35mm Biogon or 35mm Skopar?

[Crazy Fedya]

Hi,
I am looking for a 35mm lens for my Contax IIa. I am trying to decide whether I should get 35mm f/2.8 Biogon or 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar.
I tend to like images from older glass more, especially color prints from uncoated Zeiss glass.
I have looked at some images on Flickr, but I would prefer personal input from people that used both, if possible.
By the way, I have Jupiter 12, I use on my Kiev and I like what it does to film😉.
Also, I would like to work on similar dilemma in the 21mm FL for Contax. Zeiss costs more, but is it worth it?
I am not a collector, and I am wondering if 21mm Biogon is worth that much more than 21mm Voigtlander?
I would appreciate the input.

 

[Keith]

I didn't realise you could get either of those lenses in Contax mount ... can you?

 

[barnwulf]

I have the CV SC 35mm Skopar for my Nikon S3 that I bought from Stephen at Cameraquest. I think they are the same mount as the Contax. My 35mm is very sharp. I like the lens a lot. You might also look for a Nikkor 35mm 2.5 RF lens. I have one of those also and it's very nice for an old lens. Jim

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Actually, yes.
Post-war West German Zeiss Biogon will fit Contax IIa. Voigtlander made Contax/Nikon S mount Color Skopar lenses for a few years, but then discontinued them.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

I am wondering if 35mm f/2.5 Nikkor W will fit Contax IIa without any problem?

 

[barnwulf]

Cameraquest still has the new Skopar 35mm in stock for the Nikon RF and Contax. The Nikon should also work according to Cameaquest website. Take a look at the lenes there
http://cameraquest.com/nrfVClens.htm
Jim

 

[Crazy Fedya]

I shot some 160NC with my Vitessa mounted Ultron, and loved the resuts. Also, shot some 400UC with Vito IIa mounted 50mm f/3.5 Color Skopar and loved the colors. Uncoated 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar gives me wonderful colors.
All of the above lenses are wonderful in B&W, as well.
I am not looking for the sharpest of the sharp lens. I am, actually, after a certain look, I guess.

 

[barnwulf]

You might like the Nikkor 35mm/2.5 lens then. Jim

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Cameraquest still has the new Skopar 35mm in stock for the Nikon RF and Contax. The Nikon should also work according to Cameaquest website. Take a look at the lenes there
http://cameraquest.com/nrfVClens.htm
Jim

This is the reason why I asked initial question. Also, I have seen CS Skopars go around $300-$350 on Ebay.The only price I was able to find for Biogon, other than kevincameras, is around $500-$600.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

I know of mounting issue pre-war 35mm Biogon and post-war Jena has with Contax IIA. Will Nikkor have the same problem?

 

[barnwulf]

I can't answer, maybe if jonmanjiro is still on he can answer that. Jim

 

[darkkavenger]

I have had both lenses (sort of)... here are my two cents on it:

I am very glad with my Zeiss-Opton Biogon 35/2.8 (Post-War) on my Contax IIIa. I received it a few weeks ago from fellow member Micromontenegro. It is a very, very beautiful and desireable lens, I coveted one for years. The build feels extremely solid. Lens is heavy, and as a result the focus ring offers more resistance than other lenses. The aperture ring is also a bit quirky: first of all, it is inversed, secondly, you need to look at the inner ring to know what is the current aperture, finally, you cannot read the current aperture when using a hood. It is a beautiful lens though, and gives beautiful results in the light of the first roll of film I ran through it last week.

If you look for usability, the Skopar may be better. Having owned a 21/4 SC-Skopar previously, I must say the build quality was spotless, focusing was smooth and setting the aperture was also without problems.

Good luck in choosing... YMMV but I would say you decide: an all time beautiful (and quirky) zeiss classic vs a modern, functional and quality lens.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

I do have a Ukrainian copy of pre-war Biogon Jupiter 12 for Kiev and Fed/Leica. I actually like it. The only gripe I have is about flare. My LTM copy flares a lot more than the one in Kiev mount.
They are a little quirky, but so is Contax and Kiev, so nothing new there.

 

[Roberto V.]

The J12 is not a Biogon copy though, it's a copy of the 35mm Biotar

 

[Vics]

Actually, yes.
Post-war West German Zeiss Biogon will fit Contax IIa. Voigtlander made Contax/Nikon S mount Color Skopar lenses for a few years, but then discontinued them.

That 21mm Biogon is a legend! I've seen quite a few images from that lens and they were amazing. The first ones I saw were in one of the poopular photography annuals. I remember one in particular of a fighter pilot, looking over his shoulder and out through the canopy. Amazing! I'd love to have one for my IIIa

 

[Vics]

Should work fine. I don't have a Contax camera to test on, but several friends use a W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 on their Contax cameras without any problem. The rear element of the Nikkor 35/2.5 is quite small compared to other Nikkor wides, so there's nothing it can catch on. Its one of the few wides that works ok mounted on an M-mount body using an Orion type adapter.


Amedeo Nikon S-mount to Leica screw mount adapter by jonmanjiro, on Flickr

And it couples to the RF? Are you serious! I have an M3 in need of a 35, and a w-Nikkor 35/2.5 (presently on my ContaX IIIa) I would love to shoot that lens on my Leica!

 

[Crazy Fedya]

How do you like W-Nikkor on Contax?

 

[Vics]

How do you like W-Nikkor on Contax?

I love it! The contrast is a bit high for me, but it's razor sharp and tiny. I thought about buying a IIa body for it, but changed my mind, at least for now. I think it's a little Summicron-like.

 

[Vics]

Yes, fully coupled. Serious. Just need the right adapter (like this one currently on eBay).

And using the same adaptor I could shoot my Sonnar 50/1.5?

 

[Vics]

Crazy Fedya, You will love the Nikkor 35 on the Contax. The incompatibility between Nikkor and Contax only applies north of 50mm.
Jonmanjiro, you're killing me with that adaptor! Thanks for the info! You may have solved all my problems!