Used RolleiFlex Xenotar 80mm F/2.8 | TLR | U8

The Schneider Xenotar 80mm f/2.8 is one of the classic high-performance lenses found on professional Rolleiflex TLRs. Its five-element optical design was developed as a fast alternative to simpler Tessar-type lenses and was intended to deliver excellent performance at the relatively fast f/2.8 aperture. The lens has a beautiful combination of sharpness, contrast and smooth tonal rendering that works especially well with medium-format portraits. At f/2.8, it can produce a distinctive separation between the subject and background while retaining plenty of detail. Stopping down gives you excellent edge-to-edge performance across the square 6×6 frame. The Xenotar and Zeiss Planar versions were both considered premium 80mm designs for Rolleiflex, with Schneider's Xenotar having a particularly strong reputation among professional photographers. Overall, it's one of the main reasons the Rolleiflex 2.8 series remains highly regarded for portrait, fashion and fine-art photography.