The Contax Zeiss 15/3.5 Distagon (and its sister lens-the Leica 15/3.5) is a great lens. I used to have one. The only thing that I've seen that surpasses it is the Leica 15/2.8.
Did you check the Voightlander 15mm tests that hubsand posted? Looked pretty good. I'd be afraid to do a test comparing it with the L15/2.8. :worried:
At least the L15/2.8 has full reflex viewing and focusing going for it.
Photovillage.com now has the CZ D15/2.8 ZM. Of course, you need a Leica M body, and $3800 handy. A bit wide for my taste, but I'm happy to read someone's field report.
The Zeiss Ikon line is manufactured by Cosina in Japan. I'm not sure if they use that same German Schott Glass that the Zeiss lenses made in Germany use.
Henrik- Thanks for the clarification. Even with the Contax line, some were manufactured in Japan, some in Germany. All my German glass has been touched by German hands except for my CZ21.
Yes John, there was, I think, more lenses made in Japan for Contax and fewer made in Germany as a whole. I have had plenty of both and have never had a poor one. Except for that 25mm, which disappointed wide open. Also I had the Planar 135/2 which wasn't that great wide open either (I had before that a manual focus Nikkor 135/2 which I thought was better) though I suspect my copy might have been slightly off as others rank it as top notch.
From what I remember the 25mm I had was made in Germany but I think someone wrote here on FM that they were all made in Japan - ? I am pretty sure mine was German but if someone proves me dead wrong I'll give it a rest though ;-).
That 85/1.2 of yours is one of the few Zeiss lenses I haven't had my hands on - but would love to one day... ...you are keeping yours right?
My 85 is a recent acquisition, so I need to hang onto it. Last week, there was one on FM B/S Forum. Not sure if it's still there.
My notes tell me that the 25mm was made from 1975 up until 2004. It started in Germany as AE, had a brief stint as MM in Germany, and in 1990 moved to Japan as MM along with many of the others. The 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.4 and 135/2.8 all started in 1975, and were always made in Japan based on my notes. The 135/2.0 was Germany only, and stopped in 1989.
Thanks John, guess I did have a German 25mm then...
...thanks for digging out the archives ;-).
I am in no rush for that 85mm, nor have I the funds for it at the mo' - just plain curious.
It's one of those rare lenses that one hopes to see in the flesh some day. Just like that 25mm PC Distagon that ended up a prototype. Looked funny and was probably just my flavour. There is a picture on it out there on the web, I'll see if I can find it.
kosmoskatten wrote:
APO 25mm PC Distagon... droool...
Also, in the works was a 25mm 1.4 - yes please!
These are two lenses that CZ should consider making and selling for the Nikon!
The closest Nikon lenses to these in function are 28mm. Nikon already has couple decent 85/1.4's (AF and MF).
Tom
As the new owner of your previous 15 3.5 CZ I can only say thank you. Have no Idea what a Leica 15 2.8 might be like but I am sure it is awesome at the least.
Anyway, I have a 1975 CZ 25 West German lens and I don't think there is much out there that is better. I don't have info on or data regarding later German and Japanese versions, but I don't honestly think that the original German lens of 1975 can be significantly bettered (at least in CZ terms) I don't know about Leica etc.
Whatever, I suspect that the images produced will be limited more by the photographer than the equipment
The coolest lens I have even seen is that CZ15 design. Its front element is so spherical. The Leica 15/2.5 has a slightly smaller and flatter front element and lacks that sculptural quality of the Zeiss. IOW, looks more like a lens than a piece of art.
