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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-17-2016, 04:14 PM
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It was more of a humorous post - a set of f1.4 lenses for $13,000 - but fellow Pentaxians, if you have $5,000 to spend on a single lens in order to hone your modding skills - please be my guest. The old Contax lenses offers a wonderful combination of value and excellent image quality for 1/2 to 1/3 of the price of ZK when you can find them.... The ZF.2 fall into the same boat.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
09-17-2016, 02:07 PM
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I have 2 Contax Zeiss converted with the Leitax remount kit. There is no reason to believe that it would be any less than perfect.
... so for all of you new K1 shooters needing fast f1.4 lenses... Leitax mounts extra - not included. Cheaper by the quarter dozen!
:cool:
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-27-2013, 09:14 PM
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I happened across a Contax Zeiss 28/2.8 Distagon locally on Craigslist about 3 almost 4 years ago. After thinking about it for a couple of days and figuring everything out (the C/Y mount), I picked it up and ordered the Leitax.com K mount. About a year or so later I went looking for a Contax Zeiss 85/2.8 Sonnar. Both are incredibly sharp wonderful across the entire lens. Since I do landscapes and cityscapes, brokeh is not really a large concern of mine. I collaborated with Les on a comparison with the 31 Ltd, which obviously performed much better in this respect, however the CZ did not do too badly at f2.8.
A little over a year ago I received a bonus at work, and mistakenly for what ever reason, I have absolutely no idea as to what possessed me - just did a search for a Zeiss 25/2.8 ZK. I happened across some new old stock over in Southern California. They wanted $750. I thought about it for an afternoon and then just ordered it. Actually, my excuse was that was my maximum threshold of pain, and I knew that if I did not pick it up the price would only be higher in the future.
So I have 2 of the Contax Zeiss (CZ) lenses along with a Zeiss ZK. I do like all of them - for different reasons. The CZs have a wonderful build, small, light weight, perform magnificently - there is just a lot to like about them. They are just f2.8, but for my use that is just perfect. The ZK is large, heavy, overbuilt by a factor of at least 4x, nothing but glass and metal and will survive a nuclear strike. I like it very much. I did not realize it until it arrived, but its focus throw is 355 degrees, of which the first 180 degrees covers 6 to 12 inches. Its not a macro, but a close focus gem.
About 8 months ago or so, there was this gentleman on the forum, in Boston who had a ZK 18 along with a K20/2 for sale. I thought about them for a couple of months. I could not justify the price for the ZK 18, finally decided on the K20/2, but missed it by an afternoon. I had also been considering the Voigtlander 20mm f3.5 Color Skopar for at least several years and came across a wonderful copy several months ago. Physically comparing the CS 20 to the ZK 25 is startling. The CS is half the size of the ZK and probably a third of the weight. However, there is nothing lacking in the CS' build quality.
In terms of distortion, both of the Contax lenses are held very high, while both the ZK and CS have their detractors. I will say that the ZK has enough glass and metal that it should be near perfection in terms of correction. They are all what they are - and in terms of 20, I do like them all very much. The way I use the lenses, I do not see any of the perceived concerns.
Also, a bit over a year ago, I came across a Leica 28/2.8 Elmarit-R 3 cam that had its mount converted to the K using the Leitax conversion. I picked it up. I had always wondered how the Leica compared to the Zeiss. Quite frankly, as a personal preference - I like the Zeiss better. No explaining it, the Leica is a wonderful lens, great glass, wonderful build - overbuilt like the ZK, but I like the Contax and ZK better. I have it up on the marketplace - since I have a 20, 25, 2-28s and the 31Ltd, one of the 28s needs to go (and I am not parting with the Contax Zeiss). Just too many lenses in the same focal length range.
Bottom line, I like the Zeiss rendering, color, handling, build - just the overall character that it has in the images. Also, you really can't beat the Contax lenses. Very similar design as the ZK, a bit slower in aperture speed (but fast for landscapes), and the newer ZK's coatings should be better, but for the price I have not found them lacking in the slightest.
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