screw mount zeiss sonnar 1.5/50

[leonid_kotlyar]

Hello. I have an opportunity to buy this lens , it's the jena T version . Does anybody have any experience with this setup and it's value ?

thanks

leonid

[sergio_ortega]

Leonid, Look at Gandy's site (www.cameraquest.com), he reviews many

of the Contax lenses. Sergio.

[albert_smith]

I have a book called, "Collecting and using Classic Cameras", by Ivor

Mantanle, which has a chapter on the Contax line. His basic

assertion is that the lenses took a divergent path after WWII, with

the West German line making significant leaps in both optical and

mechanical quality. He also states that the East German line, (the

one you asked about), went into a suspended animation of sorts...

simply putting out "pre-war" technology forever... without

improvements.

 

<p>

 

The West German 50mm f1.5 lens is said to be very good, much better

than the Jena version. I had as my first Leica lens, the 50mm f1.5

Summarit, and it almost turned me off on Leica... I was foolish and

didn't do my homework. The West German 50mm f1.5 is said to be a bit

softer, but more contrasty than the Leica Summarit... giving the

overall illusion of better performance. Only knowing the Summarit

myself, I couldn't imagine enjoying a lower performing lens... the

East German model.

 

<p>

 

With the advent of the Voightlander line, you should be able to

purchase a very fine performing 50mm f1.5 screw mount lens that in

some reports bested the Lieca Summilux...(see Erwin puts review).

 

<p>

 

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigtl01.html

[andrew_schank]

I owned the lens in a Contax mount, and optically it was excellent--

as good as my Leica Summicron. Because of this, I recently bought one

sight unseen in the Leica screw mount version like you mention

above. I returned it immediately. The design of the lens for the

Leica screw mount version has the most pathetic focusing system I

have ever seen. Absolutely horrible focus feel, very sloppy design-

it almost seems like something soembody made up in their garage. This

was a clean lens by the way, and not a beat up one. If you want a

nice 50mm fast lens in Leica screw mount, either the new Voigtlander

or an older Canon or Nikon in the Leica screw mount lens would be a

better choice.

[leonid_kotlyar]

hello again . Thanks for the info , was wondering if there exists a

leica mount 21 4.5 biogon .

[al_smith3]

Roger W. Hicks is a Leica user who has a regular feature

in "SHUTTERBUG" magazine... he also authored numerous books on lenses

and other photographic topics. He uses the Contax 21mm lens in a M-

mount. His 21mm Elmarit was stolen in Moscow, and he can't afford to

replace it. He used the Biogen for years... his only critisism is

the speed... or lack of such.

 

<p>

 

He says it is a modified lens, but I don't know if it was custom or

something that was done in quantity.

[andrew_schank]

Someone on ebay right now is selling the 28mm Biogon from the Contax

G cameras that has been modified in Japan into a Leica m housing.

People are bidding on it heavily. It couples with the finder and

everything. It made me wonder why Contax doesn't sell lenses for

Leica anymore- obviously they mustn't think there is any money to be

made. I beg to differ. People are already adapting the 16, 21 and

now the 28mm as well. The marketing and product development policies

of many companies baffle me. Contax lenses (16, 21, 28, 35, 90)for

sale in the now "patent expired" Leica m mount would be a huge

success if they could be priced near what they sell for now for the

Contax G cameras.

[john_collier]

A site with info on the russian 20:

 

<p>

 

<a href="http://www.cameraquest.com/russian.htm">

http://www.cameraquest.com/russian.htm</a>

[albert_smith]

Found this site about 21mm Biogon. Talks about use on M Leicas.

 

<p>

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/zeissbio.htm

[d_skogstad]

I have a East german 50/1.5. The mount is aluminum and will

deterioate with heavy use. The glass is excellent.

[eliot]

Andrew. I don't know how successful would be these Contax G lenses

if they were officially offered in Leica M mount. The

Cosina/Voigtlander lenses are "successful" (attract buyers) because

they offer good quality at a relatively low price, but I don't know

how much of a profit Cosina actually makes on these lenses. It might

not be very much.

 

<p>

 

In addition, Konica's M mount lenses, which all duplicate Leica

offerings, except for the 50/1.2) don't seem to be hugely

successful. A number of Leica users buy the Hexar-RF camera and then

get rid of the lens that comes with it. For all of those Contax

lenses you mention, there are new and older Leica versions to choose

from, except the 16/8.0 Hologon (there was a Zeiss 15/8 Hologon

offered briefly in 1973).

 

<p>

 

Thus, the Hologon is the only Contax lens that would interest me in a

Leica M mount, but not at $ 2000+. [i already own a C/V Heliar

15/4.5 with finder that cost me about $ 440 and works well.] Yes, it

might be nice to had an additional makers lenses available in Leica M

mount, but the economics may not be conducive.