Converted Contax lenses?

Neist

Neist

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Greetings,
Im new here, a rangefinder fan basically. Have a Leica film camera and a few digital cameras.

I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience with lenses that have been converted over for RF usage for Leica? (Such as the Contax G conversions, MS-Optics, Skyllaney, Mr.Ding...etc).

I very much like the classic Zeiss lenses (Contax G and older) but like less the newer range . I also like the older Minolta Rokkor lenses (for their colors).

I see that there is contax g lenses that work on leica m cameras, but wanted anyones feedback on these if you happen to own some and use them on leica film cameras (or digital leica i guess also).

Thank you!
 
Neist said:
Greetings,
Im new here, a rangefinder fan basically. Have a Leica film camera and a few digital cameras.

I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience with lenses that have been converted over for RF usage for Leica? (Such as the Contax G conversions, MS-Optics, Skyllaney, Mr.Ding...etc).

I very much like the classic Zeiss lenses (Contax G and older) but like less the newer range . I also like the older Minolta Rokkor lenses (for their colors).

I see that there is contax g lenses that work on leica m cameras, but wanted anyones feedback on these if you happen to own some and use them on leica film cameras (or digital leica i guess also).

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Conversion of Contax G to Leica M mount is a fussy business because the mount register for Contax G is 29mm, for M is 27.95mm, which leaves a scant 1.05mm adaption space that also has to include space for the Contax G focusing drive mechanism to some external control (which is entirely through the Contax G lens mount driveshaft, whether manual or AF is enabled, in native use).

I had a fairly complete Contax G system for a bit and loved the lenses, in between periods of owning Leica M equipment. But when I saw both the cost and ergonomic issues of the adaptation, I decided to sell the lenses and replace them with Voigtländer, Zeiss, and Leica M-mount lenses rather than deal with all the issues and costs. I can't say that the Contax Zeiss lenses for G mount were all that significantly better performers than the lenses I replaced them with ... They're different for sure, but the difference hasn't been that important to me.

G
 
Yes, used to be the US rep for the Hawk conversion for Contax G a few years ago. They were the best engineered conversions, but he no longer does these. It involved changing the back half of the lens to a helical with M mount and adding an RF cam. The process was reversible.



I am unaware of anyone doing a similar conversion. There was someone on ebay at one time but I don't think they are still around.

Never was a fan of the MS Optics conversions, great concept but the ergonomics were much less than ideal. I don't think he's doing these anymore, either. This involved moving the optics to a new barrel and new diaphragm.

There was (and may still be) a conversion for the Summarit from the Minilux which was very well done, looked and felt completely OEM, and was quite useful back when Miniluxes were unrepairable. But now that electronic gremlin can be repaired...and Miniluxes are now far too valuable to use as lens donors...

Don't have any experience with Skyllaney, Mr.Ding or others.

If you want a Planar in M mount, just buy a 50/2 ZM Planar.
 
I found a G 45/2 that someone here converted to M mount.
I also have another 45/2 in G mount.
I also have a G Hologon 16/8 that DAG converted to M mount.
 
I have a couple . They don’t perform as well on full frame digital and the focus ring was certainly not as smooth ( depends on the conversion ) . Overall I don’t recommend spending big money on term
 
I just received a Skyllaney converted Planar 50/1.4. It is very nicely machined. The coupling is well done. The newer version that is sold has an even nicer adapter that Skyllaney makes itself. The lens has been CLA’d as well and it’s in great working condition.

It balances well on an M4.

Skyllaney will convert some other lenses to M if you reach out. The Contax 50/1.4 is one they have down though.

https://www.35mmc.com/03/11/2020/skyllaney-50mm-f-1-4-planar-review/

https://skyllaney.com/2020/11/01/skyllaney-50mm-f-1-4-planar-mkii/
 
IMO one of the most elegant conversions came from Y.K. Optical (of Avenon/Kobalux fame) that offered the service for a while in the late 1990s.

uWW1Jh.jpg


http://fotoborse.blog.jp/archives/1945520.html
https://nyankoseek.exblog.jp/17221181/
https://tesiyakara.exblog.jp/8770377/
http://mana.tea-nifty.com/mnote/2010/05/contax-g-carlze.html

The very high quality helicoid and barrel is the same one that went into the maker's Avenon/Kobalux 28/3.5. Some Contax G 21/2.8 were converted as well with parts from the Kobalux 21/2.8.

There was a black one that went on for sale here on RFF which I was fortunate enough to get hold of. Very pleased. Guess the majority of these lenses have never left Japan.
 
Just curious about the interest in converting Contax G lenses -- as I have never owned a Contax G camera or lens. Are the G lenses better than the ZM versions? If so, in what ways?
 
I believe Hawk's Factory still makes helicoid adapters for the Contax G lenses. I bought one early this year, right before the pandemic. You do the conversion yourself, but it's really not difficult, you just need a small screwdriver and a rubber lens ring tool (like the Japan Hobby tools ones), to take the entire combined lens/shutter cell from the Contax lens and simply drop it into the helicoid. Of course the other thing you do need is access to a digital Leica so you can calibrate the focus using a set of included shims. I've sold off my Contax G cameras and use the 45/2 lens on my M7, as I much prefer shooting with it. The 45mm IS different from the 50/2 ZM Planar––I find the 45 has more of that "pop," the colors are more saturated and I also much prefer the rendering, but this may come down to personal taste. You can see a comparison between the lenses here, though unfortunately you're limited to thumbnails as the links for the larger images appear to be broken: http://www.japanexposures.com/lenscomparison/

These are some lockdown shots I've taken with the 45mm on my M7:
50594596147_dbfe1f62bc_c.jpg


50593733748_8ed2713d5e_c.jpg
 
davidde1000 said:
Just curious about the interest in converting Contax G lenses -- as I have never owned a Contax G camera or lens. Are the G lenses better than the ZM versions? If so, in what ways?
Click to expand...

Luckily Zeiss has detailed datasheets on their website:

Contax G 28/2.8:
https://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/c...ontax-g/en/datasheet-zeiss-biogon-2828-en.pdf

ZM 28/2.8:
https://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/c...-lenses/datasheet-zeiss-zm-biogon-2828-en.pdf

The G lens is a bit sharper when compared to the ZM and almost distortion free. Trade off is heavier vignetting and more pronounced color shift with digital.

You can make comparisons between other ZM and G lenses with all the pdf they've got there. IMO aside from the wides the G lenses aren't decisively better than the ZM ones. But shooting the M system and rangefinders in general has never been about making the most technically rational choice in the first place...
 
astrobuoy said:
I believe Hawk's Factory still makes helicoid adapters for the Contax G lenses. I bought one early this year, right before the pandemic.
Click to expand...

Do you have any photos of what the lens looks like after putting it on the Hawks adapter? Thanks!
 
Neist said:
Greetings,
Im new here, a rangefinder fan basically. Have a Leica film camera and a few digital cameras.

I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience with lenses that have been converted over for RF usage for Leica? (Such as the Contax G conversions, MS-Optics, Skyllaney, Mr.Ding...etc).

I very much like the classic Zeiss lenses (Contax G and older) but like less the newer range . I also like the older Minolta Rokkor lenses (for their colors).

I see that there is contax g lenses that work on leica m cameras, but wanted anyones feedback on these if you happen to own some and use them on leica film cameras (or digital leica i guess also).

Thank you!
Click to expand...

If you havent already read this...you can get a G35 converted and sometime spring an G45 option.
 
astrobuoy said:
These are some lockdown shots I've taken with the 45mm on my M7:
50594596147_dbfe1f62bc_c.jpg


50593733748_8ed2713d5e_c.jpg
Click to expand...

Gorgeous pictures. The rendering is sublime!
I do one day hope Zeiss will reissue the G mount onto native M mount. The small and lightweight G lenses are perfect with an M
 
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