Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Bill Walter]

Recently I purchased a Contax Zeiss 85mm 2.8 lens. It's an MM lens made in Germany. The lens works great on my Canon crop camera, but the mirror gets caught on my 6D. Is this something that is known to happen on the MMG version of this lens? I can't identify the brand of my present adapter, but I'm wondering if a different adapter might resolve this? If anyone knows a fix for this mirror issue, I'd really appreciate your assistance!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Recently I purchased a Contax Zeiss 85mm 2.8 lens. It's an MM lens made in Germany. The lens works great on my Canon crop camera, but the mirror gets caught on my 6D. Is this something that is known to happen on the MMG version of this lens? I can't identify the brand of my present adapter, but I'm wondering if a different adapter might resolve this? If anyone knows a fix for this mirror issue, I'd really appreciate your assistance!

I'm not sure if an adapter will make that much of a difference (as I don't believe that's causing the mirror to hit). Ordinarily, either the mirror is too close (so some people have been known to "shave down" their mirrors), or something on the lens is sticking out too far (some lenses have protrusions, like a "shark fin" that...if determined has no real function...could be shaved down if needed).

I suggest taking lens and camera to a lens tech to see what they think. They could probably give you best advice, and shave down whatever needed to be trimmed.

Hope this helps.

 

[Uli Plank]

The adapter could only be the culprit if you can focus considerably beyond infinity.

 

[Bill Walter]

Nick, Uli, Thanks for the response. I'll be checking the infinity focus later today.

 

[jordan levy]

geez, i dont know how many times in the past years iver read through some of these posts…but now im completely confused…just on the 50mm 1.4 vs the 50mm 1.7
i though everyone says the 1.7 MMJ was the sharpest and best…
but for some reason the 1.4 versions, especially the AEJ ones are going for a lto more, whats up?

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

Jordan,
the 50 1.4 has better bokeh, build quality and stopped down sharpness.
The 50 1.7 is sharper wide open and generally a little contrastier, especially if you compare 1.4AE vs 1.7MM.

 

[jordan levy]

Jordan,
the 50 1.4 has better bokeh, build quality and stopped down sharpness.
The 50 1.7 is sharper wide open and generally a little contrastier, especially if you compare 1.4AE vs 1.7MM.

better build means a lot, thank you!

 

[Nick Morrison]

better build means a lot, thank you!

Yes the 50 1.7 was the most "consumer" prime Zeiss made for Contax. All other primes are all metal, with very robust builds. The 50 1.7 incorporates plastic into the design, and is lighter weight, less "solid", and has more play. That said, it's still a great lens. Just keep the rest in mind. The bokeh is less "classic", and can be busier.

 

[jordan levy]

Yes the 50 1.7 was the most "consumer" prime Zeiss made for Contax. All other primes are all metal, with very robust builds. The 50 1.7 incorporates plastic into the design, and is lighter weight, less "solid", and has more play. That said, it's still a great lens. Just keep the rest in mind. The bokeh is less "classic", and can be busier.

thanks nick!

 

[Uli Plank]

And this is all relative to other Zeiss glass, it's still a good build compared to most of the rest…

Mine has no play at all when focussing, but it seemed to have been hardly used at all when I bought, might develop later.

 

[Brice Ansel]

CZ 50 AE 1.7

CZ 50 AE 1.7

better build means a lot, thank you!

True that the plastic housing isn't that atractive but having said that the 50 (AE) 1.7 has a very special way of rendering,
sharp and contrasty but more noticeably a really creamy look.
For the price of it and its unique look it is a no brainer to have one in your pelicase anyway.

50 AE 1.7

Cheers
B.

 

[David W. Jones]

Yes the 50 1.7 was the most "consumer" prime Zeiss made for Contax. All other primes are all metal, with very robust builds. The 50 1.7 incorporates plastic into the design, and is lighter weight, less "solid", and has more play. That said, it's still a great lens. Just keep the rest in mind. The bokeh is less "classic", and can be busier.

The 45mm pancake lens also has a plastic housing.

 

[Ben Scott]

I absolutely love my 50mm f1.7.

Sold my 1.4 and a Zeiss ZF 1.4 and kept it.

 

[jordan levy]

are any contax zeiss zooms parafocal???
i think they are all push pull though too, right?

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

are any contax zeiss zooms parafocal???
i think they are all push pull though too, right?

By being push/pull they are essentially par focal. That's if you can keep your focus mark, and had a precise focus do begin with. Obvious, I know, but keep in mind that is kind of tough to zoom and keep the focus ring from moving the tiniest bit. I haven't practiced a lot, and my 28-85 has a softer focus throw then the force you need to apply to Zoom, which is a good thing, but hard to pull a zoom "creep", not impossible, just hard. Not sure if all zooms are like this, I'm sure Nick can shed some light on the subject.

cheers

I'm dying to try the 35-135mm btw Nick... I'm coming up to NYC soon, I shall give you a "hello" if granted. =)

 

[jordan levy]

By being push/pull they are essentially par focal. That's if you can keep your focus mark, and had a precise focus do begin with. Obvious, I know, but keep in mind that is kind of tough to zoom and keep the focus ring from moving the tiniest bit. I haven't practiced a lot, and my 28-85 has a softer focus throw then the force you need to apply to Zoom, which is a good thing, but hard to pull a zoom "creep", not impossible, just hard. Not sure if all zooms are like this, I'm sure Nick can shed some light on the subject.

cheers

I'm dying to try the 35-135mm btw Nick... I'm coming up to NYC soon, I shall give you a "hello" if granted. =)

oh yeah, that would be hard, nevermind, thanks!

 

[Nick Morrison]

The 45mm pancake lens also has a plastic housing.

Oh yeah, forgot about that. Good point!!!

 

[Nick Morrison]

I'm dying to try the 35-135mm btw Nick... I'm coming up to NYC soon, I shall give you a "hello" if granted. =)

Hey David, sure look me up! I have a number of modded Contax zooms you can play with:
35-70
28-85
80-200
100-300
35-135

The 35-135 is a beast. Mine seems to be parfocal, but as you say...hard to "keep focus" as your zoom/focus all at once!!!

 

[jordan levy]

Hey David, sure look me up! I have a number of modded Contax zooms you can play with:
35-70
28-85
80-200
100-300
35-135

The 35-135 is a beast. Mine seems to be parfocal, but as you say...hard to "keep focus" as your zoom/focus all at once!!!

are all those zooms push pull? what about the 28-70?

 

[Nick Morrison]

are all those zooms push pull? what about the 28-70?

They are all push pull yes. I don't advise getting the 28-70, it's not a "real" Zeiss - it's a 3rd party design (Sigma? Tokina?) that Zeiss licensed as an entry level zoom (it appears Leica licensed a very similar lens, if not the same, as their lineup includes a zoom with sibling specs)