Contax ST arrived - wow wow wow

[celluloidprop]

Just got it from KEH - two weeks late, but worth it. The viewfinder is amazing - clear and without the pronounced grit of other MF viewfinders I've seen, but everything just pops into focus when I move the focus ring.

It's a nice chunk of metal but not too heavy. I think I may spring for the 50/1.4 rather than the 50/1.7 I got just to have a little more weight up front for balance.

 

[noimmunity]

Congratulations!

That f/1.4 Planar sometimes seems to get a bad rap, but the copy I have is among the best 50s I have ever used in the 135 format.

 

[mbisc]

That f/1.4 Planar sometimes seems to get a bad rap

By whom? Other than religious flame wars Leitz vs. Zeiss or the like, it's considered the finest 50mm lens of the manual focus SLR era...

 

[noimmunity]

By whom? Other than religious flame wars Leitz vs. Zeiss or the like, it's considered the finest 50mm lens of the manual focus SLR era...

There is some dispute as to whether the f/1.7 version isn't sharper. I really think it may be sample dependent. My 1.4 version is tack sharp and also has the most beautiful smooth bokeh I've seen from a double gauss design.

 

[santino]

I'd get the 50mm 1.4 but my favourite is the 85mm 1.4 Planar.
PS: Don't push too hard against the frame counter window and mode selector window on your ST because they are just glued to the body. Other than that it's a great SLR. Congrats!

 

[kdemas]

The 50/1.7 is a tad sharper from my experience but both are fantastic. I agree...the 85/1.4 is one superb lens. A nice sleeper is the 135/2.8 Sonnar for portraits.

Don't forget about the 45/2.8 pancake for walking around 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

And of course the Distagon 35/2.8 🙂

 

[santino]

And of course the Distagon 35/2.8 🙂

I second that and it's pretty cheap given it's a Zeiss lens of 35mm focal length ! 😉

 

[kdemas]

And of course the Distagon 35/2.8 🙂

I never owned that little beauty.

 

[celluloidprop]

It's hard to remember that I don't have to take the camera away from my face to wind the film.

 

[135format]

the 50/1.7 was rated the best standard lens of any make in its day.

 

[splitimageview]

I have an ST. Yes, be careful of the mode switch...mine came loose right after I got it from KEH, but they fixed it.

Not to stray *too far* off-topic, but IMHO nothing beats the 80/2 Planar on the 645 for creamy smoothness. Has anyone ever shot with the 80/1.2 C/Y?

 

[celluloidprop]

Buying a vertical grip from a member - normally I shy away from adding size to cameras, but I think it will give me a little more purchase on the camera with the heel of my right hand and pinky. Plus I have a lifetime supply of AA batteries for it...

 

[mbisc]

On the issue of must-have lenses -- here are my favorites:

f4 / 18mm Distagon & f2.8 / 25mm Distagon

You'll read a lot about them on the internet that they are the dogs of the line, but I'd have to disagree.

 

[JeffL]

On the issue of must-have lenses -- here are my favorites:

f4 / 18mm Distagon & f2.8 / 25mm Distagon

You'll read a lot about them on the internet that they are the dogs of the line, but I'd have to disagree.

I disagree as well. My D25 2.8 is one of my favourites.