Site Supporter Registered: January, 2008 Posts: 8,823 | | Review Date: July 30, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, contrasty, appealing bokeh, compact | | Cons: | 1m close focus distance | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Lumix S5
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Though I did not shoot on a Pentax camera, I am compelled to add another review for this under-appreciated lens. I am sure that the f/2.8 turns people off, but this is a Zeiss optic. That means it's usable from wide open, with good sharpness except at the extreme edges and incredible micro-contrast the likes of which you might never have seen. The bokeh is smooth and round. And on a digital camera f/2.8 is not a handicap when it comes to light.
Contax Zeiss lenses have the best handling of any lenses I have used, even better than Pentax since the aperture turns easier. This makes stop-down metering a treat. It's easy to get focus since the image is so clear.
The lens is compact, light, and elegant. The only downside is the 1m close focus distance, which won't matter if you get this for portraits. That's the only reason this stellar lens is not a 10.
I should also mention again the cortrast. This lens is almost too contrasty compared to others in my arsenal. Keep that in mind when developing.
Full review with photos on Theatre of Noise. Shot on full-frame Lumix S5. I will add some here as well.
Schweppes to demonstrate wide-open performance:
Sharp and contrasty bloom:
Leaf on the border (with added vignette). How sharp is this?
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New Member Registered: April, 2017 Posts: 12 | | Review Date: January 31, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp since full aperture, contrast, IQ, compact | | Cons: | none whatsoever | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Fujifilm XT-20
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Along with the Pentax FA 50mm/2.8 macro and the Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4, the Sonnar 85mm f/2.8 (C/Y mount) is probably the best lens overall I own.
On APS-C is very sharp to the borders/corners since f/2.8, suffering from a bit of vignetting but nothing to worry about. At f/4 it gets a bit better, but as for sharpness there is not much to improve with an 24MP sensor!
It is also a surprisingly compact item, handy and well-built.
I must say that if it weren't for the f/2.8 (not very wide) and the not exceptional (though very good) bokeh, this would probably be "the perfect lens".
Also, I don't know if there is a PK-mount version of it, but that would be a great thing.
I have reviewed two copies of it, the later test is here:
http://www.rustichelli.net/Hobbies/Photography/LensTests/Zeiss-Sonnar-85mm-2...star-f-2.8.php | |
Veteran Member Registered: June, 2010 Posts: 753 | | Review Date: March 15, 2014 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | optical performance, compact body, build, coating | | Cons: | stop down metering, bokeh, f2.8 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: K10D, K20D
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A beautiful small short telephoto lens which I adapted via leitax mount to my Pentax slrs. Later on it was replaced with FA77/1.8, which was eventually replaced by DA70 and K85/1.8. Comparing Contax lens to those Pentax lenses I think it was most similar to DA70 optically. Very very sharp lens with high contrast. Nice colour rendering. Low chromatic aberations, negligible distortion. Very well build body, very discreet and small lens, great for street photography. Pitty I got K85/1.8 later, it would be interesting to compare those two lenses side by side. Recommended lens if you don't mind manual focusing.
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