Contax users, have question on lenses....

[harlequin]

Hello Team,

Recently traded some strobe equipment for Contax RTS with 50mm T*planar, shot 2 rolls of film hp5 and tmax 100,
Damn that lens is sharpest I have used and contrasty too!

Question....

A) are the prime Sonnar telephoto lenses also high performance?
B) they make a very fast 85mm lens and 100mm lens.....anybody out there have experience or make recommendations as they are pricy glass vis a vis canon or Nikon.......any sample images would be icing on the cake...
C) primary use, still life’s fine art and portraits in black and white..

Thank you for your input, suggestions...
Stay Safe!

Harlequin

 

[JensH]

Hi,

for portraits I strongly recommand the Planar 1.4/85mm. My most used lens on the RTSII.
Great here at f2 or 2.8.
If you don't need the f2 a Sonnar 2.8 should be fine, too.
I have used/own Zeiss/Contax lenses in 18, 28, 50, 85 and 135mm, no lemmons there.

Best wishes
Jens

 

[Pflaumesaft]

Hi Harlequin,

I've been shooting with Contax 35mm for about 9 years now and the RTS series (especially 2) is probably my favourite. That being said, I've not sure what you are comparing to, but the 50mm is not particularly superior to equivalent offerings from my Nikon/Pentax sets...It's as good as any 50mm.

As for the rest: Sonnar primes are excellent, significantly more contrast than the Planars. the 135 is a great starting point. But ever since buying the Vario-Sonnar 80-200, I stopped using other any Zeiss telephotos. The contrast and separation puts the 85 and 50 to shame. I can only guess what the high-end Apotessars can offer.

 

[Jeff L]

I have an 85 2.8 Sonnar and find it very sharp.

 

[narsuitus]

Damn that lens is sharpest I have used and contrasty too!

I own and use the following Zeiss lenses:

21mm f/2.8
28mm f/2
28mm f/2.8
35mm f/1.4
45mm f/2
90mm f/2.8
135mm f/2

I also shoot Nikkor, Leitz, and Takumar lenses.

When it comes to sharpness and contrast, my 28mm f/2.8 Nikkor and my 50mm f/1.4 eight-element Takumar are the only lenses that equal the image quality of my Zeiss lenses.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The 85 1.4 is an absolute must-have in your Contax arsenal. I don't have anything online to show what it can do, but it can do amazing things. I've heard very good things about the 100 f2, but when you compare the fields of view of the two lenses in practical use, the difference between them is so small, you're better off just getting the 85 1.4, because you've got an extra stop worth of light to work with.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

The 85 1.4 is an absolute must-have in your Contax arsenal. I don't have anything online to show what it can do, but it can do amazing things. I've heard very good things about the 100 f2, but when you compare the fields of view of the two lenses in practical use, the difference between them is so small, you're better off just getting the 85 1.4, because you've got an extra stop worth of light to work with.

I seem to remember you have done some excellent work with the Contax camera and Fujicolor Reala, displayed here in the past?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I seem to remember you have done some excellent work with the Contax camera and Fujicolor Reala, displayed here in the past?

Yes- there might still be some examples posted if you dig back through my gallery...

 

[ic-racer]

I use the Rolleiflex SL system and many of the Zeiss lenses are similar to the Contax system. I usually don't use long lenses and only have the Tele Tessar 135mm. It is not a very sharp lens. So, if you want a high resolution lens, I'd look for a 135mm Sonnar or Planar.