Contax 50 on Nikon S3

[Travis L.]

I know there's a difference in the focus helical between Nikon and Contax RF's.
I'm using a friends S3, and the only lens I have that fits is a 50 1.5.
How bad is my focus likely to be off at normal aperture/distance.

I've heard a lot of speculation, but never from someone who's actually used a combo like this.

 

[Travis L.]

That's good info, thanks!

If it works out well enough I may just keep this combo together.

 

[steamer]

I've used Contax F1.5 50 and f2 85 on my Bessa R2S and they work fine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esteamer/2855308921/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esteamer/2855307861/in/photostream/

 

[Highway 61]

And as many Zeiss Sonnars in Contax RF mount left the Jena or Oberkochen factories with so-so collimations, so you can be quite lucky and discover that the typical Sonnar close distance focus-shift auto-compensates for the Nikon RF/Contax RF incompatibility.

My opinion is that each Sonnar 50 has to be tested "as is" on a Nikon RF body to see how it performs in the field.

Of course, in theory, there is a focusing problem at medium and short distances. But...