Contax zeiss post war 50mm for contax iiia

[rowghani]

Hi guys,
I have to admit the only lens that has really impressed me has been the one on the contax t2 and even then only in a handful of photos. All other 35mm lenses I've used , summicron / Olympus 35 sp / yashica electro etc don't seem to me any different from each other. How do the post war zeiss 50s stack up for the contax iia and iiia? I hear they are some of the best lenses ever made. Please describe what differences you have noticed between them (if any) and the lenses that I have mentioned. Thanks in advance.

 

[Brian Legge]

The closest of those you listed - to my eye - is the Olympus 35SP. It is sharp in the center but not clinical. Wide open, it has a very gentle glow but the sharpness still comes through. Nice bokeh.

 

[splitimageview]

Contax 50/2 or 50/1.5 are Sonnar formula, there are lots of images here from Sonnars.

The 1.5 has veiling flare at max Aperture but this goes away at 1.8 or 2.

Great lenses!