Auto Exaktar 35mm 2.8

The Auto Exaktar 35mm 2.8 is one of those lenses I found really cheap, and with good reason.

Oftentimes you can find lenses that have markings or obvious damage for a sliver of the price they usually go for. Even so, this isn't a very good lens to begin with.

The copy I have has lettering scratched in German all over the lens barrel. It doesn't affect image quality in any way whatsoever, but it makes it hard to sell. Personally, I don't mind stuff like this. I get lenses to try them out, not to resell them. You can easily identify this lens by the silver color of the aperture ring and the green infinity symbol (as well as the metre lettering on the focus scale). The "2.8" lettering right under it is red.

While it bears the Exakta(r) name, it's not made in (West) Germany by Ihagee Kamerawerk, or even by Pentacon.

You can find the same lens branded Carenar, Aremac, and Varexon, and it says "Made in Korea" on the lens.

Even if that wasn't a dead giveaway, just holding the lens you can see and feel that it has nothing to do with Exakta in terms of build quality and tolerances.

The focus ring is very smooth, with a short focus throw. This (in my copy) is most likely caused by the oil used, as I've found the lens stained with leaking oil. That's a first. I've only read about some Soviet lenses having it this bad.

Assembly and build quality are very subpar for a lens made out of metal. There's a lot of wiggle and play in the focus and aperture rings, and it feels like it might come apart accidentally.

This is not a good lens. Sharpness is subpar, even stopped down.

Color and contrast are bland and washed out.

Flaring is a big problem during the day.

Last but not least, the minimum focus distance of 0.7m is strange, considering other 35mm lenses (the Flektogon) can go as close as 0.18m.

I would say: skip this lens and save the money for something better, even if you find it very cheap.