While this site is targeted to adapting Zeiss Contax lenses for video, it also seems to be the go-to guide for the rest of us with respect to these lenses. The only differences are minor ones in the coating and aperture shape which I'll go into below. As mentioned before, the 50mm F1.7 is no slouch and it sure isn't! Only 4 lenses were "officially" improved during the jump to MM: the 25 2.8, 28 2.8, 135 2.8, and 135 f2. To me, Contax are a GREAT way to affordably get a very real cinematic look from a golden age in Zeiss optics. My C/Y Zeiss lenses have been a WAY better investment than money in the bank (or the stock market). The Carl Zeiss Distagon 2.8/28 T* enjoys a very good reputation and it is a bit more expensive at around 250. Happy with 35-70(macro too) 3.4 & 85 1.4 on a6300(with speed booster). http://www.ebay.com/itm/EX-Modified-item3a8193c812, If this is your first visit, be sure to Nothing is free. The f/2.8 never really impressed me, even though its regarded as one of the best budget 28mm out there. You can use the code CINE at check out for a nifty discount! After I read stellar reviews about the 28mm f/2.0 Hollywood, I went looking for one. When designing your focus gears, keep the number of teeth constant for all the lenses. Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. Theyre much cheaper than modern lenses, yet share similar designs and performance. On digital, these things are a home run, like Standards and Super Speeds. Contax is more low-con, and more organic, to my eye. The Zeiss ZF is phenomenally sharp and modern, which I found good for general and macro photography but I found unpleasant of for portraiture. This makes life easier when grabbing gear to go out and renting it as well. For further details, see our Privacy Policy. AE lenses also show ninja-star bokeh when stopped down, which is a major turnoff for some folks. Im still weighing if I need it or not. send me payment method & how many days it will take? This is an endeavor Ive been working on and off for the last two years and now I can see the finish line. I went for the fastest lenses and snuffed out the AEGs I had, in favor of the prettier bokeh of the MMJs. The most up-to-date guide to almost every Contax lens ever made. Contax Zeiss Survival Guide In reply to Giovanni_1968 9 months ago While this site is targeted to adapting Zeiss Contax lenses for video, it also seems to be the go-to guide for the rest of us with respect to these lenses. The 135mm f/2.8 was a great lens. In fact, at 5.6 Contax, Supers and Standards looked IDENTICAL. Used it today on my 5D to keep things lightweight. When the MM's flare, they control it much better (you have to force it more), but when they do, and the coating is overwhelmed by a direct source, the coating will break out into more distinct, tight Zeiss purple flare marks. I prefer it, cuz theres an honesty there I appreciate. Are usually 3.5 and F4. Also because Soviet glass was super cheap. Theyre killer tools for video, but in order to achieve maximum performance, theres a number of steps and procedures to tackle. It looked neat, but from my experiences as 2nd Assistant Camera, I was constantly being asked how fast so-and-so lens was, or whats its minimum focus. I am thinking of selling the lenses we tested together. Yes, its one step slower than the its siblings, but it definitely crushes them with razor sharp focus and a beautiful transition into bokeh. But then work started picking up and I saw that as the perfect opportunity to upgrade. Would I be crazy to say I kinda prefer my 85mm f2.8 to my 85mm f1.4. Enjoy! Copyright 2007-2022. These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both speed and focus for capturing fast action and offer professional-level image quality. Focal length marked on the rear caps as well. All I ever had so far was a Canon backpack and that is not a safe way to transport this grade of gear everywhere. Its a gradual process, guys. Lets go back to the 70s. ZF/ZEs only go as far as 135mm. Reduserforum "Contax Survival Guide" says is a good one. I'm not too sure where they got their findings, but apparently this was a series of tests possibly published on Zeiss's website. https://www.reduser.net/forum/shooting-red/lens-tests/94346-contax-zeiss-survival-guide. But I now have the 200 and I have to admit, the bokeh is very pleasing and captivating, and I prefer it. These I ordered from MOO, because they offered me more variety at a much lower price. It had five lenses: 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.4 and 135/2.8. So where Contax wins in coverage (they are FULL FRAME, and will cover Dragon and beyond), they lose out in speed (they are F4 at 18mm! I know I stopped mentioning how sharp these lenses are, but the 60mm is worth highlighting. Distance between first and last lens vertex: 33.6 mm 51.8 mm Weight: approx. Badass thread, been looking around for a guide like this. Search. You can tell them apart because MM have their last aperture number painted green, and they have a small tab on the mount that doesnt exist on AEs. DxO PureRAW 3 aims to come to their rescue without totally reinventing your workflow! The Canon EOS R10 is compact, mid-level 24MP APS-C mirrorless camera built around Canon's RF mount. http://www.pebbleplace.com/Personal/Contax_db.html, QuineCore Question - how to solve your production woes, If this is your first visit, be sure to The Contax dont look vintage to me, but they also dont look modern. Canon FD's are the predecessors to Canon L glass, and have a superb pedigree. The 15mm is a gorgeous rectilinear super wide angle, it shares the same optical formula as the Leica Super-Elmar 15mm f/3.5, with different coatings. The last decision I had to make was between the 18mm f/4 and the 15mm f/3.5. Theres a lot of discussion whether the 135mm f/2.0 has a clear advantage over the f/2.8, especially when you take into account the price difference. Of course, that was way before RED and Leitax adapters. It all started when I stumbled upon a post on Craigslist from a guy selling his Contax Zeiss set. So far I had been using adapters on them, and they sucked. DxO PureRAW 3 review: Give Adobe's apps a much-needed boost with modern AI algorithms, The best cameras for family and friends photos in 2022, Best affordable cameras for sports and action in 2022, May 2023 Part 1 This Month Through Your Adapted Lens. This will ensure a constant outside diameter, which means you dont have to adjust your follow focus every time you change lenses. If you're reeeaaaally on a budget and don't mind a very low contrast look, Zeiss Jena's are a guilty pleasure of mine. Thank you to Tito for a captivating read. B) They share very similar designs as the ZF/ZE/CP2 lenses, but for or the price. Lastly, just for curiositys sake, Carl Zeiss has a specific nomenclature for his lens designs and you can see some of them written on the ID ring of these Contax Zeiss lenses. The rubber grip on the focus ring of the lenses is awesome because it prevents the gears from sliding, but its also a pain because it makes the fitting a lot harder. Leitax mount on the left, original Contax/Yashica mount on the right. Are usually 2.8. Sonnar originally meant "Sunny", because historically these used to be the bright, fast designs when they first came out. All of you, thank you. After aperture was made smooth and clickless I still had my 3d printer hanging around, so I printed aperture gears as well. DPReview TV: Nikon 58mm F0.95 Noct Review! In mint condition, comes with lens hood. Theres a lot of discussion whether the 135mm f/2.0 has a clear advantage over the f/2.8, especially when you take into account the price difference. I say that because Ive encountered many people who get confused and think Contax is weird Japanese junk. Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with loved ones or friends in better quality than your phone can manage. The planar 35mm F/1.4, 50mm T1.4 and 85mm F/1.4, are among some of them. The last decision I had to make was between the 18mm f/4 and the 15mm f/3.5. I own them both. thanks Nick im building Contax set in soon :). Zeiss AE lens information brochure, "The Finest Optics by Zeiss", The Hollywood is indeed a star and the image that comes out of it is much more appealing than the 28/2.8. Then, near the end of last year I decided to round out the set and make it suitable for renting. One last note on their generations, MMs were mostly made in Japan, so theyre called MMJs, while AEs were made in Germany and named AEGs. For those not wanting to go the 'pro' Cine-Mod route, you can do it yourself with decent results. Theyre much cheaper than modern lenses, yet share similar designs and performance. One last note on their generations, MMs were mostly made in Japan, so theyre called MMJs, while AEs were made in Germany and named AEGs. It offers the advantage of one of the most sophisticated fully automatic through-the-lens exposure control available during the late seventies. This wraps the first step in building a set of lenses: getting the glass. Though I have to say, until you put in a lens review on each lens, I think you will continue to be fairly regularly PM'd :)) Though I'm sure that info is pretty well covered actually if you read through your post history :), Phil Holland - Cinematographer - Los Angeles. Be patient, use heat and sandpaper, and youll get there. Its agreed that MM lenses perform better and have cleaner results than AE lenses, theyre also less prone to flaring. Conveniently for me as I was finishing the set, SIMMOD Lens came into the picture, with very competitive prices, impressive customer service and super high-quality products. He's obsessed with the technical aspects of his projects and how each piece of glass in front of the sensor will affect the final look. Zeiss has their own language, their own nomenclature, for lens designs that is very useful to be familiar with as you start hunting for lenses. 300 g Possibilities of combining Carl Zeiss lenses with Mutarconverters for use with the ContaxSLR camera system Carl Zeiss Photoobjektive D-73446 Oberkochen Telephone (07364) 20-6175 Fax (07364) 20-4045 eMail: photo@zeiss.de http://www.zeiss.de I repeated the technique for the rear caps, this time with only the focal length written on them. All Time Today Last Week Last Month. Thank you, that was very informative! Or buy Supers. Next came the 60mm f/2.8 Macro. To fit the barrel of the lens, use a caliper and be precise about it. First I measured the slip-on caps I got from SIMMOD and created a Photoshop template with that size. I then redesigned and printed new focus gears for these and ordered more Leitax mounts and that was good for another five months. This page was generated at 05:50 PM. Also, Super Speeds are a 1.2/1.4 at 18mm and 25mm. To fit the barrel of the lens, use a caliper and be precise about it. ----------------------------------------------------------. Could it be that yours was bumped once in it's lifetime, if it's not the adapter? But Zeiss was so precious about these lenses that some of them were only made in Japan and others in Germany. My attempt to be as thorough as possible! WOW! B) They share very similar designs as the ZF/ZE/CP2 lenses, but for or the price @ Yean: Same here, my Contaxes shift very little if at all, especially when compared to any modern electronic lens. The price-performance ratio of the Minolta lenses is the best in the camera world. Mar 18, 2014 at 04:52 PM What's the best camera for shooting landscapes? These lenses thread the fine line between organic and sharp, a line as thin as depth of field on an 85/1.2 wide open, only second to Leica. The 50 should be among the easiest to get right because the optical path is among the simplest. The data provided and the newsletter opening statistics will be stored on a personal data basis until you unsubscribe. Im a fan of DIY, so I decided to install the mounts by myself. The Hasselblad we threw up also seemed to have an uncannily similar T* coating too. I needed the one extra stop of light though, for consistent f/2 or faster through the main set. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens. All times are GMT-8. I think its safe to say all these lenses from this era of Zeiss optics have remarkably similar coatings and magic. The Contax Zeiss version fetches $800 on eBay but there's a $60 wolf in sheep's clothing called the Pentax PK 28mm F2.0 which has a fascinating story behind . It also has built-in color filters which I freaked out when I realized how to turn them. The AE's are no longer serviced by Zeiss, keep that in mind. The tab and the last stop in green that mark MM lenses. As stated repeatedly, like ZF/ZEs, Contax lenses have great cinema mechanics. Yupthey go as far 500mm. Contax Zeiss Survival Guide. I'm only saying that because the guys on the photography forums use these charts to compare numbers with other lenses they all refer to that page as the 'source'. My 21mm CP.2 is probably my favourite lens that I own, lovely, lovely piece of glass. As a reference, my main set of lenses at this time was a Soviet kit that I put together because of their imperfections and organic look. The Contax I is a high-end 35mm rangefinder camera made by Zeiss Ikon to compete with Leica models. Theyre fully manual focus and aperture -, have solid metal construction, long focus throw, and a great feel overall. If you want to get in the same room and do a test to compare the 50/1.4 to a ZE/ZF, I'd be more than willing; just shoot me a line. You can tell them apart because MM have their last aperture number painted green, and they have a small tab on the mount that doesnt exist on AEs. The rubber grip on the focus ring of the lenses is awesome because it prevents the gears from sliding, but its also a pain because it makes the fitting a lot harder. A) They are FULL FRAME and will cover Dragon, and it would seam, even VISTA VISION WEAPON. I have a mixed set and barely notice the difference. They dilate quite a bit and fit much more easily. The 18mm is almost one fourth of the price and half the weight of the 15mm, plus it fits along with the other MMJs in the set. If you are like me and are interested in building up a large, varied kit of lenses that can fit every jobthen Contax are a great choice. @Yean: I'm 99 % sure it's the adapter then. Its been there for quite a while and I have checked up on it countless times to help me make decisions. I'm sure its just due to copy variation and the years its weathered but pretty disappointing. was migrated to Stuttgart under the watchful eye of American troops. But Zeiss was so precious about these lenses that some of them were only made in Japan and others in Germany. But Leica Rs are certainly more expensive, so take that into consideration if you are on a budget. From the Contax Survival Guide: 100 3.5 - Like the 85 Sonnar, but slower and possibly even sharper. (Heres where I beleive the Leica Rs have a clear advantage, their 19mm is a 2.8which is pretty amazing). Speaking of good prices, many links in this post will take you directly to eBay searches of each specific lens! check out the. makes SPECTACULAR permanent mounts for $75 (Duclos uses these, nuff said). So I kept using an adapter on that one (the best adapter I had). That was probably one of the most stressful experiences of my life with lenses. Wide open, Contax glass seems as mushy as Supers. Would love to check out the Hollywood, but $$. People (me included) didn't like the poor performance of the Canon EF wide lenses and the 21mm and 28mm 2.8 Contax lenses filled the gap. Eastern Zeiss instead consolidated all their smaller name brands into PENTACON. THE CONTAX LENS GUIDE - 2015 EDITION The most up-to-date guide to almost every Contax lens ever made. Contax also made very impressive Zooms. This stumps everyone. I shipped all of them to SIMMOD for declicking and a quick checkup. Really. length (call Peter at RP lens, he can help), but if you can get them on your RED, they are also fantastic budget options. It was not a problem as a starter set. Standard lens, cant really make a set without a 35mm in it, right? This page was generated at 05:50 PM. Anyone who says a lens made in Germany is better than the same lens made in Japan is full of shit. 15 3.5, 16 2.8 FISHEYE, 18 f4, 21 2.8, 25 2.8, 28 f2, 28 2.8, 35 1.4, 35 2.8, 45 2.8, 50 1.4, 50 1.7, 55 1.2, 60 2.8 Macro, 85 1.2, 85 1.4, 85 2.8, 100 f2, 100 2.8 Macro, 100 3.5, 135 f2, 135 2.8, 180 2.8, 200 f2, 200 3.5, 200 f4, 300 2.8, 300 f4, 500 5.6, 500 f8, 1000 f8, 28-85 3.3-f4, 35-70 3.3, 35-135 3.3-4.5, 80-200 f4, 100-300 4.5-5.6, 40-80 f4, 70-210 3.3. In fact, i'm almost considering selling my 85mm f1.4 for that reason. You can also tell their place of manufacture based on whats written on the lens! The issue that came up from was the stickers were having a hard time sticking to the material of the lens caps and were peeling off on their own. Copyright 2007-2022. The main difference being that a normal . . Building this set was a great experience throughout. And. That meant getting a few more lenses and upgrading various aspects I had neglected so far. The 18mm is almost one fourth of the price and half the weight of the 15mm, plus it fits along with the other MMJs in the set. We're Noct messing around with this review. Out of curiousity, what is the purpose of having both the 35 f2.8 and the 35-70?
Grant County Election Results,
Injustice Mobile Challenge Schedule 2022,
Articles C