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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

CONTAX ZEISS: HUGE DEMAND?! SELLING OUT?!

Scott Miller said:
I also got a CZ 50 F1.4 that I haven't tried. Looks like I should drag it out and give it a try!!
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Yeah! Whats the serial number? Does it start with a 5,6,7 or 8? Obv the earlier the number, the older the lens. The 5's and up to mid 6's (up to 67X-XXX and 68X-XXX) are almost always AE's. These have coatings that can flare a bit more, which can be a bonus if you are into that look.
 
Dominik, something which has served me well in building my contax set was targeting lenses I wanted, waiting till they failed to sell, as most do, and then making the person an offer via PM. Many dealers know they are inflating the price and I saved a fair few pennies this way. My 85 1.4 was one such.

Re the zoom discussion, I have the 35-70 Nick endorsed - combined with it's macro function it really is a great lens.
And the reason i mention it again, is I noticed it was one of the few lenses (under zoom - not primes as in Nick link) where there is still a copy left on KEH.
It's a very hard lens to find a great copy of, or a copy at all. Most photogs tend to hold onto this lens I am told. I watched KEH and other reputable sellers for months hoping for one to pop up. To no avail. I eventually found one on German ebay and with the help of google translate managed a sale. But the one now on KEH is listed as excellent which by KEH standards, means it will be what many people on ebay would pass off as mint. Anyhow, I paid $700 for mine, and the one at KEH is going for $600, which struck em as a good deal. Just in case anyones looking. NOTE: It does extend to zoom.

Best
Lliam
 
Was lucky enough to get on this bandwagon early.

Assembled a fairly complete set:
21 f2.8
28 f2
35 f1.4
50 f1.4
85 f1.4
135 f2.8
200 f3.5

Set is flawless. Perhaps I should sell. ;-)
 
That is a pretty sweet set, all rehoused and with PL mounts. Those are a little outside my price range, but I have RP Lens, here in Grand Rapids, cine-upgrading some Contax lenses for me now.
 
Hey guys, I recently got a Contax 200mm 3.5, and I have to say...David W. Jones was right...it's a pretty impressive lens. I was wrong to ever pooh pooh it. The bokeh is absolutely gorgeous. Much more painterly and wondrous than the more exacting 180 2.8.

I was also lucky to get a very old, mint copy, an AE with serial in the 58s (from KEH), and it has all the magic I've come to love from the very early Contax's.
 
Nick Morrison said:
Hey guys, I recently got a Contax 200mm 3.5, and I have to say...David W. Jones was right...it's a pretty impressive lens. I was wrong to ever pooh pooh it. The bokeh is absolutely gorgeous. Much more painterly and wondrous than the more exacting 180 2.8.

I was also lucky to get a very old, mint copy, an AE with serial in the 58s (from KEH), and it has all the magic I've come to love from the very early Contax's.
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Good to know, Nick! That lens was not really on my radar. Not sure how often I'd use a 200, but sounds like something to consider...
 
I currently have a German Contax 85mm f1.4 with serial #5916801 (which I'm told is pretty sought after) for sale in the Jobs/Equipment for hire sub-forum as it needs a little bit of work to make it perfect - ie possibly regreasing the focus wheel etc.

Am now wondering how worthwhile it is to sell it and get something like the upcoming Samyang 85mm cine with declicked iris and built-in focus gears, or if I should just get it fixed....

Thoughts, people?
 
would the contax zeiss planar lenses qualify as this series, or is that a different model?

EDIT:

Also, how do you mount them to your Epics/Scarlets? Must they be remounted to EF or PL?
 
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Ivan Kovax said:
would the contax zeiss planar lenses qualify as this series, or is that a different model?

EDIT:

Also, how do you mount them to your Epics/Scarlets? Must they be remounted to EF or PL?
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I use $15 Fotodiox Contax to Canon Eos adapters. they are awesome.
 
Ben Scott said:
I find the cheaper adapters start to have movement in them after a bit of use. I've shimmed one so it's pretty solid but come payday I may finally invest in some leitax adapters.
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You can also use the All-Star mount, which is great if you plan to use PL glass and other exotic lenses.
 
Ivan Kovax said:
Okay... but do all these lenses have the same coatings as the superspeeds?
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The Zeiss T* coating has changed over the years, but it was my understanding that the same era Zeiss Super Speed & Contax lenses used the same T* coatings.
 
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