Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Jake Wilganowski]

I just watched last weeks episode of breaking bad. In the scene where Hank and his wife are in front of Walters house after confronting Skyler, guess what's in the background when they are in the car, NINJA STAR BOKEH. Don't they shoot this on 35mm?

 

[Nick Morrison]

I'm trying to find a contax makro lens. I'm thinking the 60mm because the copies I have seen are less expensive, and a focal length that I'm more interested in. Is there any reason to go the 100 over it?
Thanks, Sam

Nope, both are equally good, and both are 1:1 macros. In fact, the 60 may be a TAD sharper, but it's sort of like comparing a Ferrari and a Lamborghini, both are pretty awesome!

The 100 allows you to work from a slightly further distance (for Macro), but I agree with you that the 60 is very interesting focal length. My friend Ted and I shot on the 60 recently (for a small Project Runway piece), and he kind of freaked out when he put it on. It just "POPS"! Gets you in a bit closer than a 50mm, and was just perfect for what we needed.

 

[Nick Morrison]

I just watched last weeks episode of breaking bad. In the scene where Hank and his wife are in front of Walters house after confronting Skyler, guess what's in the background when they are in the car, NINJA STAR BOKEH. Don't they shoot this on 35mm?

Cooke lenses sometimes have NINJA-STAR bokeh, maybe they are shooting on Cooke primes?

 

[Samir Patel]

I just watched last weeks episode of breaking bad. In the scene where Hank and his wife are in front of Walters house after confronting Skyler, guess what's in the background when they are in the car, NINJA STAR BOKEH. Don't they shoot this on 35mm?

I believe they shoot breaking bad on cooke lenses

 

[Sam Barnett]

Thanks Nick! Much appreciated.

 

[Matthew Robertson]

Stuck on the wider end of my lens set, not sure where to go... Want to keep it all contax but might have to break from that. Find it always takes precious time away from grading/editing when I use mixed lens sets. How "bad" is the contax 18mm? I am intrigued by it. I know its soft at f4. but is it usable? How is the distortion on APS-C?

 

[Sam Barnett]

I have the 21 2.8 and I find it great. I need something a little wider as well though.

 

[Nick Morrison]

'

Stuck on the wider end of my lens set, not sure where to go... Want to keep it all contax but might have to break from that. Find it always takes precious time away from grading/editing when I use mixed lens sets. How "bad" is the contax 18mm? I am intrigued by it. I know its soft at f4. but is it usable? How is the distortion on APS-C?

The best wide is obviously the 21mm, but it's getting outrageously expensive.

The distortion control on the 18mm is superb: on the MTF charts the distortion looks the same as the 21mm and the 28mm "Hollywood", but bear in mind the 18 is a wider lens, so arguably this means the distortion control is better. We used the 18 F4 earlier this summer and were very happy with all the "straight lines" in our shoot.

It's totally usable at F4. Gets sharper stopped down. We don't use it a lot, but we've been happy with it when we did. For whatever it's worth, its one of Pebblespace's favorite Contax lenses.

 

[Nick Morrison]

I have the 21 2.8 and I find it great. I need something a little wider as well though.

The 18 is worth a look. The Sigma 18-35 1.8 is tempting as well (I hate to mix glass, but this lens could be handy in a pinch)

 

[Brice Ansel]

Brice I love how your enthusiasm shines through. The Contax 28s in general, are superb. Some of the best of the bunch.

Thanks Nick,
I'll continu to share some frames from time to time then. ;-)
B.

 

[Jeffrey T. Morgan]

I am pretty sure I am going for the sigma 18-15 1.8 to fill out my wide range

 

[Matthew Robertson]

Yeah, i've definitly been tempted to get the 18-35 to round out my set but just can't convince myself... Sigma glass looks so sterile to me whenever I use it. its sharp as heck but boring haha.. And yeah the 21mm f2.8 isn't really an option with my budget, its just going for too much these days unfortunatley...

 

[Ben Scott]

Been thinking the same and having the same immediate budget issues. Was going to sell the 25mm and 35mm Contax lenses to go towards the Sigma, but then I'm essentially talking about not really offering a proper Zeiss set of glass.

Plus the 25mm on my Canon 6D is a match made in heaven.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Been thinking the same and having the same immediate budget issues. Was going to sell the 25mm and 35mm Contax lenses to go towards the Sigma, but then I'm essentially talking about not really offering a proper Zeiss set of glass.

Plus the 25mm on my Canon 6D is a match made in heaven.

Haha. I just played with the 25mm today. Forgot how GOOD it is.

A matched set of glass can not be underestimated. So I totally hear you. The 25mm in particular is important because it will have the FOV of a 21mm on DRAGON, which to me is a VERY IMPORTANT focal length (a must have).

 

[Matthew Robertson]

Been thinking the same and having the same immediate budget issues. Was going to sell the 25mm and 35mm Contax lenses to go towards the Sigma, but then I'm essentially talking about not really offering a proper Zeiss set of glass.

Plus the 25mm on my Canon 6D is a match made in heaven.

Yeah man its tough haha.. Can't have your cake and eat it! It just always really bugs me when I have to do shoots with mixed glass.

 

[Ben Scott]

Haha. I just played with the 25mm today. Forgot how GOOD it is.

A matched set of glass can not be underestimated. So I totally hear you. The 25mm in particular is important because it will have the FOV of a 21mm on DRAGON, which to me is a VERY IMPORTANT focal length (a must have).

Damn that voice of reason yet again, the same one that made me hang onto the Tokina 11-16. Grrrrrr...

 

[Brice Ansel]

Damn that voice of reason yet again, the same one that made me hang onto the Tokina 11-16. Grrrrrr...

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.

 

[Nick Morrison]

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.

Actually Brice, what's funny is the 11-16 has FULL FRAME coverage at 16mm. Apparently down to 14mm. For the price I think it's an interesting little lens, but that said the Nikon 17-35 is supposed to be superb, so not surprised you prefer it.

 

[Matthew Robertson]

I don't say this at all to be facetious, but for those of you that like the 11-16, what is it about it that you like? I really really wish I could like it. I used it on a shoot or two and I am struggling to pinpoint what I didn't like about the image it produces.. :\

 

[Brice Ansel]

I don't say this at all to be facetious, but for those of you that like the 11-16, what is it about it that you like? I really really wish I could like it. I used it on a shoot or two and I am struggling to pinpoint what I didn't like about the image it produces.. :\

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.