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UK/EU sale/trade - Contax Zeiss 85mm f1.4 made in Germany -

Ben Scott

Ben Scott

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These are getting increasingly more rare and the prices are only going skywards... Here we have a German made Contax/Yashica mount 85mm f1.4. Serial number on the barrel interior is 5916801

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Condition:

As seen from the photos it has plenty of marks to the exterior as befits a lens of this age but nothing that affects operation. The glass is free of scratches (any marks in the pic are just smudges from cleaning as I only had a sec to take the pics) although there is dust inside the front element - although nothing that affects picture quality. Focus rotation is acceptable but not 1000% smooth. Iris operation the same - as in it works perfectly but feels like it could use a touch of TLC.

Basically it could use a little clean and then it would be perfect. I spoke to The Len Doctor in the UK and he suggested it wasn't a big job at all. Priced for quick sale. These things are often going for almost double the asking price here.

Sale Price
£410 plus £10 postage to the UK
£410 plus £20 posted to the EU
£410 plus £30 posted to the US

OR

Possible trades

Zeiss ZE 21mm
Zeiss ZE 25mm f2
Zeiss ZE 28mm f2
Zeiss ZE 35mm f1.4
Zeiss ZE 85mm f1.4
Zeiss ZE 100mm f2 macro

Mk 1 Canon 24-70l f2.8
Canon EF 70-200l f2.8
Contax Zeiss 28mm f2
Contax Zeiss 28-85mm zoom

Or if you have anything else exciting lens-wise to trade please PM me. Cheers.
 
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I can verify that finding this lens with a serial # in the 5's is VERY, VERY rare indeed.

Why does this matter? Well, the 5's are the oldest batch of Contax Zeiss lenses. They have the oldest coatings, and are therefore the most likely to be wonderfully low-con and "flare" prone.

Contax lenses with serial #'s in the 7's and 8's are a bit cleaner, more modern looking to my eyes. Very beautiful. But the older ones in the 5's just have have a magic that is hard for me to ignore.

If I didn't already own three Contax 85's, I'd probably offer to buy this myself!
 
Wow thanks for the info Nick. Didn't realise they were quite that rare, making this even more of a 'Billy Bargain' for sale or trade.

But far more importantly, you own 3 Contax 85mms? :lol:
 
Ben Scott said:
Fair play to you, I thought owning more than one lens of the same focal length was an extravagance. Let alone owning three of the same type :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, no, I consider it a must. You won't be shocked then if I tell you I also own four Contax 50's. And three 135's!

I spent 10 years in improv comedy. And got my start making content working with improvisers. I quickly learned that shooting multi-cam was a must, and that having multiples of the same focal length provided a consistency that made a huge difference.

I've since embraced multi-cam as a workflow in-and-of itself. For the right project, it can do wonders, and help you make your day. But...to do it right...I've found it prudent to have multiples of all my favorite portrait focal lengths: 50's, 85s and 135s.
 
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