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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

Cal Hallows said:
Sorry if this has been asked already but how are you adapting on your FS7 Ben? I have a few lenses EF adapted but they foul on my Speed Booster (usually on the aperture lever) - considering having them modified to fit but I'd rather keep them near standard if possible.
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I was using a cheap £10 dumb ef mount and a £60 Camdiox dumb speedbooster, neither of which had any issues with the lever. I have a Metabones mk4 ef adapter now and so far they are all working.

Oh, and cheers Nick :)
 
Ben Scott said:
a £60 Camdiox dumb speedbooster
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I think I've had bad luck, I picked up one of these and it wouldn't fit properly on my FS7 (mount incredibly tight and wouldn't seat all the way causing infinity issues) and the dreaded blue centre spot.

At this point I think I'll save myself the headache of tracking down a mk3/4 Speedbooster and just get the backs filed down and iris levers removed. Maybe get them declicked while I'm at it...
 
Ben Scott said:
weird.. Have now got a Viltrox one for £100 (works with the Otus too) and it is working perfectly if that helps?
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Hmm that does help actually! How is the Viltrox optically? Seems a shame to use such beautiful lenses and put them through a snide speedbooster which nixes all that effort!
 
What would you guys say is a current day "good" price for a 21mm f/2.8 and a 28mm f/2, separately? MMs preferred to match the rest but not a deal breaker if they aren't.

Still debating if I want to grab those two or if I should nab a rehoused 18-35, either GL or the upcoming Sigma and sell my 35mm 1.4.
 
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In December I was able to get a mint condition barely used CONTAX 28MM F/2 for $825 on eBay. But I think I got a little bit lucky, I'v seen them go for much more $ when in good condition.
 
Aaron Lochert said:
What would you guys say is a current day "good" price for a 21mm f/2.8 and a 28mm f/2, separately? MMs preferred to match the rest but not a deal breaker if they aren't.

Still debating if I want to grab those two or if I should nab a rehoused 18-35, either GL or the upcoming Sigma and sell my 35mm 1.4.
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Good deal is $1500-1750 for 21, and $900 for 28.
 
Cal Hallows said:
Hmm that does help actually! How is the Viltrox optically? Seems a shame to use such beautiful lenses and put them through a snide speedbooster which nixes all that effort!
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Unlike the bad press the Metabones optics designer keeps putting out about rivals, they seem perfectly fine so far and certainly there or thereabout on a level with the Metabones.

I tended to leave a focal reducer on for using the zooms and off for the primes.
 
Hi , i wonder if you guys know anyone who repairs contax lenses. I have a problem with my 35mm 1.4 and tried to contact duclos and few others but they can't help me.
I have a problem with the infinite focus and the focus itself. It looks like the center of the images is crisp but the side is blury and distorted. Please contact me if you know someone or if u do repair lenses i need this to be repair ASAP
 

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Jérémie Boivin said:
Hi , i wonder if you guys know anyone who repairs contax lenses. I have a problem with my 35mm 1.4 and tried to contact duclos and few others but they can't help me.
I have a problem with the infinite focus and the focus itself. It looks like the center of the images is crisp but the side is blury and distorted. Please contact me if you know someone or if u do repair lenses i need this to be repair ASAP
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I have had STEVES CAMERA in Los Angeles repair a few Contax lenses. They did a very good job and affordable.
 
Jérémie Boivin said:
Hi , i wonder if you guys know anyone who repairs contax lenses. I have a problem with my 35mm 1.4 and tried to contact duclos and few others but they can't help me.
I have a problem with the infinite focus and the focus itself. It looks like the center of the images is crisp but the side is blury and distorted. Please contact me if you know someone or if u do repair lenses i need this to be repair ASAP
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Try RP Lens or Visual Products!!!
 
I'm sure this is probably a dumb question...but, Contax Zeiss would hold up fine on the helium sensor at 8k right?
 
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Not a dumb question, since I'd expect quite a few vintage lenses to be challenged by Helium.
I don't own one, but most of my Zeiss Contax lenses hold up very well on a Sony A7RII, and that beast has 42 mpx and no OLPF.

Remember, these are stills lenses and they were perfect for photography. If you would have looked at a single frame of grainy analog 35mm movie footage, many lenses would have had more resolution than that – perceived resolution would be composed by your brain from looking at a sequence of them. But in photography you could always stare at a single shot of 50 ISO landscape and study everything in detail – and Zeiss knew that very well. I'd say the 60mm macro for example would even outresolve a 50 mpx sensor. Sure, some of them, like the 25mm, will be challenged in the corners when shot WO in full frame stills, but Helium is smaller than Dragon after all.

So, while stills lenses may have some drawbacks, like breathing as discussed here recently, the best ones are great in resolution. And please listen to what Mark Toia has to say around 4 minutes into his Helium showreel about resolution.…
 
A couple shots from Weapon Helium at 12:1 compression and saved at 80% JPEG...
On the OG Contax Zeiss Hollywood (28mm f/2.0)... pretty sure I was at wide open...
Oh and BTW if you want a EPIC-W today there is one in stock at the MIAMI store. Get your ass over there to buy it!

epic-w-1.jpg


epic-w-2.jpg
 
Looking good!!!

Samir Patel said:
A couple shots from Weapon Helium at 12:1 compression and saved at 80% JPEG...
On the OG Contax Zeiss Hollywood (28mm f/2.0)... pretty sure I was at wide open...
Oh and BTW if you want a EPIC-W today there is one in stock at the MIAMI store. Get your ass over there to buy it!

epic-w-1.jpg


epic-w-2.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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