Carl Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 in Contax mount: AWESOME

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squirrel$$$bandit

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I have had this lens for less than a week and have shot about four rolls of Arista Pro 400 on it, all with the M7 sporting Amedeo's Contax-M adapter. WOW. This is probably the best 50 I have ever used--it is amazing. Dreamy at 1.5, VERY sharp at f/2. Excellent contrast, smooth aperture. And tiny! I will be using the Nokton f/1.1 for night scenes but this one is the one that's going to be living on the camera.

BTW, I love the M7's AE! Some of these had a bit of compensation dialed in depending on the light situation (esp. the cameraman), I find this much easier to use than I expected.

[updated the links to some of these photos! 6 October 2015]

Cameraman by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr

Rich-2 by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr

From Manhattan Bridge-10 by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr

Stand by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr

Lookout 2 by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr
 
Yes..you think you like this lens now....just wait it only gets better. It has a delivers performance on so many levels..the best is yet to come.

All the best...Laurance
 
Carl Zeiss Opton 50/1.5 wide-open and at close-focus, on a modified Nikon S2. (Helical moved out and RF recalibrated for Sonnar)

It's a great lens. Softer Bokeh than the Nikkor 5cm f1.4, and sharper than the Canon 50/1.5 wide-open.

I'm still trying to come up with a way to move it into an LTM mount without an adapter. The Optics Module is too big for a J-3 or for a Summarit mount.

Amedeo sells on Ebay and is an RFF member. You might try sending him a PM.
 
I got the Nokton for 1.1, mostly--the Sonnar is softer at 1.5 than the Nokton is at 1.1, as far as I can see. But it's hard to imagine a better all-rounder than this Sonnar.

And Brian, there doesn't appear to be any separation...I asked whether I should buy this lens in a previous thread, and several people warned me that the CZ (late) versions sometimes have this problem. But I don't see any in my copy, thank goodness.
 
I use mine at f/2 primarily, as f/1.5 is indeed rather dreamy with flare, but it can be quite useful with certain subjects. Here's a comparison of f/1.5 vs f/2 (move mouse over the image.)
 
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f/1.5 is where The Glow lives, it seems. This is why I'm happy to have the Nokton--it isn't like a razor at 1.1, of course, but is way sharper than anyone would have had a right to expect. The Sonnar's 1.5 is much softer, but is quite beautiful, in its way.
 
I have a pre-war uncoated 5cm 1,5 Sonnar which Brian converted to LTM. It is a great lens. I used it for three months non-stop without switching to another 50mm lens. I also like the 5cm 2,0 Sonnar. I have one of those in LTM too, and I have the two lenses in Contax mount for the Contax IIa and IIIa. All other 50mm lenses seem "less" in comparison.
 
Here is a shot of my daughter with the lens I just hacked (with help from Brian's online instructions): a 1937 C-bayonet Sonnar shell with lenses from a 1977 Valdai J-3 in the CZJ optic mount. This pic was shot with one of Amadeo's adapters on the R-D1, minumum distance, f1.5. Focus point was the tip of Emma's nose.
EPSN7137-vi.jpg
 
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loneranger said:
Is the modern Zeiss sonnar ZM the same design as the older contax/Zeiss?
Click to expand...
I believe not. In the modern lens the middle triplet has been split into two elements with an air lens between. The exit diameter is also much larger. Modern glass and coatings made these changes possible. In my hands the ZM-C meters about 1/4-1/3 stop brighter than my older SOnnars on the R-D1.
 
Nick, I think yours is a Carl Zeiss jena...but you did refer to having a CZ coming to you in the mail. I'd be interested in knowing, once you've used both, how different you think they are.
 
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