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Archive 2014 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.

  
 
plasticmotif
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


So, in my switch back to Canon I've gotten a ZE 21, Contax 35-70 and Sigma 50.

I'm planning on getting a C/Y 28 and MP-E 65 before next summer too.

Contax 85/2.8, 85/1.4, 100/2.8 how all do they fair for up close work and stopped down at distance work?

I just found out that Tokina 90 was made in C/Y mount. So, I'm trying to decide if there is enough reason to switch to one of the Contax lenses over the Tokina. The Tokina I owned was without fault. My Tokina 90 was perfectly mint too. I'd have kept it, but it was MD mount.

I really like the images I've seen from the C/y 85 1.4. I love the Tokina 90, but the wider aperture of the 85/1.4 interests me. I've loved every C/Y lens I've owned before. That's why I'm contemplating my next step.



Nov 01, 2014 at 12:17 PM
edwardkaraa
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I'm a big fan of Contax. I think Zeiss reached it's apogee with them, and whatever they've done after Contax is not the same. I don't mean in pixel peeping ways, because the lenses were obviously designed for film but the rendering and drawing style are just fantastic.

The 85/1.4 will perform greatly at infinity stopped down just a couple of stops. At close range, you will get a superlative center with softer borders and corners, and a lot of 3D.

I loved my 100/2.8 especially for studio work. It performs equally as well at infinity. Some guys had less than perfect copies, probably because owners fooled around with the calibration. Proceed with caution

Edited on Nov 01, 2014 at 12:33 PM · View previous versions



Nov 01, 2014 at 12:32 PM
banpreso
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


switch to sony A7/ A7r and you can happily use all of these above

you know what you like, nobody else can make the decision for you, tokina vs. contax. there are so many other options as well if you just want a portrait lens, as you said you're getting MP-E 65 as well, i assume you don't need the macro function of the tokina.




Nov 01, 2014 at 12:32 PM
plasticmotif
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I'd stay with Sony if they had an off camera cord. The MP-E can only do 1-5x lifesize. It can't shoot anything bigger than 35mm. In the focal lengths past ~50 I like lenses that are good at or near their MFDs and good at infinity as well.

I guess since I'm broke currently, I'll just wait and see what deals I can get.



Nov 01, 2014 at 05:26 PM
freaklikeme
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I think the MP 100/2.8 is a real star in the line up if you want a lens that's excellent at all distances and keeps up with much more expensive lenses stopped down to f/5.6. It's big and heavy because it's native 1:1, but it's worth it.

If you want a light 100mm that's a great landscape and pano lens, the 100/3.5 made for the Aria is a gem. It seems to share its DNA with the comparable Hassy lens, so it's not fantastic close-up, but it's very usable.



Nov 01, 2014 at 08:16 PM
mawz
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


plasticmotif wrote:
I'd stay with Sony if they had an off camera cord. The MP-E can only do 1-5x lifesize. It can't shoot anything bigger than 35mm. In the focal lengths past ~50 I like lenses that are good at or near their MFDs and good at infinity as well.

I guess since I'm broke currently, I'll just wait and see what deals I can get.


The Minolta off-camera cords are fully compatible with Sony kit. You'll need the shoe adapter for one of the newer Sony's with the ISO shoe though.



Nov 01, 2014 at 08:27 PM
AhamB
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I have the Contax 100/2.8 and I like it even more for landscapes and medium distance than for macro. The Tokina (which I also have) seems a bit sharper to me at macro, but it doesn't have the Contax's vivid color rendering (smoother bokeh though). The Contax is heavy because of the long helicoids needed to reach 1:1. It's even a bit heavier than the Z* MP 100/2, I believe. I think the Contax Sonnar 100/3.5 is quite capable for macro (with tubes) too.


Nov 01, 2014 at 09:13 PM
helimat
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


My experience with the 85/1.4 mirrors what Edward said.


Nov 01, 2014 at 10:05 PM
buggz2k
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I've had the C/Y 85/1.4, I liked it, it was stolen, sigh...
I've since long gotten the 85/1.4 N, I like it a lot.



Nov 01, 2014 at 10:20 PM
freaklikeme
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


plasticmotif wrote:
I'd stay with Sony if they had an off camera cord.


Do you mean a wired shutter release or am I misunderstanding? Because Sony has one.

This one works with mirrorless (including my NEX-7) and the a99... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=925709&gclid=CNKatLqL28ECFQqEfgodyGUASg&Q=&is=REG&A=details



Nov 01, 2014 at 11:35 PM
plasticmotif
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I'd like to be able to use a Sony A7 with a corded flash. Something like this:

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/59/154297458_0d861973d9_z.jpg?zz=1

I didn't think you could use anything similar to that. If I could use the cheaper minolta flashes that'd be great too.



Nov 02, 2014 at 12:32 AM
rico
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


freaklikeme wrote:
...
If you want a light 100mm that's a great landscape and pano lens, the 100/3.5 made for the Aria is a gem.

Agreed, a great little tele. Note that it far predates the 1998 Aria, being released for the 1979 139Q (the first compact body for Contax RTS). My S100 copy is a 1983 AEJ, and I plan to be buried with it.



Nov 02, 2014 at 12:38 AM
you2
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


In the 85mm range you might consider the 100f2 or the 100f3.5. The 100f3.5 sonnar is very similar to the 85f2.8 and the 100f2 is significantly sharper/higher contrast than the 85f1.4 wide open. Mind you the 85f1.4 produces a nice 'look' so it is more of a matter of taste but I think the 100f2 is the better lens in general.

I always liked the 100f3.5 not sure but the 85f2.8 never really agreed with me even though the two lenses are very similar.



Nov 02, 2014 at 07:52 AM
jcolwell
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I've used many Contax CZ lenses, and I've come down to just two of them; the 35-70/3.4 and 100/3.5. I also have the CZ 18/3.5 ZE and 50/2 ZE.

I'd still have the CZ 100-300/4.5-5.6 except that I've decided to stick with Canon IS for telephoto primes and zooms. Their IQ is superb and the IS often comes in very handy. For travel, I replaced the CZ 100-300 with the EF 70-200/4L IS and (when needed) 1.4x III Extender.

As mentioned, the CZ Planar 85/1.4 C/Y is an excellent lens. The Leica-R Summicron 90/2 is also very nice (and sharp), with characteristic Leica colour saturation and very nice bokeh. The Rokinon (or Samyang) 85/1.4 is the king of bokeh on challenging backgrounds, but generally not as sharp as the Planar or 'Cron until stopped down. If you want something on the smaller side, the Oly 85/2 is a peach. I compared the Planar with a variety of Alt and Canon lenses in this old thread.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/952008/0&year=2010#9001461

The CZ Distagon 28/2.8 is also an excellent lens. I used it alongside the 35-70/3.4 for many years. I recently found that the Canon EF 24/2.8 IS USM is slightly better than the Distagon in the corners (surprise for me), and so now I use the 24/2.8 IS alongside the 35-70/3.4. I prefer the step from 24mm to 35mm, over 28mm to 35mm, anyway, so it works for me.

Here's an example from the CZ Planar 85/1.4 MM wide open on a 5D.



© jcolwell 2014


Contax Carl Zeiss Planar 85/1.4 MM at f/1.4 on EOS 5D, ISO 100




Nov 02, 2014 at 08:11 AM
rico
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


The P100 is a CZ classic, but the "shark fin" at the rear scrapes against the mirror box on my Canon bodies (D30, 1Ds). Besides marring the camera, the fin prevents correct seating against the lens mount. For several of my lenses, the result is lack of infinity focus and a tilted image plane. I'm not willing to shave the fin. Meanwhile, the S100 has no such problem, and the slower design seems to pay off image-wise: sharpness, color fidelity, illumination, and good behavior generally. I find it excellent for tabletop, as shown in this recent example:

S100, 1Ds, f/8:



1x-scale crop. Note lack of lateral color, especially around the speculars:



I have a different CZ lens (SP100) for actual macro use.



Nov 03, 2014 at 02:23 AM
plasticmotif
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I've been going through all my old pictures with the Tokina 90. I think I'll stay with it. It's an amazing lens.

I'll shoot for ZE 21, C/Y 28, C/Y 35-70, Sigma 50, MP-E 65 and Tokina 90. There's actually a Tokina 90 on Ebay in C/Y mount right now, but it's too expensive for my tastes!

ZE 21, C/Y 35-70, Tokina 90 for serious landscape work.

C/Y 28 for walkaround/general

Sigma 50 for AF family stuff.

MP-E 65 for Serious macro and Tokina 90 for close up/bokeh work.



Nov 04, 2014 at 07:23 PM
mike reid
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


the cy 28/2.8 is a classic. word is that the mmj (green 22)version has a better coating.


Nov 04, 2014 at 07:56 PM
tsdevine
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I have the ZE 21, C/Y 28 and C/Y 35-70 (just got it in the past week or so). Solid selection, although I find myself using the 28 a lot for landscape. (But I tend to like 28 vs 35...so it comes down to the FL you like working with.) Also, the 28 could sneak along given that it shares the same adapter as the 35-70. ;-)

-Tim

plasticmotif wrote:
I've been going through all my old pictures with the Tokina 90. I think I'll stay with it. It's an amazing lens.

I'll shoot for ZE 21, C/Y 28, C/Y 35-70, Sigma 50, MP-E 65 and Tokina 90. There's actually a Tokina 90 on Ebay in C/Y mount right now, but it's too expensive for my tastes!

ZE 21, C/Y 35-70, Tokina 90 for serious landscape work.

C/Y 28 for walkaround/general

Sigma 50 for AF family stuff.

MP-E 65 for Serious macro and Tokina 90 for close up/bokeh work.




Nov 04, 2014 at 08:01 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


Here's a discussion of the differences between AE and MM.

Tom Shea on Zeiss / Contax SLR Lenses http://photo.net/equipment/contax/shea-lenses

The only meaningful difference I've found is that some of the AE versions have 'ninja star' apertures, while the MM version doesn't. In my case, I bought the MM version of the Planar 85/1.4 to avoid the star.

I've never heard that the MM coating is better




Nov 04, 2014 at 08:20 PM
AhamB
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Contax Lens Line-up questions.


I think it's fair to presume that the coatings have evolved over time. In some tests of the 85/2.8 and/or 100/3.5 the flare resistance of the MM version is better, I believe.

Anyway, it was confirmed that the optical design of the 25/2.8, 28/2.8 and 135/2.8 was improved in the MM version, IIRC.



Nov 04, 2014 at 08:31 PM
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