Tele-Tessar 300mm f/4 vs Canon 400mm f/5.6L

[wuxiekeji]

Trying to get rid of my Canon 70-300 since I'm rather unhappy with the image at the long end, and I've only ever pulled out that lens to shoot at the long end. I have plenty of fantastic lenses to cover at the short end, like Samyang 85/1.4, Zeiss Sonnar 135/2.8 and so I really don't need much of the short end of the 70-300; I'd rather have a good long prime. I also generally don't use zooms and love shooting wide open.

Figure this is the right place to ask, since I'm a heavy MF user. Price aside, and autofocus aside (which is why I'm asking here), purely from an image standpoint, given a choice between a Tele-Tessar 300mm f/4 vs Canon 400mm f/5.6L, which would you choose, from a image quality standpoint? And are there any other vintage contenders in this general category?
_________________
Canon EOS 60D | Zeiss Distagon T* C-Y 4/18 | Samyang 1.4/35 | Zeiss Planar T* C-Y 1.4/50 | Samyang 1.4/85 | Zeiss Makro-Planar T* C-Y 2.8/100 | Zeiss Sonnar T* C-Y 2.8/135 | Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2.8/200 | Tair-3S 4.5/300

[Attila]

Welcome!

Orio had one Tele-Tessar it had horrible CA if I remember as well. I don't have much clue about Canons.
I was happy with following 300mm f4-f5.6 lenses.

Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 300mm f4 MC
Nikon 300mm f4.5 AIS IF
Nikon 300mm f4.5 AI
Tair 300mm f4.5
SMC Pentax 300mm f4
_________________
Attila - admin --- BUY FRESH FOMAPAN TO HELP KEEP THE FACTORY ALIVE ---
Foma Campaign topic - FOMAPAN on forum - Webshop EU

Items on sale on Ebay

35mm: Konica A4, Konica IIIA, Konica FC-1
MF: Konica Pearl I,II,III 6x4,5 Konica Semi Pearl
Film: Foma,Kodak, Fuji DIY development C41, FOMA LQR
Scan: Epson V500, scanassist (http://www.scanassist.org)
Shutter tester: LCD tester from member vfmoto
Digital: Panasonic G1, Sony Nex-3, Samsung NX100
Lenses: Konica Hexanons,Carl Zeiss,Carl Zeiss Jena,Meyer-Optik,Minolta MD,Yashica ML,Nikon,Olympus OM
DIY E-6,C41 and B&W

[wuxiekeji]

Good point about the CA ... though I don't think I've seen Sonnar 300 in Contax mount (does it exist?) so I can put a Leitax adapter on it. I'm a little nervous using a cheap adapter with a heavy lens ... not to mention the difficulty manual focusing with the adapter play.

I haven't really ventured into Pentacon and M42 territory, how sturdy are the EOS adapters in that area?
_________________
Canon EOS 60D | Zeiss Distagon T* C-Y 4/18 | Samyang 1.4/35 | Zeiss Planar T* C-Y 1.4/50 | Samyang 1.4/85 | Zeiss Makro-Planar T* C-Y 2.8/100 | Zeiss Sonnar T* C-Y 2.8/135 | Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2.8/200 | Tair-3S 4.5/300

[Orio]

I confirm my bad experience with a brand new Tele-Tessar 300
If you can find one (not easy) I would recommend a Vario-Sonnar 100-300 Contax
Be prepared to spend though.
For cheaper alternatives, the list made by Attila is good.
_________________
Orio, Administrator
T*
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html

[ManualFocus-G]

+1 to the Vario-Sonnar 100-300mm, it's my favourite long lens now.

If you want something in the 400mm region, I would suggest a Canon 300/4L + 1.4x TC. Newer long teles are unbeatable for CA and resolution. The 100-400L is OK but not sharp until f/7.1 @ 400mm (at least in my copy).

I'm yet to try a Zeiss Tele-Tessar 300/4, but I've seen a few reports like Orio's so it's not really interested me. The CZJ Sonnar 300/4 has CA issues on digital as well.
_________________
Graham - Moderator

Shooting things: Canon EOS 6D and 5D, Samsung NX11 with Carl Zeiss T*

See my Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/manualfocus-g

[iangreenhalgh1]

I'd go for a Tair-3, very sharp even wide open at 4.5 and I haven't found any CA at all with my copy. For the price, it's a no-brainer imho.
_________________
'The question I would really consider (especially if an amateur and on a budget) is whether or not anyone (including yourself, of course) can tell the difference in any situation for which you will use the lens...and if they can, why are they burying their noses in your prints hard enough to tell the difference instead of responding to the prints emotionally and thinking about what they might mean?' - 2F/2F on apug.org

Digital: Sony NEX-3, Samsung NX100, Canon EOS 450d
35mm SLR: Konica FT-1, Konica FC-1, Konica Autoreflex T, Carena SRH760, Exakta RTL1000, Canon EOS 10qd
35mm VF: Olympus Stylus, Konica C35, Konica A4, Konica MG, Konica MT-9, Ricoh FF-9, Ricoh AF-80
35mm RF: Zorki 6, Kiev II, Kiev IV, Contax IIIa, CZJ Werra III,
Medium format: Franka Rolfix, Mess Ikonta 524/16, Voigtlander Bessa with Skopar 3.5/105, Voigtlander Bessa with Voigtar 3.5/105, Kiev 6C, Century Graphic 23, Ensign Selfix 820, Kershaw 450
MF lenses: Schneider Angulon 6.5/68, Componon-S 5.6/100, C-Claron 4.5/135, Xenar 3.5/105, Mamiya C 2.8/45, Mamiya 2.8/80, CZJ Flektogon 4/50, Biometar 2.8/80, Zodiac 3.5/30, Tominon 4.5/135, Pullin Pulnar 2.8/100
Large Format: Ernemann HEAG Series VII version II 9x12 with Kodak Anastigmat 6.3/170
Konica Hexanons 4/21, 2.8/24, 3.5/28, 2.8/35, 1.8/40, 1.4/50, 1.7/50, 1.8/50, 3.2/135, 3.5/135, 3.5/200, 4.5/300, 3.5-4.5/35-70, 4-4.6/28-135, 3.5/35-70, UC 3.5/45-100, 4/70-150, 4/65-135, UC 4/80-200. Hexars 3.5/28, 3.5/135, Konishiroku 2.8/35
Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.8/35, Skoparex 3.4/35, Tessar 2.8/50, Sonnar 1.5/50, Biotar 2/58, Pancolar 1.8/50, Cardinar 4/100, Zeiss-Opton Biogon 2.8/35
Meyer/Pentacons 2.8/28, Primagon 4.5/35, Trioplan 2.9/50, 1.8/50, 2.4/50, Primotar 3.5/50, Primotar 3.5/135
Topcon RE Auto Topcors 1.8/58, 3.5/135, 5.6/200
Russians: OKC1-18-1 2.8/18, OKC1-28-1 2.8/28, Jupiter-12 2.8/35, Jupiter-8 2/50, Industar-50 3.5/50, Industar-26M 2.8/50, Industar-22 3.5/50, Zenitar M2S 2/50, Helios-44-2, Jupiter-9 2/85, Jupiter-11 4/135, Tair-3C 4.5/300
Tokina 3.5/17, Nikon Auto Nikkor-N 2.8/24, Nikon Micro-Nikkor-P 3.5/55, Ross Xpress 3.5/4in, Ross Xpress 4/5in, Ross Xpress 4.5/8.5in, Wollensak APO-Raptar 10/541

[Olivier]

The Canon 5.6/400mm has a very good IQ.
I price is not an issue, I would go for the Canon and buy a Taïr 300mm, 10x less pricey, just for fun and comparison.
_________________
Olivier - Moderator
DSLR : Canon EOS 5D Mark II - EOS 40D + Olympus Pen E-P2
SLR : Canon EOS 500N - ZENITH EM - Fujica ST-701 - Pentacon - Edixa Mat Reflex d - Nikkormat FTN
Medium format : Mamiya C3 Professional
Lenses : Angenieux * Carl Zeiss Jena * Cosinon * Fujinon * Hanimar * Helios * Industar * Jupiter * Meyer Optik Görlitz * MIR * Nikkor * Pentacon * Piesker * Prinzflex * Samyang * Soligor * Steinheil München * Schneider Kreuznach * Taïr * Super Takumar * Tamron * Tokina * Voigtländer * Volna * Will. Wetzlar * Yashinon * Zenitar

[wuxiekeji]

Thanks all!

On a side note, as far as budget 300's go, what's the general verdict on CZJ Sonnar 4/300 vs. Tair-3 in the categories of (a) contrast (b) CA (c) sharpness?

Tair-3 is a no-brainer price-wise, but even at low price, I'd rather avoid buying two 300's since the worse of the two would then end up taking up shelf space doing nothing ... just want to avoid accummulating monster-size stuff unless I actually use it
_________________
Canon EOS 60D | Zeiss Distagon T* C-Y 4/18 | Samyang 1.4/35 | Zeiss Planar T* C-Y 1.4/50 | Samyang 1.4/85 | Zeiss Makro-Planar T* C-Y 2.8/100 | Zeiss Sonnar T* C-Y 2.8/135 | Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2.8/200 | Tair-3S 4.5/300

[Attila]

[tanheis]

[NewStuff]

Another +1 on the Tair 3. Lovely lens, and the focus mechanism and Location are what all long lenses should use. I have far more keepers with this than my beloved Pentacon 300/4.
_________________
Pentacon's:- 300/4, 200/4, 135/2.8 (15 blade), 135/2.8 (PB), (2x) 50/1.8, 30/3.5.
M42:- Hoya Auto-Wide 24/2.8, Hanimex 28/2.4, MOG Lydith 30/3.5, Tessar 50/1.8, Tair 3-pHs, Helios 44-2, INA 135/3.5.
PK:- Super Paragon 24/2.8, Clubman 24/2.8, XR Rikenon 50/1.7 & 2.0, (2x) Pentax-M SMC 50/1.7, Hanimex 80-200/4.5.
C/Y:- Zeiss 45/2.8, Yashica DBS 50/1.9.
Bodies:- NEX-3, EOS D60, EOS1 (35mm).
AF:- Sigma 24/2.8 Superwide II (EF).
Misc:- Hoya Super EL 50/2.8 M39, Helios 2X converter M42, 58mm 0.45x screw-in adaptor.

[SonicScot]

I don't have that fancy focus mechanism on my Tair-3 but it's still a fantastic bit of kit. Another vote
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye

Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/

[Boomer Depp]

The Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L does very well wide open,and one of my favorite 400mm lenses....that said,I have a Canon EF 300mm f4 L non-IS that does almost as well wide open with a 1.4 TC....in fact in would be hard for me not to recommend the Canon EF 300 f4 L...it's an amazing lens, that is stunningly sharp wide open.
_________________
Trust that little voice in your head that says "Wouldn't it be interesting if...." And then do it.

[wuxiekeji]

[Nisseliten]