Carl Zeiss 85/2 Contarex Mount

pabeu · Joined: 25 Apr 2018 Posts: 88

Hello Forum Colleagues,
I am thinking of aquiring a CZ Sonnar 85/2 in Contarex mount. I have read in other forums that this might be the best constructed classical Sonnar 85 but not found many reviews or experiences of actual users.

Any on hands experience or opinions would be much welcome. Value, haptics, adapting experience, image quality (compared to what).

Thank you.
Pablo.
#1

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1377

It is a beautiful lens indeed. I've read that some are having issues with separation, image comparable with early jupiter , I like the very few shots that I could find online, nice character especially wide open flares. I don't think it should compare with modern 85mm , so if you can get it cheap enough (it seems like a collectible item) , I would go for it, but I personally wouldn't pay the 500+ people are asking for.

Noritar · Joined: 25 Jul 2024 Posts: 46

Contarex lenses are mechanical materpieces and some of the best made objects I've ever handled. But I've never shot with any of them. I recall the lenses feel slow to focus, but feel good in the hand. I always wanted to try them, but the cameras made me want to run in the opposite direction. The hyper engineered cameras are ergonomic disasters that no one wants to repair - maybe JPL could be convinced. But if you don't mind a precision style focus I'm sure these are excellent lenses. The body controls the aperture... I see the Fotodiox adapter has it's own aperture. That is not a good sign.

Crazy Leica Fox · Joined: 29 Apr 2017 Posts: 81

I have and love one of these. Everything about it exudes incredible craftsmanship, from the build quality to the bayonet lens cap to the silky smooth focus. Everything, that is, except the aperture. It's annoying to control the aperture with an adapter, and my adapter is marked with 1.4 for wide open, although this lens is f/2, so the aperture numbers are all off by one stop. Of course, I'm not even sure how accurate the adapter's aperture stops are, anyway, so the numbers might not really matter at all. Also, the lens' aperture blades create ninja-star bokeh until you stop down to f/11 (which is marked f/8 on my adapter...).

I've never owned another 85mm/2 Sonnar, so I can't say how it compares to the offerings from Nikon, Jupiter, Jena, or Opton. It does everything you'd expect from a vintage 85, providing some character wide open and then sharp to the edges stopped down. In actual usage, I find it's parallel to my Nikon pre-Ai and Konica AR 85mm/1.8 lenses. All of these are better than my Olympus Zuiko 85mm/2, which I found to be less sharp and have higher CA, though that lens is more compact and portable. The Contarex is quite heavy, but I actually prefer this solid feel in a lens. For example, I went for all the heavier, brass versions of Leica M lenses instead of the lighter, aluminum ones some other people favor.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7689 Location: Hong Kong

The post-war Sonnar 85/2, made by Carl Zeiss Oberkochen, in Contax RF mount should be optically identical to the Contarex version.

pabeu · Joined: 25 Apr 2018 Posts: 88