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Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

Ben Scott said:
Sold my Tokina 28-70f2.8 and bought a Contax 28-85, in addition to the 35mm f2.8 on its way to me.

This thread is such an addiction enabler...
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Haha. Yeah the 28-85 is awesome. Pair that with a 100-300 and you have a very impressive set of glass across just two zooms. For run and gun, the push-pull design is actually very useful.
 
Dont like zoom which do not have constant f-stop. I actually really hate it ;-(
 
Ron Steinberg said:
Get rid of the chipped adapters, you don't need them for video. My Contax 50/1.7 works great on my 5DII with a cheap ebay adapter. Next step is a Leitax, just wanted to see what all the fuss was about before I splurged.

Cheers,
Ron
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And there-in lies the problem. This is a multi-use lens set, shooting both video & stills, on a number of different cameras. Yes I know I don't need to have focus confirm chips, but they have worked so well in that capacity up until the MkIII. And as far as the Leitax adapters go, I see them as more of a semi-permanent solution. I use these lenses with C/Y mounts all the time, so swapping out the Leitax adapters would be a huge PITA.

Oh well, in the end it is what it is. I was getting ready to sell a bunch of lenses including this Zeiss Contax set to fund a pair of Optimo DP zooms and a Sony F35, but this client is all into the look of the 5D MkIII, so I just snagged one to shoot all their B-roll with.
 
Jiri Vrozina said:
Dont like zoom which do not have constant f-stop. I actually really hate it ;-(
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meh, for me it's a variable prime as opposed to being a lenses to pull off a zoom with. Small price to pay if it's a nice a lens as has been suggested.
 
David W. Jones said:
And there-in lies the problem. This is a multi-use lens set, shooting both video & stills, on a number of different cameras. Yes I know I don't need to have focus confirm chips, but they have worked so well in that capacity up until the MkIII. And as far as the Leitax adapters go, I see them as more of a semi-permanent solution. I use these lenses with C/Y mounts all the time, so swapping out the Leitax adapters would be a huge PITA.
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You could get an adapter or two form Fotodiox. That's what I use on mine. Non chipped, $15 or $20 each (I forget, it's been a few months since I bought one) and they can pop on and off in a few moments.
 
Nice lenses, anything wider Nick? Something like Nikon 17-35mm f2.8?
 
So,
how would you define the differences between Nikon's AIS range and Contax? ;-)
 
Jiri Vrozina said:
So,
how would you define the differences between Nikon's AIS range and Contax? ;-)
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OOF. They're both pretty good. My assumption is you'll likely have more consistent performance across the lineup with Contax glass, as the Zeiss primes were a much more expensive, premium set of glass at the time. BUT. The Nikkor's are terrific, and the good ones are AMAZING. The Nikkor portrait lenses are renowned, as are the 200 f2 and 300 2.8 are out of control.

Of course, the Nikkor's focus the wrong way. But you probably already know that ;)
 
Yesterday I went out with only the 35/70 and 100/300
I never felt the need for a wider lense.
Those two push and pull zoom are a really nice combo.
After a month or so working with Contax lenses, I think the honest and naturalistic feel in the color rendition is what I enjoy the most.

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Brice Ansel said:
Yesterday I went out with only the 35/70 and 100/300
I never felt the need for a wider lense.
Those two push and pull zoom are a really nice combo.
After a month or so working with Contax lenses, I think the honest and naturalistic feel in the color rendition is what I enjoy the most.
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Haha. Agreed. The older ones in particular are very gentle, almost intimate. I switch between wanting to use old AE's, and new MM's.
 
Nick Morrison said:
The older ones in particular are very gentle, almost intimate. I switch between wanting to use old AE's, and new MM's.
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I wish my 35/70 and 100/300 were AE's
 
Brice,what on Earth is going on in those stills? :)

Shot a corporate for Dutch bank ING on the Scarlet yesterday, exclusively using the 25, 35 and 50 1.7 AEs. And got home and my 28-85 had been delivered in absolute mint condition. While i think it's hilarious people sticking a £2 'skylight filter' on their fancy lenses to protect them, I sure do love buying off those people
 
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Ben Scott said:
Brice,what on Earth is going on in those stils? :)
Shot a corporate for Dutch bank ING on the Scarlet yesterday, exclusively using the 25, 35 and 50 1.7 AEs. And got home and my 28-85 had been delivered in absolute mint condition. While i think it's hilarious people sticking a £2 'skylight filter' on their fancy lenses to protect them, I sure do love buying off those people
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Ha ha ha,
I got the same skylight filter on one of the Contax I bought.
All my Contax are second hand purchase and AE'S (except for the two zooms), and surprisingly they all arrived (40 years old!!) in mint condition.

Back into the medieval period...
This is what hapend to the poor farmers who had a relationship with a rich noble.
I think every single city in the Chianti has it's tribute to the medieval past.

Contax 100/300 (no CC or ajustment)
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