Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Chris Letcher]

Was doing some quick analysis of all the C/Y Zeiss primes this weekend. Thought I would share my spreadsheet if useful reference to anyone: https://jmp.sh/PGTbRIG

Thanks! That's really cool.

Over the last 8 years, under the hypnotic influence of Nick's advice, I've put together my own set of these lenses, all modded by Duclos. Great stuff. Got tired of trying to match various low budget flavors and these produce great images.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Was doing some quick analysis of all the C/Y Zeiss primes this weekend. Thought I would share my spreadsheet if useful reference to anyone: https://jmp.sh/PGTbRIG

Dude this spread sheet is insane. Nicely done!!!

 

[Phil Dickinson]

I’m very happy with my focus rings from FollowFocusGears.com, but now I’m thinking about adding aperture rings.

Any thoughts or experiences to share?

Suppliers?

 

[Phil Dickinson]

Since I only ever use my CONTAX lenses with a Metabones Speedbooster (therefore leaving the original c/y mount intact) and only with sensors approximating s35 in size, I’m considering labelling them with their adapted focal length and aperture.

So my CONTAX set would be...

13/2.8
20/2.0
25/2.0
35/1.0
45M/2.0
60/1.0
95/2.0
135/2.5
210/2.8

I reckon this will avoid confusion when mixing with other lenses, like rented Standard Speeds with my plain PL adapter/mount.

Does anyone else do this?

 

[Uli Plank]

One advantage of having a Speedbooster is not using it when you need the original focal length. After all, a simple adapter is not too expensive.
If this might be an option for you, I wouldn't do what you describe. I suppose you won't have one Speedbooster for each lens ;-)

 

[Phil Dickinson]

I find that the image quality is better with the Speedbooster. So where I have an alternative lens to cover the need with the Speedbooster, I’d rather do that than use a plain adapter. But yeah I’ve tried the adapter swap, it’s easier to just leave the one adapter on though lol. It being easier to swap a lens rather than an adapter.

 

[Dan Garee]

Where to Buy Used Still Lenses: aka A Plug

Where to Buy Used Still Lenses: aka A Plug

I've started buying my own collection on AE Contax Zeiss lenses and I wanted to point out a little gem of a camera store in Columbus, Ohio. Full disclosure: I used to work there but moved to the East Coast for DP work. I did buy a used Red Scarlet Dragon there though.

World of Photography (worldofusedphotography.com) is one of those stores that is from another era. Constant used equipment coming in and out (including a clearance room) and lovely people. They'll look for specific gear for you if you want and call when they get it.

No internet sales so either stop in or give the shop a ring. Feel free to drop my name if you want to as well. Not the same as KEH or B&H, but in a way a lot better.

 

[Matthew Lewis]

Looking for Contax Zeiss

Looking for Contax Zeiss

Wow! This forum has been amazing to read through for the last couple of weeks. I have learned so much not just about the Contax Zeiss lenses but just lenses in general. I have been filming on an Eos m using magic lantern and having a good time with some canon FD lenses and a random Leica Summicron 40mm I took off an old rangefinder my mom had.

I am ready to upgrade and am wondering if anyone here has any Contax Zeiss they would be willing to part with. Hard to find any shipping from within the US and just reading through here I am worried about ordering from overseas. My dream would be to find an MMG 28mm F2 (I know they are hard to find but I would pay top dollar) or an MMJ 35 F1.4.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Zack Birlew]

I’ve been going back and forth about starting a Contax Zeiss set this year, I tried the 50mm 1.4 MMJ and tested a 2x teleconverter for a 100mm out of it which works great but I just keep wondering why Zeiss doesn’t simply do a new release of these lenses with modern mounts? Surely they have the capability to do that and they’re the ones with the recipe for these magical lenses. The used market has been interesting to see as well, the lenses have been so up and down lately but there’s also a lot of overpriced average and fixer upper samples too that sellers are trying to get top dollar for. If Zeiss just reissued these for modern cameras, they would have quite the hit on their hands.

 

[Nick Morrison]

I’ve been going back and forth about starting a Contax Zeiss set this year, I tried the 50mm 1.4 MMJ and tested a 2x teleconverter for a 100mm out of it which works great but I just keep wondering why Zeiss doesn’t simply do a new release of these lenses with modern mounts? Surely they have the capability to do that and they’re the ones with the recipe for these magical lenses. The used market has been interesting to see as well, the lenses have been so up and down lately but there’s also a lot of overpriced average and fixer upper samples too that sellers are trying to get top dollar for. If Zeiss just reissued these for modern cameras, they would have quite the hit on their hands.

I mean you can argue the Zeiss Supreme's fold in some Contax Zeiss magic into them.

Zeiss has gone of our their way to make it clear the Supremes have a bit of character, and are not super contrasty.

Contax Zeiss lives on it seems.

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

I’ve been going back and forth about starting a Contax Zeiss set this year, I tried the 50mm 1.4 MMJ and tested a 2x teleconverter for a 100mm out of it which works great but I just keep wondering why Zeiss doesn’t simply do a new release of these lenses with modern mounts? Surely they have the capability to do that and they’re the ones with the recipe for these magical lenses. The used market has been interesting to see as well, the lenses have been so up and down lately but there’s also a lot of overpriced average and fixer upper samples too that sellers are trying to get top dollar for. If Zeiss just reissued these for modern cameras, they would have quite the hit on their hands.

They sort of did that with ZF/ZF.2 and ZE Primes at the time...most of these are "inspired" from CY, 21/2.8 - 25/2.8 - 28/2 - 50/1.4 - 85/1.4

and honestly if you take a late serial MMJ not that different coating wise...otoh AEG/AEJs coatings are slightly different and less contrasty for sure tho...

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

Gl optics now offers the full speed set in pl, even the extremely difficult 35 1.4, they sent me this along with a nice looking photo. I don’t think it’s on their website:

Hello here,
We offer offer new rehoused set of Zeiss Contax Prime lenses:
21mm T2.9
28mm T2.1
35mm T1.5
50mm T1.5
85mm T1.5
100mm T2.1
135mm T2.9/135mm T2.1(option lens)
1) All lenses have 95mm front;
2) Light weight designed and improve CF(for 85-100-135);
3) Unique focus/iris scale space;
4) New round iris system;
5) Interchangable PL/LPL/EF/SONY E mount
6) FOB price: 29950 USD/30500 USD(if choise 135mm T2.1)

 

[steven strobel]

Hi everyone happy almost 4th! I've decided to start the process of selling my set of AE's ss's. Listing today in marketplace for what I paid for them, pictures soon to follow.

 

[David Tang]

Hey everyone, it's been a while!

Thought I'd share this jewellers commercial I shot last year:

All shot on my Contax AE's, on a Canon C300 Mark II. I used a 1/8 BPM, along with a Schneider True-streak and Tiffen Northstar for glints.

I also wanted to share a low budget one-shot music clip I shot last year, using a Contax 50mm AEJ wide open, with a 1/8 BPM, FS5/Speedbooster + Odyssey recorder:

My lens set is currently an 18/4, 25/2.8, 28/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.4, 85/1.4 and 100/2.8 Macro. I'm thinking of picking up the 15/3.5 (need that wide on my s35 crop!) and 135/2 eventually. I also have for fun times the older 40-80 and 70-210 zooms, although they rarely come out with me.

Fun story about picking up the 28/2 "Hollywood"; I went to South Korea for the first time in Jan 2019, to attend my friend's wedding (he was also the one who traded me my first Contax, a 50mm 1.4 for which I gave him a 50mm 1.4 ZE in return). He's a photographer, and he showed me around Jung-gu in Seoul, where they have a bunch of cool camera stores. I found a 28/2 on the shelf there, and unfortunately I was too poor to buy it there on the spot, but I did get to have some face to face time with it and check it out personally for any issues (none!). Fast forward five months, I was back home in Australia and had finally saved up some money, and I asked my friend to check the store to see if it was still there, and it was! Compared to the prices on eBay, even with currency conversion fees, I saved about $1,000 AUD on the going online price. Very happy with the 28/2, which has replaced my 25/2.8's usual spot in my kit.

 

[William Long]

They are great lenses David. Well done!

 

[David Tang]

Sorry if anyone has already answered this; would a 21mm match nicely with a kit of AE primes? My favourite aspect of the AE’s is how prone to flares they are, and the rainbow edge.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Sorry if anyone has already answered this; would a 21mm match nicely with a kit of AE primes? My favourite aspect of the AE’s is how prone to flares they are, and the rainbow edge.

An MM won't flare quite as much, if that's what you mean. But ballpark match yes.

 

[chris ware]

Hello

I'm curious how the 28-70 f/3.5-4.5 or the 28-85mm f/3.3-4 zooms will color match to the primes I own. I can see that most of the primes I own were made around 1975. These zooms are from 1989 and 1997. Would these zoom match up with my current set, or be close?

18mm f4
28mm f2.8
35mm f1/4
50 f1/4
85mm f1/4
100 f2

thanks!!

 

[Steffen Loeffler]

All Scarlet W with 28mm 3.0 / 35mm 1.4 / 50mm 1.4 // ALL MMJ oder MMG lens.
Lightning Setup with small reflectors or just one Astra 1x1 Bi Color

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hello

I'm curious how the 28-70 f/3.5-4.5 or the 28-85mm f/3.3-4 zooms will color match to the primes I own. I can see that most of the primes I own were made around 1975. These zooms are from 1989 and 1997. Would these zoom match up with my current set, or be close?

18mm f4
28mm f2.8
35mm f1/4
50 f1/4
85mm f1/4
100 f2

thanks!!

The 28-70 is not a real zeiss lens. Its 3rd party.

The 28-80 and 35-70 match fine to primes.