CONTAX ZEISS: HUGE DEMAND?! SELLING OUT?!

[Nick Morrison]

Considering the recent rash of Super Speed sales, it may not surprise anyone to hear that Contax Zeiss lenses appear to ALSO be in huge demand. Anyone check KEH recently?

Let me give you some perspective. Six months ago, there were over 50 Contax Zeiss prime lenses for sale at KEH. And about 25 Leica R primes available.

Today? There are only FIVE Contax primes listed. FIVE!!! In KEH terms, that means they've been CLEARED OUT.

There are still almost 20 Leica R's available, however.


For those of you who don't know, Contax Zeiss lenses are the ANTECEDENTS of ZF/ZE lenses; they are the ORIGINAL Zeiss SLR lenses, released from 1974 to 2004 (and competed HEAD TO HEAD with Leica R's, which sold from 1975 to 2009). When Zeiss de-comissioned them in 2004, they rebadged a majority of them as ZF/ZE's in 2005. However, the MAJOR difference between CZ & ZE/ZF, and one of the main reasons Contax Zeiss lenses are still prized today (besides their cheaper price), is that the Contax coatings appear very similar to those Zeiss used on their Cinema lenses of the day...Super Speeds and Standards.

In effect, you could say that Contax Zeiss lenses are ZF/ZE's with a "Super Speed" look; or that they are Super Speed looking lenses that cover FULL FRAME. Either way, they are a bargain, and still the most under-appreciated (and mis-understood) line of Zeiss glass out there (the name Contax throws people, they don't realize they are ZEISS)...

But... it would appear that the cat is out of the bag...the JIG is up.

For those of you that already own a set. Consider yourselves lucky! For those that don't (but want to)...clearly, time is NOT on your side. Get 'em now...or you'll be late to the party.

 

[Steve Gal]

I have a bunch of them with my cinestyle upgrade. They all have been performing great since I have had them and have the classic Zeiss look.

 

[Domenic Barbero]

Shot a whole feature on mine. Love the hell out of em

 

[David W. Jones]

Well Nick it's posts like this that have helped drive up demand and cost of these lenses.

The same thing happened with the supply of Russian cine lenses that were once in abundance for $200 a pop. All it took was a few posts online and the price of available lenses skyrockets. Leica still lenses, same thing. I was hoping to pickup a few more Contax lenses before things got crazy.

 

[Lliam Worthington]

I agree. It's Nicks fault. :yesnod:

He's the best ambassador for Contax I have had the pleasure of encountering.

Down to FIVE on KEH? Five? :shocked: That is pretty unbelievable, they have been doing lots of promotions and sales of late which may have helped too.

 

[Lliam Worthington]

Wow, prices are bumping too. My admittedly quite rare 21mm is up between $2750 and $3000. 35's up to 2k.
One idiot had even priced a 50 1.4 for 2K.

 

[Robert Hart]

The Noct-Nikkor 58mm f1.2 and Nikor 28mm f1.4 will begin to look affordable if those prices keep ramping up.

 

[Bob Gundu]

The idiot would be the one who buys it!

Wow, prices are bumping too. My admittedly quite rare 21mm is up between $2750 and $3000. 35's up to 2k.
One idiot had even priced a 50 1.4 for 2K.

 

[Brian Pascale]

Yeah, Nick, thanks for scaring me into buying a 28mm 2.8. Can't wait to try it out. Next I'm going to pick up a 50mm 1.4.

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

I have the 50mm 1.7, the 135mm, and the 28-70

The fotodiox adapter is wonderful (though you need one for each lens)

the primes are AWESOME, the zoom is pretty good.

I have a mixed set since I built these with price consciousness. SO my set us rounded out with a canon ef 85mm which is too beautiful to justify the $600+ tag for the contax 85. Then I have the awesome Tokina 11-16 and will be trying out a Rokinon 35mm 1.4. Mixed set, but it makes gorgeous images!

 

[Scott Miller]

So is my F3.5 70-210 CZ Macro is getting more valuable as well?

 

[Jesse Hunt]

Upon arriving home from looking at a lens (25mm, 2.8) and deciding not to buy it I came across this thread and immediately ran back out to buy it. After a few tests I am very happy I did so.

 

[Domenic Barbero]

I want that 25mm so bad. once i have that and the 85 my set will be complete.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Well Nick it's posts like this that have helped drive up demand and cost of these lenses.
I was hoping to pickup a few more Contax lenses before things got crazy.

Sorry David! Sometimes I don't stop to think. I just report. But at least it's good to know Contax glass is finally being valued for how GOOD it really is.

I agree. It's Nicks fault. He's the best ambassador for Contax I have had the pleasure of encountering.

Haha, thanks Lliam! Hey I consider you another ambassador right beside me! You have an AWESOME set!

Yeah, Nick, thanks for scaring me into buying a 28mm 2.8. Can't wait to try it out. Next I'm going to pick up a 50mm 1.4.

The 28 2.8 is AWESOME. You won't regret it. Also popular with landscape photographers because it's MIND-BOGELLINGLY sharp stopped down.

I have the 50mm 1.7, the 135mm, and the 28-70


the primes are AWESOME, the zoom is pretty good.

Hate to tell you this Jeffrey, but the 28-70 is the only Contax I'm tempted to not call a REAL Contax lens. Its not DESIGNED by Zeiss, but instead made by a third party (Sigma? Tokina?) and licensed by Contax. It was Zeiss's super cheap introductory lens. So this may be why you don't like it so much. Whereas the zooms Zeiss did design, in particular the 28-85 and 35-70, and mind-blowingly sharp and good; true variable primes.


Also, it seems that 28-70 may have also been licensed by Leica. Check out this description of Leica Zooms, the "Sigma" one looks familiar!

So is my F3.5 70-210 CZ Macro is getting more valuable as well?

That zoom is still awesome! One of only two AE Zooms I know of, and therefore almost certainly has a really sweet (and flare friendly) older T coating. Nice lens!

Upon arriving home from looking at a lens (25mm, 2.8) and deciding not to buy it I came across this thread and immediately ran back out to buy it. After a few tests I am very happy I did so.

Haha - hey that 25 is AWESOME. One of my favorites. Great focal length. My AE flares wonderfully.

I want that 25mm so bad. once i have that and the 85 my set will be complete.

Dude, get em already! Don't forget the 85mm 2.8 is also REALLY good. Especially the AE, flares out of control well.

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

Nick, I am ok with your opinion existing, lol.

I knew the 28-70 wasn't the most stellar zoom ever. However it matches the primes perfectly, and has great focus mechanics. So when I find myself in run and gun moments but want to match my zeiss lenses, its fine. I just couldn't swing the extra $300 for the 28-85. Here is a random framgrab from the zoom.



PETER BROCK still by Fightclubtb, on Flickr

 

[Domenic Barbero]

they are hard to friggin find. I want that 1.4 though. ARGGG

 

[Nick Morrison]

Nick, I am ok with your opinion existing, lol.

I knew the 28-70 wasn't the most stellar zoom ever. However it matches the primes perfectly, and has great focus mechanics. So when I find myself in run and gun moments but want to match my zeiss lenses, its fine. I just couldn't swing the extra $300 for the 28-85.

Fair point! You are RIGHT. It does have best cinema mechanics of all the zooms (not push pull). And... it does have the Zeiss T coating, so it will "match" everything else. Yup, I can see the value in it. Agreed!

 

[Bob Gundu]

The Pro II Tokina 28-70 definitely has some mojo happening. It has a bold image to it and a cine quality. Probably due to the softness it has. I think it looks way better on the RED than it did on my AF100. This was primarily shot on that lens. https://vimeo.com/48813116

 

[Nick Morrison]

they are hard to friggin find. I want that 1.4 though. ARGGG

True, getting a good 2.8 is not easy. I found one at Adorama, pretty cheap. Also, you're going to HATE me, but I got a second 85 1.4 for DIRT CHEAP earlier this year at KEH.com. They were like giving it away. During one of those "sales" Lliam was mentioning.

They are out there! Keep looking!

 

[Domenic Barbero]

oh man. im jealous.