This topic is in the 2009 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2009Contax N Image Thread
p.33 #1Contax N Image Thread
Happy Family Day in Bangkok
N100 makro
N24-85
N100 makro
N100 makro
N24-85
N100 makro
Apr 15, 2011 at 05:46 AM
p.33 #2Contax N Image Thread
mMontag wrote:
MWP,
Sounds like that age old winless debate of prime IQ vs. zoom convenience - I have both - and the C/Y 21 prime is probably my most unused lens - love the IQ but inconvenienced by the wide fixed 21mm FL and too large and heavy to carry around "just in case". I use a C/Y 35-70 for my 35mm landscape prime - very, very close to the IQ of the Z* 35mm prime - but has the convenience of a zoom with those cool C/Y colors. I find 24-28mm a more useful FL than 21mm.
mMontag,
I don't doubt that the prime will fare better than a zoom lens. I am interested in how different is the IQ of a Zeiss lens made during the early days of digital sensors by the now defunct Kyocera and the modern ones optimized for digital made by Cosina.
My observation is that the vintage lenses have a deeper color saturation which gives off richer and vibrant colors while the modern lenses have a lighter color, retains highlights and shadows better, thus giving a brighter and livelier image and wider tonal range appearance.
j.liam wrote:
The now-moribund 16:9 website has this comparison of the Nikkor 14-24 vs. Contax N 17-35 vs Contax 21 shot on a Canon 1Ds Mk III. It may answer some of your questions (or perhaps all of them) as well as save you the effort:
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/nikon1424_21mm/nikon1424_21mm1.html
The upshot: At 21mm the Distagon appears to better them both, with the 17-35 weakest of the three.
j.liam,
I have seen the review before. That test only verifies all 3 are superb lenses. Each will have their strength and weaknesses that if I go into it, will start the age old debate and more.
MWP,
Sounds like that age old winless debate of prime IQ vs. zoom convenience - I have both - and the C/Y 21 prime is probably my most unused lens - love the IQ but inconvenienced by the wide fixed 21mm FL and too large and heavy to carry around "just in case". I use a C/Y 35-70 for my 35mm landscape prime - very, very close to the IQ of the Z* 35mm prime - but has the convenience of a zoom with those cool C/Y colors. I find 24-28mm a more useful FL than 21mm.
mMontag,
I don't doubt that the prime will fare better than a zoom lens. I am interested in how different is the IQ of a Zeiss lens made during the early days of digital sensors by the now defunct Kyocera and the modern ones optimized for digital made by Cosina.
My observation is that the vintage lenses have a deeper color saturation which gives off richer and vibrant colors while the modern lenses have a lighter color, retains highlights and shadows better, thus giving a brighter and livelier image and wider tonal range appearance.
j.liam wrote:
The now-moribund 16:9 website has this comparison of the Nikkor 14-24 vs. Contax N 17-35 vs Contax 21 shot on a Canon 1Ds Mk III. It may answer some of your questions (or perhaps all of them) as well as save you the effort:
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/nikon1424_21mm/nikon1424_21mm1.html
The upshot: At 21mm the Distagon appears to better them both, with the 17-35 weakest of the three.
j.liam,
I have seen the review before. That test only verifies all 3 are superb lenses. Each will have their strength and weaknesses that if I go into it, will start the age old debate and more.
Apr 15, 2011 at 06:06 AM
p.33 #3Contax N Image Thread
N50
I am looking out for a N85. If anyone is looking to offload at a reasonable price. Let me know.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5589362187_7ebd12e4a5_b.jpg
Edited on Apr 19, 2011 at 12:56 PM · View previous versions
I am looking out for a N85. If anyone is looking to offload at a reasonable price. Let me know.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5589362187_7ebd12e4a5_b.jpg
Edited on Apr 19, 2011 at 12:56 PM · View previous versions
Apr 15, 2011 at 06:34 AM
p.33 #4Contax N Image Thread
somebody want to know the performance of N70-300.
Full image at 150mm
100%crop 150 mm jpeg direct from 5D2
100% crop 200 mm Jpeg direct from camera
100% crop 300 mm jpeg direct from camera
the moon at 100% crop from Raw
Full image at 150mm
100%crop 150 mm jpeg direct from 5D2
100% crop 200 mm Jpeg direct from camera
100% crop 300 mm jpeg direct from camera
the moon at 100% crop from Raw
Apr 17, 2011 at 09:58 AM
p.33 #5Contax N Image Thread
Yep, sellers remorse is setting in. Sad that I let my 50n go. 
Was going through my fall pictures and found this one that really makes me realize what I loved so much about the 50N.
http://photos.jlambertartworks.com/jpgs/Fern-7451.jpg
Was going through my fall pictures and found this one that really makes me realize what I loved so much about the 50N.
http://photos.jlambertartworks.com/jpgs/Fern-7451.jpg
Apr 19, 2011 at 12:26 PM
p.33 #6Contax N Image Thread
very nice bokeh ; metagraphica
I hope I will continue shoot with N till last (depend on firm ware for new camera in 2055 hahaha). just kidding
N85 my portrait lens
at mix light still love in colore rendering
I hope I will continue shoot with N till last (depend on firm ware for new camera in 2055 hahaha). just kidding
N85 my portrait lens
at mix light still love in colore rendering
Apr 20, 2011 at 09:57 AM
p.33 #7Contax N Image Thread
ManWearPants wrote:
metagraphica, if you are suffering from seller remorse, I do have a spare copy of N50. Just in case you didn't know. Bo-Ming is in the midst of creating an adapter for EF lenses to go onto NEX with AF and electronic aperture. When he launched that adapter, the N50 will be the first lens that I use on the NEX.
[added] I read that the OM35 PC is a preset lens, will be quite a challenge to use.
To rescue the thread from going to Page 2.
Contax N 17-35 @ 17mm f11.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5428646665_22b0a4b038_b.jpg
Sidon Sea Castle?
metagraphica, if you are suffering from seller remorse, I do have a spare copy of N50. Just in case you didn't know. Bo-Ming is in the midst of creating an adapter for EF lenses to go onto NEX with AF and electronic aperture. When he launched that adapter, the N50 will be the first lens that I use on the NEX.
[added] I read that the OM35 PC is a preset lens, will be quite a challenge to use.
To rescue the thread from going to Page 2.
Contax N 17-35 @ 17mm f11.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5428646665_22b0a4b038_b.jpg
Sidon Sea Castle?
Apr 20, 2011 at 12:41 PM
p.33 #8Contax N Image Thread
edwardkaraa wrote:
Sidon Sea Castle?
Correct! Sidon Sea Castle , or Kalaat Saida al-Bahriya, in Lebanon. Built by the Crusaders in 13th century. The Zeiss managed to retain some shine in the small ancient castle (by today's standard)
Sidon Sea Castle?
Correct! Sidon Sea Castle , or Kalaat Saida al-Bahriya, in Lebanon. Built by the Crusaders in 13th century. The Zeiss managed to retain some shine in the small ancient castle (by today's standard)
Apr 20, 2011 at 06:27 PM
p.33 #11Contax N Image Thread
I believe this is with the Zeiss N 24-85
http://boncratious.com/images/cerrillos-park1.jpg
http://boncratious.com/images/cerrillos-park1.jpg
Apr 27, 2011 at 09:34 PM
p.33 #12Contax N Image Thread
Here's another one to put this thread back on the first page.
This time, with the 100mm Makro-Sonnar
http://www.boncratious.com/images/White-yellow-flowers.jpg
This time, with the 100mm Makro-Sonnar
http://www.boncratious.com/images/White-yellow-flowers.jpg
Apr 29, 2011 at 10:31 PM
p.33 #13Contax N Image Thread
From our recent trip to Mallorca, weather was quite bad. All shot with CZ24-85 on 5D2 and cropped to cinemasope:
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Apr 30, 2011 at 01:55 AM
p.33 #14Contax N Image Thread
Contax N 24-85 @ 86 f4.5
I still am not competent with this lens. How do you get any bokeh out of it. It seems like unless the subject is 0.7m away, I cannot get any bokeh out of this lens.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5676569997_d68c1eae7a_b.jpg
I still am not competent with this lens. How do you get any bokeh out of it. It seems like unless the subject is 0.7m away, I cannot get any bokeh out of this lens.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5676569997_d68c1eae7a_b.jpg
May 02, 2011 at 12:50 AM
p.33 #15Contax N Image Thread
ManWearPants wrote:
Contax N 24-85 @ 86 f4.5
I still am not competent with this lens. How do you get any bokeh out of it. It seems like unless the subject is 0.7m away, I cannot get any bokeh out of this lens.
It's not a fast lens at the long end. So at the distance of the subject in your example at f4.5 and 85mm, you're not going to get much bokeh with any lens. Get closer to your subject (which I suspect you already understand). But I would say that I think you're barking up the wrong tree trying to use a modest speed zoom lens for bokeh.
Contax N 24-85 @ 86 f4.5
I still am not competent with this lens. How do you get any bokeh out of it. It seems like unless the subject is 0.7m away, I cannot get any bokeh out of this lens.
It's not a fast lens at the long end. So at the distance of the subject in your example at f4.5 and 85mm, you're not going to get much bokeh with any lens. Get closer to your subject (which I suspect you already understand). But I would say that I think you're barking up the wrong tree trying to use a modest speed zoom lens for bokeh.
May 02, 2011 at 07:02 AM
p.33 #16Contax N Image Thread
Lotusm50 wrote:
It's not a fast lens at the long end. So at the distance of the subject in your example at f4.5 and 85mm, you're not going to get much bokeh with any lens. Get closer to your subject (which I suspect you already understand). But I would say that I think you're barking up the wrong tree trying to use a modest speed zoom lens for bokeh.
Yes, I am barking up the wrong tower. I am hoping for a lens that can do landscape on a wide end and subject isolation at the far end. I am hoping this lens can do everything cos it is so good to hold in the hands
It's not a fast lens at the long end. So at the distance of the subject in your example at f4.5 and 85mm, you're not going to get much bokeh with any lens. Get closer to your subject (which I suspect you already understand). But I would say that I think you're barking up the wrong tree trying to use a modest speed zoom lens for bokeh.
Yes, I am barking up the wrong tower. I am hoping for a lens that can do landscape on a wide end and subject isolation at the far end. I am hoping this lens can do everything cos it is so good to hold in the hands
May 02, 2011 at 07:15 AM
p.33 #17Contax N Image Thread
Contax N 24-85
24mm f8
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5687433077_610f598f5b_b.jpg
24mm f3.5
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5687429607_ce23e6fda6_b.jpg
24mm f8
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5687433077_610f598f5b_b.jpg
24mm f3.5
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5687429607_ce23e6fda6_b.jpg
May 05, 2011 at 07:41 AM
p.33 #18Contax N Image Thread
Does anyone knows for sure that the Contax N85 is a complete redesign to improve on its performance and not just for integrating the AF mechanism?
May 05, 2011 at 07:44 AM
p.33 #19Contax N Image Thread
Completely different optical layout (10 element vs. 6 element) as can be seen in the PDFs. The MTF charts don't support the clearcut conclusion that it's "improved" though, but it surely is different.
http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Planar1.4_85mm_d/$File/Planar1.4_85mm_d.pdf
http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Planar1.4_85mm_yashica_d/$File/Planar1.4_85mm_yashica_d.pdf
http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Planar1.4_85mm_d/$File/Planar1.4_85mm_d.pdf
http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Planar1.4_85mm_yashica_d/$File/Planar1.4_85mm_yashica_d.pdf
May 05, 2011 at 08:56 AM
p.33 #20Contax N Image Thread
I heard that the redesign was not to improve MTF charts, but to enhance other characteristics considered desirable in portraiture, such as smooth bokeh and skin tone transitions. IMHO it gives more flattering look to people with less than perfect skin by having "just right" sharpness, contrast curve and skin color tones.
May 05, 2011 at 10:09 AM