, clean, working copies typically sell for about €25–90 / US $30–95, with zebra‑finish or near‑mint examples at the upper end and rough/hazy examples at the lower end.
Build and ergonomics
Barrels range from early zebra-metal to later black-plastic-trim versions. Focus is smooth with a modest throw; the aperture ring has firm, positive clicks. Most copies carry an Auto/Manual switch for the stop‑down pin—handy for mirrorless adapting. The front element doesn’t rotate, which plays well with simple screw‑in filters (49 mm is commonplace). Some samples are feather‑light; all benefit from a small hood.
Optical performance
Sharpness & contrast. Center performance is usable at f/2.8, improves at f/4, and becomes crisp and even‑tempered by f/5.6–8—the natural sweet spot for this design. Corners show field curvature and softness wide open; they tidy as you stop down.
Color & CA. Color is neutral to slightly warm. As with most triplets, expect longitudinal CA and a hint of glow on high‑contrast edges at f/2.8; it drops quickly by f/4–5.6 and cleans up with a quick Remove CA / Defringe pass.
Bokeh & rendering. Backgrounds melt gently rather than dramatically. The five‑blade iris renders pentagonal highlights once you stop down; at f/2.8–4 the out‑of‑focus rendition is calm, especially at 0.8–1.2 m. It’s a pleasant, classic look.
Flare & veiling. Coatings are modest; a hood or careful hand‑flagging pays off when the sun is near the frame.
Distortion & vignetting. Geometric distortion is very low. Vignetting at f/2.8 is visible but not intrusive, and it’s gone by f/4–5.6.
Digital adaptation (today’s bodies)
Mirrorless (RF / Z / E / L / X). Use a simple M42→mirrorless ring—no glass, infinity retained. On IBIS bodies, set 50 mm for stabilization.
EF DSLRs. M42→EF adapters work glasslessly and hit infinity; enable stop‑down metering or use M mode with the lens’s A/M switch.
Notes: Some copies are labeled “Edixa‑Iscotar” rather than Iscovitar; they share the same core feature set and handling.
Historical & collector context
ISCO‑Göttingen (a Schneider‑linked German maker) produced a wide range of standard fifties. Earlier Westanar/Westar 50/2.8 lenses often used four‑element formulas and heavier metal shells, while the Iscovitar/Edixa‑Iscotar 50/2.8 is the light, low‑cost triplet of the M42 era. You’ll find zebra and black‑trim variants, usually marked “Made in Germany/West Germany”. Production spans the late 1960s into the 1970s, aligning with the Edixa M42 SLR line. Collectability is modest—but clean, serviced copies are enjoyable users.
Impressions
Treat it like a walk‑around normal that rewards f/5.6–8 for landscapes and street, with f/2.8–4 giving you a gentle portrait look at table‑top distances. Keep a tiny hood fitted, expose for highlights, and let the triplet’s micro‑contrast do the rest. It’s fun because it’s uncomplicated: small camera, small lens, and files that look “vintage‑right” with a light curve and a bit of contrast.
Modern comparison
If you need clinical bite and apochromatic control, jump to modern designs (or our Otus 55/1.4 review) and accept the weight and price. If you want simple, cheap, and cheerful, the Iscovitar scratches that itch.
Cosina/Cosinon 50/2.8 and Domiplan 50/2.8 are comparable budget triplets. The ISCO often feels a touch better built than the very cheapest 1970s plastics, and renders a little calmer wide open.
Zeiss Tessar 50/2.8 (4‑element) or ISCO’s Westanar 50/2.8 (4‑element) add more edge discipline stopped down, at the cost of a bit more weight/price.
Sample photos
Verdict — Pros & Cons
Pros
- Made in Germany; compact, lightweight, easy to carry
- Simple M42 adaptation to any mirrorless; glass‑less EF adapting too
- Pleasant triplet rendering; very low distortion; strong by f/5.6–8
- Inexpensive and common—great entry into vintage fifties
Cons
- Plasticky feel
- Five‑blade iris = geometric highlights stopped down
- Glow/LoCA at f/2.8; flare if you shoot toward the sun without a hood
- Copy variation: some later plastic‑trim barrels feel “cheap”; sample condition matters
- 0.8 m MFD limits tight close‑ups without a close‑up filter/tube
