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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

I've finally finished reading every post on this thread, and have decided to invest in the Contax lineup. Thank you all so much, you've been a big help.

I have ordered a mint condition 28-85mm to start. Will post some samples when I get it :)
I'd like to use an FF with it, but I've heard issues with zoom creep. Any recommendations?
 
Ben Scott said:
Welcome Mark, and you can't go wrong with the 28-85. I take it to every shoot. That said, it being a push/pull zoom I'm not sure how you would use it with a follow focus.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Though we do have ours geared, in case we "want" to use it as a fixed prime with a FF...but to be honest...that's never happened...
 
Lately we've been busy with corporate stuff and trying to get to grips on the best configuration for a Ronin. As part of that exercise we spent a couple of days shooting Tehmina, a local broadcaster who agreed to model for free (always the best).

This was all shot on Contax MM glass, ranging from the 27mm f2.8, 35mmf1.4, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.4 and in one shot the 135mm f2.8. Once again, the Contax glass turns out nice and sharp, with excellent rendering of skin tones. All 6KHD at 86fps


After two days of shooting I've found that the best config for a Ronin as 'as light as possible'. Holding that thing out at arm level and head height can get pretty tiring.
 
Nick Morrison said:
Exactly. Though we do have ours geared, in case we "want" to use it as a fixed prime with a FF...but to be honest...that's never happened...
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So do you have issues with zoom creep when keeping an accurate focus on a subject? I do have gears for the 28-85.
 
Mark Spurrell said:
So do you have issues with zoom creep when keeping an accurate focus on a subject? I do have gears for the 28-85.
Click to expand...

No. Focus creep would generally happen if you tip the camera too much up or down (more common in stills photography). But for video, we usually have the camera level - so zoom creep has never been an issue for us on Contax zooms. Also, when you use the FF, that often "locks" down the barrel of the lens, and keeps your focal length firmly in place.
 
Nick Morrison said:
No. Focus creep would generally happen if you tip the camera too much up or down (more common in stills photography). But for video, we usually have the camera level - so zoom creep has never been an issue for us on Contax zooms. Also, when you use the FF, that often "locks" down the barrel of the lens, and keeps your focal length firmly in place.
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Good to hear, thanks Nick.
 
Hey guys.. I just bought a Kowa 16-H anamorphic adapter with a Vid-Atlantic 52mm step down adapter clamp that went with it... how would I best go about attaching it to the varying front threads of my CZ lenses. Cordvision the lenses first and get another clamp to match it?
 
liam howlett said:
Hey guys.. I just bought a Kowa 16-H anamorphic adapter with a Vid-Atlantic 52mm step down adapter clamp that went with it... how would I best go about attaching it to the varying front threads of my CZ lenses. Cordvision the lenses first and get another clamp to match it?
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Hey Liam, with any kind of anamorphic attachment, using step up/down rings is a given if you want to actually clamp it onto the taking lens. If you are not satisfied with the clamp quality try the Redstan ones, its much more robust than the vid atlantic ones. I've bought another anamorphic attachment recently too. Will test it with contax combos when I get it.
 
hi, im a long time contributor to this thread, about 1000 replies ago! im not sure if this was ever mentioned or tested by anyone, but what do we thing about mutar 2x and 1.4x zeiss extenders, do they work well, are they sharp, is one better then the other? i see mutar I, II, III… the I's being bigger then the rest. do they still click onto a canon adapter well, i see an extra mechanism off the back end.
thanks!
 
jordan levy said:
hi, im a long time contributor to this thread, about 1000 replies ago! im not sure if this was ever mentioned or tested by anyone, but what do we thing about mutar 2x and 1.4x zeiss extenders, do they work well, are they sharp, is one better then the other? i see mutar I, II, III… the I's being bigger then the rest. do they still click onto a canon adapter well, i see an extra mechanism off the back end.
thanks!
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Mutars overall are pretty great. 1.4 is particularly good.

But once lenses are modded to EOS, not sure how practical they are anymore...
 
Nick Morrison said:
Mutars overall are pretty great. 1.4 is particularly good.

But once lenses are modded to EOS, not sure how practical they are anymore...
Click to expand...

well my lenses have a detachable eos mount, so i can take it off, put the mutar on and put the adpater on the mutar, with no issues right? is there a big difference in mutar I, II, III? the 3 is probably the most modern im assuming. i was just worried because i see the mutar seems to have an extra mechanism on the back mount.
 
The 28-85 just came in! :)

It looks and feels beautiful, and it feels more solid than my L lenses.
IMG_4352.jpg

IMG_4354.jpg
 
Hello Fam,

Another little ad shot entirely with the Contax boys.
50mm 1.4 mainly plus the 28mm 2.8 here and there.
Variable ND used, no other filters.
It is my usual BMCC 2.5 combo. Sorry, not the Epic.

Hope you like it.

 
Patrick Anton said:
Hello Fam,

Another little ad shot entirely with the Contax boys.
50mm 1.4 mainly plus the 28mm 2.8 here and there.
Variable ND used, no other filters.
It is my usual BMCC 2.5 combo. Sorry, not the Epic.

Hope you like it.

Click to expand...

You used a 50 1.4 on a BMCC...on a glidecam? With the BMCC's 2.3 crop factor, thats a 115mm equivalent...I'm impressed. Warp stabilizer? Or are you just a damn good operator?
 
Mark Spurrell said:
You used a 50 1.4 on a BMCC...on a glidecam? With the BMCC's 2.3 crop factor, thats a 115mm equivalent...I'm impressed. Warp stabilizer? Or are you just a damn good operator?
Click to expand...

I am shooting with a metabones booster so it is more like an 85mm'ish.
I do not use warp because it really does not work well with steady cam footage IMO.
Things get wavy and odd very soon.
I have done a fair share of glidecam shoots to be pretty comfortable with it. The BMCC fits it like a glove.

thanks !
 
Patrick Anton said:
I am shooting with a metabones booster so it is more like an 85mm'ish.
I do not use warp because it really does not work well with steady cam footage IMO.
Things get wavy and odd very soon.
I have done a fair share of glidecam shoots to be pretty comfortable with it. The BMCC fits it like a glove.

thanks !
Click to expand...

That makes a lot more sense. In any case, very nice work. Love the look of contax on the BMCC.
 
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