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Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

Tony Yang said:
So I recently went to Japan (Osaka specifically) and went on kind of a giant Contax shopping spree. I found a tiny yet amazing store (forget the name) filled with Contax lenses at awesome prices and just couldn't help myself haha. I have a set of the "Supers" but don't have any of the "Standards" or zooms so that's what I went about buying for my collection. There was also the added advantage that I could inspect all of the lenses firsthand which you can't do off ebay.

Here's the haul:

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Listed out:

Contax Zeiss Distagon T* 25mm f/2.8 AE
Contax Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm f/2.8 MM
Contax Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f/2.8 AE
Contax Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.7 MM
Contax Zeiss Sonnar T* 85mm f/2.8 AE
Contax Zeiss Sonnar T* 100mm f/3.5 MM

Zooms (all MM):
Contax Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 35-70mm f/3.4
Contax Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 28-85mm f/3.3-4.0
Contax Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 80-200mm f/4
Contax Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 100-300 f/4.5-5.6

Was especially pleased with my 100-300mm as it's a later 8400635 serial number.
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With the help of my tour guide, I managed to bargain down and purchase all 10 of these lenses and a Contax RTS film camera (just to play around with) for around $3000 which is a lot cheaper than what I've found on eBay. Can't wait to test them out!
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I'm very interested in knowing where this shop is, or the name!
 
It was a few minutes outside of Dotonbori. It was on the smaller side, but still had a great lens selection. I forgot to take a picture of the store name so that's all I remember. Sorry!
 
Thanks so much for creating this amazing resource, so much great info in here!
I started putting together an MM set but after testing an AE with my anamorphic adaptor, I really like how they flare and have decided to sell my MM's and peruse AE's instead.

Would anyone be interested in trading any C/Y - EF MM Leitax mounts for AE?
I currently have 2x Narrow mounts and 2x Wide mounts.
I also have 1x Narrow mount for C/Y - Nikon F mount.

Hit me up if anyone is keep to trade :)

Cheers!
 
Heya Craig I have some AEs for sale, hit me up if you still need some FL, ok?

BTW MM have more contrast for sure so in some instances AEs are better indeed!

And some AEs seem to have a tiny more microcontrast VS the same FL in MM.
 
Tommaso Alvisi said:
Heya Craig I have some AEs for sale, hit me up if you still need some FL, ok?

BTW MM have more contrast for sure so in some instances AEs are better indeed!

And some AEs seem to have a tiny more microcontrast VS the same FL in MM.
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Yes so hear! I think they'll do the job nicely :)
I've actually just bought all the crucial ones but I will definitely be looking for one or two more in the future when I have some more $$.
I bought a 25mm 2.8, 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.4 but would be interested in getting a 60mm 2.8 Planar-S at some point.
I'll keep you in mind next time I'm looking for an AE.
 
Alright boys!
I have a set of ZE glass that im happy with, but have sold a few off over the years to replace with some photo lens' as work has been getting a bit tight in my city.

Looking at getting a set of Contax, Though no one seems to really say if their work examples are AE or MM and im a dirty frame kind of shooter, so im heading towards AE. What is everyone else shooting on mainly?
 
Zac Gordon said:
Does the 60 and 100 only come in AE?
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Yes, they are only AE's, but that appears to be a function of their mechanics too (ie not just their age) - if you get late serial numbers, coatings feel like MM's. However both have Ninja Stars.

Though we shoot them booth at 2.8, and never see the star anyway.
 
So, I just recently bought a set of Contax Zeiss for pretty cheap:

28mm f2.8 MM
35mm f2.8 MM
50mm f1.4 MM (also I previously had a 50mm f1.4 ZE)
85mm f1.4 MM

And used a couple of them on a shoot last weekend. I've always loved my 50mm ZE but oh my goodness, I totally fell in love with the images that the 28mm and the 85mm provided. I totally see where people talk about the renowned Zeiss 3D rendering. The shots were just utterly beautiful - flattering to skin (especially the 85mm), and the falloff into the out of focus areas... there was a shot with the 28mm with a girl about 3 feet in front of me, on the street. She had this "pop" and clarity within the frame, while the buildings in the background had this lovely blur to it, even at f4. And the colours. Oh, the colours!

They were a huuuuge upgrade from my Canon 16-35L and 24-105L lenses. And I didn't spend more than $2k in total. I'm just starting out as a DP, but the new lenses just took the images taken with my Epic-W to a whole new level - it had such a "cinematic" feel to it. I think I also now understand what people mean by taking the digital "edge" off. The images were so "creamy" haha. Gosh, and these are "lower-end" lenses too, I can't even begin to imagine how much better the Super Speeds and Cookes and Angénieux lenses would look.

Oh, and my next ones on the list to get when I have enough money haha:

21mm f2.8
28mm f2 Hollywood
35mm f1.4
135mm f2
And one of the macro lenses

Ok time to declick and get the Leitax mount!

Thanks Nick for your guide, it was such a great help in which lenses to get. Epic-W and Contax Zeiss - what an awesome pairing.
 
Homer Dulu said:
So, I just recently bought a set of Contax Zeiss for pretty cheap:

28mm f2.8 MM
35mm f2.8 MM
50mm f1.4 MM (also I previously had a 50mm f1.4 ZE)
85mm f1.4 MM

And used a couple of them on a shoot last weekend. I've always loved my 50mm ZE but oh my goodness, I totally fell in love with the images that the 28mm and the 85mm provided. I totally see where people talk about the renowned Zeiss 3D rendering. The shots were just utterly beautiful - flattering to skin (especially the 85mm), and the falloff into the out of focus areas... there was a shot with the 28mm with a girl about 3 feet in front of me, on the street. She had this "pop" and clarity within the frame, while the buildings in the background had this lovely blur to it, even at f4. And the colours. Oh, the colours!

They were a huuuuge upgrade from my Canon 16-35L and 24-105L lenses. And I didn't spend more than $2k in total. I'm just starting out as a DP, but the new lenses just took the images taken with my Epic-W to a whole new level - it had such a "cinematic" feel to it. I think I also now understand what people mean by taking the digital "edge" off. The images were so "creamy" haha. Gosh, and these are "lower-end" lenses too, I can't even begin to imagine how much better the Super Speeds and Cookes and Angénieux lenses would look.

Oh, and my next ones on the list to get when I have enough money haha:

21mm f2.8
28mm f2 Hollywood
35mm f1.4
135mm f2
And one of the macro lenses

Ok time to declick and get the Leitax mount!

Thanks Nick for your guide, it was such a great help in which lenses to get. Epic-W and Contax Zeiss - what an awesome pairing.
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Watch out! You'll get the bug. :))
 
Hey everyone, my school provides FS5s with a Metabones EF to E Speedbooster to use for our shoots and today I discovered that for whatever reason, when I try to use my lenses, the aperture wheel won't work. When the lens isn't connected to the speedbooster, the aperture wheel will be working fine, and I can see the blades moving. As soon as I mount it to the speedbooster, it remains wide open no matter what I do.

Has anybody experienced this problem before and potentially have a solution?
Thank you!
 
Yes Tony, one of the protruding pins near the rear element touch the holder of the optical element of the SpeedBooster so it's locked and when you turn the aperture ring it can't move the blades.

You should file the pins (or remove these, opening the lens) if you want to use it with the SB.
 
@Homer
I wouldn't go for the 135mm f2. It#s hard to find, expensive and not really great WO. The 135mm f2.8 is good from the start and far cheaper.

All the others you consider are great, but good luck with the 21mm…
 
Uli Plank said:
@Homer
I wouldn't go for the 135mm f2. It#s hard to find, expensive and not really great WO. The 135mm f2.8 is good from the start and far cheaper.

All the others you consider are great, but good luck with the 21mm…
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Uli is totally right go for the 135 2.8 unless you like the softness and accentuated lowcon look (even for Contax standards he he) of the 135 F2!

BTW I have two gorgeous Zeiss 21mm, I could sell my main one or my new old stock one I bought as a backup since these babies are tough I don't need it after all he he;)
 
Just picked up the 80-200 in Mint condition for $200. I have a specific use for it coming up. So still missing the 100, 135, 180 and the 35-70 but getting there.
 
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