CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

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ljw2k
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p.1 #1 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Does anyone have this lens and any in depth reviews on it as i can not find much information on it and having just purchased it ( delivery Tuesday ) and info or pictures taken with this lens would be appreciated.

Aug 04, 2012 at 11:27 PM

wfrank
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p.1 #2 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Congrats to the new lens!

Peppleplace (.com) have some basic info. A UK site could have slightly more: http://www.contaxcameras.co.uk/

A quick note from the other thread, yes I would go for a 5D2. Dont want to sound like an FF snob, but I went from 7D to 5D2 a couple of years ago and that is possibly the single most improving step Ive made. The 5D3 dont bring much to the table if you're into MF, for me it's the opposite - it does not support fast mattes as the EG-S.

I have plenty of images, here are just a few from spring when I got the lens.

DSC02264 1024 3x4 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_8119 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_8266 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_8276 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_8213 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_8222 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_9253 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_9207 1024W by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_9208 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_9035 1280 II dist corrected by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

IMG_8116 1280 by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

...and so forth, if you like you can check out the set on Flickr for more.

Aug 05, 2012 at 04:17 PM

ljw2k
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p.1 #3 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Many thanks for the post and some nice pictures there may i say and the colours look Awsome.

Aug 05, 2012 at 05:35 PM

niknaz
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p.1 #4 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

wfrank, these are fantastic. I'm glad there's a thread devoted to this lens.

I bought my C/Y 28-85mm almost a year and a half ago and have used it primarily for video with a Canon 7D (I shoot stills with an old Rollei 35s with a Zeiss 40/2.8). I've noticed that after the two shoots this year with this lens that have been handheld for over 4 hours, my lens mount becomes loose. As in, when I put another lens on, the focus isn't sharp throughout the frame on the same focal plane. It was a $250 repair 6 months ago and this time I'm looking at the same.

I'm totally bummed out because I absolutely love this lens. The colors are true-to-life and gorgeous. I like the color depth much more than Canon's lineup of L zooms. Also, the sharpness makes the image pop. I've had clients wow out loud when I put this lens on after a Canon non L prime. My copy even has a larger dust particle towards the rear element that I can't tell exists on video.

I'm wondering if anyone here (now or in the future) has had this problem with this lens on their Canon or Nikon dSLR? I wonder if it's my Fotodiox Pro C/Y to EOS adapter, or perhaps it's my camera. Or, it could be how I zoom. It could also be how top-heavy this lens is and when I place it on a flat surface without a rig, the weight ends up on the lens, rather than the bottom of the camera. Sometimes when I shoot doc-style, it's hard to be completely delicate.

At any rate, any thoughts would be welcome!

Dec 07, 2012 at 02:20 PM

Mescalamba
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p.1 #5 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Looks pretty good (and bit pricey.. 550 EUR eh..).

I wonder, does it have lot of CA? I see some traces here..

Dec 07, 2012 at 05:15 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #6 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Mescalamba wrote:
Looks pretty good (and bit pricey.. 550 EUR eh..).

I wonder, does it have lot of CA? I see some traces here..

Define "lot." It's less problematic than it is on the 300/4, but worse, IIRC, than the 35-70.

Dec 07, 2012 at 05:34 PM

AhamB
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p.1 #7 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

freaklikeme wrote:
Mescalamba wrote:
Looks pretty good (and bit pricey.. 550 EUR eh..).

I wonder, does it have lot of CA? I see some traces here..

Define "lot." It's less problematic than it is on the 300/4, but worse, IIRC, than the 35-70.

The 35-70/3.4 has absolutely minimal lateral CA. Less than the Z* 35/2.
Compared to the 35-70, the 28-85 seems to have fairly heavy CA in the corners, at least that is what I've seen in a number of Wilhelm's shots. I think the Distagon 28/2.8 would do a bit better (it also has some CA but better controlled, although I hear there is also copy variation in this), but the zoom still has the same gorgeous rendering.

Edited on Dec 07, 2012 at 09:16 PM · View previous versions

Dec 07, 2012 at 06:33 PM

wfrank
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p.1 #8 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Thanks niknaz! Much appreciated.

Guess the size/weight of the lens has something to do with the wear you experience. I only use low-cost adapters (have a range of CYs) and find that suffice, but compared to me you seem like a heavy user. In case you dont know, you could Leitax that lens. That means replacing the CY mount with a EF mount - it is easy and fully reversible. It will become as sturdy as a native lens. I thought I was going to Leitax all mine, but I got myself a film Contax S2 and want to use the lenses on that too, so for now I wont.

Regarding CA I dont seem to have the fidelity to spot it (except when it's obvious fringing). I cannot see it in the images above so if someone could point it out that would help.

From here at FM - and from I've read elsewhere - the CA is (would/could) be mostly at the low mm's. And if you like, in the mm's the 35-70 doesnt have. Starting at 28 makes all the difference for me, dont care so much about 70 or 85. But it is big, that is the drawback. Despite having CYs like 35/1.4, 50/1.4, 85/1.4 and more I left them at home at a car meet just to bring the 28-85. Here's a shot I like from that occasion. Wouldn't be the same without the hexagons.

IMG_0472 II by Wilhelm Frank - Stockholm, on Flickr

Dec 07, 2012 at 08:29 PM

AhamB
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p.1 #9 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

wfrank wrote:
Regarding CA I dont seem to have the fidelity to spot it (except when it's obvious fringing). I cannot see it in the images above so if someone could point it out that would help.

I don't want to come across as a terrible pedant

, just telling what I see:

In the first boat shot (IMG_8213) it's most obvious on the church tower (bright cyan fringe left, red right) and on the horizontal bar at the tip of the mast (cyan fringe top, red bottom). I also see it in the text on the ship "TEATERSKEPPET".

IMG_9208 -- the wall with fuse boxes and graffiti: the black lines closer to the edge of the frame have the same fringing.

IMG_8116 -- yellow moped: the diagonal struts on the bridge in the left half of the frame all have fringing.

My eyes pick up on these fringes that I know shouldn't be there, probably because I enjoy exploring the detail in pictures (and I have some experience scrutinizing lens performance of course).

Anyway -- I really enjoy looking at your shots, even though I've seen most of these before.

Dec 07, 2012 at 09:13 PM

Mescalamba
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p.1 #10 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

AhamB wrote:
wfrank wrote:
Regarding CA I dont seem to have the fidelity to spot it (except when it's obvious fringing). I cannot see it in the images above so if someone could point it out that would help.

I don't want to come across as a terrible pedant

And I noticed just one example, you are good in this.

Tho truth is, that this like many other C/Y has look thats unmatched by anything else.

Dec 07, 2012 at 10:54 PM

wfrank
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p.1 #11 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

, just telling what I see:

By all means no, I am trying to understand so thanks Benjamin for guidance

I've picked one of the identified places and looked up the original RAW (uncorrected FWIW). With effort I can see some pinkish to the left of "PP" in the text "Teaterskeppet". But I fail in some color tests so I have that male gene.. This is most likely 28mm which as I understand it is the worst case. Mini and 100% crop:

Full mini:
This image is copyrighted by the owner

100%crop

Dec 07, 2012 at 10:56 PM

carstenw
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p.1 #12 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Yes, there is green on one side and pink on the other. It isn't that bad, and could possibly be corrected in LR or some similar software.

Dec 07, 2012 at 11:51 PM

Mescalamba
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p.1 #13 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Bad, but correctable. If it was Panasonic lens, it would be considered as acceptable level for in camera correction.

Dec 08, 2012 at 01:31 AM

LightShow
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p.1 #14 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

I wouldn't call that bad, it's small enough to not worry a whole lot about, and I've seen much worse than that. Photogs sure are picky these days..

Dec 08, 2012 at 02:47 AM

Mescalamba
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p.1 #15 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

I agree they are.

Im too, but it depends on lens price.

Tho it seems I was wrong about price, checked e-bay and its quite cheap lens. Might buy myself one.

I suspect el-cheapo 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 isnt better than this?

Dec 08, 2012 at 03:36 AM

briantho
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p.1 #16 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

I don't know why people are so picky about CA. The above type of CA just goes away by checking a single checkbox in LR, and it doesn't affect IQ.

Dec 08, 2012 at 11:28 AM

Bifurcator
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p.1 #17 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Because it destroys fine detail in either case and additionally represents a design flaw. The later is a negative for those of us always looking for that perfectly designed lens.

BTW, this is one lens I keep intentionally looking for deals on. I want one... CA and all.

Dec 08, 2012 at 11:39 AM

atlantel
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p.1 #18 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

5D2 + VS 28-85 Leitax, 29mm , f/8

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Dec 08, 2012 at 01:08 PM

atlantel
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p.1 #19 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

Apollo bridge, Bratislava

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Dec 08, 2012 at 01:13 PM

timballic
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p.1 #20 · CONTAX C/Y CARL ZEISS VARIO-SONNAR T* 28-85mm F3.4-4.0 MM

wfrank wrote:
AhamB wrote:
wfrank wrote:
Regarding CA I dont seem to have the fidelity to spot it (except when it's obvious fringing). I cannot see it in the images above so if someone could point it out that would help.

I don't want to come across as a terrible pedant

, just telling what I see:

By all means no, I am trying to understand so thanks Benjamin for guidance

100%crop

Makes me wonder what screen your using to pick this out so clearly in the original post?!

I'm using a 27" iMac and it passed me by. I can see it very clearly now in this closer view.

Dec 08, 2012 at 01:36 PM

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