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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

Thanks, Nick, great examples!

But I'd doubt that the RTS design is directly related to a rangefinder design. This is a wide lens, and they need very different construction for the longer flange distance – see Leica M and R.
 
I'll be shooting with the 25mm AEG and 35mm if2.8 AEJ in a Dressing Room scene on Saturday. Minimal lights available so will most likely have to be near enough wide open. As always will post stills.

Will use this time to make a decision or two as a friend is interested in putting together a smaller manual prime set for his Sony Alpha and I'd expressed an interest in swapping out these lenses for the Hollywood.


In other news I just got a call to shoot a follow up doc to the one for schools which recently won a BAFTA, which is nice, and will now be very Zeissy instead of the very Samyangy last time out. :)
 
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I'm shooting a short film now on the 10th, was supposed to use a BMCC but I ultimately decided on getting a Scarlet for this story instead. It's most likely I'll be using the 25mm and the 35mm as my main lenses. Can't wait.

I'll post some frames as soon as I can.

Thanks for sharing these samples Nick.
 
Uli Plank said:
Thanks, Nick, great examples!

But I'd doubt that the RTS design is directly related to a rangefinder design. This is a wide lens, and they need very different construction for the longer flange distance – see Leica M and R.
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Hey Uli you are almost certainly right.. It appears the the lens's heritage more likely comes from the Contax S line (and later derivatives)...which was Contax's first 35mm SLR...and it appears, the first true modern SLR camera in the world!!!

Here's more from wikipedia on the influence of the Contax S:

This camera was the first "fixed" eye-level pentaprism 35mm SLR, the historic progenitor of many later SLRs that adopted this arrangement
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Contax S was unveiled to the public in 1949, and also featured the first known rollout of the now mythical M42 mount!!!

In their MTF paper on the 25mm, Zeiss says the following...speaking to the distagon's heritage:

"The 25 mm Distagon® T* f/2.8 lens with an angular field of 80o is a lens of well-known and time-honoured design enjoying a good reputation with the users of 35 mm cameras."
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May I say, this is why I love this thread. A gentle discussion over the holidays ends up unearthing that Contax essentially invented the modern SLR, and also the M42 mount. I love how much history is in the Contax name! It's also nice to know the 25mm Distagon appears directly connected to this history...perhaps more than any other wide-angle in the lineup.

I think it's safe to say the 85 2.8 and 180 2.8 may also have some "history" in the designs, as those Sonnars are apparently derived from classic approaches as well. The 85 2.8 is pretty hard to "improve" if you ask me, so wouldn't surprise me if Zeiss stuck that golden formula. And the 180 of course traces it's history back to the 1936 Olympics....where the first Zeiss 180 2.8 was unveiled, and refered to as the "Olympia-Sonnar"...it was the 200 f2 of it's day!
 
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Due to my stupidness, I just got mine 3 AEJs, which are: 28mm, 35mm, 50mm; What do I have to do? :( I suppose to have a set with MMJ in mind :(... is it good or... I have to sell it all and research again?
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with AE lenses…there seems to be some kind of negativity surrounding them, because of the "ninja-star" aperture shape that occurs at the 2 stops down from wide open. Personally, I love the look of the AE lenses and have gone out of my way to collect a set of 10 AE primes. I like the way they flare and the organic look of the images. I think the MM's are a little too clean sometimes, and the older coating of the AE's works great to tone down (and compliment) the "digitalness" (if that's a word) of the camera. I've owned all 3 of the lenses you just bought, and used them constantly.
 
Just wish Leitax would make adapters for AE lenses to Nikon so I could use them on my R1!! Right now I have to stick with MM... :(
 
In the process of "Leitaxing-ing" my lense but stripped a couple of screws. Anyone got suggestions on extracting M1.7 screws?
 
Tom Greenberg said:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with AE lenses…there seems to be some kind of negativity surrounding them, because of the "ninja-star" aperture shape that occurs at the 2 stops down from wide open. Personally, I love the look of the AE lenses and have gone out of my way to collect a set of 10 AE primes. I like the way they flare and the organic look of the images. I think the MM's are a little too clean sometimes, and the older coating of the AE's works great to tone down (and compliment) the "digitalness" (if that's a word) of the camera. I've owned all 3 of the lenses you just bought, and used them constantly.
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I've personally built both an AE and MM set so I can go back and forth. And I agree...I think AE's are gorgeous.

In a funny way, I think AE's are in there element right now. There is a growing trend towards lenses with character right now. Think about how many Oscar contending movies this year were shot on vintage glass with character.

All Is Lost was shot on Standard Primes (to cut the digital look, exactly to your point Tom)
Her was shot on Super Speeds, uncoated Panchros, and a K35 zoom
American Hustle was shot on Standard Primes as well, and also K35 primes.

Every time you turn on the television, I feel like I'm seeing commercials with this organic, earthy look. To quote Patrick O'Sullivan (one of my fave Contax shooters...who has a superb set of AE's rehoused by Nan), the "harshness/sharpness" ratio with the AE's on MX is pretty sublime. His footage is stunning, and so can anyone else's who shoots with AE's. Take a look at Patrick's recent piece "Walk with Kings" and see how great this pairing can be (shot on Epic, fyi):

 
I just learned something here! You guys are awesome. I'm just a newbie to this industry, I have a guys who selling the 85mm 1.4 AEG now (750$) and I'm thinking about getting this for my AE collection or get a MMJ. I need some advice.
 
Moc Nguyen said:
I just learned something here! You guys are awesome. I'm just a newbie to this industry, I have a guys who selling the 85mm 1.4 AEG now (750$) and I'm thinking about getting this for my AE collection or get a MMJ. I need some advice.
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I would stick with AE and get the AEG
 
Thinking about the Distagon 25mm got me thinking about the 28 Hollywood tonight. I'll tell you a secret - there's a reason I'm dwelling on these focal lengths right now (24mm, 25mm, 28mm). A number of my favorite film-makers tend to gravitate to these focal lengths. The Coen Brothers love shooting on a 27/28mm. They've shot entire movies JUST on that focal length! House of Cards is shot between 28mm and 35mm (David Fincher). American Hustle is shot mostly on a 24mm. Heck - Citizen Kane is shot almost entirely on a 25mm. There is something about going wide...but not too wide...that can add a real tension and elegance to a picture.

In that spirit, here's some flickr grabs of the 28mm Hollywood that I thought really showcased it's "cinematic" pedigree.

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That bokeh has so much quivering energy...love it!!
 
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Those are some stunning images Nick! Do you by any chance know if the 28 Contax Nan rehouses is the "Hollywood?"
 
Carlos Reyes said:
Those are some stunning images Nick! Do you by any chance know if the 28 Contax Nan rehouses is the "Hollywood?"
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I think ordinarily he does the 2.8, but I believe he can do the Hollywood. You'd need to check with him!
 
Dear Moc,

welcome to this thread of Contax lovers!

You may want to think about the route I took: Get AE in the faster versions, they tend to be cheaper and look very creamy wide open and the Ninjas won't bother you.
Then, if you need something more 'biting' later on, go for the slower MMs. IMHO, that is a nice balance between price and beauty. Don't bother for German or Japanese, they look the same, Contax and Yashica were keeping tight control.

Regarding adapters: if you have a RED with Canon EF mount, the cheap Chinese adapters will fit both AE and MM. Leitax is a class of it's own, though.
 
Hi everyone, I will introduce myself abit, I'm Moc - a young guy living in VietNam, who love making short form video clip. I'm now doing mostly wedding film (short form) for living, in free time, I do my personal projects. I'm just into this industry, therefore I have to learn alots. I'm in here accidentally, when searching information about the zeiss contax, I'm not a User who have Red, just a DSLR with few lens (now having 3 AEJs). I do love everything that posted here, you guys are awesome!

Nice to meet all of you here.

p/s: I just shoot this last month, willing to have some comments from pros:

 
Major bummer! I'm going to email Leitax to see if they can create an AE adapter for Nikon. Love my MM 50 1.7 (first Contax I bought to get a "taste"), but would like to try the AE's for their flare characteristics.

Nick Morrison said:
Wow, didn't know that. Bummer! Hopefully Leitax resolves that in 2014!
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