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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 205
Location: Amsterdam
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 Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:02 am Post subject: Question: Contax 85/1.4 versus 85/2.8 |
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propellor wrote:
I have the Contax 85/2.8 and it's great. But I am looking at the 1.4 with greedy eyes.
Reviews of both lenses are great and I am trying to find a justification to go for the 1.4
The speed is one of the things that attracts me, but I read a couple of reviews and I am a bit worried about shooting towards the sun. It seems to get milky fast.
Has anyone compared the 2.8 and the 1.4?
Thanks,
Bart.
Some shots with the 2.8:
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rbelyell
Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 4269
Location: somewhere in the mountains of central NY
Expire: 2014-01-31
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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rbelyell wrote:
i have not compared the two, but i can say that the 1.4 is the best lens i have ever used, bar none. now, i havent used distagons, but i have used a large amount of lenses in a variety of formats, and the IQ, 3d, color and outstanding low light capability of the 1.4 continues to amaze me. even if you just look at the pix posted with this lens on this forum you can easily see how special this lens is. i cannot seem to take this lens off my 5d!
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Epson RD1 + Elmarit 21/2.8; Summarit 50/1.5; Summarit 75/2.5; Elmar-c 90/4; Sankyo Komura 135/2.8, Hektor 135/4.5; Braun Paxina 29 6x6; Photax Boyer Paris; Holga 120 Pano
GREAT STUFF FOR SALE:
Contax T
Hasselblad XPan + 45/4, 90/4
Kodak Retina Reflex IV + full set of Schneider Krueznach lenses
Mercury 2 half frame 35mm
Kodak Pro slr/n
Fuji GM670+100/3.5+65/8!
Praktisix 6x6 medium format + ZeissBiometar 120/2.8
Bessa T 101 Anniversary Edition in Navy Blue
Mamiya Six Folder with Zuiko 75/3.5
Adaptall: Tamron SP 28-85 macro
Cameras: Canon IX
PM for more complete descriptions/pix. All in great shape!
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AhamB
Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 733
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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AhamB wrote:
| rbelyell wrote: |
| now, i havent used distagons |
You're missing out. Try something like an 28/2.8. |
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rbelyell
Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 4269
Location: somewhere in the mountains of central NY
Expire: 2014-01-31
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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rbelyell wrote:
well, i am presently lusting after the distagon 35/1.4...
back on topic, the above pix are very good indeed, but imho, there is a certain 'pop' or 3d aspect that the 1.4 brings that makes it such a special lens.
_________________
Epson RD1 + Elmarit 21/2.8; Summarit 50/1.5; Summarit 75/2.5; Elmar-c 90/4; Sankyo Komura 135/2.8, Hektor 135/4.5; Braun Paxina 29 6x6; Photax Boyer Paris; Holga 120 Pano
GREAT STUFF FOR SALE:
Contax T
Hasselblad XPan + 45/4, 90/4
Kodak Retina Reflex IV + full set of Schneider Krueznach lenses
Mercury 2 half frame 35mm
Kodak Pro slr/n
Fuji GM670+100/3.5+65/8!
Praktisix 6x6 medium format + ZeissBiometar 120/2.8
Bessa T 101 Anniversary Edition in Navy Blue
Mamiya Six Folder with Zuiko 75/3.5
Adaptall: Tamron SP 28-85 macro
Cameras: Canon IX
PM for more complete descriptions/pix. All in great shape!
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'buy me a drink, sing me a song,
take me as i come 'cause i can't stay long' |
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poilu
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Posts: 10471
Location: Greece
Expire: 2019-08-29
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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poilu wrote:
you need to have the 2 lens, very different character
85:2.8 small, no CA
85:1.4 much better at F1.4 & F2
http://forum.mflenses.com/contax-85-2-8-and-new-samples-t8513.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/medieval-rose-festival-of-rhodes-contax-851-4-t28381.html
85 @ 1.4
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 29545
Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
If you need f/1.4 and f/2, then buy the 1.4/85 - the 2.8/85 can't do those.
At f/2.8, the 1.4/85 is sharper because it's close to optimal aperture while the 2.8/85 is wide open (but sharp none the less)
From f/4 onwards, the two lenses are equivalent, but of course the 2.8/85 is much smaller and lighter.
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ersatz
Joined: 29 May 2010
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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ersatz wrote:
I had AE versions of both and the Sonnar does not have the ninja star bokeh. The Planar did have more noticeable CA and wide open you could lose contrast if the sun hit the lens. I thought that the Sonnar was a little bit better at closer distances. The Planar was sharper until about f4 but that was mostly just in the corners. As for the Zeiss "pop" I found them to be equivalent. I kept the Sonnar as 1.4 was a little too thin of a DOF and the Planar. |
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ManualFocus-G
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 6622
Location: United Kingdom
Expire: 2014-11-24
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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ManualFocus-G wrote:
The Sonnar 85/2.8 has some serious pop as well  I guess it depends whether you need the speed or not.
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Shooter of choice: Fujifilm X-T20 with M42, PB and C/Y lenses
See my Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/manualfocus-g |
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Rimasson
Joined: 28 Jan 2011
Posts: 15
Location: Paris
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Rimasson wrote:
I've got a Contax Planar 85mm f1.4 and a Oly E30
@f1.4, the picture is very soft, with a diffuse glow all over.
@f2.0 the picture become very sharp.
Here are some photos in my flickr gallery
this lens is a pleaure tu use, with a smoooth and precise focus ring
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rimasson/sets/72157623566390308/with/4403153829/
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5D MkII, E30, E-P1 Pana/Leica58mm f1.4, 50mm f2.0, Pana 20mm f1.7, Rokkor 58mm f1.2, OM 55mm f1.2, OM 28mm f2.8, Porst 55mm f1.2, hexanon 40mm f1.8, Contax planar 85mm f1.4 |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 205
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Thanks for all the comments guys. I see all of you are incredible fans of the 1.4
I can buy an MMJ in very nice condition for 500 dollars and I have to seriously think about that.
For me the MM is important because I want to "de-click" the aperture and the 1.4 is of course great in low light situations for filming.
Currently I have the following Contax lenses:
18/4.0 AE
25/2.8 MM
28/2.8 AE
35/2.8 MM
50/1.4 AE
85/2.8 MM
135/2.8 AE
I am contemplating selling the 28 because the 25 and 28 are very close together and I seem to prefer the 25 over the 28.
So If I sell the 28 and the 85/2.8 I can get the Planar 85/1.4...................
One more of the 85/2.8
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aleksanderpolo
Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 684
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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aleksanderpolo wrote:
I have been looking for a 85/2.8 MM for some time now and it seems to be rarer than the 85/1.4  |
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ersatz
Joined: 29 May 2010
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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ersatz wrote:
| aleksanderpolo wrote: |
| I have been looking for a 85/2.8 MM for some time now and it seems to be rarer than the 85/1.4 |
The Sonnar does seem to be harder to find. I would not hesitate to get the AE version though as I believe that optically there is no difference between the AE and MM versions. At least in the couple of copies I've had there was no discernable difference at all. |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 205
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
I made my decision and bought the 85/1.4 MMJ in a beautiful condition.
My 85/2.8, I found out, seems to be a rare one. This lens is marked "made in GERMANY". Not West-Germany ! So it is a very late one and in a mint- condition.
Tomorrow I will make pics and put the 85 and the 28 on the marketplace. |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 205
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
This is the lens I bought:
The 85/2.8 is posted on the marketplace. |
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goombles
Joined: 08 Apr 2010
Posts: 136
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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goombles wrote:
Wow, what a beauty and for $500! 
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Cameras: Canon 7D, Olympus OM-2n, Spotmatic SPII
M42: Sonnar 135/3.5, Flektogon 35/2.4, SMC Takumar 50/1.4, SMC Takumar 55/1.8, SMC Takumar 35/3.5
Tamron: SP 90/2.5 Macro |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 205
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:50 am Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Yes, including shipping ! Great find, I am happy. |
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nixland
Joined: 30 Jan 2011
Posts: 577
Expire: 2012-07-29
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:53 am Post subject: |
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nixland wrote:
I have both and very hard for me to choose which one to sell, so I keep them both 
I like 85/2.8 for it's small size, lighter weight, sharpness, 'dynamic range' and it's 3D. But I need f/1.4 too from 85/1.4
If someone put a gun to my head to decide, I will sadly choose 85/2.8 to go
Here you can see some comparison between the two (plus with Leica).
http://slrlensreview.com/web/benchmarks-resources-131/119-85mm-challenge/686-85mm-challenge-field-test-leica-vs-zeiss.html |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
Posts: 205
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:56 am Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Very nice comparison. Those Leitzes aren't bad either.........
Can't wait to receive and try my 85/1.4. |
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