Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Nick Morrison]

My 50mm f1.7 is currently sitting in a bowl of rice.

It went missing after a recent timelapse shoot and going back to the location this morning I discovered it had been out in the storms of the past week or so and was near enough full of water. No idea if it's going to be save-able but if not I might send it to Dog Schidt Optiks to bastardise as I already have one of their lenses and they're good fun.

Any tips for dealing with lenses with loads of internal condensation greatly appreciated

Worst case...Dog Shidt sounds like a pretty fun remedy!

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

Thanks all, very lucky! (assuming its in good condition, lol) Anyone else notice the ratio of good to bad is much better with Contax vs other lenses? There seem to be less bad copies than any other series I have toyed with. Builds loyalty

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

Has anyone pulled apart the 85mm 1.4? Specifically the german version, though what I am trying to do is de-click it and regrease the focus mechanics. At the moment it's more academic and exploratory...

The lens works great, so I may just leave well-enough alone.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Thanks all, very lucky! (assuming its in good condition, lol) Anyone else notice the ratio of good to bad is much better with Contax vs other lenses? There seem to be less bad copies than any other series I have toyed with. Builds loyalty

Haha. I suspect it's because the build quality is so superb. These lenses are built like tanks. All metal. Pretty impressive every time you hold one. Whenever I hold modern autofocus lenses, as good as some are, the squeeky plastic tends to make me a little queazy. And then the killer is when you add a Leitax mount to Contax glass, the lenses start to feel even more "cine-solid" on a Scarlet or Epic. In fact, were noticing that the Leitax mounts seem even more solid and robust than Canon's OWN mounts!!! Leitax + Contax is just a great, great combo. Leitax has been popular with the Lieca R crowd for a while, and now I see why!!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Has anyone pulled apart the 85mm 1.4? Specifically the german version, though what I am trying to do is de-click it and regrease the focus mechanics. At the moment it's more academic and exploratory...

The lens works great, so I may just leave well-enough alone.

Woof. I'm not a lens tech, so the thought of pulling them apart gives me adjeda. Consider sending it to Peter at RP lens. He's great!

 

[Ben Scott]

Worst case...Dog Shidt sounds like a pretty fun remedy!

I should do a proper test and review of my current Dog Schidt which has a fixed oval aperture.


Dog Shidt Optiks oval bokeh test by Soma Pics, on Flickr

 

[Nick Morrison]

I should do a proper test and review of my current Dog Schidt which has a fixed oval aperture.


Dog Shidt Optiks oval bokeh test by Soma Pics, on Flickr

Nice whats the base lense? A Contax 1.7, or a Helios 44-2?

 

[Ben Scott]

Oh that one was a Helios. The options were as follows.

FF58
EF Mount.
Oval Bokeh - x2 Fixed aperture f3.5
Blue & Purple tint
Medium Glow
Lower Contrast
Medium cleaning marks
Brushed housing.

Next one I get will be max everything so it flares just by people looking at it, but with regular bokeh/variable aperture.

I know Jason Wyngrove on here got a Contax done for his Prague test he has on Vimeo.

 

[Brice Ansel]

Now the problem is which one to use. Far too many options. Just like potato chips you can't eat just one. IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU ALL!

Just realise I negligated the 135 and 200.

From now I'm stuck with the 60
Some pics from a personal project I started last year.
The subject is a tree but those frames are warms silk.

I think the 100 macro wich is also 1:1 would have help on that film.

For an idea of the scale I'm working on.
Cafee seed and worm silks eggs.

Skin change

Skin change

New born

Yea I know it's not really glamorous, sorry for that.
All pics from the 60 AE.

 

[Brice Ansel]

I should do a proper test and review of my current Dog Schidt which has a fixed oval aperture.


Dog Shidt Optiks oval bokeh test by Soma Pics, on Flickr

Really sweet pic Ben, me like it.
B.

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

Those are AWESOME

 

[Samir Patel]

Just realise I negligated the 135 and 200.

From now I'm stuck with the 60
Some pics from a personal project I started last year.
The subject is a tree but those frames are warms silk.

I think the 100 macro wich is also 1:1 would have help on that film.

For an idea of the scale I'm working on.
Cafee seed and worm silks eggs.

Skin change

Skin change

New born

Yea I know it's not really glamorous, sorry for that.
All pics from the 60 AE.

woah!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Me likely Brice. Great work!!!

Just realise I negligated the 135 and 200.

From now I'm stuck with the 60
Some pics from a personal project I started last year.
The subject is a tree but those frames are warms silk.

I think the 100 macro wich is also 1:1 would have help on that film.

For an idea of the scale I'm working on.
Cafee seed and worm silks eggs.

Skin change

Skin change

New born

Yea I know it's not really glamorous, sorry for that.
All pics from the 60 AE.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hmmm...time to strat Dog Shidting some Contax primes? Hmmm....

I should do a proper test and review of my current Dog Schidt which has a fixed oval aperture.


Dog Shidt Optiks oval bokeh test by Soma Pics, on Flickr

 

[Uli Plank]

Folks, can you please avoid copying all pics to your replies?
TIA

 

[Ben Scott]

Wet lens update.

It's completely fucked. Focus ring has seized up and the iris won't open and close properly anymore. Not even worth sending to Dog Schidt. Now I need to decide whether to go for another 50 1.7 or get a 1,4.

 

[Matthew Robertson]

Wet lens update.

It's completely fucked. Focus ring has seized up and the iris won't open and close properly anymore. Not even worth sending to Dog Schidt. Now I need to decide whether to go for another 50 1.7 or get a 1,4.

Get the 1.4 man. The better bokeh is worth it imo. The build quality is so much better to, much more enjoyable to use. Don't worry about sharpness, really its not an issue

 

[Nick Morrison]

Get the 1.4 man. The better bokeh is worth it imo. The build quality is so much better to, much more enjoyable to use. Don't worry about sharpness, really its not an issue

I sort of agree. The build quality is SO GOOD on the 1.4. Worth a shot.

 

[Brice Ansel]

Wet lens update.

It's completely fucked. Focus ring has seized up and the iris won't open and close properly anymore. Not even worth sending to Dog Schidt. Now I need to decide whether to go for another 50 1.7 or get a 1,4.

The difference of build quality between the 1.7 and 1.4 is a no brainer.
Having said that, I'm not a lense expert and I own only 11 Contax lenses, but I noticed the 1.7 has a really unique look compare to my 10 other Contax.
I find it sometime tricky to match with the others.
So for it's unique look I will take the 1.7, and the 1.4 for it's build quality. :devil:
B.

 

[Ben Scott]

I owned a 1.4 previously but offloaded it . I think all things considered the only thing missing from my contax lineup now is ultra-wide and speed as the only 1.4 I have is the 85mm. I think the 1.7 had a wonderful quality to it but it really makes sense just to get another 1.4.