Contax Zeiss Survival Guide

[Charles Gardener]

Hey y'all, new member here - registered to say thank you for sharing all this useful information. I'm still catching up with this thread, only a couple hundred pages back but working my way back towards page 1. I'm a stills guy, but just getting back into digital with a Sony a7ii and have just picked up a 28/2.8, 50/1.7, and 85/2.8, all in MM. Very excited to use them.

They're a bit removed from video work maybe, but does anyone here happen to know just *how* rare the prototype 500mm and 800mm lenses were?

 

[Wyant Nguyen]

[/url]Siam No.1 Muay Thai demo. Contax Vario-Sonnar 35-70mm 3.4 + Lens Turbo 2, Sony A6000 by Wyant Nguyen, on Flickr[/IMG]

50mm 1.7

I've got the 28,35,135 in 2.8's MM but I find my self picking up the 35-70 and 80-200.

Now I'm hunting the 28-85mm
There is one posted with the seriel code 0000010 MMJ, is this a rare lens? I thought all MM's start around the 7xxxxxxx

 

[Uli Plank]

@Charles:
If you are referring to Mirotars (katadioptric Mirror lenses) they are not that rare in 500mm f8. There are faster Versions, which are very rare and expensive and I've never seen a 800mm. But since you are using the Sony A7R II, may i suggest a Minolta RF 500mm f8? They come far cheaper and are excellent too.

@Wyant:
Mine is in the 7x range too, never heard of such a low number. Maybe a prototype and, if so, might fetch more by collectors and become less attractive for general use.

 

[Matt Stuertz]

Just discovered this epic thread a few weeks ago, and immediately had to dip my toes into the Contax lineup. Bought a 28-85mm and upon realizing how much I loved it, now have an 80-200mm in the mail too. I haven't worked with too many zooms that I was a fan of before this, so I'm pretty blown away by the image quality and sharpness of these things. Threw a bit of grading and some film grain on these images below to see how they'd look for a slightly gritty / not entirely clean look and I'm really happy with it. All shot on a RED Epic Dragon at 6K WS.


Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Plant (85mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Hollywood (85mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Hollywood (50mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Hollywood (28mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Sunset (85mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

 

[Tom Hamilton]

Here is my new 16mm fisheye, fresh from RP Lens declick, Leitax and gearing, getting ready for its first test dunk in a Gates housing. Will bring this one with me to Tonga to film Humpback whales, looking forward to the first images.

 

[jordan levy]

i have 2 nice cinemoded MMJ lenses in the marketplace section that need a new home!
50mm and 28mm, both declicked by duclos.

 

[Nick Morrison]

[/url]Siam No.1 Muay Thai demo. Contax Vario-Sonnar 35-70mm 3.4 + Lens Turbo 2, Sony A6000 by Wyant Nguyen, on Flickr[/IMG]

50mm 1.7

I've got the 28,35,135 in 2.8's MM but I find my self picking up the 35-70 and 80-200.

Now I'm hunting the 28-85mm
There is one posted with the seriel code 0000010 MMJ, is this a rare lens? I thought all MM's start around the 7xxxxxxx

Sorry for delay in responding to this lovely pic - just got back from long vacay.

Wyant this pic is great. And that serial number sounds crazy!

Yup - those are the two zooms we use all the time too.

Enjoy!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Just discovered this epic thread a few weeks ago, and immediately had to dip my toes into the Contax lineup. Bought a 28-85mm and upon realizing how much I loved it, now have an 80-200mm in the mail too. I haven't worked with too many zooms that I was a fan of before this, so I'm pretty blown away by the image quality and sharpness of these things. Threw a bit of grading and some film grain on these images below to see how they'd look for a slightly gritty / not entirely clean look and I'm really happy with it. All shot on a RED Epic Dragon at 6K WS.


Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Plant (85mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Hollywood (85mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Hollywood (50mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Hollywood (28mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Contax 28-85mm Zoom - Sunset (85mm) by Matt Stuertz, on Flickr

Matt these pics are GREAT. Yeah the 28-85 is amazing bang for the buck right?

The 80-200 is a lens we use CONSTANTLY (which is why we have numerous copies).

Enjoy.

 

[Matt Stuertz]

Thanks Nick! It's definitely due to your praise (and example images / videos) of these lenses that I went for the zooms, and they have not disappointed at all! Can't wait to have that 80-200 in hand.

And Tom, can't wait to see that underwater footage!

 

[Wyant Nguyen]

Thanks Nick! It's definitely due to your praise (and example images / videos) of these lenses that I went for the zooms, and they have not disappointed at all! Can't wait to have that 80-200 in hand.

And Tom, can't wait to see that underwater footage!

Yes, Senpai has acknowledged us!


more 35-70 love

 

[Tong Hang Ning]

Hi Guys!

I have recently received 3 of my Contax Zeiss lenses 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4 and 138mm f2.8 all in AE. Still waiting for the 85mm. I noticed the color of the 35mm is slightly warmer so I went to test in a simple way. It came out 35mm is really warmer than the 50 and 138 by 150 in temperature. Isit how it is for all the 35mm or I just have a copy that is different in color rendering? Serial number of the 35mm is 5869620, 50mm is 5936896,135mm is 6143517 and

Here are the pictures. Notice the color of the fridge is warmer on the 35mm
All shot at 1/50 ,F2.8, iso 500

50mm
test-2 by Oscar Tong, on Flickr

35mm
test-2-2 by Oscar Tong, on Flickr

135mm
test-2-3 by Oscar Tong, on Flickr

 

[Nick Morrison]

They are not all going to color match. Our 35 1.4 AE is in the mid 6s, and isn't as warm as yours. But our 80-200 is very warm.

A lot of the glass are "close" to reach other, but they were never designed (as far as I can tell) to identically match, as cine lenses try and do.

It's not uncommon to see these sorts of variations.

Generally, we've been able to match shots in the grade though...

Hi Guys!

I have recently received 3 of my Contax Zeiss lenses 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4 and 138mm f2.8 all in AE. Still waiting for the 85mm. I noticed the color of the 35mm is slightly warmer so I went to test in a simple way. It came out 35mm is really warmer than the 50 and 138 by 150 in temperature. Isit how it is for all the 35mm or I just have a copy that is different in color rendering? Serial number of the 35mm is 5869620, 50mm is 5936896,135mm is 6143517 and

Here are the pictures. Notice the color of the fridge is warmer on the 35mm
All shot at 1/50 ,F2.8, iso 500

50mm
test-2 by Oscar Tong, on Flickr

35mm
test-2-2 by Oscar Tong, on Flickr

135mm
test-2-3 by Oscar Tong, on Flickr

 

[Tong Hang Ning]

Thanks Nick! Glad to know that! The 50mm and 135mm look darn identical tho!

 

[Aaron Lochert]

Here's mine:

35 f/1.4 @ f/2.8 - Serial number 733XXXX

50 f/1.4 @ f/2.8 - Serial number 845XXXX

My 35mm might be a touch warmer, but the 50 is a touch greener, if anything. Ignore the any inconsistencies you might see in the lights on the computer, those are shifting minute by minute along a rainbow pattern - It just so happened that I got two frames with blue lights in them.

 

[Jeff W]

Hey Nick,

I'm considering picking up a 16mm standard prime for the wide end to match my set of AEG primes (all with Cordvision cine rings and Helicoptersean gears). Is this the model of lens you would recommend?: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-16mm...239523?hash=item56a7132e23:g:tBEAAOSw~HBaONmV

If so, what sort of conversion did you put it through to be ergonomically friendly to modern cinema cameras, and what lens tech did you do that through? Did you undertake a simple Arri S to PL conversion, or even go so far as to adapt to EF? I'm considering Leitaxing all of my Contax glass, but if the wide only plays nice with the PL-mount, then it isn't as convenient a solution for my day to day shooting, which is often EF-mount cameras.

Thanks!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Hey Nick,

I'm considering picking up a 16mm standard prime for the wide end to match my set of AEG primes (all with Cordvision cine rings and Helicoptersean gears). Is this the model of lens you would recommend?: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-16mm...239523?hash=item56a7132e23:g:tBEAAOSw~HBaONmV

If so, what sort of conversion did you put it through to be ergonomically friendly to modern cinema cameras, and what lens tech did you do that through? Did you undertake a simple Arri S to PL conversion, or even go so far as to adapt to EF? I'm considering Leitaxing all of my Contax glass, but if the wide only plays nice with the PL-mount, then it isn't as convenient a solution for my day to day shooting, which is often EF-mount cameras.

Thanks!

Hey Jeff, yes we bought/converted something similar to this...but with way more modern T* coatings, and later serial numbers (in the 6, this is in the 2's).

What we have is basically an actual Standard Prime, but in this older B-Mount housing.

The lens you have here could be way, way older...and may essentially look/feel close to uncoated, so don't be surprised if there's way more flares and less contrast.

We eventually did have RP lens strip the B-Mount, and hard convert the prime to a steel EOS mount (leaving the rear elements protruding dangerously). The only way to "cap" this lens is to put a macro-tube extension on a standard canon back cap, and then it covered the back element snugly, and safely.

This conversion took RP lens months, and they vowed to never do it again...so not something I recommend considering as "ordinary".

Duclos I don't believe even took me up on it.

So...proceed with caution...and make sure you have a tech bold enough to even try this...

Also keep in mind while this lens renders very cool looking imagery, it struggles to even cover S35. It was designed for Academy, so we normally shoot this at 4K on Dragon.

Whereas we shoot Contax most often at 6K.

Meaning...it's a specialty lens that we like becuase it conveys a wide angle feel in a very compelling way, and it's a stop faster when we need it...but otherwise a 21mm at 6K has a similar FOV (though the distortion feels different)

 

[Jeff W]

Hey Jeff, yes we bought/converted something similar to this...but with way more modern T* coatings, and later serial numbers (in the 6, this is in the 2's).

What we have is basically an actual Standard Prime, but in this older B-Mount housing.

The lens you have here could be way, way older...and may essentially look/feel close to uncoated, so don't be surprised if there's way more flares and less contrast.

We eventually did have RP lens strip the B-Mount, and hard convert the prime to a steel EOS mount (leaving the rear elements protruding dangerously). The only way to "cap" this lens is to put a macro-tube extension on a standard canon back cap, and then it covered the back element snugly, and safely.

This conversion took RP lens months, and they vowed to never do it again...so not something I recommend considering as "ordinary".

Duclos I don't believe even took me up on it.

So...proceed with caution...and make sure you have a tech bold enough to even try this...

Also keep in mind while this lens renders very cool looking imagery, it struggles to even cover S35. It was designed for Academy, so we normally shoot this at 4K on Dragon.

Whereas we shoot Contax most often at 6K.

Meaning...it's a specialty lens that we like becuase it conveys a wide angle feel in a very compelling way, and it's a stop faster when we need it...but otherwise a 21mm at 6K has a similar FOV (though the distortion feels different)

Thanks much for the detailed response! Sounds like RPLens had to go full circus to convert that guy to EF. I'll keep an eye out for an older 21mm for the kit and rent the modern 15mm f2.8 extra berth-ey occasions. Stoked to break out the C/Y CZ's for a short this weekend!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Thanks much for the detailed response! Sounds like RPLens had to go full circus to convert that guy to EF. I'll keep an eye out for an older 21mm for the kit and rent the modern 15mm f2.8 extra berth-ey occasions. Stoked to break out the C/Y CZ's for a short this weekend!

Anytime - and have fun!

 

[Uli Plank]

Since the question of matching wides, the Minolta MC Rokkor NL 21mm in particular, rose in my thread, I'd like to make you aware of a short comparison of colors from that lens with the Sigma 18-35mm and my Zeiss C/Y 25mm under identical conditions:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?92246-Minolta-Rokkor-Survival-Guide&p=1782409#post1782409

IMHO, this test confirms that you may be better off with the Sigma if you want to match it with Zeiss C/Y lenses, as much as I like my Rokkors too.

There is a link to the original R3Ds, so you can try yourself at matching them.

 

[Ignacio Aguilar]

I have an older Zeiss 16mm T2.2 lens for sale, already rehoused in PL mount, in case anyone needs a faster wide angle for a set of Contax. Please PM if interested.