Would I be crazy to sell Zeiss lenses to buy. . .

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navilluspm

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. . . a digital SLR like the D40, or Rebel XT with kit lenses?

Let me explain. I have limited finances, so I can not outright buy a new camera. If I want one, sacrifices have to be made.

I went out shooting with the family's Panny FZ7 and a Kiev RF by Lake Michigan. Due to my stupidity in trying to get a really neat shot that involved me standing on a rock, I lost my balance and fell into Lake Michigan and both cameras fell into the lake with me. My Kiev, surprisingly, did not get all that wet. I noticed no water in the lens or film area. My digital film went all the way in and got drenched.

My wife loved that camera.

So, since I have to 2 FSU rangefinders, with a J-8, J-12, and I-26m lenses, I was thinking of selling one or more of my lenses for my Contax 167 MT to buy the family a new digital camera. (I have 3 lenses: a Planar 50, Distagon 35 and W. German Sonnar 85) While I was looking, I thought that maybe I should go the whole 9 yards and get an inexpensive DSLR.

What would I be selling to fund this purchase? My Distagon 35/2.8 and Sonnar 85/2.8, if I were to get a Rebel XT or D40.

We have a new baby on the way, and my family lives very far away. Digital would be nice for this especially a DSLR for low light pictures. Also my 1st born is 1.5 years old, and it is getting harder to track him with a manual focus camera

I have heard good things about Nikon lenses, would that be the route to go, or do you think I am absolutely insane to sell Zeiss lenses for a D40 or Rebel XT?


BTW - After 24 hours of the water logged Panny Fz7 not working, I took it apart, and found a lot of water in it. I used a hair drier to dry the camera. Unfortunately, the LCD screen is not working, but otherwise the camera seems to work, although I need to make more tests. So, I do have a somewhat functioning digital camera if you all think I am crazy to sell my Contax gear to get a D40 or Rebel XT.
 
you know, the beauty of used gear is that you don't loose much when selling it and can always buy it back later when you can afford it. If I were you, I would sell what I need to get a used D40 or XTi. But I am not you and I just keep accumulating stuff!
 
Hi there,

it might be possible to get a second-hand Canon DSLR without any kit lens, but buy an adapter instead to use the Contax lenses on your Canon DSLR!

that way, you would have all the benefits of Canon DSLR's except auto-focus, but instead the Zeiss glass would still be available to you.

The adapter / converter should not set you back as much as a Canon lens.

Just a thought.
 
The Nikon D40x shouldn't set you back too much. If I were you, I'd sell the one or two of your Zeiss glass that you use very little, just of offset the additional expense, but I wouldn't go too far in the DSLR territory. You want a camera to get e-mailable snapshots so the D40 should do the trick.

OTOH, how about a Sony? They have Zeiss glass and fairly long zooms with AF and auto WB.
 
I have an acquaintance who uses Contax-fit Zeiss lenses on an Olympus 4/3 series camera via an adapter - it seems to work very well although the effective focal length is increased a lot (doubled I think he said). This has the advantage that the camera is very tiny and extremely portable, but even the Distagon would be pretty "long" for a normal lens.

If it is mechanically possible, then the Nikon or Canon DSLRs would have less of a crop-factor, so that might swing it in their direction. I'd agree with what Mich suggested, if you get a second-hand DSLR, then the price will be under control. There would typically be a short guarantee period if bought from a dealer, at least in Europe that is normal anyway.

For relative portability, and useable-for-family digital results, you wouldn't need to get a DSLR of course, the majority of family cameras are super-compact style digitals. Then you could still keep your Contax lenses for those special family photographs etc ?
 
Thanks for all the advice. The Panny (other than the LCD screen) seems functional. I am going to wait a while and see what prices do closer to Christmas (as long as the Panny is working, I am in no hurry to sell). I think I will look at Rebel XT's which, I hope, will be clearanced on Black Friday. If not, I may look into an Olympus. I for sure will be selling my Distagon 35/2.8 AE. I hope to get close to $200 for it (it is in great condition) but we will see what the market does. I am hesitant to sell the Sonnar, because it is my favorite lens, and would make a wonderful telephoto lens on a Canon or Olympus.

But, now that the Panny is fix (somewhat) I can wait and see. My wife said that all that she uses it for is fine, and that it is good to wait a bit to see where prices go.

Thanks to everyone.
 
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