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[WTB] Zeiss Contax 50mm 1.4

B

Ben Coughlan

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Looking to buy a zeiss Contax (C/Y) 50mm 1.4.

Currently building my set and have every other lens apart from this one.

21 f2.8
28 f2.8
35 f1.4
85 f1.4
100 f2
135 f2.8

I have bought 3 50mm's now and had the same problem with everyone. The optics always look clean and clear. No dust, scratches, fungus or haze. But when the lens is used in low light situations there is always a glow around light sources. For example, if i was shooting a single candle. the flame would have a diffused glow around it. This has happened with all 3 lenses so seems to potentially be a common problem but isn't apparent with any other lens in my set.

If anyone has a spare, or one they don't use frequently (that dosnt suffer from this problem) and wants to sell it. Please PM.

Would also be curious to know if other have this problem and if its a well known defect?

Cheers
 
Ok thats interesting.

The problem I have is all the way through. 1.4 - f16. I think it must be some sort of fogging/haze that isn't really visible to the eye. The lightest of frost??

Will definitely buy a 1.7 but would like to get a 1.4 that dosnt suffer from this if they exist.
 
Hmm, if it's through the range that sounds very odd. FYI though, the 1.7 is not only razor sharp, according to thelensdoctor it's actually a lot closer to f1.5 than f1.7 as stated.
 
On super speeds you will see blooming and resolution falloff wide open. It's a characteristic of just about very super fast lens aside from master primes or the new Leica's which cost a smidge more than what you are looking at. The pristine optical performance for a lens is usually f8 or f5.6, opening or closing can cause any range of problems from blooming to defraction.

on my high speed leica r lenses, mostly on the 80mm I can get a glow on light sources when wide open.

battistella
 
Hi Guys

Thanks for that David. The hazing with mine happens all the way through the f stops. All the way to f 16. I have come to the conclusion that the ones that I have bought have just had slight fogging. Maybe they have been taken from extememly cold to a warm room at some point in their life which has left a slight residue? All my other super speed lenses in the set (the 35 and the 85) don't suffer from it, or if they do, its incredibly minimal and only when wide open. I will do some more extensive tests today and upload some photos.
 
Ben Coughlan said:
Hi Guys

Thanks for that David. The hazing with mine happens all the way through the f stops. All the way to f 16. I have come to the conclusion that the ones that I have bought have just had slight fogging. Maybe they have been taken from extememly cold to a warm room at some point in their life which has left a slight residue? All my other super speed lenses in the set (the 35 and the 85) don't suffer from it, or if they do, its incredibly minimal and only when wide open. I will do some more extensive tests today and upload some photos.
Click to expand...

Ben, that glow should only be visible wide open. By f2 and certainly 2.8 should be completely clean and TACK SHARP. If you are seeing it across whole aperture, then it could be HAZE or something similar, yes. Maybe get a 50mm from KEH, B&H or some other high end dealer? And to be safe...maybe even get an almost LN copy!

Good luck! Once you get a good 50mm, you'll be happy. The 1.7 is also a great lens, just the construction is a bit more light weight as it's made with some plastic components to keep costs down, whereas the other Contax primes are all metal.

best
 
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