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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: LIKE SUPERSPEEDS

Clayton Burkhart said:
Baloney. I have compared my 35/50/85 f1.4's against the ZF's and compact primes. They are all exactly the same in terms of sharpness and contrast. Wide open and stopped down. The only exception is the 50/1.4, which is actually worse on the more modern stuff.
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Listen, I'm agreeing with you that they are very similar. I'm just disagreeing with you about the coatings. The T* coating has evolved over the past 40+ plus years. My OLD Contaxes (serials in the 5's) definetly flare more than my NEWER Contaxes (Serials in 8's). It's pretty palpable. The new ZF/ZE's improve on that more. The two lines don't feel the same, even if empirically the designs are the same.

See this great quote from Mitch Gross, talking about the coating improvements:

Mitch Gross said:
I used t own a set of Zeiss Contax glass for my old Aaton. Yes nice glass, but the modern Zeisss ZF and ZE lenses are better. The coatings are improved.
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Notice he prefers the ZF/ZE's...haha...
 
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Nick Morrison said:
Listen, I'm agreeing with you that they are very similar. I'm just disagreeing with you about the coatings. The T* coating has evolved over the past 40+ plus years. My OLD Contaxes (serials in the 5's) definetly flare more than my NEWER Contaxes (Serials in 8's). It's pretty palpable. The new ZF/ZE's improve on that more. The two lines don't feel the same, even if empirically the designs are the same.

See this great quote from Mitch Gross, talking about the coating improvements (notice he prefers the ZF/ZE's...haha):
Click to expand...


This is true. I have done some testing of this and was shared a very dedicated Contax v. ZE lens by lens comparison Jason Wingrove did. The results are that the glass and imagery are to close to call in all elements except for the flaring. The coatings are different. Contax have a softer, more diffuse flare. Modern Zeiss have more distinct edges to the flare elements. Is very, very close between them, but its not the same. Tested this in the 35 1.4, 50 1.4 & 85 1.4 myself.
 
Can anyone help me determine if my recently purchased Vario-Sonnar 35-70mm zoom is *too* stiff in its zoom mechanism? It wont slide smoothly between all the markings, it wants to at most every marked FL. Should it smoothly operate through the range? Its stiff enough that I end up slamming it when trying to zoom to 70mm, is this normal operation? The focus turn is buttery smooth, so it feels strange that the zoom would be so stiff.
 
Hmmm... Sounds a bit odd to me. Certainly my 28-85 has a very smooth zoom. This is a bit of an old thread but if you ask in Nick's Contax thread linked 2 posts above this all the experts will be able to offer some advice.
 
Mmm... that certainly does not describe my copy. Smooth as silk all the way from 35-70 and holds its position if pointed up or down.
 
Eric Westpheling said:
Can anyone help me determine if my recently purchased Vario-Sonnar 35-70mm zoom is *too* stiff in its zoom mechanism? It wont slide smoothly between all the markings, it wants to at most every marked FL. Should it smoothly operate through the range? Its stiff enough that I end up slamming it when trying to zoom to 70mm, is this normal operation? The focus turn is buttery smooth, so it feels strange that the zoom would be so stiff.
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Hey Eric, you shouldn't need to slam it at all, it should be smooth when you zoom yes. The 28-85 has more mass and weight, and I think this helps make its push/pulls particularly "silky", but the 35-70 should ordinarily be mechanically solid both when it focuses..and zooms. At least mine is. Having to "force" something makes me wonder if the lens may need a quick clean/service. Maybe Steve at Duall? Or Peter at RP lens? Otherwise, it's a great little piece of glass you got there!!!
 
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Nick Morrison said:
Hey Eric, you should need to slam it at all, it should be smooth when you zoom yes. The 28-85 has more mass and weight, and I think this helps make the push/pulls particularly "silky", but the 35-70 should ordinarily be mechanically solid both when it focuses..and zooms. At least mine is. Having to "force" something makes me wonder if the lens may need a quick clean/service. May Steve at Duall? Or Peter at RP lens? Otherwise, it's a great little piece of glass you got there!!!
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Sounds like it needs to be regreased. The problem is that they used a very special grease for those lenses which is not easy to get anymore and sometimes technicians use whatever they have on hand.
 
I have both Super Speeds and Contax primes and I find the overall color rendition and flares to be two things that are much more pleasing about the Super Speeds. Most of the time I find myself about to grade the SS stuff and I decide it already has amazing colors to it.
 
FYI :

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?118265-FOR-SALE-CARL-ZEISS-CONTAX-AEG-High-Speed-(feet)-PL-MOUNT-!!!
 
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