I have a line on a very reasonably priced new in box Contax N 85 1.4. With the price of conversion, thought, it will only be a few hundred dollars less than a new Canon 85 1.2 L (current version) from B&H.
Can people give me their feedback between these two lenses? Especially, can people post images from each to give the feedback some meaning?
I previously asked for similar advice on the Contax 24-85 vs the Canon 24-105L and ended up going with the 24-85. No regrets there and thanks to everyone who responded!
But, I am not necessarily a Contax die-hard and the 85 1.2 has a pretty legendary reputation.
I will also say that the primary use of this lens will be from wide open to f2. I want to do sharp focus on a detail with lots of background blur, particularly landscapes. Because of this, corner sharpness is just as important to me as bokeh.
Do you prefer to focus manually? If so, the 85L's focus-by-wire system is not the best. I cannot comment on the 85N, although I would find it hard to believe the focus ring wouldn't be nicer.
To add a data point, there are about 1,500 Contax N 85/1.4 ever made, of which 43 have been converted to EF mount, as of the day of writing.
Also a converted Contax N 85/1.4 lets you store a simple "curve" of AF adjustment by having different adjustments for minimum focusing distance, medium focusing distance and infinity. For a large aperture lens, this kind of flexibility is not an unimportant consideration.
Some adjustments are expected to match the lens to the camera body to get the most precise AF results possible. See this for an example.
Can I store multiple AF adjustments for min,med, and infinity for my contax N 50 1.4?
Does this only work only for 5D2? How about 1dsmk3 and new 7D?
What is the expected lead time on your lens conversion right now?
Yes! I checked our database records and your 50/1.4 is flashed with firmware 3.00 and it has separate settings for infinity, med and min. Please follow the directions at
and refer to the table marked "minimum aperture is f/16".
Parameter 4 affects all focusing distances. Parameter number -5 is for minimum focusing distance and parameter number -3 is for infinity.
This works on 1Ds3 but we are not sure about 7D. I hope it works or I will have an excuse to buy a 7D body.
Right now our turnaround time is 9.9 months, calculated by a formula which divides the total number of lenses in our order pipeline by our historical monthly output, which, unfortunately has been quite low due to the labour intensive nature of this kind of work. While this is a large number the good news is that this figure has been coming down gradually. Our capacity expansion plan is working, and we are going to expand even more.
cyberstudio wrote:
Yes! I checked our database records and your 50/1.4 is flashed with firmware 3.00 and it has separate settings for infinity, med and min. Please follow the directions at
and refer to the table marked "minimum aperture is f/16".
Parameter 4 affects all focusing distances. Parameter number -5 is for minimum focusing distance and parameter number -3 is for infinity.
This works on 1Ds3 but we are not sure about 7D. I hope it works or I will have an excuse to buy a 7D body.
Right now our turnaround time is 9.9 months, calculated by a formula which divides the total number of lenses in our order pipeline by our historical monthly output, which, unfortunately has been quite low due to the labour intensive nature of this kind of work. While this is a large number the good news is that this figure has been coming down gradually. Our capacity expansion plan is working, and we are going to expand even more....Show more →
How can I choose 4, -5, -3 respectively on a minimum aperture f/16 lens, i.e. N50 or N85?
Paoletto wrote:
i still believe that the prices for conversions are way too expensive. doubling the price for many normally convenient lenses.
You are aware that the is a lot of work involved in converting the lenses. detailed hand work, plus high precision lens mount have to be made, and electronic circuity designed and produced. I don't think the prices are unreasonable at all, and I think they are fairly priced. Beyond that, I don't believe ANY of the conversions double the cost of these lenses -- certainly with respect to the original cost of the lenses, and not -- maybe the inexpensive, entry-level 28-80 zoom, which can be had dirt cheap now, but I'm not sure why one would necessarily bother converting that lens to begin with.
Quite frankly with conurus' back-order of conversions extending several months, most find the conversions to be well worth the cost and the wait.
if the contax is only a few hundred less than a new 85LII before conversion, (unless you're main modus operandi is focusing manually) not sure why you wouldn't go with the canon - OEM compatibility, less hassle, you get AF if/when you want to turn it on.
Guy, I would try to get hold of some full res samples before you choose. Everyone's idea of 'good enough' is different. Mehrdad has both lenses so perhaps if you asked him nicely so he would oblige and take photos of the same subject at the same settings?
Lotusm50 wrote:
...............entry-level 28-80 zoom, which can be had dirt cheap now, but I'm not sure why one would necessarily bother converting that lens to begin with.
Not to take the thread off topic.....
Given this lens can be had for $200 (ballpark) or less, added to the cost of conversion, I still see this one as a reasonable compromise to the $500+ or Sub $500 Canon lenses. Any reason why you beleive this lens is not worth converting. I am curious to hear your opinion on this.
As for the cost of the conversion, I am in 100% agreement - they are well worth the price and the wait.... and I say this even though I no longer shoot Canon as my primary.
