Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Leica & Alternative Gear | Join Upload & Sell

Archive 2009 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

Jim Schemel
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

Saw a while ago that this lens can produce Ninja star like bokeh when wide open.Is this in all copies or only certain copies? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
-Jim

Oct 08, 2009 at 01:38 PM

Paul Yi
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

I thought only AE version, or Germany Made, produces such bokeh...
I used to have MM version, Japan Made, and I couldn't see those...

Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.....

Oct 08, 2009 at 01:41 PM

you2
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

When they shifted the 85f1.4 to MM/Japan they also rounded the aperture blades.

Oct 08, 2009 at 01:57 PM

JimBuchanan
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

Jim Schemel wrote:
Saw a while ago that this lens can produce Ninja star like bokeh when wide open.

Wide open, either version will not have star bokeh because the aperture blades are hidden. One stop down and more produces the discribed behavior.

Oct 08, 2009 at 02:28 PM

cogitech
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

JimBuchanan wrote:
One stop down and more produces the discribed behavior.

(only the AE, as the others stated)

Oct 08, 2009 at 02:31 PM

JimBuchanan
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

cogitech wrote:
(only the AE, as the others stated)

The "described behavior" being the 2 comments, in this thread, about the MM and AE versions as it relates to aperture blades, including comments about the
AE version.

Oct 08, 2009 at 04:30 PM

Jim Schemel
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

jcowell,
thank you for the demo.This is what i was looking for.The pattern the MM creates is much more pleasing to the eye than the other IMO.Thank You
-Jim

Oct 08, 2009 at 04:34 PM

jcolwell
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

Jim, you're welcome.

Jim.

Oct 08, 2009 at 07:19 PM

edwardkaraa
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

If my memory is correct, the ninja star effect only shows up at f/2 and f/2.8. At f/4 upwards, the blades are round again.

Oct 09, 2009 at 03:53 AM

slungu
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

The ninja star comes up when using the older AE type at f2 and f2.8 aperture settings. Wide open at 1.4 it is not an issue, since the lens is fully open and after f4 the blades close enough to form a poligonal opening. Since the lens only has full stops, you have exactly two settings when the ninja star comes up. It is easily seen if you hold the lens in your hand dial f2 or f2.8 on the aperture ring. I have one of these and it did not bother me that much - actually I have seen it on a couple of shots and found it rather interesting

Oct 09, 2009 at 04:31 AM

JimBuchanan
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

edwardkaraa wrote:
If my memory is correct, the ninja star effect only shows up at f/2 and f/2.8. At f/4 upwards, the blades are round again.

Trying to not be off-topic, but this is the exact same behavior as the 45/2.8 pancake I've been playing around with, only in this case its f/4 and f/5.6 that shows the ninja star. That being the 1 and 2 stop down positions.

Oct 09, 2009 at 07:55 AM

noahyv
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

I have this same issue with both my contax zeiss 50/1.4 and 135/2.8 lenses. On the 50, it occurs at f2 and f2.8 and on the 135 it occurs at f4. wide open the aperture blades form a round shape and past those points the aperture looks perfectly fine and hexagonal. I didnt notice it till somewhat recently, but those are very important stops for me. I'm strongly considering getting rid of these lenses for this reason, but otherwise these are great lenses mechanically and optically for my purposes.

Seems like the aperture blades are angled incorrectly or something and at wider stops the blades do not overlap correctly, there is a rounded corner to the blade that is exposed rather than covered by the following blade, but once closed down enough the incorrect angle becomes insignificant. Thats my take. I wonder if this is a problem on all contax zeiss lenses since these are the only two i own. Anyone have experience with a lens that doesnt have this problem? Maybe it is just a common issue that worsens over time since these are old lenses?

Oct 10, 2009 at 02:57 PM

Jman13
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Contax Zeiss 85f1.4 Planar Question

Indeed....I have two copies of the 85 Planar, one AE, one MM...the AE has ninja star at f/2 and f/2.8 only. Other than that, I have found absolutely zero difference between the two optically. Same sharpness, same color, same contrast, same bokeh (except for the ninja star at f/2 and 2.8). I haven't used either in a while, though, since I'm going to sell both one of these days when I get around to taking product photos and posting the ads.

Oct 10, 2009 at 09:05 PM


FM Forums \| Leica & Alternative Gear \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.