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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3704 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:44 pm Post subject: Contarex Madness |
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Pancolart wrote:
I've noticed prices of Contarex cameras go rocket high. I was sure they are out of my league but i had some luck today: Click here to see on Ebay.de. I am really interested what do you think is it worth that money? _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Contarex Madness |
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Orio wrote:
Pancolart wrote: |
I've noticed prices of Contarex cameras go rocket high. |
They've always been high.
Many people consider the Contarex lenses to be the absolute best Zeiss lenses for SRL.
This is a disputable opinion in my view (if for nothing else, for the coating), but surely they are precious beautiful lenses. The fact that they were produced in small to very-small numbers compared e.g. to Contax lenses made them true collectioner's items.
As for the cameras: they are no-compromise cameras. Sturdy as a rock and very precise mechanism. Unfortunately the earlier ones use selenium cells for metering and these rarely are still working today.
Pancolart wrote: |
I was sure they are out of my league but i had some luck today: Click here to see on Ebay.de. I am really interested what do you think is it worth that money? |
For that price, if the camera is working, it is simply a STEAL ! _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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kds315*
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 16641 Location: Weinheim, Germany
Expire: 2021-03-09
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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kds315* wrote:
I'll second Orio, this is german camera makers know how at the climax - no better was ever done! If it fully works you'll enjoy many years of use and it will even keep or increase its value! Congrats!! _________________ Klaus - Admin
"S'il vient a point, me souviendra" [Thomas Bohier (1460-1523)]
http://www.macrolenses.de for macro and special lens info
http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos for UV Images and lens/filter info
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kds315/albums my albums using various lenses
http://photographyoftheinvisibleworld.blogspot.com/ my UV BLOG
http://www.travelmeetsfood.com/blog Food + Travel BLOG
https://galeriafotografia.com Architecture + Drone photography
Currently most FAV lens(es):
X80QF f3.2/80mm
Hypergon f11/26mm
ELCAN UV f5.6/52mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f4/60mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f2/62mm
Lomo Уфар-12 f2.5/41mm
Lomo Зуфар-2 f4.0/350mm
Lomo ZIKAR-1A f1.2/100mm
Nikon UV Nikkor f4.5/105mm
Zeiss UV-Sonnar f4.3/105mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f1.8/45mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f4.1/94mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f2.8/100mm
Steinheil Quarzobjektiv f1.8/50mm
Pentax Quartz Takumar f3.5/85mm
Carl Zeiss Jena UV-Objektiv f4/60mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha II f1.1/90mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha I f2.8/200mm
COASTAL OPTICS f4/60mm UV-VIS-IR Apo
COASTAL OPTICS f4.5/105mm UV-Micro-Apo
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f4.5/85mm
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f5.6/300mm
Rodenstock UV-Rodagon f5.6/60mm + 105mm + 150mm
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3704 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:58 am Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
Thank you Klaus and Orio. I will wait for the package with great anticipation.
Jure _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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Spotmatic
Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 4045 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:10 am Post subject: |
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Spotmatic wrote:
I have always understood that the Contarex line was a work of art from a mechanical point of view, to the point of over-engineering. This does not necessarily mean that the Contarexes are user-friendly... But I would definitely not mind owning one _________________ Peter - Moderator
Pentax K-5 + Pentax 645 + Canon 5D + Bessa RF 10,5cm Heliar, and a 'little' bag full of MF lenses. The lens list is * here *.
My fast 80s: Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 83mm f/1.9 - Super-Takumar 85mm f/1.9 - FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited - Cyclop 85/1.5 (Helios-40 innards) - Komura 80mm f/1.8 - Meyer Görlitz Primoplan 7,5cm 1:1.9 - Carl Zeiss Jena 80mm f/1.8 Pancolar - Canon 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C. - Canon 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical |
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scsambrook
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 2167 Location: Glasgow Scotland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: Contarex Madness |
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scsambrook wrote:
Pancolart wrote: |
I've noticed prices of Contarex cameras go rocket high. I was sure they are out of my league but i had some luck today: Click here to see on Ebay.de. I am really interested what do you think is it worth that money? |
Well ... now you need to get some lenses and another magazine back so you can swop between different sorts of film when testing the lenses. This could be an exciting voyage of discovery! And perhaps a drain on your bank account _________________ Stephen
Equipment: Pentax DSLR for casual shooting, Lumix G1 and Fuji XE-1 for playing with old lenses, and Leica M8 because I still like the optical rangefinder system. |
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3704 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
That simply can't happen - my bank account is already drained . I'll try to hunt cheap lens that wouldn't devalue the camera too much. Can anyone suggest what is my best choice? For display purposes only. _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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Minolfan
Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3438 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Minolfan wrote:
A classical machinery just for display only?? You are not really serious I hope.. |
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3704 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
Surely. I admit i don't feel obliged to use classical machinery. I do like to feel it, test it and then most probably sell it further. I didn't have much difficulty to choose my obsession between camera hardware and use of optics. _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Pancolart wrote: |
That simply can't happen - my bank account is already drained . I'll try to hunt cheap lens that wouldn't devalue the camera too much. Can anyone suggest what is my best choice? For display purposes only. |
for cheap, the Tessar 2.8/50
for display, the Planar 1.4/85 with its huge front glass... _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3704 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
Thank you Orio, i'll put these two in "wanted" list. _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Keep in mind that "cheap" in contarex world is between "normal" and "expensive" in contax/yashica world... _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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cooltouch
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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cooltouch wrote:
Back when I was an active camera dealer, the Contarex Bullseye was a popular collectible camera and usually sold for quite a lot. I see that this one's auction closed at about 153 euros. Compared to what they used to sell for here in the US some 20 years ago, this is actually very cheap.
A nice camera, but they were never my 'cup of tea'. Of the Zeiss cameras, I've always preferred their Super Ikonta series. _________________ Michael
My Gear List: http://michaelmcbroom.com/photo/gear.html
My Gallery: http://michaelmcbroom.com/gallery3/index.php/
My Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/11308754@N08/albums
My Music: https://soundcloud.com/michaelmcbroom/albums
My Blog: http://michaelmcbroom.com/blogistan/ |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
cooltouch wrote: |
Back when I was an active camera dealer, the Contarex Bullseye was a popular collectible camera and usually sold for quite a lot. I see that this one's auction closed at about 153 euros. Compared to what they used to sell for here in the US some 20 years ago, this is actually very cheap. |
Yes but this was really an exception. If you go to any used camera dealer here, the minimum price at which you can get the bullseye is 600 Euros. More often, around 800 Euros. _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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vilva
Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 785 Location: Porvoo/Borgå, Finland
Expire: 2015-05-27
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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vilva wrote:
The linked page is required reading for anyone contemplating the purchase of a Contarex, either a camera body or a lens:
http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_overhaul-contarex.shtml
Read very carefully and take heed!
Veijo _________________ Mainly Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar (1938), VPK Meniscus Achromat (1915), TTH Cooke Anastigmat (1917), TTH Cooke Aviar (1937), Goerz Dopp-Anastigmat III Dagor (1912), Voigländer Heliar (1928) or Aldis Uno Series III (1903 design) mounted on EOS 5D or EOS 350D |
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taunusreiter
Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 127
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:44 am Post subject: |
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taunusreiter wrote:
The best information about the Contarex I've ever read, including the "fan books" from Kuc. Unlike the others it prevents from buying one.
I always had the clue the camera was a mechanical nightmare even when new. Ask 100 engineers to create a camera with no supervision at all, and this is the result, which may - if management don't correct decisions - ruin the whole company. That's why Zeiss Ikon isn't making cameras anymore, just door locks.
A reason not to admire, but to hate this camera. _________________ My flickr Gallery
My Classic Camera Website |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:19 am Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
taunusreiter wrote: |
That's why Zeiss Ikon isn't making cameras anymore, just door locks. |
Zeiss Ikon closed down in 1972...
- _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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taunusreiter
Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 127
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:38 am Post subject: |
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taunusreiter wrote:
Orio wrote: |
taunusreiter wrote: |
That's why Zeiss Ikon isn't making cameras anymore, just door locks. |
Zeiss Ikon closed down in 1972...- |
The follower of this company, Ikon, still making door locks _________________ My flickr Gallery
My Classic Camera Website |
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Elmar Lang
Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Posts: 103
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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Elmar Lang wrote:
Hello,
as a Contax(RF)/Contarex fan, I need to say that the Contarex SLR is a very fine camera, still perfectly usable.
I have two Contarex "Bullseye" (2nd type) and both have a still working selenium cell. More I have a Contarex Super (also 2nd type) and it's an excellent piece also (it only needs to get used to its spot-type light measure).
Definitely, it isn't a user-friendly camera, but if one doesn't like to take super-action pictures, it will give extremely fine results. The lenses are really at the top, never forgetting to mount a lens shade.
The Contarex is a very heavy camera, but compared to the average digital SLR of nowadays, it isn't anymore THAT heavy.
I think that the Contasaurus Rex, besides being a milestone in optical technology, is still a magnificent camera to be used.
Best wishes,
E.L. |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
Nice to see you here E.L !
I look forward your experience and pictures! _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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Nesster
Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 5883 Location: NJ, USA
Expire: 2014-02-20
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Nesster wrote:
Elmar Lang wrote: |
The lenses are really at the top, never forgetting to mount a lens shade.
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That's an understatement if I ever saw one -- the best numbers for a lens I've seen in vintage camera mags here:
http://forum.mflenses.com/1968-contarex-super---50-2-planar-quotcamera-35quot-rev-t45838.html _________________ -Jussi
Camera photos
Print Photographica
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
That 2/50 Planar numbers are amazing, only ones I can think of in the same range were for the original Zenitar M Russian 50mm. I saw a chart of resolutions for some Russian RF lenses the other day and the J-8 2/50 (Sonnar) was only something like 32-28, the sharpest was the Industar-50 3.5/50 (Tessar)was the sharpest as something like 38-32. The Contarex 2/50 Planar is twice the resolution of the I-50 and owning two I-50s and several other Tessars, they are damn sharp lenses, so the sharpness of the Planar is quite amazing. Then again, the resolution of 35mm films was probably not able to exploit it back then so again, you have to question Zeiss' thinking. Obviously they realised they have over engineered the Contarex line and it was too expensive because they went to Japan to make the Contax line.
I suppose the reason why Contarex lenses are so expensive is not so much how good they are but more their scarcity because they were never sold in great numbers due to being so expensive and designed for a camera that wasn't very ergonomic or simple to use and cost a fortune.
Nesster, you don't happen to have an old magazines with reviews of Konishiroku or Konica cams and lenses, I'd also love to see some Topcor ones because the early Konishiroku and Topcon lenses I have are stunning? _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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Nesster
Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 5883 Location: NJ, USA
Expire: 2014-02-20
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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Nesster wrote:
Quote: |
Nesster, you don't happen to have an old magazines with reviews of Konishiroku or Konica cams and lenses, I'd also love to see some Topcor ones because the early Konishiroku and Topcon lenses I have are stunning?
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I'll take a look and post what I can find. I take it you'd be interested in the pre-autoexposure Konicas? _________________ -Jussi
Camera photos
Print Photographica
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Any of the Hexanons really. Particularly the earlier Konishiroku ones and the EE Konicas, especially the wides - 4/21, 2.8/24, 3.5/28. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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scsambrook
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 2167 Location: Glasgow Scotland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:11 am Post subject: |
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scsambrook wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote: |
That 2/50 Planar numbers are amazing, only ones I can think of in the same range were for the original Zenitar M Russian 50mm. I saw a chart of resolutions for some Russian RF lenses the other day and the J-8 2/50 (Sonnar) was only something like 32-28, the sharpest was the Industar-50 3.5/50 (Tessar)was the sharpest as something like 38-32. The Contarex 2/50 Planar is twice the resolution of the I-50 and owning two I-50s and several other Tessars, they are damn sharp lenses, so the sharpness of the Planar is quite amazing. Then again, the resolution of 35mm films was probably not able to exploit it back then so again, you have to question Zeiss' thinking. Obviously they realised they have over engineered the Contarex line and it was too expensive because they went to Japan to make the Contax line.
I suppose the reason why Contarex lenses are so expensive is not so much how good they are but more their scarcity because they were never sold in great numbers due to being so expensive and designed for a camera that wasn't very ergonomic or simple to use and cost a fortune. |
You shouldn't [just] go by the numbers . . . They never tell the whole story. With the Contarex lenses I actually used, the results were even better than the numbers suggest.
Films like Kodak Panatomic-X were indeed able to exploit the lenses' performance, especially when processed in developers like Kodak High Definition and Acutol. And Kodachrome was also able to show just how much better were "excellent" lenses compared to "very good" ones. Like other contemporary top-grade lenses, the Contarex lenses had a subtlety of image that's hard to quantify but instantly recognizable when you actually see the results. Such a shame that they were never mounted for the Nikon camera, eh? _________________ Stephen
Equipment: Pentax DSLR for casual shooting, Lumix G1 and Fuji XE-1 for playing with old lenses, and Leica M8 because I still like the optical rangefinder system. |
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