Contax RF lenses.

[Kyle M.]

Other than Zeiss, Jupiter, and Helios were there any other manufacturers who made lenses in the original Contax RF Mount? I left out Nikon because as I understand it the RF base is slightly different and they need to be calibrated to work on Contax and Kiev cameras. I'm just curious what might be out there.

 

[Frank53]

Voigtlander made some lenses a few years ago, together with the Bessa r2c camera. Nikon wide angle lenses could be used as well.
Regards,
Frank

 

[guangong]

Nikon made rf lenses specifically for Contax and are marked on the barrel of lenses with a “c” for Contax. I have the Nikon copy of the Zeiss 85 mm Sonnar for Contax, clearly marked with a “c”. Same lens, but much cheaper when Nikon.

 

[RLangham]

Other than Zeiss, Jupiter, and Helios were there any other manufacturers who made lenses in the original Contax RF Mount? I left out Nikon because as I understand it the RF base is slightly different and they need to be calibrated to work on Contax and Kiev cameras. I'm just curious what might be out there.

I will say that Jupiter and Helios are actually Soviet industrial designations for the lenses. There weren't companies and brands in the Soviet Union as I understand, so much as factories and individual product designations, although you do see a marked difference in the style between the outputs of, say, the FED (Felix E Dzherzhinsky) factory commune and the KMZ (Kraznogorsk Mechanical Factory), so it's almost like having different companies, even though it was all state-owned.

But no, as you say there don't seem to be very many different Contax lenses. It's one reason I haven't bought a Kiev--I like how many cheap options there are in m39 much better.

 

[ntenny]

Camerapedia says there were actually quite a few manufacturers: https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Contax_rangefinder_lenses

Most of the third-party examples seem to be pretty rare though.

-NT

 

[Dan Fromm]

I will say that Jupiter and Helios are actually Soviet industrial designations for the lenses.

Design types. All Jupiters are sonnar types. All Helios are 6/4 double Gauss types. All Industars are tessar types. But and however Russar is a trade name that contains many design types, not all wide angles.

 

[RLangham]

Design types. All Jupiters are sonnar types. All Helios are 6/4 double Gauss types. All Industars are tessar types. But and however Russar is a trade name that contains many design types, not all wide angles.

I knew it was that way for Industar but I wasn't sure for the others. It makes sense.

 

[RLangham]

Camerapedia says there were actually quite a few manufacturers: https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Contax_rangefinder_lenses

Most of the third-party examples seem to be pretty rare though.

-NT

I will mention as an enthusiastic camera-wiki editor that camerapedia is out of date and no longer maintained by the community. It has all been migrated to camera-wiki, which has much more text and images. I just thought I'd let you know.

 

[Kyle M.]

Thanks everyone I didn't realize Nikon made the Contax specific versions. Nor did I know about the voigtlanders. My Kiev came with a very nice example of the Jupiter 8M 50/2, and I recently bought a Helios 103 53/1.8. I may look into a 35mm and 85mm eventually. I really enjoy this camera and being that it's a later Kiev 4A and not an original or II I must have gotten lucky because this one is a good one.

 

[btaylor]

The Helios is a very sharp lens- I like mine. A good example of a Jupiter 9 85/f2 can be excellent too- but of the two I purchased in Contax mount both were dogs with mechanical problems. The LTM version I had for my FED was exceptional however. I ended up with the Nikon “C” 85mm, very happy with it- the original Zeiss is just way more than I want to spend.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I ended up with the Nikon “C” 85mm, very happy with it- the original Zeiss is just way more than I want to spend.

I recall reading that Nikon RF lenses longer than (or other than?) 50 mm won't work correctly on a Contax/Kiev body, something about the outside bayonet or focus coupling being calibrated just a hair different. Was that a myth?

 

[Frank53]

I recall reading that Nikon RF lenses longer than (or other than?) 50 mm won't work correctly on a Contax/Kiev body, something about the outside bayonet or focus coupling being calibrated just a hair different. Was that a myth?

It’s not a myth. There is a slight difference. No problem with wide angle, but standard and tele can only be used closed down.
Regards,
Frank

 

[RLangham]

I recall reading that Nikon RF lenses longer than (or other than?) 50 mm won't work correctly on a Contax/Kiev body, something about the outside bayonet or focus coupling being calibrated just a hair different. Was that a myth?

True from what I've heard. Also the first Nikons had a non-standard frame, though I believe they had standard number of frames per length of film. This was changed at the insistence of Western distributors.

 

[btaylor]

I recall reading that Nikon RF lenses longer than (or other than?) 50 mm won't work correctly on a Contax/Kiev body, something about the outside bayonet or focus coupling being calibrated just a hair different. Was that a myth?

Not a myth, note post #3 from guangong. Nikon made lenses with a C on the barrel to distinguish it as made for Contax- they are calibrated differently. I also have a Nikon rangefinder with another copy of the 85mm lens, but without the “C”. I just realized I have a third copy in LTM. I guess I like them!