Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Sean Crowley]

Thanks! The 28-85 is great! It's so flexible, and amazingly sharp throughout! The corners vignette at 28mm full frame 4:3, but at 2.40, it's just perfect (we're shooting on the a7s to a shogun). Declicking the 50mm has been so advantageous, it's so nice to be able to adjust the aperture so finely.

 

[Justen Nguyen]

Hey Lads,

Few seconds from an ad I shot last week.
Contax 50mm 1.4 on a matebones booster and BMCC 2.5.
I know it is not a RED but at least the lens correlates with the theme here.

I am really getting to love those lenses. You can do artsy and can do "commercial" with one set of lenses. How amazing.

password : 12345

thanks for watching !

p.

Definitely dig your style Patrick!

 

[Sammi Kim]

Thanks from a long time reader

Thanks from a long time reader

Hi, I am not a reduser and its my first time writing something here but I've been a long time follower of the thread and just wanted to say thanks
to all of the people who contributed to this thread. This is the single most in-depth and most reliable source of information about contax lenses on the web at the moment.
I have purchased many(too many) contax lenses from reading this thread and I am happy with all of my purchases except the occasional duds.

I have one question though, I do a lot of sports work and although I'm fairly happy with my 80-200, its not that great at 200mm and its got some dust particles that show in the image.
I really want to invest in the 100-300 but it seems like the 100-300 zoom has disappeared off the face of the earth. Can't find any copies over a month on ebay, keh, b&h or adorama.
Am I looking in the wrong place? Does anyone have a usable copy they want to sell? Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated.


Below is a video I did recently. Mostly shot with 30-70 3.4 & 80-200 f4 & Mutar 1 on the Panasonic GH4

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hi, I am not a reduser and its my first time writing something here but I've been a long time follower of the thread and just wanted to say thanks
to all of the people who contributed to this thread. This is the single most in-depth and most reliable source of information about contax lenses on the web at the moment.
I have purchased many(too many) contax lenses from reading this thread and I am happy with all of my purchases except the occasional duds.

I have one question though, I do a lot of sports work and although I'm fairly happy with my 80-200, its not that great at 200mm and its got some dust particles that show in the image.
I really want to invest in the 100-300 but it seems like the 100-300 zoom has disappeared off the face of the earth. Can't find any copies over a month on ebay, keh, b&h or adorama.
Am I looking in the wrong place? Does anyone have a usable copy they want to sell? Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated.


Below is a video I did recently. Mostly shot with 30-70 3.4 & 80-200 f4 & Mutar 1 on the Panasonic GH4

Sammi, piece looks great! Good to see you on the thread! Hang in there for the 100-300. Some more should pop up. Not surprised they are becoming hard to find though - I don't believe many were made.

 

[Sammi Kim]

Sammi, piece looks great! Good to see you on the thread! Hang in there for the 100-300. Some more should pop up. Not surprised they are becoming hard to find though - I don't believe many were made.

Thank you Nick! I can't express how much I've fed off your post and this thread and how thankful I am.
I sure hope the 100-300 pops up lol. They all went into hiding as soon as I gathered some cash

 

[liam howlett]

Hi, I am not a reduser and its my first time writing something here but I've been a long time follower of the thread and just wanted to say thanks
to all of the people who contributed to this thread. This is the single most in-depth and most reliable source of information about contax lenses on the web at the moment.
I have purchased many(too many) contax lenses from reading this thread and I am happy with all of my purchases except the occasional duds.

I have one question though, I do a lot of sports work and although I'm fairly happy with my 80-200, its not that great at 200mm and its got some dust particles that show in the image.
I really want to invest in the 100-300 but it seems like the 100-300 zoom has disappeared off the face of the earth. Can't find any copies over a month on ebay, keh, b&h or adorama.
Am I looking in the wrong place? Does anyone have a usable copy they want to sell? Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated.


Below is a video I did recently. Mostly shot with 30-70 3.4 & 80-200 f4 & Mutar 1 on the Panasonic GH4

Agreed. Over the past 6.5 months I've researched this thread - I've since purchased 3 lenses. And thank you for sharing that GH4 footage. I've been trying to find a good example of this combination for a while - but there's not much out there. This looks phenomenal. It's so film-like. I am soon going to purchase a GH4 myself to try out this combo and post my own examples sometime this summer.

 

[Sammi Kim]

Agreed. Over the past 6.5 months I've researched this thread - I've since purchased 3 lenses. And thank you for sharing that GH4 footage. I've been trying to find a good example of this combination for a while - but there's not much out there. This looks phenomenal. It's so film-like. I am soon going to purchase a GH4 myself to try out this combo and post my own examples sometime this summer.

I know right, I can't stop buying them.... I'm glad the video was useful for you. I really like vintage glass on the GH4, they really compliment eachother esp with anamorphic attachments. I don't like how the IQ drops with the Mutar 1, with 80-200 but I really need that X2 reach in surf videos

 

[liam howlett]

I know right, I can't stop buying them.... I'm glad the video was useful for you. I really like vintage glass on the GH4, they really compliment eachother esp with anamorphic attachments. I don't like how the IQ drops with the Mutar 1, with 80-200 but I really need that X2 reach in surf videos

I am contemplating the Mutar purchase while doing some reading on it. I'm a huge telephoto fan, I'd love to see you post more examples of this combo - whether stills or video. Also, those first shots which I'm assuming are with your 35-70...were really sharp. This gets me super excited now in getting that zoom. And I loved those flares too. Would you mind posting some more samples anytime soon?

 

[Nick Morrison]

I am contemplating the Mutar purchase while doing some reading on it. I'm a huge telephoto fan, I'd love to see you post more examples of this combo - whether stills or video. Also, those first shots which I'm assuming are with your 35-70...were really sharp. This gets me super excited now in getting that zoom. And I loved those flares too. Would you mind posting some more samples anytime soon?

The 35-70 is a GREAT little lens. Small, but packs a BIG punch. Highly recommend!

 

[Sammi Kim]

I am contemplating the Mutar purchase while doing some reading on it. I'm a huge telephoto fan, I'd love to see you post more examples of this combo - whether stills or video. Also, those first shots which I'm assuming are with your 35-70...were really sharp. This gets me super excited now in getting that zoom. And I loved those flares too. Would you mind posting some more samples anytime soon?

Hey Liam, The first few shots with the flare you're talking about is actually a cheap Pentax 28mm 3.5 on a cheap ebay speedbooster(only shots with that combo in the vid). The lens is really sharp but also some post processing there too. The 35-70 has better overall performance than the pentax and doesn't flare as much. Checkout Vintagelensesforvideo if you like flaring. Here is another example using the mutar and 80-200 the wider shots are 35-70 in these vids. I'm doing a lot of surf vids thesedays. Hope this helps in some way.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=950169261700654

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=949151968469050

Here are some stills examples you might be interested in.
The lenses used for the stills are 35-70 f3.4, 50 f1.4, 200 f4 + Mutar 1
There are some 85 f1.4 examples I really like but I can't find them atm but you can find plenty of them on flickr

 

[Nick Morrison]

Great shots Sammi. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Justen Nguyen]

That sunset is wild! Great shots Sammi!

 

[Oscar Stegland]

Hey guys,

Been about 200 or so pages since I last posted in this thread. I've come a long way towards building my complete primes-set after buying the 35-70 as my first ever camera-glass. As much as I'd love to have a Leica R set someday as well, what really seals the deal for Contax with me is how versatile they are. The latitude and kind of neutral colors feel kind of like shooting log next to modern Canon glass, for instance. You can work much more with it in post and I can get anything from really cold and clinical footage (which I rarely do since part of the reason I went for Contax as opposed to modern Zeiss, is that Contax is less clinical and more organic) to warm, fuzzy, and very film-like images. They really work well for most types of productions and most of the lenses definitely have enough resolution to work well with modern sensors.

So far I've gone for an all AE-set (love the ninja star bokeh; it reminds me a bit of Cooke S4's with their umbrella pointed bokeh, except with a twist), except of course the legendary 21mm and I have these so far:
21mm 2.8
28mm 2.0
35mm 1.4
50mm 1.4 (what a cheap little gem)
135mm 2.8 (thinking of switching this down the road for the f2 but I don't shoot a lot at 135mm)
35-70mm 3.4

Looking to complete with these before a GL Optics rehouse (with both EF and PL mount) a long way down the road:
85mm 1.4
100mm 2.0

Will post some pictures of these bad boys soon. The 21, 28, and 35 (my recent aquisitions) are all in mint condition and I showed the 50 and 135 to one of Sweden's foremost cine-glass experts and he said they were cleaner than some stuff they get from the Cooke factory for instance.

I do have a few problems with two of the lenses though and I thought that this is probably the best place to ask.

On my 35mm, the rubber grip on both the aperture and focusing ring has come lose. The rings themselves work perfectly but for follow focus-use the end stops basically don't do anything as the rubber ring keeps slipping on the lens. Has anyone had this problem? Is it just to reglue the rubber and how would one go about this?

My 35-70mm has always given me epic images, but it's been acting up since pretty early on. The zoom-mechanism locks up sometimes (usually it gets stuck at around 40mm) to the point where I can't move it at all. The focusing and aperture mechanisms are fine but the zoom locks up so hard that I can't even force it to come unloose. Eventually after I try wiggling it a bit it usually comes undone but it seems like a pretty serious problem. Anyone have any experience with this?

My 135mm has a part above the focusing ring that doesn't seem to fill a specific function. It moves pretty freely down the length of the lens when pulled but I've never noticed any kind of change in image quality so I have no idea if it's just designed this way or not.

I would very much appreciate help and opinions if anyone has them regarding these problems.

Best Regards,
Oscar

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hey guys,

Been about 200 or so pages since I last posted in this thread. I've come a long way towards building my complete primes-set after buying the 35-70 as my first ever camera-glass. As much as I'd love to have a Leica R set someday as well, what really seals the deal for Contax with me is how versatile they are. The latitude and kind of neutral colors feel kind of like shooting log next to modern Canon glass, for instance. You can work much more with it in post and I can get anything from really cold and clinical footage (which I rarely do since part of the reason I went for Contax as opposed to modern Zeiss, is that Contax is less clinical and more organic) to warm, fuzzy, and very film-like images. They really work well for most types of productions and most of the lenses definitely have enough resolution to work well with modern sensors.

So far I've gone for an all AE-set (love the ninja star bokeh; it reminds me a bit of Cooke S4's with their umbrella pointed bokeh, except with a twist), except of course the legendary 21mm and I have these so far:
21mm 2.8
28mm 2.0
35mm 1.4
50mm 1.4 (what a cheap little gem)
135mm 2.8 (thinking of switching this down the road for the f2 but I don't shoot a lot at 135mm)
35-70mm 3.4

Looking to complete with these before a GL Optics rehouse (with both EF and PL mount) a long way down the road:
85mm 1.4
100mm 2.0

Will post some pictures of these bad boys soon. The 21, 28, and 35 (my recent aquisitions) are all in mint condition and I showed the 50 and 135 to one of Sweden's foremost cine-glass experts and he said they were cleaner than some stuff they get from the Cooke factory for instance.

I do have a few problems with two of the lenses though and I thought that this is probably the best place to ask.

On my 35mm, the rubber grip on both the aperture and focusing ring has come lose. The rings themselves work perfectly but for follow focus-use the end stops basically don't do anything as the rubber ring keeps slipping on the lens. Has anyone had this problem? Is it just to reglue the rubber and how would one go about this?

My 35-70mm has always given me epic images, but it's been acting up since pretty early on. The zoom-mechanism locks up sometimes (usually it gets stuck at around 40mm) to the point where I can't move it at all. The focusing and aperture mechanisms are fine but the zoom locks up so hard that I can't even force it to come unloose. Eventually after I try wiggling it a bit it usually comes undone but it seems like a pretty serious problem. Anyone have any experience with this?

My 135mm has a part above the focusing ring that doesn't seem to fill a specific function. It moves pretty freely down the length of the lens when pulled but I've never noticed any kind of change in image quality so I have no idea if it's just designed this way or not.

I would very much appreciate help and opinions if anyone has them regarding these problems.

Best Regards,
Oscar

Oscar - nice set!

My 35 1.4 AEG has the same loose rubber focus grip. Once RP lens modded it, the delrin focus gear they added clamped it down tight, and its never moved since.

The 35-70 is push pull, and may have sucked in some dust inside the zoom shaft (at 40mm). Id have a lens tech give a good check/clean.

The "moving part" of the 135 2.8 is a sliding lens shade. If you have a Cordvision/Duclos/Generic 77mm step up ring, it becomes pretty unusable, yes.

Love your passion for the Ninja-Star, and agree sbout its "Cooke"-ness! In an age where everything often looks very similar and exacting, the ninja-star oozes personality and is 100% unique.

Also completely agree about how "log" the glass renders - it does indeed seem to make footage more gradeable as blacks are lifted, and highlights roll off smoother.

 

[liam howlett]

Here are some stills examples you might be interested in.
The lenses used for the stills are 35-70 f3.4, 50 f1.4, 200 f4 + Mutar 1
There are some 85 f1.4 examples I really like but I can't find them atm but you can find plenty of them on flickr

Those are absolutely fantastic looking shots! They're stills meaning, photos or I'm assuming they're footage stills judging by the AR.

Either way. GREAT works. Wow.

 

[Chad Stockfleth]

Hey guys,

Been about 200 or so pages since I last posted in this thread. I've come a long way towards building my complete primes-set after buying the 35-70 as my first ever camera-glass. As much as I'd love to have a Leica R set someday as well, what really seals the deal for Contax with me is how versatile they are. The latitude and kind of neutral colors feel kind of like shooting log next to modern Canon glass, for instance. You can work much more with it in post and I can get anything from really cold and clinical footage (which I rarely do since part of the reason I went for Contax as opposed to modern Zeiss, is that Contax is less clinical and more organic) to warm, fuzzy, and very film-like images. They really work well for most types of productions and most of the lenses definitely have enough resolution to work well with modern sensors.

So far I've gone for an all AE-set (love the ninja star bokeh; it reminds me a bit of Cooke S4's with their umbrella pointed bokeh, except with a twist), except of course the legendary 21mm and I have these so far:
21mm 2.8
28mm 2.0
35mm 1.4
50mm 1.4 (what a cheap little gem)
135mm 2.8 (thinking of switching this down the road for the f2 but I don't shoot a lot at 135mm)
35-70mm 3.4

Looking to complete with these before a GL Optics rehouse (with both EF and PL mount) a long way down the road:
85mm 1.4
100mm 2.0

Will post some pictures of these bad boys soon. The 21, 28, and 35 (my recent aquisitions) are all in mint condition and I showed the 50 and 135 to one of Sweden's foremost cine-glass experts and he said they were cleaner than some stuff they get from the Cooke factory for instance.

I do have a few problems with two of the lenses though and I thought that this is probably the best place to ask.

On my 35mm, the rubber grip on both the aperture and focusing ring has come lose. The rings themselves work perfectly but for follow focus-use the end stops basically don't do anything as the rubber ring keeps slipping on the lens. Has anyone had this problem? Is it just to reglue the rubber and how would one go about this?

My 35-70mm has always given me epic images, but it's been acting up since pretty early on. The zoom-mechanism locks up sometimes (usually it gets stuck at around 40mm) to the point where I can't move it at all. The focusing and aperture mechanisms are fine but the zoom locks up so hard that I can't even force it to come unloose. Eventually after I try wiggling it a bit it usually comes undone but it seems like a pretty serious problem. Anyone have any experience with this?

My 135mm has a part above the focusing ring that doesn't seem to fill a specific function. It moves pretty freely down the length of the lens when pulled but I've never noticed any kind of change in image quality so I have no idea if it's just designed this way or not.

I would very much appreciate help and opinions if anyone has them regarding these problems.

Best Regards,
Oscar

I have a similar set to yours, also went with the AE versions. I would strongly recommend you add the 60mm makro 1:1. A really awesome lens generally but the 1:1 makro is really exciting. Also, have to agree that the 50 1.4 is a gem, especially for the cost. I picked mine up for $50 back in 2009 and it has been used on all manner of camera. It's usually the one when a shot lacks something, I put it on and ZING! Definitely a desert island pick for me. This video was shot entirely on the 50 on a 5D, probably all at 1.4 Mechanically it just feels so good to focus with.

 

[Sammi Kim]

Those are absolutely fantastic looking shots! They're stills meaning, photos or I'm assuming they're footage stills judging by the AR.

Either way. GREAT works. Wow.

Great shots Sammi. Thanks for sharing!

That sunset is wild! Great shots Sammi!

Thank you guys, you are too kind.
Some of the shots were RAW Stills and some were captures from videos. By the way, there is a 100-300 with fungus on Ebay atm.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121659831004?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Thoughts? I would have snatched it right away if it wasn't for the fungus.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Thank you guys, you are too kind.
Some of the shots were RAW Stills and some were captures from videos. By the way, there is a 100-300 with fungus on Ebay atm.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121659831004?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Thoughts? I would have snatched it right away if it wasn't for the fungus.

I personally stay away from lenses with fungus. Hard to clean, and possibility of fungus affecting other clean glass is, of course, quite unsettling.

@ Chad - nice wildcats piece!

 

[Uli Plank]

I would stay away from it. On April 28th a listing from Osaka, Japan (icon camera) has ended that went for 659,- U$. It didn't seem to have any problems.

With some patience you should find a good one.

 

[Chad Stockfleth]

Does anyone have 80mm push cap recommendations besides Cordvision (out of stock) and RP Lens (haven't responded to multiple inquiries)? The Arri one's are awfully expensive for lens caps...