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Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

Chris McKechnie said:
As I have stated previously, I think the contax line is one of the best lens lineups out there. So incredibly lightweight and produce amazing imagery that packs a punch. It's crazy to think that not once has a director/producer/agency asked me what lenses I shoot on (unless they want to shoot on something specific, i.e. ultra primes, etc).

In all the lenses I've tested, to me, contax lenses produce the most accurate imagery to the human eye. They capture like I see it. So organic.

I've also gotten lots of compliments on skin-tones coming from grabs that I've posted in this thread...it's partially camera settings, but mainly, I think it's the glass. So beautiful.

With any project, your work should speak for itself, and the lens is just a tool, much like any camera.
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Chris, love this! I could print, frame and put this on my wall!
 
Nick Morrison said:
Chris, love this! I could print, frame and put this on my wall!
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Haha! Thanks Nick!

Nothing like Ben's images he's been sharing, but here's a couple grabs of my boys today at a Halloween Festival. A7S, Contax 100mm Macro @ F4

 
Lovely shots Chris. Just goes to show Contax glass is capable of much prettier and less harsh shots than I have been doing.

Hope you're enjoying the A7s too. Drop me a PM when you've shot with it on the Movi :)
 
Nick Morrison said:
Awesome pics Chris!!
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Far from awesome, but thanks Nick.

Ben Scott said:
Lovely shots Chris. Just goes to show Contax glass is capable of much prettier and less harsh shots than I have been doing.

Hope you're enjoying the A7s too. Drop me a PM when you've shot with it on the Movi :)
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I doubt I'll end up flying it on the MoVI, unless it's a rented MoVI. I've got my setup dialed in with the Epic. Got some new things coming down the pipeline for you guys in terms of gimbal setup.
 
Hello to everybody! It's a great and very informative thread with wonderful images. I have 5 C/Y Zeiss lenses bought in last 6 months primary for Sony A7 successor which I hope will be released in Jan/Feb next year. 3 of them are MMJ - 25/2.8, 35/2.8, 135/2.8 and 2 AEJ - 50/1.7 and 85/2.8 whch I will probably change for MMJ. I have taken a few shots on Fuji X-E2 I use now - I will share with them later - but have found these leses really need FF. But there is one question not clear for me... are there any differences between AEG and AEJ e.g 85/2.8 lens in terms of construction, performance and image rendering?


I own also 2 Zeiss cine lenses but not sure about that, it's Sonnar 85/2 and Sonnar 50/2, both have stepless aperture with dots markings instead of f/number, threads at back instead of bayonet and probably focusing rings are missed. Do you have any idea what were they made for?
 
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Would anyone be interested in renting out their Contax Zeiss lenses?
I would love to rent an 18 or a 21 and the 25 or a 28. I'm in the Chicago area. Please let me know!
 
Piotr Renes said:
But there is one question not clear for me... are there any differences between AEG and AEJ e.g 85/2.8 lens in terms of construction, performance and image rendering?
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Hey Piotr, and welcome! No, there should not be any difference at all in the mechanics and renderings of AEG and AEJs. The 85 2.8 was available in all variants across the years (AEG, AEJ, MMG, MMJ), and the only known major change was during the MM run when some modifications were done internally to limit flare (however optical design remained identical). I have mixtures of AEG's and AEJ's and have always found their construction and look to be very similar.

Piotr Renes said:
I own also 2 Zeiss cine lenses but not sure about that, it's Sonnar 85/2 and Sonnar 50/2, both have stepless aperture with dots markings instead of f/number, threads at back instead of bayonet and probably focusing rings are missed. Do you have any idea what were they made for?
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Haha. I have a couple of these too. What are the serial numbers? These are most likely the early PREDECESSORS to the STANDARD PRIMES. Designed for ACADEMY 35. I have a 16 T2 and a 24 T2 myself, w/ serials in the early 6's with T* coatings (mine are essentially Standard Prime "B" speeds if you will). But I've seen other MUCH older variants, those with serials in the 4's and 5's, that I'm assuming have very early single layer coatings that must flare like crazy and look fantastic. The renderings on these lenses can be superb, FYI. Mine have wonderful saw toothed serrated aperture blades that do wonders to bokeh. I'd get yours serviced though if they look in rough shape, as some of these can be quite old and well traveled. I sent mine to Paul at Visual Products who did a great job restoring them.

I also later found a very, very ancient 50 2.8 (it's new old stock) that Paul thinks may have been sitting in a box since the 50's untouched...I have yet to shoot with it (don't ask!), but I can't wait to see what ancient Hollywood magic it produces!!

So...you too may be holding some cinema history in your hands! I'm curious to know more! Feel free to post some pics, etc.

best
 
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For those who want to use their Contax glass unmodified (or declicked only) I can recommend the Japanese adapters from Kindai aka Rayqual. Yes, they are expensive compared to the cheap Chinese stuff, but precision is really high.

On our RED cameras with Canon mount they feel very good. There is far less play and the little bit that's left is stiff enough not to interfere with focusing.
 
Nick Morrison said:
Hey Piotr, and welcome! No, there should not be any difference at all in the mechanics and renderings of AEG and AEJs. The 85 2.8 was available in all variants across the years (AEG, AEJ, MMG, MMJ), and the only known major change was during the MM run when some modifications were done internally to limit flare (however optical design remained identical). I have mixtures of AEG's and AEJ's and have always found their construction and look to be very similar.

Haha. I have a couple of these too. What are the serial numbers? These are most likely the early PREDECESSORS to the STANDARD PRIMES. Designed for ACADEMY 35. I have a 16 T2 and a 24 T2 myself, w/ serials in the early 6's with T* coatings (mine are essentially Standard Prime "B" speeds if you will). But I've seen other MUCH older variants, those with serials in the 4's and 5's, that I'm assuming have very early single layer coatings that must flare like crazy and look fantastic. The renderings on these lenses can be superb, FYI. Mine have wonderful saw toothed serrated aperture blades that do wonders to bokeh. I'd get yours serviced though if they look in rough shape, as some of these can be quite old and well traveled. I sent mine to Paul at Visual Products who did a great job restoring them.

I also later found a very, very ancient 50 2.8 (it's new old stock) that Paul thinks may have been sitting in a box since the 50's untouched...I have yet to shoot with it (don't ask!), but I can't wait to see what ancient Hollywood magic it produces!!

So...you too may be holding some cinema history in your hands! I'm curious to know more! Feel free to post some pics, etc.

best
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Thanks Nick. I have some problems with inserting pics here, tried many times but not succeeded. How URL should starts and ends?
 
Here's something for Halloween that owes some style choices and a debt of gratitude to Nick and this thread.
Shot with Dragon on 6K HD using Contax Zeiss Primes and the Sigma 35mm ART through HBM filters. Posted in Premiere, AE, Resolve and Samplitude.

It's a slow burning chiller, so be patient :-)



Happy Halloween, guys.
 
Here there is mentioned Sonnar 85/2 with serial No. 3199927
 

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And here there is Sonnar 50/2 No. 3765768. Hope you wil be able to say more about them now.
 

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Piotr, those look like fantastically OLD lenses. I'm not sure how old, but my guess would be the early 60's? These most likely cover Academy 35 (ie 4K MX, 4.5K Dragon). Though being these are longer lenes (50 and 85), they could even cover full Dragon 6K (most teles do).

These most likely have very minimal gentle coatings, that should be both quite lowcon and flare A LOT. Love to see how these look on digital!!!

Fingers crossed they're clean! They certainly look pretty good?

My guess is they have the same, wonerful serrated "saw tooth" aperture blades mine do.

Love to see footage with these! WOW!!

PS to give you some context on these, Zeiss had traditionally made T2 cinema lenses for quite some time. Arguably the most FAMOUS version of these were the modern STANDARD PRIMES (usually serials in 6's and 7's):

16 T2 Distagon
24 T2 Distagon
32 T2 Distagon
50 T2 Sonnar
85 T2 Sonnar

But older versions/variants of these lenses/designs had been around for a long time (the Standard Primes appear to have been modernized UPDATES of them)...so I believe that's what you have...very old cousins of the Standard Primes!!

Of course, eventually the ULTRAPRIMES replaced the STANDARD PRIMES.

But the STANDARDS are still well loved. They were used last year on AMERICAN HUSTLE and also CAPTAIN PHILLIPS!!

Hope this helps!!
 
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