Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Ben Scott]

URL Removed for now

 

[Ev Shipard]

I have been using a set of cinevised Contax Zeiss for the past 6 months. I love them- we mainly capture elements for digital environments and vfx but I have also been playing with them for a couple of personal projects.
They are Leitax EOS mount with gears from Cinemods and conversion by Peter Grabavich here in Sydney. Just like a mixed set of old super/standard speeds but lighter.

 

[Brice Ansel]

Here's the promo I mentioned on the last page. Will keep it up for a couple of days.

99% Contax Glass

28-85mm f3.3-4
35mm f2.8
50mm f1.7
25mm f2.8

1 shot from the Tokina 11-16mm
Macros done on an old Tamron Adaptall2 SP90mm f2.5 with 2x teleconverter

Look like your Contax set fit the job really well. ;-)
keep feeding.
B.

 

[Ben Scott]

Thanks Brice. Aside from a couple of lenses still not having good adapters on them they performed excellently.

 

[David W. Jones]

I didn't have the oportunity to push the 60 s Planar on insects shots yet.
But the other day I coudn't resist to give a try on a Jasmin Bush.

This lense is trully amazing, a lot hapen threw that glass when the light hits it.
More closer you are to the 1:1 focus and more color and 3D magic you get.

4KWS (ctrl+click for biger pic)

E viva.
B.

Every once in a while I'll add a Mutar 2x to the 60mm. You loose a little light but are able to step back a little farther from the object.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Finally picked up a 100mm 2.0. Holy crap man. Such a nice lens, though set me back a few bucks. But its mint. Took some pics. First pic is 4/5.6 split with hollywood black magic 1/2. The second is same ap, but no filter.

Graded in lightroom. some sharpening applied as well as some contrast. shot on epic 5k 5:1

This lens does breathe a bit more than i was hoping, but damn the image is real nice.

SWEET!!!

 

[Nick Morrison]

I didn't have the oportunity to push the 60 s Planar on insects shots yet.
But the other day I coudn't resist to give a try on a Jasmin Bush.

This lense is trully amazing, a lot hapen threw that glass when the light hits it.
More closer you are to the 1:1 focus and more color and 3D magic you get.

4KWS (ctrl+click for biger pic)

E viva.
B.

Brice these are gorgeous

 

[Nick Morrison]

I have been using a set of cinevised Contax Zeiss for the past 6 months. I love them- we mainly capture elements for digital environments and vfx but I have also been playing with them for a couple of personal projects.
They are Leitax EOS mount with gears from Cinemods and conversion by Peter Grabavich here in Sydney. Just like a mixed set of old super/standard speeds but lighter.

Hey EV, awesome set!!! The Leitax mounts are great, aren't they? And I see you're using Cordvision fronts, too (me likewise). How are you storing them in the Pelican? With Velcro'd padding, puck n pluck, or cut foam?

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hey everyone, we just did a huge Project Runway "All Stars" promo shoot this weekend, with host Allysa Milano and the new cast - of course all on Contax glass. We'll post some stills once we get permission. Client was very happy, and the lenses performed GREAT. We shot entirely on the 21 2.8, 50 1.4, and 85 1.4, all btw F4 and 5.6 (it was a green screen shoot, so sharpness and a deeper field of focus were the goals).

Shot on our REDS (of course).

We almost whipped out the T/S Hasselblads, but thought better of it (haha). Time was running tight...

 

[Ev Shipard]

Hey Nick,
Cheers, the Cordvision fronts and caps are great and very cost effective compared to Arri caps- the quote was insane. Plucked foam, not the best solution but I can swap out lenses/sizes when I need to.

 

[Brice Ansel]

Every once in a while I'll add a Mutar 2x to the 60mm. You loose a little light but are able to step back a little farther from the object.

I'm just a bit concern with potential CA due to the Mutar.
But I'll give a try for sure.
When I want to step back a bit from the object,
I'm using for now the Angenieux 70/210 and it's macroAbility.

Brice these are gorgeous

Thanks Nick.

On Macro insect shots I have experienced in the past really contrasty and saturate frames.
The 60 s planar I use (an AEG version) is different in that regard.
It is creamy and sharp in the same time.
Love it!
A friend told me the other day watching some frame from Contax and said;
"Contax render is strange, your frames look soft and sharp in the same time"
The Contax have so much texture or should I say organic or caracter?
For a novice like me it's becoming more easy to kill the electronic imagery feeling you can get from the digital tools.

Best
B.

 

[Brice Ansel]

Hey everyone, we just did a huge Project Runway "All Stars" promo shoot this weekend, with host Allysa Milano and the new cast - of course all on Contax glass. We'll post some stills once we get permission.

Looking forward to your client greenlight then.

 

[Ben Scott]

Hi all. Removed the URL to my promo as someone is looking to pick it up as part of a US exclusive. Could those who quoted it please edit their posts? I think it was just Brice and Nick.

Thanks in advance guys

 

[Nick Morrison]

On Macro insect shots I have experienced in the past really contrasty and saturate frames.
The 60 s planar I use (an AEG version) is different in that regard.
It is creamy and sharp in the same time.
Love it!
A friend told me the other day watching some frame from Contax and said;
"Contax render is strange, your frames look soft and sharp in the same time"
The Contax have so much texture or should I say organic or caracter?
For a novice like me it's becoming more easy to kill the electronic imagery feeling you can get from the digital tools.

Best
B.

I think that's a good take on it. They are SHARP (razor sharp, when stopped down especially), but yes...a bit lower contrast and less overly saturated than modern coatings; helps kill some of the exacting digital-ness many of us seek to avoid. But what I love is you can always add more saturation and contrast in RCX. That's not a problem. My favorite way is how they handle highlights. They flare a little, and generally flare WHITE (with small touches of purple or green), which I think looks very organic; as opposed to breaking down into small splotches of COLOR or RAINBOWs and looking telling digital (and with some artifice).

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hi all. Removed the URL to my promo as someone is looking to pick it up as part of a US exclusive. Could those who quoted it please edit their posts? I think it was just Brice and Nick.

Thanks in advance guys

Post deleted Ben, no problem.

 

[Ben Scott]

Cheers Nick. With any luck it'll be out there soon enough anyway

 

[Michael Frymus]

I had the Contax 85 for a while now, and love it.
So, I literally JUST purchased a 28mm, 35mm, and a 135mm.

So, not I have almost a complete set from 28, 35, 85, 135.
Im awaiting the 50mm and possibly the 18mm.

But the thing Im wondering about is the outer diameter.
I am getting the Cordivision Cine Ring with the 80mm outer diameter. But, the 18mm which I plan on buying is an 86mm filter thread.
How do I deal with this?

I would like to get the Cinematics mount that makes it a 114mm front and gives it 0.8 gears, but each one is in the $350-1300 price range, which is expensive.
http://www.pchood.com/index.php?route=common/home

What should I do?

 

[John Galeano]

Hey Nick,
Cheers, the Cordvision fronts and caps are great and very cost effective compared to Arri caps- the quote was insane. Plucked foam, not the best solution but I can swap out lenses/sizes when I need to.

Hey Ev,

what pelican case is that? Need one to hold 6-7 lenses

 

[Ev Shipard]

John, Pelican 1500- great size and very portable.

 

[Nick Morrison]

John, Pelican 1500- great size and very portable.

I strongly recommend the 1510 (upon the advice of many others on this forum) as it can hold 8 lenses with foam easily, has wheels and a handle (so is very convenient & portable), and is also the largest Pelican (I know of) that can be brought on-board as a carry on (again, super convenient). I own a number of 1510's at this point, and all my DP's and crew have grown to really appreciate them.

They're a "hit", if you will...