Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Ben Scott]

I have the Tokina 11/16 and the Nikon 17/35.
And frankly their is no comparison, the Nikon is a pure winner, or you have also the Leica R Elmarit 19mm (Version 1) wich you can find for around 400€.
And the V1 blow white like the CZ Contax AE.
Forget about the Tokina, it's even not 24/36 format; 24/36 or larger is where you should focus on, especially if you plan to get the dragon.
B.

If I could afford Dragon right now I wouldn't be fretting about whether to buy the 18-35 Sigma!

 

[Brice Ansel]

If I could afford Dragon right now I wouldn't be fretting about whether to buy the 18-35 Sigma!

Ha ha sorry Ben, that's a good point.
B.

 

[Ben Scott]

Apologies for 6D shots again but here's some 1080p DSLR screengrabs of the 85mm 1.4 MMJ being used in some promo stuff for lenovo. Only lights used a couple of F&V LED ringlights on stands for some shots.


Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr


Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr


Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr


Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr

 

[Samir Patel]

Apologies for 6D shots again but here's some 1080p DSLR screengrabs of the 85mm 1.4 MMJ being used in some promo stuff for lenovo. Only lights used a couple of F&V LED ringlights on stands for some shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sneakyeye/9621640037/
Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sneakyeye/9621646601/
Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sneakyeye/9624871392/
Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sneakyeye/9621652991/
Lenovo Promo screengrabs by Soma Pics, on Flickr

Hi Ben,

At what aperture did you shoot these? My 85/1.4 MM creates a diffuse glow over all bright areas when at wide open. Still unsure if it is just my lens or many others as well. Thanks.

-Samir

 

[Ron Steinberg]

I'm agree with you Matthew, nothing special about that lens except maybe its price and the fact its really wide.
Appart that it starting vignetting at 5K at 11-12mm, so I guess it will be worst with the dragon.
As for the organic feeling, well, better to stay with the Contax brand or old Leica glasses.
But Nick is right its a nice little lens, just a big lack of caracter for my test.
B.

For us Red One users, there is nothing like the Tokina 11-16. Sure, it lacks "character", but where else can you get an 11mm wide f/2.8 lens for that kind of money? As a budget super wide I keep it in my kit all the time, wouldn't leave home without it!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hi Ben,

At what aperture did you shoot these? My 85/1.4 MM creates a diffuse glow over all bright areas when at wide open. Still unsure if it is just my lens or many others as well. Thanks.

-Samir

Funny you say this. We did a three camera shoot last week with THREE Contax 85 1.4 modded lenses, and ONE of them had this (quite wonderful) diffuse "glow". We had it on our starlet, and she looked amazing. Trying to figure out which of the three lenses it was though! As I only noticed later in edit...we were shooting with an AEG 66 serial, and two MM's with 7 serials..

 

[Samir Patel]

Funny you say this. We did a three camera shoot last week with THREE Contax 85 1.4 modded lenses, and ONE of them had this (quite wonderful) diffuse "glow". We had it on our starlet, and she looked amazing. Trying to figure out which of the three lenses it was though! As I only noticed later in edit...we were shooting with an AEG 66 serial, and two MM's with 7 serials..

Happens on my MM serial 722xxx and mainly just wide open. F2 starts to sharpen up. F2.8 very sharp.. Doesnt happen on my AE.

 

[Matthew Robertson]

For us Red One users, there is nothing like the Tokina 11-16. Sure, it lacks "character", but where else can you get an 11mm wide f/2.8 lens for that kind of money? As a budget super wide I keep it in my kit all the time, wouldn't leave home without it!

I'm struggling to see situations where you would often need that 11mm wide end to be honest. Of all the wides I have tried, I have found the Rokinon 16mm f2 to be my favorite as far as matching to contax glass. Super sharp and wonderful character/distortion.

 

[Greg McDonald]

Since assembling my contax set earlier this year I haven't used it much until lately. I've been renting PL glass for client projects or using Canon zooms for the low budget run 'n' gun stuff. Directed and shot this with the 50 1.4, 85 1.4 and 28mm 2.8. Really digging the contax glass.

http://vimeo.com/72672448

 

[Nick Morrison]

Looking good Greg!!

 

[Ben Scott]

Hi Ben,

At what aperture did you shoot these? My 85/1.4 MM creates a diffuse glow over all bright areas when at wide open. Still unsure if it is just my lens or many others as well. Thanks.

-Samir

I think I get a bit of that at f1.4, although not as pronounced as others have mentioned. These were all with a 1.2stop Tiffen screw-in IRND as well if that has any impact. Those shots were either at 1.4 or at 2. The black guy may have been around f2.8-f4.

 

[Ben Scott]

I should add my 85mm has an 84xxxx serial so it possibly has less crazy coatings.

 

[Brice Ansel]

Well done Greg!
Just wondering what camera and lens the live was shot on?

And while I'm here, I wanted to share that one.
My first butterfly from the silkworm nursery.

CZ Contax 60 AEG 5Kff @F8 25Fps 1/75 (Ctrl+Click for bigger pic)

B.

 

[Greg McDonald]

Just wondering what camera and lens the live was shot on?.

Haha! You noticed that shot? Yeah that was an iphone or some other cell phone. They wanted a home grown feel for that.

 

[Nick Morrison]

I'm testing out a friend's Scarlet package that I'm strongly considering buying (and later upgrading to Epic). My first test shot. Contax 50 1.4 MM

 

[Phil Dickinson]

Hi Nick, thanks for a very interesting thread.

I'm a stills photographer with a small collection of Contax glass....

2,8/28 2,8/35 1,4/50 1,4/85 2,8/135 3,5/200

All except the 200 are MM, and most of them I bought new in the 1980's, the 135 is the youngest I think about 1994.

I shoot mostly film on some ageing Contax bodies, but I've recently started using Fuji mirrorless bodies in conjunction with a Metabones Speed Booster. I love that the SB restores the full frame feel to these lenses whilst adding a full stop of speed.

Anyway, you've motivated me to try shooting some video..... Wow what a learning curve. Maybe one day I'll buy a Red. Lol.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hi Nick, thanks for a very interesting thread.

I'm a stills photographer with a small collection of Contax glass....

2,8/28 2,8/35 1,4/50 1,4/85 2,8/135 3,5/200

All except the 200 are MM, and most of them I bought new in the 1980's, the 135 is the youngest I think about 1994.

I shoot mostly film on some ageing Contax bodies, but I've recently started using Fuji mirrorless bodies in conjunction with a Metabones Speed Booster. I love that the SB restores the full frame feel to these lenses whilst adding a full stop of speed.

Anyway, you've motivated me to try shooting some video..... Wow what a learning curve. Maybe one day I'll buy a Red. Lol.

Nice collection Phil! Another doozy you want to consider is the 180 2.8. Yeah, Contax primes work great on video. All manual, all the time. Wish the MB worked on EOS!

 

[Phil Dickinson]

Nice collection Phil! Another doozy you want to consider is the 180 2.8. Yeah, Contax primes work great on video. All manual, all the time. Wish the MB worked on EOS!

Haha. If you hadn't pushed up the value of Contax lenses I might be tempted! But I can't see my collection expanding anytime soon.

Now I need to look out for a video body that will take a c/y speed booster. Fs700 maybe? Possibly sacrilege on this site.

 

[Ben Scott]

I think upcoming payday will be a lens-puchase free one, but I think it's time to sort out all the leitax mounts.

I was wondering, is there anywhere I might be able to order the Duclos-style delrin focus gears to fit the contax lenses that I can install at home? I currently have a bunch of the larger redrock style allen key ones but I'd like permanently mounted ones if possible.

 

[Robert Rif]

I was wondering, is there anywhere I might be able to order the Duclos-style delrin focus gears to fit the contax lenses that I can install at home? I currently have a bunch of the larger redrock style allen key ones but I'd like permanently mounted ones if possible.

Since you're in the UK, why no look up True Lens Services, here they have some lens gears.