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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:57 pm Post subject: Vario-Sonnar 35-135 Contax - road test |
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Orio wrote:
The other day I took out the Vario-Sonnar 35-135 for a quick "road test". Not scientifical, just impressions from use.
01.
Tested immediately in a strong backlit scene with no hood on. I've been rewarded with a nice orange hexagon ghost. Zoom lenses are dreadful when it comes to ghost reflections and this factor coupled with the huge front glass (82mm) are too much to handle also for the T* if no hood is mounted
02.
In a favorable light condition everything changes and the lens delivers good colours and a nice, quasi-film-like organic quality
03.
04.
This shot was taken with the lens in the "Macro" position
05.
Here a series of macro, the first two are the same subject first wide open then stopped down. In macro mode, the image quality is superb. Bokeh is great at all aperture settings, with a pleasant quasi-impressionist rendering. Colours are full as you would expect from a Contax lens.
Notice how wide open the colour tone is warmer than when the lens is stopped down.
06.
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08.
This is a 100% crop from the previous image. The sharpness is not super, but it's adequate, also considering that the picture was taken hand held and in an uncomfortable position. It's the first time that I see a bee wearing Rayban sunglasses.
09.
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The barrel distortion at 35mm looks more Sigma than Zeiss
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at 135mm the lens performs best in my opinion
13.
There's a reason for the rain, so there is also a reason for f/16!
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Another macro
16.
Second try at backlight. When you manage to control the light source (in this case by attenuating with tree leaves), you can control the flare...
17.
... but as soon as you abandon protection, the dreadful orange hexagon is back (no hood on, remember)
18.
Nice work with the greens and tone separation here. Not as crisp as a Contax prime. But good enough.
19.
Backlight translucent leaves. Here the job is done excellently in my opinion. The lens renders well the crisp highlights and maintains a good spacial depth in a difficult situation where flat danger is behind the corner
20.
Another backlit leaves, brilliantly resolved
21.
Wild Cotinus (Smoketree). Not easy to find in wild state! Great discovery. Great Contax colour (no surprise)
22.
Cotinus closeup. Notice the ability of the lens in rendering the different shades of red (not easy with a DSLR). Top rating performance here
23.
Another backlit closeup subject and another great performance. Don't know if you can see those bright tiny spots at this enlargement. May look like dust, but they are gnats.
24.
Landscape in favorable light looks good, however it lacks the "kick" and "punch" of Distagons. I could have optimized the image in Photoshop but I decided to leave it as is to show how the lens renders
Conclusions: it is a nice walkaround lens for people who are not obsessed with size and weight. Sure it's not light and it's not small. But, if you take this lens with you, it's because it's going to be your only lens for the day. You don't take this type of zoom and a bag of other lenses. So in the end carrying this one zoom or 3-4 primes is about the same in weight and size.
QUality wise it's a zoom and so one can not expect the same performance as the primes: it is not as absolutely sharp, it is not distortion-less as the Contax primes, and it does flare when unprotected in backlight.
On the positive side, it has great colours, does a very very nice macro, and it's the lens to take with you when you don't want a bag around, as with 35-135mm range you can cover at least 80% of photograpic situations (and the rest you can manage with stitching or with cropping).
Would I use this lens in a professional situation (job) when it's not possible to swap lenses continuously? Yes, with some precautions, a lens hood in primis - but it's the same precautions that you would have to use with any other zoom lenses.
Would I use this lens in a job situation where I could instead swap lenses with ease? No, for as handy as it is, it is no substitute for top quality prime lenses such as Contax. _________________ 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!
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ManualFocus-G
Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 6622 Location: United Kingdom
Expire: 2014-11-24
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Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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ManualFocus-G wrote:
Orio, many thanks for the review of this illusive zoom
Despite the few drawbacks that the lens has, you have managed to take some super images with it...super colours and sharpness...very impressive indeed!
I'm presuming you coupled it with a 5D Mk II? I think it makes a very good travelling combo... _________________ Graham - Moderator
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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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
ManualFocus-G wrote: |
Orio, many thanks for the review of this illusive zoom
Despite the few drawbacks that the lens has, you have managed to take some super images with it...super colours and sharpness...very impressive indeed!
I'm presuming you coupled it with a 5D Mk II? I think it makes a very good travelling combo... |
Thank you!
Yes, 5D Mark II, and very good traveling set, but not for the faint of hands _________________ 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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poilu
Joined: 26 Aug 2007 Posts: 10472 Location: Greece
Expire: 2019-08-29
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Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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poilu wrote:
nice reviews, this lens deliver 3D and colors are superb _________________ T* |
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Minolfan
Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3438 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Minolfan wrote:
Beautifull environment in very nice pictures.
My experience with such walk around zoom is with a less spectaculair one (Asanuma 45 -150mm 3.5) on film. Overall just too much longer, so I always put an extra 28mm in my pocket. But indead, it can be very relaxed with one easy lens for a trip. Certainly when you have Zeiss quality in your hands! |
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LucisPictor
Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 17633 Location: Oberhessen, Germany / Maidstone ('95-'96)
Expire: 2013-12-03
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:48 am Post subject: |
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LucisPictor wrote:
"Zoom lenses are dreadful when it comes to ghost reflections" you say. OK, but can we accuse them of being bad? I don't think so, they cannot deny the laws of physics. Look at how many lenses there are inside! And you mentioned the huge front lens. I am sure this Zeiss is one of the best "allround" zoom lenses you can find!
"The barrel distortion at 35mm looks more Sigma than Zeiss" you say.
OK, this perhaps shows that the distortion is rather based on lens type than on manufacturer.
Orio, I think everybody (well, almost) would be glad to have such a zoom lens in his bag. I really like your shots! _________________ Personal forum activity on pause every now and again (due to job obligations)!
Carsten, former Moderator
Things ON SALE
Carsten = "KAPCTEH" = "Karusutenu" | T-shirt?.........................My photos from Emilia: http://www.schouler.net/emilia/emilia2011.html
My gear: http://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/ausrustung/
Old list: http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65 (Not up-to-date, sorry!) | http://www.lucispictor.de | http://www.alensaweek.wordpress.com |
http://www.retrocamera.de |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:53 am Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Minolfan, I agree, 135mm is often all that you need from a walkaround lens, unless you go to places where you really need a long view (Cinque Terre is one of those places, for instance).
In normal situations, I find myself wishing more often to be able to get a 28mm view than to get longer than 135mm.
After all, a 28-85 range is probably more useful as walkaround than a 35-135. Although in the specific case, the Contax 35-135 has a very nice macro feature that the 28-85 lacks, so this makes it more interesting.
One could either take the 35-135 and fit in a pocket the Distagon 2.8/28 (or the 2.8/25), or alternatively, take the 28-85 and a macro lens.
Given the small size of a Distagon 28 or 25 compared to a 60mm Makro-Planar, and given the fact that you lose the 86-135 range, and given that both zooms (the 28-85 and the 35-135) are heavy and bulky, the first solution clearly shows itself as preferable. _________________ 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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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:05 am Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Carsten, yes, zoom lenses offer versatility, but I can not ignore the shortcomings in my review. I try to make objective reviews. The large number of elements makes internal reflections easy. There is people who expect to buy a zoom lens and get the same quality than prime lenses. Often commercial reviews let people think into that. I need to open people's eyes into what is the reality: even a top class zoom like Contax can not avoid the problems that are inherent to zooms.
Regarding distortion being related to the type of lens and not to manufacturer, I have to disagree. If you compare the same type of lens made by Contax and made by Sigma, you will see Contax almost always (I'd say "always" but I don't want to sound extremist) have better distortion performance. This because it's the company's philosophy to take care about that. While Sigma does not care about that, they care about offering the sharpest possible autofocus lenses at the cheapest possible price, thinking that most of the amateur photographers they aim their products at, don't really care about things like geometric distortion, vignetting, edge performance, etc., they like to have their subject sharp and wallet full and hell with the rest. Ok, I forced the concept a bit but basically that is it. _________________ 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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patrickh
Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 8551 Location: Oregon
Expire: 2011-11-18
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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patrickh wrote:
Very thorough road trip Orio. Clearly another desirable Zeiss with some (minor) shortcomings. The overwhelming effect as I see it is the beautiful colour emerging from this lens.
patrickh _________________ DSLR: Nikon D300 Nikon D200 Nex 5N
MF Zooms: Kiron 28-85/3.5, 28-105/3.2, 75-150/3.5, Nikkor 50-135/3.5 AIS // MF Primes: Nikkor 20/4 AI, 24/2 AI, 28/2 AI, 28/2.8 AIS, 28/3.5 AI, 35/1.4 AIS, 35/2 AIS, 35/2.8 PC, 45/2.8 P, 50/1.4 AIS, 50/1.8 AIS, 50/2 AI, 55/2.8 AIS micro, 55/3.5 AI micro, 85/2 AI, 100/2,8 E, 105/1,8 AIS, 105/2,5 AIS, 135/2 AIS, 135/2.8 AIS, 200/4 AI, 200/4 AIS micro, 300/4.5 AI, 300/4.5 AI ED, Arsat 50/1.4, Kiron 28/2, Vivitar 28/2.5, Panagor 135/2.8, Tamron 28/2.5, Tamron 90/2.5 macro, Vivitar 90/2.5 macro (Tokina) Voigtlander 90/3.5 Vivitar 105/2.5 macro (Kiron) Kaleinar 100/2.8 AI Tamron 135/2.5, Vivitar 135/2.8CF, 200/3.5, Tokina 400/5,6
M42: Vivitar 28/2.5, Tamron 28/2.5, Formula5 28/2.8, Mamiya 28/2.8, Pentacon 29/2.8, Flektogon 35/2.4, Flektogon 35/2.8, Takumar 35/3.5, Curtagon 35/4, Takumar 50/1.4, Volna-6 50/2.8 macro, Mamiya 50/1.4, CZJ Pancolar 50/1,8, Oreston 50/1.8, Takumar 50/2, Industar 50/3.5, Sears 55/1.4, Helios 58/2, Jupiter 85/2, Helios 85/1.5, Takumar 105/2.8, Steinheil macro 105/4.5, Tamron 135/2.5, Jupiter 135/4, CZ 135/4, Steinheil Culminar 135/4,5, Jupiter 135/3.5, Takumar 135/3.5, Tair 135/2.8, Pentacon 135/2.8, CZ 135/2.8, Taika 135/3.5, Takumar 150/4, Jupiter 200/4, Takumar 200/4
Exakta: Topcon 100/2.8(M42), 35/2.8, 58/1.8, 135/2.8, 135/2.8 (M42), Kyoei Acall 135/3.5
C/Y: Yashica 28/2.8, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, Zeiss Planar 50/1.4, Distagon 25/2.8
Hexanon: 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 40/1.8, 50/1.7, 52/1.8, 135/3.2, 135/3.5, 35-70/3.5, 200/3.5
P6 : Mir 38 65/3.5, Biometar 80/2.8, Kaleinar 150/2.8, Sonnar 180/2.8
Minolta SR: 28/2.8, 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 45/2, 50/2, 58/1.4, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, 200/3.5
RF: Industar 53/2.8, Jupiter 8 50/2
Enlarg: Rodagon 50/5,6, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, Vario 44-52/4, 150/5.6 180/5.6 El Nikkor 50/2,8,63/2.8,75/4, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, 135/5.6 Schneider 60/5.6, 80/5.6, 80/4S,100/5.6S,105/5.6,135/5.6, 135/5.6S, 150/5.6S, Leica 95/4 |
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Ed28
Joined: 28 Dec 2009 Posts: 15 Location: usa
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject: Awesom piece of glass |
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Ed28 wrote:
I enjoy looking at your photos very nice
I also like your sense of humor (your comments
on the bees wearing rayban)it makes me lol
it shows that you pay attention to minute details
good work please post more photos( by your exotic
lenses) |
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AhamB
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 733 Location: Germany
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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AhamB wrote:
Enjoyable series. Thanks for sharing.
The flares you can probably prevent with your hand or a hat held out in front of the lens at the right position, as an improvised lens hood (not very convenient though). |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
I'm sure that a lens hood will prevent the ghosts, but the purpose was to torture test the lens _________________ 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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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 10956 Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
_________________ ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮ like attracts like! ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮
Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (151B), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3930 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
... would love to see the Zeiss CY 35-135mm and the Minolta AF 28-135 side-by-side ...
Anyone here from Switzerland here who owns the CY 35-135mm?
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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hasenbein
Joined: 15 May 2020 Posts: 93
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 6:45 am Post subject: |
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hasenbein wrote:
I see no real argument for the 35-135.
The 28-85 is optically better, a bit less unwieldy and has GREAT bokeh. The real rendering king. MFD of only 0.6m.
For the tele focal length you can take the 80-200 which also renders nicely and has more blur potential. Also quasi-macro capability at the longer end. |
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marius.zaech
Joined: 27 Jan 2021 Posts: 56 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:38 am Post subject: |
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marius.zaech wrote:
stevemark wrote: |
... would love to see the Zeiss CY 35-135mm and the Minolta AF 28-135 side-by-side ...
Anyone here from Switzerland here who owns the CY 35-135mm?
S |
Nope, but if you feel like it I could loan you the 28-85 to compare with your extensive collection of minoltas zooms. |
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paulhofseth
Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 575 Location: Norway
Expire: 2018-06-28
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 7:25 am Post subject: text praise |
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paulhofseth wrote:
Orios texts accompanying each picture is an excellent addition to the portfolio; setting an exmple that should be followed by all who post such surveys.
Also, his comments on sunshades are most relevant, all optics should use hoods. The contax metal ones may seem daunting with their variety of adapter rings for the different zoom front thread diamtres. And the planar 50/1,4 ring number 4 is almost as deep as the number 5 for the 100-300. wich goes to show that a deep hood (matching the angle of view) is relevant even for shorter lenses.
p- |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3930 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
marius.zaech wrote: |
stevemark wrote: |
... would love to see the Zeiss CY 35-135mm and the Minolta AF 28-135 side-by-side ...
Anyone here from Switzerland here who owns the CY 35-135mm?
S |
Nope, but if you feel like it I could loan you the 28-85 to compare with your extensive collection of minoltas zooms. |
Cool. I'll be in Zurich probably on Thu.
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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