Contax II lens compatibility?

[Robert Lai]

For those of you looking for rear lens caps for your internal mount 50mm lenses (Nikon S or Contax RF mounts), here's your answer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASTIC-RE...599265?hash=item33bc9ae2a1:g:Z-MAAOSwN81WDYFr
He has a complete compatibility list in his description.

I use these on all of my Contax RF mount 50mm lenses - Russian and German and Japanese (Cosina-made Zeiss). That way, the genuine German Contax rear caps can remain unmarked in a museum cabinet.

Rear caps for the 85 and 135mm lenses are plentiful.
Cameraquest sells them, as well as rear caps for the 50mm lenses. You need to navigate around his site, but search for the Nikon S mount lenses, and you'll see a page with these caps.

Deep rear caps for the Biogons - the easiest option may be to get a bad condition Ukrainian Jupiter-12 which still has its rear cap. The keep the cap, pitch the lens. OTOH, it's a pretty decent lens, and a direct descendant of the original 35mm Zeiss Biogon (pre-war design).

If you don't want to go that route, then heavystar has brand new deep rear caps for you: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Lens-...m=362312808406&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

If you buy a Jupiter 3 from the 1950s and 1960s, then they were made on the original Zeiss machinery, transported to Arsenal. My Jupiter 3 from 1964 is has a super smooth diaphragm, and exquisite matte finish. It fits perfectly on the Kiev IIa and Contax IIa. This is in response to someone above who disparaged the quality of the Jupiter 3.

 

[CameraQuest]

The S and C mounts are the same depth. Which is why even the long lenses match at infinity. The problem is the pitch on the internal focusing helicoid. The Contax takes 274 degrees to get down to 3 feet. The Nikon only takes 270 degrees. Easy to see, just turn out the built-in helicoid and see where it stops. This throws off the rangefinder focus of longer lenses.

not true says Amedeo, maker of Contax or NRF to M adapters that work correctly
according to Amedeo, strangely enough the back focus IS different, despite many other opinions to the contrary
contrary to the same story that was once published (not sure if current) on the ever changing official Nikon site,
that unfortunately removed a very informative Nikon One brochure showing the 35/3.5 Nikkor as among the original Nikon One lenses

Stehen

 

[jonmanjiro]

This is the compatibility chart in the manual for the Voigtlander Bessa R2S/C (the Contax mount and Nikon S-mount Bessas) for compatibility of 50mm and 85mm lenses of one system when used on a camera from the other system. Focus distances are the columns on the left side, aperture settings are across the top, X indicates not in focus and O indicates in focus.

The S and C mounts are the same depth. Which is why even the long lenses match at infinity.

not true says Amedeo, maker of Contax or NRF to M adapters that work correctly
according to Amedeo, strangely enough the back focus IS different, despite many other opinions to the contrary

Stephen, FWIW the Cosina chart above agrees with what Wes is saying regarding the back focus at infinity. As a manufacturer with experience making S-mount and Contax mount gear, I doubt Cosina would get this wrong.

 

[CameraQuest]

Stephen, FWIW the Cosina chart above agrees with what Wes is saying regarding the back focus at infinity. As a manufacturer with experience making S-mount and Contax mount gear, I doubt Cosina would get this wrong.

I am quoting what Amedeo told me.
It is a bit of a dilemma there are disagreements on this point -
- different back focus vs different helical pitch and everything in between --

I will ask the Cosina lens designers and report what they reply.

Stephen

 

[wes loder]

Stephen, that would be good. Note that reflex housings and microscope adapters have no problem with focus. With their magnification, should definitely be a problem if back focus was the issue. WES

 

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

re. the compatibility of Nikkor-S lenses on the Contax and vice-versa,
I would like to remember a paper that Nippon Kogaku usually attached to its lenses' booklets; a paper that perhaps is now rare and that I casually received with my own (very fine indeed!) Nikkor-Q.C 13,5 cm. f:3,5 with the "C" engraved on the barrel, indicating that this lens was made to specifically focus on the Contax.

This paper says:

"NIKKOR Lenses
for Contax Camera

Nikkor lenses can not be used inter-
changeably with the Contax camera, be-
cause of a minute difference in design-
ing of focal lens value for both types,
inspite of the same commercial de-
nomination, which fails to bring about
the exact coupling of the rangefinder,
if used one for the other, except in
the case of wide angle lens having an
extended depth of focus.
Therefore, for the benefit of Contax
camera users the following two models
of excellent Nikkor telephoto lenses
are specially made with necessary
alteration carefully made.
Nikkor Telephoto Lenses for Contax
f = 8,5cm f:2
f= 13,5cm f:3,5
NIPPON KOGAKU K.K.
SHINAGAWA, TOKIO"

 

[RJ-]

Thank you for that lost morsel of historical importance Elmar. I wasn't aware of Nikon cross-compatibility at this longer focal length.

Here is the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f1.5 S on a Contax III (comparison with a IIIa and a Sonnar f2). I've only just received it and have some problems trying to focus the lens at all.

It is significantly larger than the Sonnar 5cm f1.5 with a 52mm front filter ring.

RJ

 

[steveyork]

For what it's worth, Tom A. always said that the compatibility of 50 and above was not always a go, because of the different pitches. I suspect a lot depends on apertures and DOF issues.

 

[steveyork]

It is significantly larger than the Sonnar 5cm f1.5 with a 52mm front filter ring.

RJ

I'm looking at that 50 Voightlander f/1.5 for use on an S2, but I'm inclined to pass on it given its' size. An appeal, for me, of the Nikon S2 (and other Nikon rangefinders) is the small, compact lightweight dimensions, and that Voightlander is a fatty. Though, from what I read and see, great optics at an affordable price.

 

[RJ-]

Hi Steve,

It certainly is quite a large lens, and for a Contax instead of a Nikon, its use might be even more constrained.

The aperture blades are less than thrilling and the loose play in the focussing ring suggests that this lens requires barrel focussing, over and above the (now) intuitive Contax helical focussing, reducing its appeal altogether - save that of its potential imaging character.

Perhaps this is a lens with quite a number of cross-compatibility limitations for a Contax body, whereas the classic Nikkor 5cm f1.4 S had fewer.

RJ