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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

Paul Russell said:


Graded in Resolve from RedLog Film, Dragon Colour.
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Very cool, Paul! I like this so very much. Makeup / beauty stuff can be so OVER worked and unnatural, but what you have made is every bit as beautiful but real as well. Nice work!
 
So I gave in and bought a second 80-200. Damn you Nick. ;-)

But I also did something a little sacrilegious and ordered a bargain Yashica 80-200 and will be doing a few tests. Let's see how the cheaper line matches up?
 
Paul Russell said:
Here's something I can't wait any longer to share.
A little collaboration with a local make-up artist, Fancy Rosie, and a lovely model, Sarah Noori.

With a nod to Phil Holland for some influence. :-)

Shot with the Contax 50mm f1.4 AEG, 85mm F1.4 AEG, the 60mm Makro AEG. I also used a Canon 180mm macro for the ECUs.



Graded in Resolve from RedLog Film, Dragon Colour.
Click to expand...

Good stuff Paul.

Justen Nguyen said:
Chris! Those are some stunning shots!
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Thanks man! We need to have an OC meet up again!
 
@Paul - love this piece!! So great! Some stunning macro and portrait work! Love the reveal at the end...she looks GREAT!!

@Jeffrey - Haha, sorry man. If it's any consolation, I have joined you on this ludicrous journey, and also have a second one in the mail! Can't wait to pair up two 80-200's (on B and C cams), and have a 28-85 on the A cam (for 2shot, master, etc).

best
 
@Jeffrey:

Yes, please tell us about the Yashica ML zoom once you compared them, I might get one for our students!

TIA
 
Uli Plank said:
@Jeffrey:

Yes, please tell us about the Yashica ML zoom once you compared them, I might get one for our students!

TIA
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Will do! My colleague has built a set of Yashica primes and they are REALLY nice, and so so affordable. Really the only problem is there is no 85mm.
 
Contax vs Yashica 80-200

Contax vs Yashica 80-200

Ok, here it is, a bit of right from the camera fun comparing a Contax 80-200 vs a Yashica 80-200 vs ANOTHER Contax 80-200 that Nick peer pressured me into getting, lol. I think I might like the NEW Contax better than the old, but I want to hear what you guys think!

(Wish I could have shot this on my Scarlet, but it's downstate...)

 
Nice test Jeffrey! Can't wait to test my own new 80-200! My serials are both in 7s also: 75X, and 78X (I believe).

best
 
Hi All,

First time posting. Thanks for all the great info! I'm a stills guy and have put together a modest collection over the past several months. I have 21-2.8, 28-2.8, 50-1.4, 85-2.8, 135-2.8 and 80-200. All MM with #s in the 8,XXX,XXX range except the 21 which is 7,4XX,XXX. Would love a 35-1.4 and 100-f/2.0 to complete the list.

I'll get flack for this, but I'm one of those obsessive types that puts uv filters on all his lenses and shines bright led flashlights through to look for haze and fungus. My questions:
 
Hi All,

First time posting. Thanks for all the great info! I'm a stills guy and have put together a modest collection over the past several months. I have 21-2.8, 28-2.8, 50-1.4, 85-2.8, 135-2.8 and 80-200. All MM with #s in the 8,XXX,XXX range except the 21 which is 7,4XX,XXX. Would love a 35-1.4 and 100-f/2.0 to complete the list.

I'll get flack for this, but I'm one of those obsessive types that puts uv filters on all his lenses and shines bright led flashlights through to look for haze and fungus. My questions:

How prone are these lenses to haze and fog? My 28, 85 & 50 are all crystal clear. My 21, 135, & 80-200 all have light haze. I was ok with it based on the fact that I have used allot of 60s era Leica glass and all of those have fog from what I've seen. I had a 50mm DR Summicron that was incredibly hazy yet the photos were beautiful. I'm wondering if Contax lenses are as bad in that regard. I'm told it is due to the high heavy metal content in the Leica glass. But when the expensive mint condition 21-2.8 arrived with fog, it bummed me out a bit.
Should I send the 21 back, given that I paid top dollar or is this pretty typical for a nearly 30 year old Contax lens, like it is with Leica.
Also, I'm wondering if the difference between AE and MM rendering and flare might have more to do with age and fogging than a difference in the coatings?
 
Rob Luckett said:
Hi All,

First time posting. Thanks for all the great info! I'm a stills guy and have put together a modest collection over the past several months. I have 21-2.8, 28-2.8, 50-1.4, 85-2.8, 135-2.8 and 80-200. All MM with #s in the 8,XXX,XXX range except the 21 which is 7,4XX,XXX. Would love a 35-1.4 and 100-f/2.0 to complete the list.

I'll get flack for this, but I'm one of those obsessive types that puts uv filters on all his lenses and shines bright led flashlights through to look for haze and fungus. My questions:

How prone are these lenses to haze and fog? My 28, 85 & 50 are all crystal clear. My 21, 135, & 80-200 all have light haze. I was ok with it based on the fact that I have used allot of 60s era Leica glass and all of those have fog from what I've seen. I had a 50mm DR Summicron that was incredibly hazy yet the photos were beautiful. I'm wondering if Contax lenses are as bad in that regard. I'm told it is due to the high heavy metal content in the Leica glass. But when the expensive mint condition 21-2.8 arrived with fog, it bummed me out a bit.
Should I send the 21 back, given that I paid top dollar or is this pretty typical for a nearly 30 year old Contax lens, like it is with Leica.
Also, I'm wondering if the difference between AE and MM rendering and flare might have more to do with age and fogging than a difference in the coatings?
Click to expand...


Rob, if you paid mint for the 21, then it shouldn't have fog. It should be crystal clear. I've purchased all of my Contax from KEH, B&H, Adorama, and the 2 or 3 top ebay resellers, and have generally had pretty good luck (touch wood). If you buy "mint" or a "9", I think it's fair to expect the lens to arrive completely clear. I'd consider getting a refund, especially for a premium lens like the 21.

Hope this helps.

best.
 
@Jeffrey
So, how does the Yashica feel for you in comparison? Could you post a few full rez stills, maybe?
 
Nick Morrison said:
The Mutars are complicated, because there are THREE optical designs, and many Contax lenses are designed to optimally work with only one or two of these. It's important to try and match each Contax lens or zoom with it's corresponding Mutar for optimal results.

In the case of the 100-300 for example, I'm not sure any Mutar is officially registered as compatible with this superb zoom, so some aberrations may be expected.

However, the 180 2.8 is SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED to work well with the Mutar II (a 2x), but not the Mutar I (also a 2x). It also plays well with the Mutar III (a 1.4x).

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Coming back on Uli's demand about the Mutar extender.
You are absolutely right Nick, I think I'm not fare when using a Mutar with a non listed lense (aka the 100/300)
I'm wondering if the 100/300 have been design after the Mutar extender, wich would explain it isn't listed as good or bad.
So yesterday I was using the 135 AE (wich is compatible with the Mutar II) and decided to plug the Mutar for Uli purpose.


5K FF Mutar II+135 AE between F 5.6 and F8
10382289_10203956991551514_6894977339384652522_o.jpg




The same crop at 80%
10498556_10203956993151554_582393250110924716_o.jpg



As you can notice, you can nail some chromatic aberration here, maybe my Mutar is a lemon after all. :)

Cheers
B.
 
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