p.1 #1 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
I am looking for a lens in the 85mm to 90mm range mainly for landscape use. So speed is not as important as color and micro contrast.
I have heard great things about Contax 90G but I am concerned about adapter, and loss of flexibility if I choose to go Fuji or GXR M 16mp when it comes out. Therefore I am also consider the Zeiss 85mm f4 ZM or even the screw mount Voigtlander 90mm APO
Has anyone compared these lenses on 5N or Nex 7? Is the 90 G so much better that it is worth the adapter hassle and lose of flexibility?
p.1 #2 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
I haven't shot either the ZM or the CV 90, but if you need someone to go "gaga" about the G90, allow me
I'm confident it vastly outsamples my Nex3 by F4, and probably peaks at 5.6. A bit stronger at both infinity than minimum focus, but still very very good.
p.1 #3 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
I haven't used my Voigtlander much, but I plan on selling it, because the Contax G90 is just too good not to use. The only thing that the Voigtlander may be a little better at is CA, but, as I said, I haven't used it a lot, so take that opinion with a grain of salt.
I don't use that focal length an awful lot, so the Contax adapter focusing doesn't bother me much.
p.1 #4 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
Bill,
Here's an image at or near infinity using an adapted CV 90 SL-II on the GXR M-mount module. These first two are the full view and crop of a RAW converted in Aperture 3, and then uploaded to Flickr. The next two are full view and crop after doing my routine (amateurish) editing in Nik. I think the CV 90 SL-II and LTM lenses are all the same design. The SL-II comes with a tiny 2-part hood and diopter for close-focus, and takes 52mm filters.
I have the Zeiss 100MP as well. On a 12mp D700, the 90 holds up quite well compared to the 100 close up and at a distance, with very well controlled CA to boot, though not as perfect as the CV 125mm. Of course the signatures of the lenses differ as well. I'm happy using it as a tele on the GXR too. On this recent trip it was a joy carrying just the GXR, CV20, CV40, CV90, and Nikkor 28mm lenses in a beach bag.
p.1 #6 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
I shoot a G 90, and, frankly, the Voigtlander is not in the same class, it is not that it is bad at all, it is actually auite good indeed, but the G is special. Insane sharp if you focus right and keep it stable. Fantastic contrast, beautiful colours, The only issue is getting used to focusing on the adapter. But, for the moeny, it is a world-class deal. I have not tried the ZM, but neither have I heard or read that it was such a wolrd-beater...
p.1 #7 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
I've decided to stick with SLR lenses at this focal length, though I'd love to try all of the lenses you're considering. I'm now using a Nikon 105/2.5 AIS when I know I may want to use it with my D700, and the Canon 100/2 FDn when I'm just carrying the NEX, especially if I want speed. As good as the Nikkor is, the 100/2 is a little better, at every stop.
For an oddball choice that is a bargain, the tiny Pen-F 100/3.5 is stunning -- really. Very different from the Zeiss, but nice in its own way. Very high resolving power, and slightly lower contrast and saturation, making it rather Leica-like. I recently sold mine, but only because for me the extra speed and closer focusing of the SLR lenses was more important -- but for a hiking/landscape lens it punches well above its weight.
p.1 #8 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
The same speed CY Sonnar 85mm is somewhat better overall and certainly better for fine detail resolution - 60% for 40 lpmm at the APS-C corner, wide open.
Only 20 grams heavier, and 14mm shorter in length, than the G. CY lenses probably fit the small cams with good adapters, and this one is of course manual focus, and has a very nice focus ring. Much more flexible for future mount use.
The short tele CY Sonnars are well-respected for good reason, especially for landscape work. The 100/3.5 is even better, but getting long on crop format.
p.1 #9 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
philip_pj wrote:
The same speed CY Sonnar 85mm is somewhat better overall and certainly better for fine detail resolution - 60% for 40 lpmm at the APS-C corner, wide open.
but worse wide open in the center and middle of the aps-c frame at wide open. zeiss's mtfs show an upturn in the mtf for the 85mm at 15mm but not for the 90mm. the 85mm does appear to perform better across the frame at f/5.6 though. really, there shouldn't be much difference between these judging by the mtfs. you used to be able to get the 90mm cheaper, not sure if that is still true.
p.1 #10 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
philip_pj wrote:
The same speed CY Sonnar 85mm is somewhat better overall and certainly better for fine detail resolution - 60% for 40 lpmm at the APS-C corner, wide open.
Only 20 grams heavier, and 14mm shorter in length, than the G. CY lenses probably fit the small cams with good adapters, and this one is of course manual focus, and has a very nice focus ring. Much more flexible for future mount use.
The short tele CY Sonnars are well-respected for good reason, especially for landscape work. The 100/3.5 is even better, but getting long on crop format.
This is an interesting option that I hadn't considered. With the adapters included, the length of the Contax C/Y and G would be very similar, although the girth of SLR lenses is pretty noticeable compared to their rangefinder counterparts, and I'd have to figure out a new bag situation, since my G 90 is already tight in my current bag setup. If I didn't already have the G, I would probably look into the C/Y 85/2.8. FWIW, the C/Y goes for around $100-$150 more than the G on KEH, at the moment.
p.1 #11 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
FlyPenFly wrote:
I ended up selling my Contax G 90mm. I just didn't find it magical but I know some posters here rave about it. Maybe I need to give it another shot.
The metabones adapter was the reason, not the lens.
p.1 #12 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
The competition between 85 and 100 is pretty fierce, and I have yet to see the contax 90 stand out from the best. No doubt it is sharp shooting a flower at 3 meters, but long infinity shots--as shown nicely above, are a serious test.
My benchmark 90 is the tokina at-x 90/2.5 which is fairly steallar at infinity and distance.
For quite a while I lugged the tokina about untill one day I took a tele-elmarit, the second of the small versions and had an opportunity to closely compare. After that I left the tokina at home.
I would dearly love to see the contax 90 shooting long with the TE, because of course the contax is a steal.
The TEs ae not that easy to find in perfect shape, but at 225 grams they are truly compact.
here it is on a very smoky and stormy day last fall:
p.1 #13 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
uhoh7 wrote:
The competition between 85 and 100 is pretty fierce, and I have yet to see the contax 90 stand out from the best. No doubt it is sharp shooting a flower at 3 meters, but long infinity shots--as shown nicely above, are a serious test.
Have there been shots showing the Contax G 90 isn't good at infinity?
p.1 #15 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
As a long term Contax G 90mm user (on Contax G that is) I can attest to it's capabilities. It is a stellar lens. It is capable of amazing shots at infinity but it is not all that easy to nail it at that distance. If you are a just a little off, it shows. Stopped down a little bit it is as good as it gets, at any distance.
I find that my Leica Summarit M 75/2.5 is actually in the same league, and renders shots better than the G90, albeit at a steeper price.
I also find (for infinity shots) that the Leica Elmarit M90/2.8 is in the same league though I personally prefer the rendering (at closer to mid distance) of the G90/2.8. Technically the Elmarit M90/2.8 is as good as it gets and if you can't achieve perfectly sharp photos with it, well, it isn't the lens.
The only lens that I found marginally better is the X-pan 90mm lens, although it is not directly comparable except for size. If that could be converted to M mount I'd bite.
p.1 #16 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
FlyPenFly wrote:
I'm sad to say I haven't seen amazing shots from the Contax G 90mm at infinity like I have from 100mm F2 Zeiss or even Minolta.
I understand, although you are one of the few that I've seen that weren't thrilled with the lens and sold it, so I have to wonder a little bit whether you just got a bum copy or had a bad adapter.
p.1 #17 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
Yes, even though it was my least used lens on the G system I never thought it was anything but great.
Since the Summarit M75/2.5 is kind of new to me it is a bit premature to come to a final verdict. But, it seems the Summarit line is more Zeissy than the rest of the Leica M's.
From what little I have seen so far, the Summarit 75/2.5 is sharper than the G90 wide open, both close up and far, has a little less CA and has better foreground bokeh. The Summarit has some of that Zeissy pop to it and I am very happy with the lens so far.
p.1 #18 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
Bill,
I have used the Leica 90mm F/2.8, ZM 85mm F/2.0 and the G90 on my M43 and now NEX. The Leica is beautiful, smoother bokeh and still very sharp, even wide open. The ZM 85mm F/2.0 is the sharpest of the bunch (By a lot, think Zeiss 21mm distagon territory) once you stop down past F/2.8 plus 3D galore. The G90 represents greater 3D than the Leica, but busier bokeh. in absolute terms any are all fine.
If you are already shooting ZM, then I would go G90 as it is a stop faster than the F/4.0 tessar. THe ZM 85mm has fringing issues wide open under certain circumstances. If you are Leica for your other lenses, then look for a clean 90mm F/2.8 with the sliding hood.
p.1 #19 · Contax G 90mm verses 85mm ZM or CV 90mm APOon Sony??
kosmoskatten wrote:
Yes, even though it was my least used lens on the G system I never thought it was anything but great.
Since the Summarit M75/2.5 is kind of new to me it is a bit premature to come to a final verdict. But, it seems the Summarit line is more Zeissy than the rest of the Leica M's.
From what little I have seen so far, the Summarit 75/2.5 is sharper than the G90 wide open, both close up and far, has a little less CA and has better foreground bokeh. The Summarit has some of that Zeissy pop to it and I am very happy with the lens so far.
