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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 Survival Guide

Nick Morrison said:
The 35 is more practical.

The 28 is more interesting.

For s35 shooting, a 35mm super speed is a must - it's your "normal" lens. The bokeh and character of the Contax 35 1.4 really shine too, so it's an excellent choice.

The 28 is a more interesting prime, it's more unusual. Even though it has a wider, more dramatic FOV, there's still minimal distortion on s35, allowing for more composed establishing shots. The excellent close focus also lends itself to dramatic and vivid portraits, another huge plus. It's just a really interesting lens.

Hope this helps.
Best
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Thanks Nick. That does helps alot. Im looking to sell my Rx1 for a good copy of 35mm f1.4. After knowing contax lenses, everything else just looks so digital, even the Rx1. Just cannot get enough of Contax lenses.
 
So I was wondering if anybody would be willing to post some side-by-side comparisons between the 135mm f/2.8 and the 135mm f/2? Or go in depth as to the specific differences in look/rendering between them?

I own and absolutely adore my 135mm f/2.8, but found a really good deal for the 135mm f/2 so I'm wondering if it's worth pulling the trigger on. Or do the two lenses pretty much look the same and the main difference is that stop of light (which isn't a game-changer in most scenarios).

Thanks!
 
Hi Ben,

that portrait with the 35 f1.4 has such a smooth bokeh, it's incredible. I adore the f1.4 version just for that!
 
Uli Plank said:
that portrait with the 35 f1.4 has such a smooth bokeh, it's incredible.
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I do love me the 35m f1.4. The first one of these has 1/4 Black Pro Mist, the other two are clean.

38265871414_65c7f4488e_o.jpg


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Tony Yang said:
So I was wondering if anybody would be willing to post some side-by-side comparisons between the 135mm f/2.8 and the 135mm f/2? Or go in depth as to the specific differences in look/rendering between them?

I own and absolutely adore my 135mm f/2.8, but found a really good deal for the 135mm f/2 so I'm wondering if it's worth pulling the trigger on. Or do the two lenses pretty much look the same and the main difference is that stop of light (which isn't a game-changer in most scenarios).

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The 135 f2 is pretty desaturated wide open, my colorist was not a fan. So I'd call that extra stop gravy. Perhaps an MM would be better? Ours is a very old AEG. There's a 60th Anniversary I'll be testing in 2018, so perhaps that's an improvement.
 
Nick Morrison said:
The 135 f2 is pretty desaturated wide open, my colorist was not a fan. So I'd call that extra stop gravy. Perhaps an MM would be better? Ours is a very old AEG. There's a 60th Anniversary I'll be testing in 2018, so perhaps that's an improvement.
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So most of the time, when you're in that focal range, do you find yourself reaching for the 135m f/2.8 over the 135mm f/2?
 
Lens Problems

Lens Problems

Hey guys, I am having some real problems with connecting my Contax lenses with my Sony a6000... I am using the Metabones EF-E Adapter (not speedbooster), and when I was filming yesterday, something wierd was happening... I couldn't select my ISO, or any other menu setting... It just kept flashing up and then disappearing. This isn't the first time I have had problems... I had some freezing issues with my other lenses too, the 50 1.4... Any idea what is causing it, and how I can get around it? Haven't had this problem before with manual lenses... could it be something to do with the Leitex adapters?? Cheers
 
Patrick Monaghan said:
Hey guys, I am having some real problems with connecting my Contax lenses with my Sony a6000... I am using the Metabones EF-E Adapter (not speedbooster), and when I was filming yesterday, something wierd was happening... I couldn't select my ISO, or any other menu setting... It just kept flashing up and then disappearing. This isn't the first time I have had problems... I had some freezing issues with my other lenses too, the 50 1.4... Any idea what is causing it, and how I can get around it? Haven't had this problem before with manual lenses... could it be something to do with the Leitex adapters?? Cheers
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The Leitax adapter, if it doesn't have a dandelion AF chip, is just a dumb-mount. Ie it's just steel, with no electronics. So I highly doubt they are what's tripping up your camera. I'd look to something electronic, like maybe the metabones adapter?

Again that's one of the benefits of Leitax adapters - they are crude metal, and literally should have no affect on any camera what-so-ever.

Hope this helps.
 
Merry Christmas everyone!

I just went crazy with the Contaxes (all CY and MMJ except the 60 which was the S version, and hence AE) in the recent weeks, acquiring at first the 50 1.4 and the 28 2.8. Now I have the 35 1.4, 60 2.8, 35-70 3.4, 85 1.4 and 135 2.8 coming in shipment. :001_tt1:

I have the option of shooting them on the following cameras:
1) Sony A7S 2 (I'm currently using a basic CY-E mount - and in the future wanna think about Metabones-ing/or similar with an EF mount)
2) Panasonic GH 5 (it has attached a Metabones EF-MFT Speedbooster XL)
3) Canon 5D2 & 5D3

I also rent the REDs on EF mounts on occasion.

From my deep reading in the past weeks, I kinda understand that the CY mount has that metallic tab jutting out to provide the AE priority(?) option for their SLRs (at least for the MMJ versions). If I want to have them universally in EF mounts,

1. Is there a need to really shave down the said metal tabs on the Zeiss CY lenses if I were insistent on trying to get them EF Leitaxed.

2. Do I have an option of swapping out my current Metabones Speedbooster (so it doesn't get damaged) on the GH5 to something dedicated just for the Contax Zeiss glass but still get the 0.64x?

Many thanks!
 
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Focus ring 18mm

Focus ring 18mm

Hi,

I found an advert for a 18mm contax lens for 300 euro’s. Serial number is in the high 5000000 so its an older model. It looks like its in good condition but the seller told me the focus ring from time to time is not as smooth.

Do you guys know of this is a major problem or something that could be fixed easily.

Thanks!
 
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