Contax G2 with Sonnar 2.8/90 [open thread]

[Orio]

This is an "open thread" (not personal showcase). If you have this camera/lens combo, please feel free to add your pictures and experience of use. If you don't have it, you can add comments or questions or anything related.

I read people has sometimes problem focusing this lens with G's autofocus, especially G1, but I focus it manually and I never made any out of focus shots this way. So I suggest everyone to focus this lens manually, although the procedure needs some time to get used to.

My G Sonnar 90 is not as "tack sharp" as the Planars, but provides, in my opinion, very nice telephoto images, especially in black & white:

[F16SUNSHINE]

Oh I love the first one!
This sort of comp is so nice in B+W and a silhouette.
The balance from the open water and the rich tones of this little point of land are very nice.
The experience you describe with focus and this lens is one that I had.
I think that I was always trying to use the lens in a close focus situation and the G1 without the firmware update was not up to it.
I like this lens a lot. There is a fair bit of temptation to have one adapted to M-mount on my part.
My understanding is that the G 2.8/90 is the same scheme as the Contax 2.8/85 for reflex.
If you consider that you can purchase this lens from KEH in excellent condition for $100.
It again makes owning a G system a no brainer.

[Orio]

[koji]

My contribution to G-Sonnar 90/2.8.
The both photos are old with G1, and film used was Fuji Reala, scanned by Nikon Coolscan IV.

Blue & blue


Green & pink


I do not record f-stops, don't remember them any longer.

This lens misses focus with G1 slightly more than occasionally,
I always check distance scale (not too accurate, but can check gross error).

[koji]

I do not think this lens is soft at any aperture, camera does not focus
correctly or lens might be a (very slight chance) lemon, IMHO.

See my G90mod page: http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/m42_contax_gsonnar_90mm_f28_modified

One guy use this for his MF camera with macro mode (I mean only near
focus), the lens has a large image circle more than 6x6.

Orio, I like the first shot as Andy does.

[F16SUNSHINE]

[koji]

One more thing, this lens Sonnar 2.8/90 was designed by lete Gratzel
(Erhard Gratzel 1925-2002), who made Hologon, Distagon and many
Lenses for Contax RTS system.

You can see how sharp the lens at f2.8 is (2.8Mb file, full size) >
http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/image/69121574/original

[Orio]

Wow, that is a sharp foto, Koji!