Carl Zeiss Zoom Lenses

[fernanrl]

Hi,

I am making myself with a few manual lenses of different sorts, but I find Carl Zeiss lenses in general much of my like. I would like you advice on this. What do you think of this (before I spend/waste my money)?

1.- Carl Zeiss Contax 28-85mm 3.3-4.0
2.- CARL ZEISS JENA 70-210mm

Any experience? Are they good lenses or bettet not spend money on them?

Regards,

Fer

[Attila]

Contax should be a good item, I have no experience with this lens.

Carl Zeiss Jena zoom means a Japanese lens, quality can be vary. Take it if price low, don't expect such a good quality.

[F16SUNSHINE]

I agree with Attila. The Contax will be a Good lens. I found good quality and
the "Zeissyness" from the 28-85 it is a chunk of a lens however (heavy and large).
Take a pass on the Contax 28-70. It is a good lens but not as good as the price calls for. Better to find a Tamron or Kiron. The Jena-zooms are made by sigma.
They are cheap crap pass completely is my opinion.

[fernanrl]

So...should I forget both lenses?
Regards,

Fer

[poilu]

the contax 28-85 is superb, better than most prime you will ever found
it's 735g and I prefer to carry the smaller 35-70
if you found a 28-85 at a good price, take it

[koji]

Carl Zeiss Jena actually made two zoom lenses, Prakticar 35-70/2.7-3.5 and Prakticar 80-200/4.
Although they al least designed them, but I suspect the zooms are most likely made in japan,
since old WEB managers/workers never saw these zoom lenses made in their factory.

The both of them are not bad lens, specially 35-70 is a good one with macro capability at 70mm end
and this lens only uses 8 lens elements + one flat glass with least distortion zoom I have ever seen.
All other CZJ zooms are OEMed by some other companies in Japan and Korea, possibly some other.

[F16SUNSHINE]

Maybe I spoke to strongly about the Jena-zooms. My experience was with a
lens labeled Jena zoom. It was a 70-210 with a blue stripe around the barrel.
The same blue color for the print on the front cap.
The lens was very lightweight. Focus and zoom rings extremely loose.
Image quality was not good soft images with bad C/A. The lens had the exact
build and IQ as a Sigma lens that Michelle had at the time. Either of the lenses was real crap.
Funny thing is it sold for $150 on Ebay. The name is everything aye?

[Attila]

Prakticar zoom lenses was under control of Jena, others are don't.

[ldm92]

[poilu]

welcome ldm92
have a nice time with us

[ldm92]