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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

BOOM. Yeah once you Leitax, you never go back.

Picking up all of my CY and ZF's tomorrow from Duclos. Had all of them Leitaxed and CLA'd.

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Scarlet X # 1859 “Bettie Page”
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0
CY135/2.8

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8
 
Hello nick
Will the mutar 11 2x work on the 80-200 at 80? Also how do you like them. Do they cause any extra distortion or abberation?

Rick
 
Hello nick
Will the mutar 11 2x work on the 80-200 at 80? Also how do you like them. Do they cause any extra distortion or abberation?
Rick

Hey Rick, Zeiss takes it's Mutar's very seriously, and published a list of which lenses work with which mutars - not all play nice. I just checked and unfortunately neither Mutar I or Mutar II (both are 2x) work optimally with the 80-200 (the Mutar I can work, but will have some optical degradation; the Mutar II mechanically is not designed to pair with the 80-200...sometimes this is because the Mutar's rear element may hit a lense's back elements...so be careful).

However, the Mutar III (1.4x) is designed to work perfectly with the 80-200! Making it a 112-280 f5.6.

PS - the mutar's are great pieces of glass. Unfortunately, as I'm all Leitaxed, not sure what todo with mine! (convert them to canon?).

Hope this helps!
 
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Interesting
Have you tried to lietax a mutar III before? Also have you tried the canon 1.4 or 2x extenders before with any contax ?

Thanks
 
Interesting
Have you tried to lietax a mutar III before? Also have you tried the canon 1.4 or 2x extenders before with any contax ?

Thanks

I'm not sure it's possible to Leitax both sides of a mutar (front and back). But I've considered asking RP lens to jerry rig a solution for me, yes. Never used a Canon extender, but it's on my list of todos!
 
Just wrapped a stunning, super fun macro "VFX" shoot for a client. Will post materials next week. The 100 Macro crushed on this (also used some Hasselblads).
 
Nick, I have a few 'blad lenses too..... I'm curious to know when/why you'd use them in preference to a Contax?
 
Just wrapped a stunning, super fun macro "VFX" shoot for a client. Will post materials next week. The 100 Macro crushed on this (also used some Hasselblads).

Awesome Nick. Look forward to seeing it. In other news I just had an offer on a 'Hollywood' accepted. Anyone want a leitaxed 25mm? :)
 
Hey Nick. I just noticed on a few photos of a 28-85 that it is at 85 when compacted and guessing 28 when it is extended. So I was wondering is the f/3.4 at which end? And how exactly does the variable aperture work there? does the click stop slide over when you have zoomed out or is it just an unofficial f/3.4 to f/4 bump and told by perceived loss of light looking through it?
 
Posted in "Shot on Epic," but wanted to post it here as well since it was all shot on Contax. :-) Best lenses ever!!


For iphone/ipad users: https://vimeo.com/85258308


I never thought anything could ever make me want to be a Policeman! Good job. Looks like you got to have loads of fun on that shoot.
 
I never thought anything could ever make me want to be a Policeman! Good job. Looks like you got to have loads of fun on that shoot.

Thanks Ben! Yea, they were a long couple of days, but tons of fun. :-)
 
Hey Nick. I just noticed on a few photos of a 28-85 that it is at 85 when compacted and guessing 28 when it is extended. So I was wondering is the f/3.4 at which end? And how exactly does the variable aperture work there? does the click stop slide over when you have zoomed out or is it just an unofficial f/3.4 to f/4 bump and told by perceived loss of light looking through it?

I need to check if it zooms "in" or "out" - I'll check when I get home tonight!

It's fastest at the wide end and I seem to recall it's more of a gradual light loss than a
sudden flip. To be completely honest I forget it's not constant aperture is it's not such a big jump.

Exactly - what Ben said. Its a very subtle loss of light from the wide end to the tele. So gentle it's not something I find myself being aware of.
 
Chris you did such a good job with this - congrats. Love your pacing, your framing, how intimate this look is. The footage is so textured and inviting too. Great job.

Posted in "Shot on Epic," but wanted to post it here as well since it was all shot on Contax. :-) Best lenses ever!!

For iphone/ipad users: https://vimeo.com/85258308
 
So my Contax 28mm Hollywood arrived and there was a bit of grit or something making a grinding noise in the barrel so I've left it with the local camera guy. Hopefully it won't be too expensive to sort but it's a shame as I was hoping to go do sexy filming with it this weekend.
 
Also, has anyone seen this?

http://www.dpvisualmedia.com/home/home-3/diy-delrin-follow-focus-gears-75

What do you think? Any chance we could ascertain which item numbers are needed for the contax range? Would certainly continue the theme of making these bad boys super affordable. Sadly I don't speak your crazy voodoo ft and inches witchcraft language so have a bit of a hard time understanding from the site they link to at servo city precisely which dimensions I should be looking at. Hurry up and get with the mm and cm guys - It makes EVERYTHING sound bigger ;)
 
It's fastest at the wide end and I seem to recall it's more of a gradual light loss than a sudden flip. To be completely honest I forget it's not constant aperture is it's not such a big jump.

I'm going to triple this info... I rarely shoot WO but in my tests you ca barely tell the difference... Just for you get an idea, it's a smaller difference then the light loss when going from 24 to 70 in the Canon L zoom... Which is supposed to be constant 2.8.
I'd go further to say it's probably hard to notice because there's almost no vignette at the wide end.

Been using it all week with a Panny GH3 + Speedbooster and it's been awesome.
I'm shooting a series of talks, and I wish I had the 35-135 with me. =)
 
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