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Archive 2009 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

lovinglife
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/1275537773.html

can someone help me? will this lens work on a 5d? what kind of adapter would i need?
Is it a good lens?

Also:

Is this any good?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carl-Zeiss-T-Sonnar-135mm-f2-8-Telephoto-Lens-Exc-Cond_W0QQitemZ140333203815QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Lenses?hash=item20ac82c167&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1234|293%3A1|294%3A50

I am looking for something in this focal length and wouldn't mind a manual focus - i loved the Zeiss 100/ZF which i no longer own, so looking for something with that look, maybe a bit longer.

Jul 20, 2009 at 05:36 PM

montespluga
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

It looks like the first one is not a Contax-lens, but a Carl Zeiss Jena, former East Germany.

Jul 20, 2009 at 05:54 PM

lovinglife
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

montespluga wrote:
It looks like the first one is not a Contax-lens, but a Carl Zeiss Jena, former East Germany.

Thanks.. Is it a good lens?

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:00 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135/2.8 (second link) seems kind of expensive. Check the Lens Price Database, Lens$db, http://tinyurl.com/jcolwell-lensdb, for typical prices for many alternatives, including this one. Right now, KEH has the same lens in [E+] condition for $172 US (http://tinyurl.com/n5r26t).

I'm not convinced that the first link is a Carl Zeiss Jena lens, but I can say that it's very old, it has an odd looking mount (lower right image), and it's also kind of expensive. The newer CZ Jena 135/3.5 is a nice lens, but based on my experience with many other Contax Carl Zeiss lenses (and on the comments of many others), the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar will be a lot better.

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:19 PM

Silentlight
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

KEH.com has the Contax 135/2.8 MM version for as little as $199.

The ebay ad doesn't say or show if it's MM or the older AE version.

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:21 PM

Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

Would not, the Canon EOS 135 F2.0 lens-be a wise choice also? Seems to have a good following on FM. Possibly at a much higher price, however.

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:24 PM

Marcel VanEerd
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

I don't think it's a Jena lens,however, I'm no authority on the subject. I do have a CZJ 135mm f3.5, and it's tack, tack sharp, with beautiful rendering. Mechanically, I would give it an "...okay, but" rating, like all Carl Zeiss Jena's.

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:36 PM

lovinglife
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

Thanks a lot for the info! I will continue to research using KEH and the price database..
Are there other lenses I can look to in that focal range (135-180mm) ? Leica?

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:43 PM

Silentlight
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

Leica has 135/2.8. Make sure it's 3-cam or rom.

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:47 PM

lovinglife
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

Silentlight wrote:
Leica has 135/2.8. Make sure it's 3-cam or rom.

Thanks.. let me look for this..

Jul 20, 2009 at 06:48 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

epuja wrote:
Are there other lenses I can look to in that focal range (135-180mm) ? ...

Yes. Yes, there are.

Part of the fun is finding out about them, and then trying to get them, and then using them. Good luck!

Jul 20, 2009 at 07:00 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

The Contax 135/2.8 Sonnar will not necessarily get you the ZF100 look, but it was my favourite 135mm lens for quite some time, before purchasing the Voigtlander 125/2.5. In fact, the Sonnar 135 and the 21/2.8 Distagon are the only Contax lenses that I can say I really loved.

Jul 20, 2009 at 07:32 PM

Silentlight
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

Ai-S 105/2.5 is not a bad lens either. That's my favorite portrait lens for my 5D.

Jul 20, 2009 at 07:48 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

The lens in the first link is not a Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f/3.5, or at least is nothing at all like the one I have. I really like mine as it is quite sharp even wide open and is a nice small lens. As long as you have enough light it works wonderfully and you can pick one up dirt cheap. Mine was $70 and that is a fairly typical price.

Jul 20, 2009 at 08:44 PM

maxima302
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

I don't think its a Contax lens, so a typically Contax to EOS adapter wouldn't mount the lens. But check with the owner and ask if its Contax mount. It could be M42 screw mount, which would work just as well as a contax mount, you'd just need an M42 to EOS mount adapter.

PS- I own the Contax 135mm and its a good lens, quite heavy but great contrast and color. The only down side is the 6' MFD.

Jul 20, 2009 at 08:53 PM

Leon Noel
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

I'm sorry for hijacking but I'm not inclined to open a new thread for some project that is still in the planning stage, but my sister fetched me a Canon FD 135/2 for next to nothing at a flea market, I put it on the el cheapo fleabay FD-EOS adapter (with glass element) to mount it on 5D and took a test shot, much to my surprise this is how it performed wide open without sharpening:

100% crop from JPEG raw converted file, nothing adjusted.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q69/Blknoel/_MG_2676.jpg

Yea I thought the same "no way!", so I took out my trusty Nikkor 105/1.8 and fired another shot also wide open then processed it exactly the same way, here's the crop:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q69/Blknoel/_MG_2697.jpg

I guess I should convert this FD 135/2 and happily rest down my desire for Sony ZA 135/1.8, which is a $1400 lens.

Jul 21, 2009 at 01:47 AM

lovinglife
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

Silentlight wrote:
Ai-S 105/2.5 is not a bad lens either. That's my favorite portrait lens for my 5D.

yes thats a fine lens, i know

Jul 21, 2009 at 02:17 AM

lovinglife
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Contax 135mm-Is this a good deal / lens?

Leon Noel wrote:
I'm sorry for hijacking but I'm not inclined to open a new thread for some project that is still in the planning stage, but my sister fetched me a Canon FD 135/2 for next to nothing at a flea market, I put it on the el cheapo fleabay FD-EOS adapter (with glass element) to mount it on 5D and took a test shot, much to my surprise this is how it performed wide open without sharpening:

100% crop from JPEG raw converted file, nothing adjusted.

Yea I thought the same "no way!", so I took out my trusty Nikkor 105/1.8 and...Show more →

Thats pretty cool!
Thanks

Jul 21, 2009 at 02:18 AM


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