contax zeiss vs sigma art

[Marc Hutchings]

I currently have a set of contax zeiss but i'm undecided whether i should sell these and buy sigma lenses instead. Seems like you can cover a lot of ground with just a sigma 18-35 and a 50-100. I;m not 100% sold on the look of the sigma over the contax but they do seem pretty sharp, would like people's opinions on the two options being used with a Raven, I just can't decide!

cheers

Marc

 

[soren k jensen]

Two very different approaches, both very good lenses. I have a fantastic set of modded Contax and will never part with them. But am testing the sigmas. Do just that: test and decide. The feel if the contaxes is fantastic.

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

They look completely different I have both, sigmas are way more modern looking and "normal"

 

[Kevin DeOliveira]

I have a cine modified set of contax zeiss primes.

While I love the old school flare they bring, the sigma art lenses are sooooooo much sharper. In a world of UHD, I'd vote for the sigma in most normal shooting conditions.

 

[Prahlad Strickland]

Don't forget the Milvus, cinivized I think lands right between the contax and the sigma in terms of image character and sharpness.

 

[Minu Park]

You want modern look + Clean C.A and fast aputure from wide angle to telephoto in an amazing price range, one man band short focus throw mania? Go sigma

You want vintage modern look(CAN'T SAY VINTAGE, BECAUSE REAL VINTAGE COMES TO COOKE) + You don't "Mind" some old lenses C.A, and a bit softer image than sigma, but great looking image in general, and manual longer focus throw? Go contax or Mivus

Me? No doubt, I already own entire sets of art prime sets, waiting for 85mm to be shipped...

It's a no brainer to not buy this lens if you own DSMC2 (Foolcontrol and it's eletronic focus from RT motion and so on...)

NOTE: I dare say, sigma 50mm 1.4 might be one of the sharpest "A.F" market in FF still lens market except OTUS. NOBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT SIGMA ART LENSES' SHARPNESS, may be some people complain about "look" but that's very subjective and uncountable to judge.

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

I would disagree that contax are not sharp, but they certainly have less contrast

 

[Brandon Kelly]

I own a few Contax primes, they are amazing lenses, certainly different then the sigmas. The 18-35 is a must have though as there is nothing else out there like it. Depending on what you are shooting really, both are great, but different.

this is shot on sigma 18-35
https://vimeo.com/171225944

This is shot on contax, about 90% anyways. 25mm and 50mm. two shots on canon 70-300L. Two shots of cherry blossoms on sigma 18-35.
https://vimeo.com/166847510

 

[Prahlad Strickland]

that new 12-24mm sigma art could become a real classic if it's in the 12-24 nikon quality

 

[Mohammed Almedfa]

The Sigma Art are great. Do be aware of the focus-breathing on the 50-100mm though. But the 50mm is unequivocally great and 85mm has been announced.

++ I would say the 18-35mm is the single most useful lens I ever have on set. For gimbal & crane work it simply lives on the camera.

 

[JeanChristophe Dupasquier]

The Sigma Art are great. Do be aware of the focus-breathing on the 50-100mm though. But the 50mm is unequivocally great and 85mm has been announced.

++ I would say the 18-35mm is the single most useful lens I ever have on set. For gimbal & crane work it simply lives on the camera.

I second that! Could test the 50-100mm Cine at Photokina and the breathing is pretty bad! Otherwise I own the 18-35mm (non-Cine) and it feels as it was made for RED cameras

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

The Sigma 50-100 breathes like a 90 year-old with COPD. It's unacceptable for narrative work in my opinion. The 18-35 is our go-to lens at least 80 percent of the time. It's fast, superb, and doesn't breathe much at all. Amazing.

Your perfect cover-anything set would be the Tokina 11-16mm, the Sigma 18-35 f1.8, the Sigma f1.4 50mm, the Sigma f1.4 85mm, and the Canon L 100mm macro. If you are doing narrative work, that's pretty much all you'll ever need.

Stephen

 

[Nick Morrison]

Totally different looks

One modern and clean.

The other vintage with character (will still being usable sharp).