Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Uli Plank]

The stabilizer of the Panny 35-100 shows some micro-jitters even after the firmware update.
Whatever lens you use, I'd rather apply post stabilization, it won't degrade the image since you are shooting in 4K.

Plus, I second Nick's advice,go all Contax. The Panny lens is good, but will be a PITA to match with Contax in grading. If you get a nice 35-70 and a 28-85 you'll have quite some range with a Speedbooster. I recently tested some cheap Chinese ones. While the RJ is really crappy with blue spot and soft corners, the newer Turbo Lens Mark II by Mitakon aka Zhongyi is not bad at all. Not as good as the original Metabones, but it comes closer than the price difference suggests. I'm not sure if they have Contax to MFT, I only tested it on NEX.

 

[DAVID BARKAN]

Haha. You know what I'd say. All Contax. You could also save some $$$ and get the 80-200 instead of the 35-135.

PS - about the hood. We're actually going to shoot/post a review of it. It's not cheap though (couple of hundred bucks).

best

Hummm... I'm afraid the 80-200 may be a bit tight, but in a year which I wasn't planning on investing, it may be the smartest move.

The stabilizer of the Panny 35-100 shows some micro-jitters even after the firmware update.
Whatever lens you use, I'd rather apply post stabilization, it won't degrade the image since you are shooting in 4K.

Plus, I second Nick's advice,go all Contax. The Panny lens is good, but will be a PITA to match with Contax in grading. If you get a nice 35-70 and a 28-85 you'll have quite some range with a Speedbooster. I recently tested some cheap Chinese ones. While the RJ is really crappy with blue spot and soft corners, the newer Turbo Lens Mark II by Mitakon aka Zhongyi is not bad at all. Not as good as the original Metabones, but it comes closer than the price difference suggests. I'm not sure if they have Contax to MFT, I only tested it on NEX.

About the Panny, really? That sucks... a lot... I'm not sure the turnarounds will allow for stabilisation. I have to get it straight with post before committing and expecting this.
Metabones is king, no doubt, I may just go ahead and get the EF to MFT, seems like a better future proof investment... and slowly purchase Leitax Mounts, one by one...

 

[Uli Plank]

But if you don't have time for post stabilization, I doubt you'd have time to match the Panny lens in grading. The 12-35mm is quite fine, BTW. Only the longer zoom has some micro jitters with it's stabilizer on which I don't notice in Sony's or Canon's lenses. It works fine for photography, but not always for video.

But you are absolutely right not to lock yourself into MFT, Contax C/Y is much more future proof. You could even get a dumb EF to MFT booster now and use the Contax lenses with a thin adapter ring like the Rayqual. I didn't Leitax my lenses and that adapter works fine for me on a Scarlet with EF mount, while I use them with direct adaptation on my A7S.

BTW, if you decide for a Zhongyi Turbo Lens, watch out: it does not fit the Zeiss C/Y 18mm f4. It's rear element goes too deep. I'm not sure about the Metabones either.

 

[David B.]

The metabones takes the 18/4, no problem. At least my copy does.

Regards,

David

 

[Chris McKechnie]

Contax For the Win - As Always

Contax For the Win - As Always

Here are a couple of films I recently completed...I Am Yours all shot on the 35mm and the Texting While Driving PSA shot on the 18, 35 and 85. Enjoy!

I Am Yours:

Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/127319748

Opposite World:

Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/127169209

Behind the scenes video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUTtvNlevs4

 

[Wito Rohler]

I paid a little tribute to one of my all time favourites: Blade Runner. I used one 400W spot light and a self made bounce. As a camera I used the Canon 600D with a Contax Zeiss 85mm f2.8 @ 2.8 and the Isco-Optic Ultra-Star (Blue star).

I think it turned out quite nice, only I wasnt able to create the gradient in the background.

 

[Nick Morrison]

@ Chris - looking awesome!!!
@ Wito - nice!!! Love the 85 2.8!

 

[Chris McKechnie]

Zeiss Distagon 80mm 2.8

Zeiss Distagon 80mm 2.8

In pre-production on a pretty big documentary mini-series that I'll be DPing. Will be a behind the music with Christian artists/bands. Some of the production team went to a concert of one of the bands that we'll be shooting - 7eventhtimedown to see what it's like.

Several shots straight from camera on the Zeiss 80mm 2.8 with my medium format Hasselblad 6x6. Shot on Kodak TriX 400 - wide open @2.8, 1/60sec and pushed 2 stops on developing. The lighting was pretty bad in this church, but I think the shots turned out well look great. Scanning was done by Richard Photo Lab in Valencia, CA.

I just don't think there is any other glass in the world like Zeiss. It's so true and beautiful.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Looks great Chris - yeah Hassys and Contax are great, and made by Zeiss at the same time - both share wonderful character and tonality.

 

[Richard Luke]

Hello
Has anyone seen a 28mm f2 in MM?

Rick

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hello
Has anyone seen a 28mm f2 in MM?

Rick

I've never seen one, personally. But my guess is they were made in batches. If you get a low 6 serial number (like ours), it should be a later one...and match MM's ok. Ours seems too. You'll still have the ninja-star though, but it rarely shows up as the filter size/barrel is so small.

best

 

[Mike Staniforth]

Hello,
I'm looking for some advice on a Contax 21mm I have. I got this from a someone who had previously modified it with a Leitax Pentax mount. Now, either when it was modified or when the Pentax mount was removed, the original Contax parts have been lost, which I need to attach my Leitax Canon mount.
Can anybody offer any advice as to if/how/where I can fix this?

The original mount is the one with the little tab I believe.
Hopefully the picture will explain better.
http://imgur.com/tZKXl2x

 

[Chris McKechnie]

You could just go with the pentax mount you already have and get a Pentax to canon EOS adapter. Could get the lens operational for less than $25.

I had a devil of a time trying to find the original contax mount when I had a lens mount get tweaked. Nick may no of a great resource for those original mounts.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hello,
I'm looking for some advice on a Contax 21mm I have. I got this from a someone who had previously modified it with a Leitax Pentax mount. Now, either when it was modified or when the Pentax mount was removed, the original Contax parts have been lost, which I need to attach my Leitax Canon mount.
Can anybody offer any advice as to if/how/where I can fix this?

The original mount is the one with the little tab I believe.
Hopefully the picture will explain better.
http://imgur.com/tZKXl2x

Honestly...I'd just sent it to RP lens and have them help you out. Probably give you least amount of headache!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hey gang, here's a campaign I wrote, directed and produced for H2 last winter. Our first big shoot on Epic MX!

We used RP Modded Contax Primes/Zooms and an RP Modded Sigma 18-35.

Scarlet MX also used as B-Cam.

I oversaw all post back at History, for 6 weeks.

Jake Blackstone graded our dailies (as always).


Campaign is classic format - image spots, and a bunch of characters.


Interviews shot primarily on Contax 35 1.4 MM and 85 1.4 MM.

Dana Dolly work shot with Sigma 18-35. My DP hated this lens, and refuses to use it any more ("too sharp" and "too clinical" he says). We used HMB 1/4 to match Sigma to Contax.

B-Roll shot on Contax 80-200, which was really handy to have on set.

Enjoy!


MUSEUM MEN - MISSION

https://vimeo.com/128338976



MUSEUM MEN - TEAM

https://vimeo.com/128338977



MUSEUM MEN - NATE

https://vimeo.com/128338978



MUSEUM MEN - RACHEL

https://vimeo.com/128338980



MUSEUM MEN - ROGER

https://vimeo.com/128338981



MUSEUM MEN - TOM

https://vimeo.com/128339328

 

[Paul Russell]

Great stuff, Nick. Love the comment from your DP about the Sigma. I was thinking of buying one, but since I got my Contax 35mm f1.4 the Sigma 3.5mm ART has been in the dry box unused for the same reason. So that really just confirmed my decision. I think I'll drop for the 18mm Contax AE prime that's sitting all forlorn in a local lens shop instead.

And Rachel is hot!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Great stuff, Nick. Love the comment from your DP about the Sigma. I was thinking of buying one, but since I got my Contax 35mm f1.4 the Sigma 3.5mm ART has been in the dry box unused for the same reason. So that really just confirmed my decision. I think I'll drop for the 18mm Contax AE prime that's sitting all forlorn in a local lens shop instead.

And Rachel is hot!

Haha, thanks Paul. Appreciate you took the time to watch these.

Yeah, I mean technically...the Sigma is amazing. There's nothing else like it (what other 18-35 super speed zoom is there?). I'm glad we have it. I'm sure we'll use again when the right job calls - just like we find lots of uses for the Tokina 11-16. For a "clean" look, it's pretty great.

But yeah, Ted says he hates how much latitude we lose with the Sigma. It's so contrasty. Also the 90 degree throw boned him a couple of times. The 300 degree GL is probably way togo, for those willing to pay the premium!

And +100 about Rachel! She's also whip-smart!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hey gang, here's ANOTHER project of ours from this winter.

Spec image spot targeted at Millenials....meant to look instagram/young/selfie.

I wrote/directed/produced...working off agency treatment.


B-roll shot on EPIC MX and RP Modded Contax 25 AEG (our "vintage" look).

Selfie cam was Scarlet MX with RP Modded Tokina 11-16, with 1/4 Promist (to age it, and add bloom/flares).


Jake graded dailies (as always).

I oversaw edit for a week, in-house at Small Giant.


MILLENIAL SPEC

https://vimeo.com/128340330


As a side note...entire cast are improvisers from Magnet Theatre (where I used to perform). Thought they brought a real honesty on camera...

Girl with spray bottle in restaurant...is Ariana our makeup artist!!

Originally meant to be shot on Helix, but weather was sub-zero that day...and Juiceboxes were running out fast.

So we went handheld instead, which brought nice doco feel...


All night shots are RP Modded Contax 35 1.4 (AEG) wide open at 1280 ISO...with avail light.

Cupcake shot lit only by ONE candle.


MX at night is surprisingly good....

 

[David Paul Malloure]

Hi Nick!

I'm a 'long time listener, first time caller' so to speak. Firstly, Thanks for all your hard work! This is my goto for Contax info. The 2015 Update is awesome!!

Question: Do you know if the 60mm 1:1 Makro is only available in the AEJ / AEG versions of the lens?

I can't seem to find an MM that is 1:1. I even asked the guys at the Zeiss booth at NAB at they vaguely answered there's no MM 1:1, but I can't put it to bed until I ask you.

Thanks!!

-David Paul Malloure
dave@thewoodenlens.com
thewoodenlens.com

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hi Nick!

I'm a 'long time listener, first time caller' so to speak. Firstly, Thanks for all your hard work! This is my goto for Contax info. The 2015 Update is awesome!!

Question: Do you know if the 60mm 1:1 Makro is only available in the AEJ / AEG versions of the lens?

I can't seem to find an MM that is 1:1. I even asked the guys at the Zeiss booth at NAB at they vaguely answered there's no MM 1:1, but I can't put it to bed until I ask you.

Thanks!!

-David Paul Malloure
dave@thewoodenlens.com
thewoodenlens.com

Hey David, there is no MM that I know of...for the 60 1:1 Macro. However, the AE can be misleading...as the serial numbers are often quite late (for ex mine is a 67X I believe). To me the Macros are sort of "tweaners" - yes they have Ninja Star, but serials/coatings are often late enough to intermix just fine with MMs.

Also not sure if the 1:1 Macro design is what limits these to AE...ie maybe the extension of barrels is so long, it limited amount of aperture control possible, which is why technically they aren't MMs?

EIther way...don't fret too much about AE...both Macros intermix well with MM, and are a welcome addition to any shooters kit!

Hope this helps!