Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Nick Morrison]

PS Brice gorgeous pics. Love the 50. I need to use my 200 more too.

 

[Ben Scott]

'Hollywood' update.

Needs a full strip, clean and regreasing. Will be another week and will cost a third of what I paid for the lens. FFS.

 

[T_Freundlich]

Shameless commercial plug...

I still have a 35/f2.8 fully cine-modified with Leitax EF mount already installed, available at a very cheap price…see this thread for details:

Yo,

just wanted to chime in with a quick note - Tom's 35mm made landfall at 60°N yesterday and I took it out on a corporate gig this very morning. That's a sweeeet piece of glass - somehow I have the feeling from now on it's going to be the first lens out of the case more often than not...

 

[Ben Scott]

Cool. I absolutely love my 35mm.

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

A bit off topic but not: I'm looking for an article or quotes from big DPs on fast lenses. I'm writing an article on the whole mystique that's been created about all these heavy and expensive glass... and often slower lenses are actually better. Anyways, just if any of you guys remember from the top of your heads... cheers.

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Yo,

just wanted to chime in with a quick note - Tom's 35mm made landfall at 60°N yesterday and I took it out on a corporate gig this very morning. That's a sweeeet piece of glass - somehow I have the feeling from now on it's going to be the first lens out of the case more often than not...

Thats awesome, Thomas!! Hope you enjoy the hell out of it...Can't wait to see some stills posted from that baby!

 

[Roy Rossovich]

Has anyone here used the 16mm 2.8? is it a fish eye or not? Loving my new 28mm 2.0 by the way

 

[Nick Morrison]

Cool. I absolutely love my 35mm.

Agreed. The 35 2.8 is FANTASTIC.

'Hollywood' update. Needs a full strip, clean and regreasing. Will be another week and will cost a third of what I paid for the lens. FFS.

PS - that sucks.

A bit off topic but not: I'm looking for an article or quotes from big DPs on fast lenses. I'm writing an article on the whole mystique that's been created about all these heavy and expensive glass... and often slower lenses are actually better. Anyways, just if any of you guys remember from the top of your heads... cheers.

Not sure, but perhaps look at comparisons between Standard Primes and Supers? There are certainly professionals who believe the slower Standards outresolve the Supers at T2, and possibly at 2.8 also.

Has anyone here used the 16mm 2.8? is it a fish eye or not? Loving my new 28mm 2.0 by the way

Roy - I have the 16 2.8 (modded and Leitaxed). Yes, it's a fisheye - and a superb one at that. Alarmingly sharp. If you keep it level you lose some of that "warped" fisheye look, and almost get away with it performing like a classic wide. But more often that not it preserves that distinct "bend".

I love it, but still looking for the right project to showcase it...

 

[Ben Scott]

Rain rain rain rain rain. I'm sick of sitting inside. It's incessant here at the moment, with a third of the country currently underwater. Something like 3 weeks and counting. I want to be out filming stuff. Grrr.

I appreciate this is not my blog but still. Grrr.

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

Not sure, but perhaps look at comparisons between Standard Primes and Supers? There are certainly professionals who believe the slower Standards outresolve the Supers at T2, and possibly at 2.8 also.

I'm sure they do, but apart from you (which I'll quote in the article as well, if you don't mind) I was hoping to find some more people talking about it... one that I remember is Ken Rockwell... but man, I really don't like the guy.

Wish I had a 35mm 2.8 to make some comparisons with my 1.4, that would paint the picture well..

Maybe I'll borrow a Canon 50 1.2L and compare it with a 50 1.4... those are easy to find down here.

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

well, it's $7.95 per gear from servo city which is not exactly going to break the bank. The gear teeth are already made. a circular cutout just needs to be bored which really isn't rocket science, especially if you're getting a proper place to cut them. Compared to using ziptie gears or redrock-style gear it has to be an improvement

Hey I've bought a few rings from this guy who custom makes them. His eBay name is: "Helicoptersean" someone here recommended his work. He makes custom sized Delrin rings... I've been working with him trying to get the sizes right... is really hard. The measurements have to be very precise. I just received a new batch, and if this time works out, he'll have the exact sizes for the 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4 and 135 2.8 lenses. I sent him the measurements for the 35mm 1.4 and 25mm 2.8 as well. I'll update here if it works out.

Cheers.

 

[Ben Scott]

Hey David,

I've seen that fella and actually have a couple of of his items bookmarked. Would definitely buy from him if it works out. Looking forward to any updates on how this goes and it would be great to have a master file of this information.

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

Hey David,

I've seen that fella and actually have a couple of of his items bookmarked. Would definitely buy from him if it works out. Looking forward to any updates on how this goes and it would be great to have a master file of this information.

Good news!!! So far so good! They fit nice and tight!!

I'll try to test'em out with a follow focus sometime this week, and I'll let you guys know.
Now just my 25mm is ringless.

I already sent him feedback, so he knows the correct sizes for the following: 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/2.8

Cheers.

 

[Roy Rossovich]

This is awesome! Are they easy to apply? What is cost? Would be super interested, how do I get intouch with him.

cheers
/R

Good news!!! So far so good! They fit nice and tight!!

I'll try to test'em out with a follow focus sometime this week, and I'll let you guys know.
Now just my 25mm is ringless.

I already sent him feedback, so he knows the correct sizes for the following: 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/2.8

Cheers.

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

This is awesome! Are they easy to apply? What is cost? Would be super interested, how do I get intouch with him.

cheers
/R

Hey Roy, this is the guy (Sean) http://www.ebay.com/usr/helicoptersean
You can contact him straight on ebay, or send him an email helicoptersean@gmail.com , he's from the US so shipping is fast, he's very nice and professional as well.

He sends instructions on how to apply, but you basically sink the ring in warm to hot water for a couple minutes so it softens, then quickly dry it, apply a bit of water based lube if you wish, then gently force it in the lens to the desired position, then let it cool and completely dry off. Quite easy.

Again, I'll test it out with a follow focus as soon as I can, and let everyone knows how it goes...

cheers.

 

[Roy Rossovich]

awesome, thanks!

 

[Robert Peters]

YOU OWE ME REFUND DANIEL REED OF NEXTBOOTH


NO full refunds for "change of mind".

If you want a partial refund ship to:

Daniel Reed
C/O Business Wire
44 Montgomery FLR39
San Francisco CA 94104

If everything checks out and is in returnable condition that I am willing to refund you $150 minus any paypal fees w/in 30 days of return.



YOU HAVE TWO(2) CHOICES:

A - Mail it back in same sale-able condition I can offer a partial refund of $150 minus paypal fees - this covers Restocking, Handling and my time.

<OR>

B - You keep it and I'll refund $20


Please let me know which of these two options you prefer.
I will not reply or respond to any other questions or threats.

GOOD LUCK, YOU WILL HAVE TO BUY THESE SAME ITEMS AGAIN IN ORDER TO USE THE SWIFTRONIC VMOUNT POWER ADAPTOR WITH A RED CAMERA FOR MORE MONEY.

Thank You

Daniel Reed
6007 Dover St.
Oakland, CA 94609-1427

Right?

 

[Ben Scott]

Well I sure wouldn't like to be.... DANIEL REED OF NEXTBOOTH about now

 

[Roy Rossovich]

135mm 2.8 on order now the set continues, still looking for my 35mm and 85mm but already ordered leitax mounts all around (even for the lenses I don't have yet) it's a sickness, plus fronts and Derlin rings! This is gonna be wicked. Can't wait to get them out on a project. Will be rocking the 28mm next weekend on a shoot for the first time.

 

[Nick Morrison]

135mm 2.8 on order now the set continues, still looking for my 35mm and 85mm but already ordered leitax mounts all around (even for the lenses I don't have yet) it's a sickness, plus fronts and Derlin rings! This is gonna be wicked. Can't wait to get them out on a project. Will be rocking the 28mm next weekend on a shoot for the first time.

Haha. Sounds like you caught the fever. It happens!

@ David - those Delrin rings look sick!! I'm officially impressed! Nicely done! PS for your article you can of course quote anything you'd like. I'm flattered honestly.

@ Ben - who's the 28 Hollywood panning out?!