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Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

Hello Contax Zeiss people,

I've got a lovely 85mm 1.4 AEG that has decided to stop focussing to infinity - can anyone recommend someone good to send it to for repair? I'm based in the UK, so that would be my preference...

And while I'm here, for those of you who are interested, here are some videos I shot on my set of Contax Zeiss:

http://tomtdop.com/portfolio/sony-hi-res-headphones
http://tomtdop.com/portfolio/abbey-clancey-id-magazine
http://tomtdop.com/portfolio/confusedcomjenga10sytmp4

I have to say - thanks to you guys on this thread that I came across Contax Zeiss, I love them!

I put together a set (all AE) 25mm 2.8 / 35mm 1.4 / 50mm 1.4 / 85mm 1.4 / 100mm 2.8 macro over the last year and they've seen a lot of use. The flares on the AEs are right up my street. The 100mm is fantastically sharp and has a certain charm of its own. I put them all up on a lens projector at a rental house and was really impressed by what I saw, particularly when I put up some Cooke S4s as a comparison - obviously they weren's as sharp but they really are not fooling around once you've closed down 2 stops.

Tom Turley
www.tomtdop.com
 
Nick Morrison said:
I have not, but Id caution against the Contax N 17-35. Not because its not excellent (MTF's and feedback suggest it is)...but because the Conurus EOS mod may not work on a RED.

I bought and had to return an otherwise wonderful Contax N 24-85 for that very reason. We couldnt get iris control on the Epic Dragon.

Remember, the 17-35 is a Contax N zoom...meaning its autofocus...and the Conurus mod to EOS is quite complicated (and expensive).

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Did you have Fool Control when you tried out the Conurus? I wonder if it would be any different. It is too bad that somebody can't turn Contax N into totally manual lenses. They are great glass for the price.
 
scott devitte said:
Did you have Fool Control when you tried out the Conurus? I wonder if it would be any different. It is too bad that somebody can't turn Contax N into totally manual lenses. They are great glass for the price.
Click to expand...

I dont think it had anything todo with fool control, the camera itself just didnt seem to recognize the lens (because of their rarity, guessing RED hasnt included Conurus Contax N glass to their firmware?).
 
Contax Zeiss 28 "Hollywood" on Epic-Monochrome 6K

Contax Zeiss 28 "Hollywood" on Epic-Monochrome 6K

monochrome28hollywood.jpg


Contax Zeiss 28mm "Hollywood" on Epic-Monochrome 6K
 
scott devitte said:
Hey Samir, if you have the 6k monochrome can you shoot something in the 5k coverage of the scarlet monochrome and show us what it looks like?. Thx.
Click to expand...

Hey Scott. I ran down to RED Miami with a leica 80 and contax 28 to shoot this. I think I only shot the 28 at full 6KFF. The 80 in the other Leica thread I shot in 5K mostly but just simply shooting in monochrome threw me for a loop a bit because this is the first time I shot with a true monochrome camera. I will try to post more frames from the 5K in the other thread. The one I have in the other thread is Leica80/1.4 prob at 2.8-4. but it is very tight on the car.
 
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monochrome28_rlf.jpg

monochrome28_redgamma4.jpg


Contax Zeiss 28mm/f2 AE
6K FF (Epic-Dragon)
Dragoncolor2
ISO 250
Shadow -.200

First snap RedLogFilm
Second snap REDgamma4

I think I was probably at f2.8-f5.6 not sure (it was kind of bright and I didn't have my ND's with me)

Not focused on anything particular - this is the first frame in my file.
 
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Hi guys!

Can anyone help me with recommendations for repairs? Preferably in Europe, or even better, in London!?

Best,

Tom Turley
www.tomtdop.com
 
You guys are gonna love this...

Just picked up a 35-70 3.4, 50mm 1.7, 135 2.8 and a 180 2.8 along with a Contax 167mt for $360! Early Christmas for me :)
 
I'd know a great guy in Braunschweig, Germany for repairs. He's a former Rollei technician who now is getting sent all the lenses Zeiss is not taking care of any more.
He fixed some not so perfect Contax lenses for myself already.
 
Are you able to use a follow focus with the 60 S Macro or is the focus throw so large that the gears will become unaligned? I had this issue with the 100mm ZE Macro. I ended up attaching two focus gears to the lens.

Thanks!
 
Randy Rubin said:
Are you able to use a follow focus with the 60 S Macro or is the focus throw so large that the gears will become unaligned? I had this issue with the 100mm ZE Macro. I ended up attaching two focus gears to the lens.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, it's helpful to have an extra large gear attached. The gears on our 60 Macro and100 Macro are two to three times as wide as a regular lens gear (because, as you mentioned, the focus throw is probably 3 x 360).

Even then, the gear isnt wide enough to cover the complete throw (ie 1:1 macro to infinity), though for normal work it's been superb!

Hope this helps!!
Best
 
Thanks for the heads up, I didn't even notice the re-run myself.

Have a wonderful Christmas or a relaxing break from work everybody!
 
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