The Contax Carl Zeiss video that nobody asked for, but I made anyway: CHEAT SHEET Two Versions of Contax Carl Zeiss lenses made: 1) AE “Ninja Star” (1975-1984). AEG (AE lenses made in West German) AEJ (AE lenses made in Japan) 2) MM (1984-2005). MMG (MM lenses made in West Germany) MMJ (MM lenses made in Japan) No difference between lenses made in Japan or West Germany, it was strictly a manufacturing cost savings decision. Zeiss quality control was entirely equal between both production lines.
No one asked for it because it was implied!!! I have so many lenses but these Contax Zeiss are something I have been lusting over for a very long time. Stop tempting me I'm going broke because of this addiction!
@@brakmaster You've got all the time mate! If i wasn't getting paid to use these ones (jobs) I might have held off. Over the last 3 years I've been convinced what I can achieve with these lenses and how I can use them. My friend Damon (who had the 16mm near the end of the video) has been using CZ for awhile before I got into them, I just couldn't (at the time) stomach the price for "old lenses" . Now it's ALL I want to shoot with :) Are you an AE or MM individual yourself?
@@MarkHoltze Yeah you're right. Obviously I'm not a professional just an amateur with a passionate hobby. I have just ordered a Canon Eos M to play around with raw video and I will pair it up with some vintage Canon FD glass. I would characterize myself as an AE individual!
Hey Mark, Good to know...from Takumar ambassador to Germany fan. Because of you, I brought my first SMC Takumar 55 1.8 and Super Tak 50 1.4 "hot" lens for my girl. Recently, I brought Jupiter-9 85 f2 and start reading the history of its. I found the soviet lens closely link to Zeiss company after WWII. The history from Zeiss and Leitz even longer than Pentax and those japan companies. I have never been so interest in history. Haha...
Oh ya the Zeiss stuff is crazy. I haven’t really either, I got more into it the older I got. You could do a feature length on Zeiss for sure. This one starts when the Contax Lineup started in 1975, but it’s just a new evolution in a very long and “interesting” history. :)
Thanks mate, ya it's a natural evolution of the intro I think. I can cut it super short or longer if need be well. Nice and dynamic. The old posters etc are my fav. I saw those by accident awhile and they totally inspired me to do a video on them.
@@MarkHoltze Creativity hits you random sometimes. Awesome that you took the time and energy to film the posters. Would have been easier to go on with life. How do you manage to find such clips on your hard drive after a while? I do project. based folders and I find it difficult to have a file system for such random clips.
I have an RTS since the 90s. Its light meter has now died and apparently cannot be repaired, but the camera still works fine in manual mode. The 50/1.4 Zeiss is the sharpest lens I have ever tried, and now I am using it with my Nikon DSLR - but only for close-ups, as it does not focus to infinity on this camera.
Hi Mark - the style of your videos is really amazing. The turntable scene .. fantastic. A pure source of inspiration. If one day you showed all vintage lenses start making tutorials on how to make videos like that :D
Takumars, Helios...canon FD’s, Pentacon (which are basically Zeiss lenses just lost a legal battle). You can do so much on a budget. I wouldn’t even consider these if i wasn’t already convinced based on my previous experience with the other brands.
Advertisements were on point back in the 70s-80s. Love the Porsche integration and the Ninja Star bokeh is beautiful, albeit subjective and super stylistic. Love your new effects and channel style of late!
Mark the puns are awesome, but you speak with such wisdom it shows in the story telling and video production great work man, we need to get you up to at least 250k subscribers haha
Might be awhile my friend, but appreciate the effort! 😂 very nice of you to say, it’s the love of these lenses that are my true motivator, sub counts or not :). Of course sharing this stuff with people who also love it is fantastic as well!
Many people (like me) have been adapting legacy manual lenses to Canon cameras for years. I bought my first C/Y Zeiss lens in 2007 and others had been doing so for years prior to that. Also bought a SMC Takumar 55/1.8 in 2007 for $18 shipped! The Sony e-mount system allows these lenses to thrive again.
Great timing, I just bought my Contax Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and 28mm 2.8 and really happy and fell in love with them. Already used them on a shoot before some testing. Seriously debating whether I should still get a 35mm and someone local to me still has an AEG 85mm 1.4 because I am really, really happy with just the two I already have!
My first one was the 85mm 1.4 mint condition, then I got the Macro 60 2.8 AEJ, 50 1.4 and the last one was the 35. The 35 is pretty special I'll say that.
Thanks mate! They are my new obsession as well. Just waiting for all this to clear up before I review them, I need to be outside! The macro I could do sooner.
Mark Holtze oh, the 60/2.8 Makro Planar is a stellar lens! I was just using it today. From product shots to detail work, it’s easily my favorite from that collection.
Thanks again for this content that helped me to distract from coronavirus epidemic. With the entire country lockdown, parents away from where I live and uncertainty about what will happen in the next weeks, it's crucial to find some contents to free my mind even for a few minutes. Looking forward to watching the epic Takumar vs Zeiss battle!
You’re young mate, just be mindful of your surrounds and stay safe. I was at ground zero for the whole SARS thing back in 2003 in Toronto and kept the same level of caution. Don’t let the headlines make you feel crazy. It should hopefully be over soon. Stay safe mate!
@@MarkHoltze yeah. I hope that the rulers of other nations, looking at what is going on here in Italy, will act promptly without underestimating the problem and make as many citizens as possible safe. It would be important because in this world we are all connected.
Media Division did an fantastic video on these lenses as well. Might have to look into getting at least one to try out for my video projects. Thanks, Mark!
They totally did! If I didn't get my hands on a test sim-modded version last year they wouldn't even have been on my radar. But once I played with those for a while it was proof enough I needed to build out my own set for my commercial work. The consistent colour is what really sets them apart from the Takumar's when working in video.
Great job on this Mark. I had a Zeiss pancolar and the ninja star pattern really turned me off especially if the sun was in the background of a portrait. As always this was very well produced
@@MarkHoltze pretty great actually! There aren’t any scratches, but there’s a decent amount of dust in the lens elements, I haven’t noticed too much of a drop in image quality though
So as not to waste your time mate. It’s a privilege to have your attention for a little while so my goal really is to make sure I don’t waste that. Walking away with a bit more info to take to the street is also always a good thing!
What a cool video - congratulations to the wonderfully smooth transitions and the insights you provided on historical and technical facts: you nailed it - please continue to create more of these video's - Kudo's!
loved the video dude... as always... I always love the videos to be fair. can't wait to see what else is to come with that beautiful S1H, and the whole premiere things is awesome.
Totally! Thanks a bunch for stopping by you guys. I really enjoyed my first actual production with the S1H. The stills really helps out where the A7sii lacked as well. The video options are insane though, I need to find the right balance and mess around with the settings a bit more. It's so foreign to me now where the Sony and C100 are clockwork (can field assemble blindfolded under fire) ;)
Mark Holtze “this is my rifle, this is my gun...” I hear ya, really slowed me down in the short time we had it. But the shortcuts/favourites in the menu will help. For me I enjoyed the 4K rec709 for ease and quality balance.
I've had a lot of luck finding deals on vintage glass recently. After snagging the canon FD 55mm 1.2 aspherical on christmas eve, In mid january I managed to snag a CZ Ultron 50mm 1.8 at about 1/5 it's ebay price (on an Icarex body). I didn't think i'd snag more zeiss glass anytime soon, but then stumble accross a used gear add that led me to snag a 159MM with the MM Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.4 T* also for sub 100 bucks. The mantle in my living room is growing sexier daily.
Great video! I’m an AE zeiss owner. I currently have 25mm f2.8/35mm f2.8/50mm f1.7/85mm f1.4 and I love them. Paired with pocket 4K, I’m getting good results. Keep up the good work.
Thanks James, ya the Zeiss lenses are pretty fantastic. You've got a nice collection there mate! The pocket 4k produces unbelievable images, do you use a reducer on that Micro 4/3 sensor to reduce that crop?
@@MarkHoltzeThanks mate! I currently have the viltrox speedbooster, but I've been debating whether to accept the crop and use a dumb mount or purchase a metbones cine speedbooster. Decisions! lol You using the metabones adapter? Do you recommend it with old glass?
@@jamomorrissey I'm working on full frame myself, so I don't need a booster. Never used one actually, but know people who swear by them. I don't think they're required, but nice to be able to get that extra light and closer to original FOV the lenses are designed for. Totally up to you and your work.
@@MarkHoltze Yeah, those are the reasons I'm leaning toward a speed-booster. It may all depend on the bank balance! lol Thanks for the interaction. All the best!
Also coming from a love of Takumar lenses, this Zeiss line always intrigued me. Not that common on second market in Sweden, even though they show up from time to time. Looking forward to that "Planar killer" video! Great work as always.
Takumars feel like Contax Zeiss lenses in terms of the build quality and handling. The colour between the Zeiss lenses is more consistent and the markings on the lens make it a bit easier for focus tracking with a focus puller. Also non radioactive which bothers some. I’m curious to study the results between those two lenses as well. Early impressions of the 8 50 are quite favourable though.
Beautiful, glad to see someone talk about these "hidden" gems. Are you planning to do future videos on which C/Y lenses you like, as well as possibly the subsequent ZE/ZF lenses, and their relationship to the C/Y line?
I defy anyone who is not already a Contax SLR user not to suffer an immediate case of full-on LUST ;-) Great production, as usual, Mark. As a vinyl lover also, I enjoyed your lovely shots of tone arm-cartridge-disc chemistry as an, er, analog to the era of these lovely lenses - and bodies! As my German friends would say, Hut ab!
It's a physical obsession first, I knew it once I held onto my first contax zeiss lens. I'm just obsessed with the brand now, the box art, down to the leather bags these lenses came in. Thanks for the kind words steve, happy new year mate.
@@MarkHoltze Thank, Mark. Wishing you the same! When you have a moment, could you please shoot me a link to your comparison of the Carl Zeiss and Takumar 50/1.4 lenses. I own one of each (7-Element Tak and AEJ CZ) and will be interested to view your takes on these. Also, good to know the Ninja bokeh only affects a short range of apertures - I've not yet used the Zeiss 50 in bokeh producing situations, so it's a relief to know this bit of information!
Glad you finally got to these lenses. They are probably one of my all time favorites for shooting. And they really are very close to the super speeds! It’s funny you mention Kubrick. He was notorious for shooting on single frame lenses that he had cined out. But saying Kubrick shot with this lenses and that lenses wasn’t his brilliance. He understood that every lenses was unique and had its own quality - as the glass was still hand ground in those days....He would buy a dozen or so of the same lens and pick the best one. And as far as the super speeds go, again it’s not hard to cine the contact lenses out to make a nearly identical lenses as they used the exact same glass. Pretty sure they have the same coatings as well but I could be wrong. If using a zoom, make that puppy par focal and cine it out and you are good to go. And for cheap too! Love these lenses. Love the Takumars also. But there are a few of these Contax lenses I would take over theSMC taki any day. Provided of course it’s a near perfect lens! Like all other old lenses. A near perfect mold free lens is hard to find. Refurbs can be great depending who done it. So I say buy a set. Have the very best of the best clean and mod them out. I can’t recommend a name now as my guy has since passed :/ but there are others.
It's funny, I picked up the 85mm 1.4 MMJ (MINT) condition by the way from a guy selling it in Toronto. It was about right after I had to send back the modded Nikkor and Contax Zeiss set and it was that experience I realized I need to start collecting. From there it was the 60mm macro 2.8 AEJ, the 50mm 1.4 AEJ (might get an MM version, I just wanted the entire box set that came with the lens). The 35mm 1.4 because it's probably one of the best lenses for what I shoot and ya...looking at the 35-70 3.4 now. Not sure when it will stop...if ever.
Mark another solid video! Considering the situation right now would be a great time to seriously consider doing that 20 hour video segment haha cause it looks like Florida is going to be under curfew and then after quarantined ;)
@@MarkHoltze I'm not saying it's a bad lens, it just doesn't seem to reach optimal sharpness before f4 and I really like sharpness. If I want to shoot at f4, I'm better off using my old Pentax 50mm f4 macro, which is outlandishly sharp, much lighter, smaller, equal in color definition and of course, it focuses a lot closer.
This is great Mark. As a fellow lens nerd, I rely on these videos and they impact my decisions on which lenses to buy and try. So thank you! Currently testing the CY Zeiss 100mm f/3.5. I keep vacillating between keeping it and returning it. I can't tell yet if it could replace the Nikkor 105mm 2.5 pre-ai lens that I love and is about half the price.
If you're going to build a set of the CZ's then maybe consider keeping it. If not, sell it and use the money to start building a pre ai kit. I feel consistency in the brand is the most helpful.
This is the goal, of your time is being used I’m hoping you can walk away with a better understanding. It’s how you can use that moving forward to build your own creative empire.
Thanks for such an insightful and thorough video! Contax lenses were on my shopping list and this just saved me from getting the wrong ones 😎 Recently discovered your channel and really enjoying it.
Happy you found the content helpful mate! I wasn't fully convinced back in 2017 to invest fully in them, I messed around and was convinced by the Takumar's that I'm IN LOVE with these SLR lenses and after handling my first cine set of CZ's, I just had to start collecting my own. You'll love them!
Wow ... Thanks a Lot, Mark ... you made me proud !! I own a 35/1.4, a 50/1.4 and a 85/1.4 ... and thanks to this video I now know that only the 50/1.4 is a MM ... I use them too little, I must admit ... but your video has encouraged me to do this again ... cameras used ( plus Novoflex adaptors ) Sony A7 I & II ... Next up would be a comparison between the 35 mm Lenses, I have ... Leica Sumicron-R 35/2 ... Zeiss Loxia 35/2 ... Olympus Zuiko 35/2 ... and the a.m. Contax 35/1.4 ... at a comparable scale ... i.e. the same object and setting ... and off course I love the Ninja Star ;-) ... Any ideas on objects for the comparison ?? Cheers ...
Im looking forward to that rival video, oh yes indeed. I have a CZ Jena Pancola 50 1.8. It's a pretty sweet lens. Beautiful lenses you have there, I am jealous very much ha ha.
I've read a lot about zeiss, Takumar and Olympus zuiko lenses. You should definitely try the zuiko, probably the most value you can get for money, at least here in Europe. Unfortunately I have never had the chance to use one of this lenses, even while owning a 50mm zuiko (in the future I think I'm going to buy an Olympus om2n but I have way too film cameras to carry around at the moment)
My set is being modded right now =). Getting much harder to find the 21 and 28 in mm variant. Wasn’t a big fan of the contax macro since the focus ring moves out. Great video!
I've got a Contax G2 with a Carl Zeiss 45mm Planar F2 lens. Let me tell you the quality of this lens is nothing short of spectacular. It makes my 35mm images look like they could be medium format.
Hoade also has a cheap reliable adapter. and leitax has solid eos-mounts. K+F comfort adapter also can be recommend. and Dandelion Lushnikov chip(no battery drain and eTTL exclusively)
Too quality, like every video. Great Mark!😍 I hope in the future a set of rivolutionary videos about anamorphic lens for videomakers without 20k money. 😅
Great video! I've had a set of both AEG and MMJ Contax Zeiss lenses and after a couple of years of shooting with them I came to the conclusion that they are not that great, and ended up selling them. They ARE NOT like true Zeiss Cine super speeds which have superior optical glass formulations, Except for some of the later MMJ versions, the Contax Zeiss lenses produce somewhat muddy, desaturated images. You're better off getting newer ZE/ZF lenses and desaturate the colors in post if you want that look. For my taste, even though I now own a set of ZF lenses, I much prefer the color rendition and saturation of Nikkor AIS lenses. To my eye the Nikkor AIS are more like Spherical Panavision lenses of the 80s. Pre Nikkor AIS, the colors are not as nice. At the end it comes down to taste. The high cost of a few of some of the Contax Zeiss lenses like the 28mm f2 and the 21mm are not worth it. Your images are not going to magically look better. Lighting, filtration (Black Pro Mist), quality of talent and set design make more of a difference than going with vintage lenses. A lot of that look can be achieved in the grade. Even though so many DPs nowadays are using vintage glass like Canon K35 and Kowa anamorphics, no one ever thinks that the images Roger Deakins produces are not as good, and he uses the most modern lenses with not filtration on them. Deakins' magic is with the light. I'm sure if you gave him Sigma lenses his stuff would look just as great. Cheers!
It’s all very subjective, working with DP’s with different pallet choices I’ve come to accept this. I know a few who prefer the MM’s over the ZE/F’s even though the bokeh is softer in the later models. Had a set of AIS last year and didn’t lime them as much. The Zeiss lenses and nikkor AIS’s I had on loan both modded and I just naturally gravitated towards them. Nothing wrong with the AIS, it’s just a how our brains interpret colour differently. With 12 bit colour, the desaturates consistent colour works nicely for some looks. Really depends what the colour tone you’re going for in a film. Great comment mate! Thanks so much for adding some value down here!
Haha. This is so familiar. I tried some of the "hyped up" vintage lenses that the internet goes on and on about (i.e. Pentax Takumars, Helios 44-2, etc.), and absolutely hated all of them. Wound up sticking to a set of modern primes (Sigmas) which I'm not super happy with, but they're certainly more versatile than the vintage lenses. Currently looking to try out the Leica R's as they're supposed to be on the high end of vintage glass.
@@s8AEPdeqb699uQVcyV4e sorry but that's bull shit...a coated full manual lens it's way more versatile than a super high contrasty sigma crap lens. If you don't want to go with real cinema lenses, you should consider only Zeiss/ Leica/ Voigtlander/ Super takumar lenses to build a decent set. Ps. The Helios 44-2 it's a fantastic lens considering the low contrast and increased dynamic range that can provide you, it's largely used in the world of fashion films with RED or Arri cine cameras.
Luca Bono Easy. Sounds like some ppl are not DP in industry😄therefore, they may not cherish the characteristic of those unique lenses. I’m searching Contax 28 f2 now. 😄
HA HA !! hell yea - Well done Mark. Well done. I am so with you on this. We talk passionately about the old lenses. But when you think about it, with all the advances, 30 years past, here we are. And What would those lenses be worth by today's standards? In the 80's these were, in that day and age, very expensive. Planned obsolescence is front and center today. Yet the FD line for me is, well, it's Timeless. lets put it this way, after shooting this last home with all FD, never once using the Rokinon, I may skip renting to shoot real estate altogether. Great Epsisode Mark. I'm calling it, the next Mckinnon.
lol, thanks Ned. Doubtful on the McKinnon thing though, but I'll take it as a compliment. Part what motivated me to do this was to give options for McKinnon's audience who I saw complaining they couldn't afford the Canon sent lenses he was promoting "the one lens you NEED to have" ;) You can do a lot with a $50 lens, these CZ's aren't the best examples of that, but plenty of quality more affordable alternatives.
Zeiss Contax are very under-rated lenses, especially for digital video where they offer a lower contrast than most modern glass so ideal for log grading. The constant aperture 35-70mm zoom is a real stunner but my firm favourite is the Contax 21mm Distagon F/2.8 which remains virtually a fixture on my Sony FS5 via a focal reducer. (aka: Speed Booster) The latter of course restores the Full Frame AoV on S35 sensors and gives me approximately F/2.0 at the sensor. Mated to the FS5's floating electronic ND, I set the 21mm at say F/8.0 where the focus is virtually from the glass to infinity with zero barrel or pin-cushion distortion. It's the wide angle lens you want when you don't want your pictures to look like a wide angle lens!
I remember users of the 120 macro, especially shooting chrome and insect photography, that it was said this lens created an almost 3-D effect. It was THE lens. Well, now I have a Hasselblad 120 macro with a converter for my Fuji X. That will have to do. (400 bucks ebay)
Never too late to get back in. The 1.4 is nicer feeling. I’m prob going to sell my 1.7 as well. Should do a compare video between the two first. Might make me second guess that decision ;)
These lenses are on my top of the lenses to own one day! I purchased the wrong lens (Contax/Yashisca 28-70mm F3.5-4.5 Vario-Sonnar Lens) and eventually buy the correct lenses sometime sooner than later but more likely later! Hahahaha! Great review Mark!
The Takumars feel premium at a very discounted price. That makes them feel like a “find”. These ones are more expensive, have the reputation and feel like a million bucks. If I wasn’t convinced by what these old lenses are capable of, I would have steered clear, and for the most part it’s what I did in the beginning. Now I’m hooked!
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Great one Mark !!! I actually like ninja stars bokeh a lot. The only exception would be the pancake 45mm f2.8 that I would take in MM because I can use it on my Contax Aria with a close to point & shoot experience.
@mark holtze - I'm about to add my first lens to a Panasonic G7 for pure 4K video work (UA-cam). This is for the love of it only - I can't monetize these videos, as they feature fully copyrighted music everytime. One great lens, for close-up and even macro video work for UA-cam, needed. Is it a Contax, a Zeiss Flektogon MC 35, a Pentax Takumar, a Helios 44, or perhaps a Canon FD 50?
@@MarkHoltze you misunderstand me Mark. I'm asking from that list, what would YOU choose to use? Also, the videos I'm doing feature the original artists and songs, so the answer is no on the music. See here : ua-cam.com/video/g27MkhGOxyA/v-deo.html
Great! Now all the Ebay sellers are going to hike up their prices! 😂 Seriously though these are amazing lenses and I own five of the primes. I actually bought a Contax RTSIII just so that I can shoot with them on film as well.
I just came from Matti Haapoja's channel about why he needs to spend all this money on gear. Here you are making stuff that's 100% better looking and sounding with a C100 and is that an IMAC? The density of this video is also better than anything I've seen from that twit. I have no idea how he has so many subscribers and you have so few. I know this is weird for you to hear probably, but I'm just being frank. My name is Frank by the way.
Thank you Mark. It is good review and can't wait to see comparison between Super Takumar and Contax Carl Zeiss. As man dusky so mentioned because of you he bought Takumar lens and this happened to me. I watched your video and bought Super Takumar 55mm F 1.8 and love feel of lens and focusing and manually taking good photo with my Olympus OM-D E-M 10 Mark II
The 55 is arguably one of their best lenses! A lot of people love it, that 55 focal length is perfect as well. Seems odd at first, it's how I felt about the 58mm focal length from the helios, but I kind of love it. Those extra mm's really make a difference for portraits, but still keep it wide and versatile enough for other stuff.
@@MarkHoltze I was looking for one last year but the prices where waaay too high, around 4000 dolars here in Brazil, so i was looking for the 35mm 1.4 which was around 2k and a better buy at the time, but time passed and while I was saving some money , a friend of mine got this 28mm on a trade and sold to me for a really good deal because he knew I loved some old zeiss glass and the lens truly is amazing ! I shot my last music video mostly with it , as well as a couple shots with the 50mm and the 11-20 tokina for wide shots while I search for the 21mm zeiss here is the music video : ua-cam.com/video/JGYbNy7ptJo/v-deo.html
They're both fantastic to be honest, the differences are subtle I think. Contax have less natural contrast and more muted colours, this is a look many DP's like because it allows them a little more flex when pushing colour. The R's are beautiful, for me it just came down to how the Contax Zeiss lenses had me feel vs the Leica R's...I kind of committed to one over the other, but i'm not particular enough to really say why. R's I think have a stronger reputation and you'd have an easier time renting those out, but in my opinion you can't go wrong with either. I like the size of the Contax lenses a bit more too, a bit bigger and heavier with longer focus throws as far as I can tell (don't hold me to this). :)
Leica vs Zeiss.....that's an entire NEW video and depending on who you ask, the perception will change ;). One thing I've noticed is Leica have more natural colour pop, but with the CZ the flatter colour profile helps with grading. Leica R's I think were a direct reaction to these as well. The BATTLE of Germany's top glass maker ;)
Leicas render some of the nicest bokeh you can ask for. I find they tend to be sharper wide open than Zeiss, whereas Zeiss sharpens up significantly more stopped down. Leica has the signature creamy bokeh with warmer tones; Zeiss has a classic bokeh with cooler tones. They both have their 'looks'; in terms of bang for buck zeiss certainly beats out the leica there :)
I'm impressed, that's saying a lot. I'll tell you those Super Speeds might be my favourite lenses to shoot with even with all the cinema lenses that have come after the fact. They remind me of my younger years and it's really refreshing to see a young man like yourself showing an interest into the more refined aspects of the craft. The Critic has Spoken
To me the Taks flare giving character, same with Helios(bokeh aside). But the T coatings of the CY Zeiss flare way less which would be better for video "on set" given shooting considerations , etc. I love the price/sharpness ratio of the 35-70 - 3.4 CY but my 85 1.4 is a bokeh beast. That said my lowly Tak 135 3.5 has delicious bokeh, add micro contrast in post and sweet.
Keeping my eye on a 35-70, I suspect that will be my next lens purchase. It's nice to be able to use different lenses to achieve different look characteristics.
Hi Mark! I love to watch your vintage lenses reviews. You really got me hooked on the Takumars and I decided to buy the 85 and the 135 versions of them. But: do I see a S1H in your hand? If yes, have you decided on what gimbal you are going to put this awesome camera? I am in the process of comparing the best options here. My favorite so far is the Weebill S. Greetings from Europe!
Weebill S I think is the best option. It’s great for heavier cameras and it’s priced right I think. I rarely use a gimbal and my Sony and Crane version 1 will be my go to when I do. The S1H is blowing me away though, fantastic camera! Just need more mounts to come out for it ;) You won’t be disappointed by either the 85 or the 135!
@@MarkHoltze Indeed, it is an amazing camera. In combination with vintage lenses a neverending delight. I bought the sigma mc 21 ef adapter. It costs nearly as much as my Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35 2.4. So you would go for the weebill s. Thanks for the tip and I am looking forward for your next review.
Thanks mate! It was a passion project for sure, found myself saying half way though "not even sure anybody will even care" but I just felt it was an important one to get out the way before I dive more closely into these lenses for review.
@@MarkHoltze Oh, I'll re-watch it at least several times. Because there is so much details that I want to notice. It's like to listen a new track. First you just listen, then you emphasize only the beat, then violin or other instruments. It's layered experience for me )
SOON, was hoping to do it but then everything got locked down and i pushed it off to make a bigger deal of it. I should get to it this summer though latest.
Hi Mark, love these videos and the way you deliver them. Quick question. I just go my Contax 35 1.4 lens, and it seems like everything is out of focus. I have the Contax 50 1.4 too, which focuses fine with the simple Fotodiox adapter I am using. (C/Y to EF, then EF to my S1H and A7iii). Did you have to do anything different with the 35? Or did I just get a bum lens?
@@MarkHoltze 35 AEG. It's really weird. When I take off the adapter and lens wack real close to the sensor, it looks like it starts to get in focus more. All the Takumars and other Contax lenses work as expected. I wonder if a previous owner had it adapted to shoot mirrorless or something... (because of the closer focus).
Which lens do you think is sharper wide open? The Contax Zeiss 85mm f1.4? Or the Super Multi Coated Takumar 85mm f1.8? They’re similar in price and I don’t know which one I want to get.
1.4 is much different than 1.8, the Zeiss at 1.8 is sharp, the Tak is a bit soft (lenses wide open rarely perform optimally). The Tak at 2.8 is perfect; so just depends I think. I should compare them
I have a pretty big backlog right now mate. I appreciate it that! Maybe a bit later? When I test them it usually is over the course of weeks of use to developer a good sense. So the stuff I’m coming up to test has sort of been on the works for the last little while.
Since Zeiss ZF/EF lenses are prone to fucs shift - Did you experience any focus shift in these lenses? Any advice would be aprreciated! And thank you very much for the in-depth review!
There is some focus breathing on C/Y lenses. Most SLR stills focus breath a bit, they were designed with video in mind. I don't find them too intrusive though, it's rare i'm doing a massive focus pull where it would be a problem. I'd have to see how the ZF lenses compare, but need a set.
ohhhh not sure, anytime you put glass in front of a lens i feel there's a compromise there, but those boosters do great things for MFT sensor sizes and full frame lenses. I say go for the metabones to get the FOV bump
Found a Contax Zeiss 50/1.7 on ebay while searching for Rollei 50/1.4s, got one for $80 and it's the best damned lens I ever had. Though I did sell it and got a Contax Zeiss 28-85mm since work was starting to pick up and I couldn't afford a CZ prime set yet (upwards of $200 per lens!). Will definitely buy a CZ set when I save up though 😄
@@MarkHoltze Actually sold the 50/1.7 that I first got for a bit more than twice the price I got it for and I still considered it a loss 😅 Near mint condition with the original caps and leather pouch for around $180.
Each time I watch your video I want to buy a new vintage lense 🤣 Well done. I saw you have now the Panasonic S1H. Which adapter can you recommend for it? Thanks
I’m sorry for that Steve! ;) I’m waiting for Fotodiox to build out their adapter line now, but currently I’m using a sigma EF to L as a base, and EF to C/Y onto my Carl Zeiss. That makes my C/Y lenses EF mounts and then attach that to the sigma adapter. Works fine for now; but once more L adapters are out for M42 and C/Y it will do.
Damn, you are good, always interesting and entertaining! For a complete beginner on a budget, is there a better and free video editor, compared to Win movie maker ? (1080p)
The Contax Carl Zeiss video that nobody asked for, but I made anyway:
CHEAT SHEET
Two Versions of Contax Carl Zeiss lenses made:
1) AE “Ninja Star” (1975-1984). AEG (AE lenses made in West German) AEJ (AE lenses made in Japan)
2) MM (1984-2005). MMG (MM lenses made in West Germany) MMJ (MM lenses made in Japan)
No difference between lenses made in Japan or West Germany, it was strictly a manufacturing cost savings decision. Zeiss quality control was entirely equal between both production lines.
Fantastic visuals, camera presence, motion graphics, and final edit as always. Keep it up!
Thanks mate! Finding that balance and covering my face as much as possible is the motivator here :)
No one asked for it because it was implied!!! I have so many lenses but these Contax Zeiss are something I have been lusting over for a very long time. Stop tempting me I'm going broke because of this addiction!
@@brakmaster You've got all the time mate! If i wasn't getting paid to use these ones (jobs) I might have held off. Over the last 3 years I've been convinced what I can achieve with these lenses and how I can use them. My friend Damon (who had the 16mm near the end of the video) has been using CZ for awhile before I got into them, I just couldn't (at the time) stomach the price for "old lenses" . Now it's ALL I want to shoot with :)
Are you an AE or MM individual yourself?
@@MarkHoltze Yeah you're right. Obviously I'm not a professional just an amateur with a passionate hobby. I have just ordered a Canon Eos M to play around with raw video and I will pair it up with some vintage Canon FD glass. I would characterize myself as an AE individual!
Hey Mark, Good to know...from Takumar ambassador to Germany fan.
Because of you, I brought my first SMC Takumar 55 1.8 and Super Tak 50 1.4 "hot" lens for my girl. Recently, I brought Jupiter-9 85 f2 and start reading the history of its. I found the soviet lens closely link to Zeiss company after WWII. The history from Zeiss and Leitz even longer than Pentax and those japan companies. I have never been so interest in history. Haha...
Oh ya the Zeiss stuff is crazy. I haven’t really either, I got more into it the older I got. You could do a feature length on Zeiss for sure. This one starts when the Contax Lineup started in 1975, but it’s just a new evolution in a very long and “interesting” history. :)
like the new intro. And the found footage from the old commercials are just gold! Well done Mark!
Thanks mate, ya it's a natural evolution of the intro I think. I can cut it super short or longer if need be well. Nice and dynamic. The old posters etc are my fav. I saw those by accident awhile and they totally inspired me to do a video on them.
@@MarkHoltze Creativity hits you random sometimes. Awesome that you took the time and energy to film the posters. Would have been easier to go on with life. How do you manage to find such clips on your hard drive after a while? I do project. based folders and I find it difficult to have a file system for such random clips.
I have an RTS since the 90s. Its light meter has now died and apparently cannot be repaired, but the camera still works fine in manual mode. The 50/1.4 Zeiss is the sharpest lens I have ever tried, and now I am using it with my Nikon DSLR - but only for close-ups, as it does not focus to infinity on this camera.
RTS!!! Ya I use a separate meter when shooting film. I’ve never been able to trust the cam meter. Never really tried I guess lol.
Ooooo, ive really been wanting to see you talk about these lenses. Can’t wait!
The first of many I suspect. I've got a number to review, but this is the introduction of the very dense topic :)
Hi Mark - the style of your videos is really amazing. The turntable scene .. fantastic. A pure source of inspiration. If one day you showed all vintage lenses start making tutorials on how to make videos like that :D
Thanks! Yes how I shoot these series in the works for sure. It’s the next step I think! Thanks mate!
Absolutely incredible mini documentary. The visuals and edit are also as good as they get!
Thanks Alan! Gearing up for the Helios review...
The production in your videos is so epic
Thanks Denise! Just nice to have a platform to share the love for these things. Thanks for watching!
Nooo, these are already expensive enough, stop fueling the hype! 😁
Great video!
Takumars, Helios...canon FD’s, Pentacon (which are basically Zeiss lenses just lost a legal battle). You can do so much on a budget. I wouldn’t even consider these if i wasn’t already convinced based on my previous experience with the other brands.
@@MarkHoltze I know, there are so many...
It's not like I need the Contax, I just want them. 😁
Advertisements were on point back in the 70s-80s. Love the Porsche integration and the Ninja Star bokeh is beautiful, albeit subjective and super stylistic. Love your new effects and channel style of late!
Big money ads back then for sure. It’s changed a lot in the last 10 years I think. Still money, but not the same kind.
Absolutely. It would be nice to have a revamp of these type of ads on massive billboards. It's art to me :D
Mark the puns are awesome, but you speak with such wisdom it shows in the story telling and video production great work man, we need to get you up to at least 250k subscribers haha
Might be awhile my friend, but appreciate the effort! 😂 very nice of you to say, it’s the love of these lenses that are my true motivator, sub counts or not :). Of course sharing this stuff with people who also love it is fantastic as well!
Your videos are incredibly beautiful ... the lights and perfect editing ... thank you and congratulations ...
Thank you for the kind words, love these lenses so I think some of that spills out in my efforts lol.
Many people (like me) have been adapting legacy manual lenses to Canon cameras for years. I bought my first C/Y Zeiss lens in 2007 and others had been doing so for years prior to that. Also bought a SMC Takumar 55/1.8 in 2007 for $18 shipped! The Sony e-mount system allows these lenses to thrive again.
Love it!!
Great timing, I just bought my Contax Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and 28mm 2.8 and really happy and fell in love with them. Already used them on a shoot before some testing. Seriously debating whether I should still get a 35mm and someone local to me still has an AEG 85mm 1.4 because I am really, really happy with just the two I already have!
My first one was the 85mm 1.4 mint condition, then I got the Macro 60 2.8 AEJ, 50 1.4 and the last one was the 35. The 35 is pretty special I'll say that.
This man loves puns almost as much as he loves vintage glass. 😉
😂 it’s true...I’m so corny ;) ;) ;)
These Contax Zeiss lenses have completely overtaken my vintage lens collection. Great video. Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks mate! They are my new obsession as well. Just waiting for all this to clear up before I review them, I need to be outside!
The macro I could do sooner.
Mark Holtze oh, the 60/2.8 Makro Planar is a stellar lens! I was just using it today. From product shots to detail work, it’s easily my favorite from that collection.
It’s responsible for all my close up shots now lol. I bought one with the box, warranty cards and everything just cause.
Thanks again for this content that helped me to distract from coronavirus epidemic. With the entire country lockdown, parents away from where I live and uncertainty about what will happen in the next weeks, it's crucial to find some contents to free my mind even for a few minutes. Looking forward to watching the epic Takumar vs Zeiss battle!
You’re young mate, just be mindful of your surrounds and stay safe. I was at ground zero for the whole SARS thing back in 2003 in Toronto and kept the same level of caution. Don’t let the headlines make you feel crazy. It should hopefully be over soon.
Stay safe mate!
@@MarkHoltze yeah. I hope that the rulers of other nations, looking at what is going on here in Italy, will act promptly without underestimating the problem and make as many citizens as possible safe. It would be important because in this world we are all connected.
@@michelangelotorres_filmmaker Good luck out there, man. Stay safe and healthy, and you'll get through this.
Media Division did an fantastic video on these lenses as well. Might have to look into getting at least one to try out for my video projects. Thanks, Mark!
They totally did! If I didn't get my hands on a test sim-modded version last year they wouldn't even have been on my radar. But once I played with those for a while it was proof enough I needed to build out my own set for my commercial work. The consistent colour is what really sets them apart from the Takumar's when working in video.
Great job on this Mark. I had a Zeiss pancolar and the ninja star pattern really turned me off especially if the sun was in the background of a portrait. As always this was very well produced
You're in the "hate it" category lol. Totally fair, it's a big reason why people build cine sets of the MM's.
Great vid! Best piece of advice I can say to anyone building a set is simply choose AEG or MMJ. stick to it and build a set.
This!
Amazing editing and story telling as always. I really like the way you talk about the history of the lens !
You almost have to with these lenses. Really adds an element of intrigue to them!
I was lucky enough to pick up a 50 1.4 AE at an antique store for $12.50, I love it so much!
Wow!!! What a deal!! How’s the condition? I mean who cares for 12.50 but still lol
@@MarkHoltze pretty great actually! There aren’t any scratches, but there’s a decent amount of dust in the lens elements, I haven’t noticed too much of a drop in image quality though
Thanks mark. I really enjoy watching your videos. Thanks for all the effort you put into them. You inspire me to try new thinks. Thanks, thanks, 🙏
My pleasure mate! Thanks so much for watching and being apart of this effort.
Not only informative but so well made.
So as not to waste your time mate. It’s a privilege to have your attention for a little while so my goal really is to make sure I don’t waste that. Walking away with a bit more info to take to the street is also always a good thing!
What a cool video - congratulations to the wonderfully smooth transitions and the insights you provided on historical and technical facts: you nailed it - please continue to create more of these video's - Kudo's!
Thanks Joey! Very kind words of support my friend. Appreciate it
Like waiting for Christmas morning ....
true
TOTALLY !lol Even Christmas morning doesn't give me that Christmas morning feeling anymore, these do though ;)
loved the video dude... as always... I always love the videos to be fair. can't wait to see what else is to come with that beautiful S1H, and the whole premiere things is awesome.
Totally! Thanks a bunch for stopping by you guys. I really enjoyed my first actual production with the S1H. The stills really helps out where the A7sii lacked as well. The video options are insane though, I need to find the right balance and mess around with the settings a bit more. It's so foreign to me now where the Sony and C100 are clockwork (can field assemble blindfolded under fire) ;)
Mark Holtze “this is my rifle, this is my gun...” I hear ya, really slowed me down in the short time we had it. But the shortcuts/favourites in the menu will help. For me I enjoyed the 4K rec709 for ease and quality balance.
@@120fps Rec! I'll check it out, I've been doing all recording externally on my Atomos anyway, waiting on SD cards that are fast enough to come in ;)
It blows my mind how good your videos are.
Thanks mate, I blame the lenses. I feel they deserve the effort :)
I've had a lot of luck finding deals on vintage glass recently. After snagging the canon FD 55mm 1.2 aspherical on christmas eve, In mid january I managed to snag a CZ Ultron 50mm 1.8 at about 1/5 it's ebay price (on an Icarex body). I didn't think i'd snag more zeiss glass anytime soon, but then stumble accross a used gear add that led me to snag a 159MM with the MM Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.4 T* also for sub 100 bucks. The mantle in my living room is growing sexier daily.
Great video! I’m an AE zeiss owner. I currently have 25mm f2.8/35mm f2.8/50mm f1.7/85mm f1.4 and I love them. Paired with pocket 4K, I’m getting good results. Keep up the good work.
Thanks James, ya the Zeiss lenses are pretty fantastic. You've got a nice collection there mate! The pocket 4k produces unbelievable images, do you use a reducer on that Micro 4/3 sensor to reduce that crop?
@@MarkHoltzeThanks mate! I currently have the viltrox speedbooster, but I've been debating whether to accept the crop and use a dumb mount or purchase a metbones cine speedbooster. Decisions! lol
You using the metabones adapter? Do you recommend it with old glass?
@@jamomorrissey I'm working on full frame myself, so I don't need a booster. Never used one actually, but know people who swear by them. I don't think they're required, but nice to be able to get that extra light and closer to original FOV the lenses are designed for.
Totally up to you and your work.
@@MarkHoltze Yeah, those are the reasons I'm leaning toward a speed-booster. It may all depend on the bank balance! lol
Thanks for the interaction. All the best!
Also coming from a love of Takumar lenses, this Zeiss line always intrigued me. Not that common on second market in Sweden, even though they show up from time to time. Looking forward to that "Planar killer" video! Great work as always.
Takumars feel like Contax Zeiss lenses in terms of the build quality and handling. The colour between the Zeiss lenses is more consistent and the markings on the lens make it a bit easier for focus tracking with a focus puller. Also non radioactive which bothers some.
I’m curious to study the results between those two lenses as well. Early impressions of the 8 50 are quite favourable though.
Beautiful, glad to see someone talk about these "hidden" gems. Are you planning to do future videos on which C/Y lenses you like, as well as possibly the subsequent ZE/ZF lenses, and their relationship to the C/Y line?
I defy anyone who is not already a Contax SLR user not to suffer an immediate case of full-on LUST ;-) Great production, as usual, Mark. As a vinyl lover also, I enjoyed your lovely shots of tone arm-cartridge-disc chemistry as an, er, analog to the era of these lovely lenses - and bodies! As my German friends would say, Hut ab!
It's a physical obsession first, I knew it once I held onto my first contax zeiss lens. I'm just obsessed with the brand now, the box art, down to the leather bags these lenses came in. Thanks for the kind words steve, happy new year mate.
@@MarkHoltze Thank, Mark. Wishing you the same!
When you have a moment, could you please shoot me a link to your comparison of the Carl Zeiss and Takumar 50/1.4 lenses. I own one of each (7-Element Tak and AEJ CZ) and will be interested to view your takes on these. Also, good to know the Ninja bokeh only affects a short range of apertures - I've not yet used the Zeiss 50 in bokeh producing situations, so it's a relief to know this bit of information!
Glad you finally got to these lenses. They are probably one of my all time favorites for shooting. And they really are very close to the super speeds! It’s funny you mention Kubrick. He was notorious for shooting on single frame lenses that he had cined out. But saying Kubrick shot with this lenses and that lenses wasn’t his brilliance. He understood that every lenses was unique and had its own quality - as the glass was still hand ground in those days....He would buy a dozen or so of the same lens and pick the best one. And as far as the super speeds go, again it’s not hard to cine the contact lenses out to make a nearly identical lenses as they used the exact same glass. Pretty sure they have the same coatings as well but I could be wrong. If using a zoom, make that puppy par focal and cine it out and you are good to go. And for cheap too! Love these lenses. Love the Takumars also. But there are a few of these Contax lenses I would take over theSMC taki any day. Provided of course it’s a near perfect lens! Like all other old lenses. A near perfect mold free lens is hard to find. Refurbs can be great depending who done it. So I say buy a set. Have the very best of the best clean and mod them out. I can’t recommend a name now as my guy has since passed :/ but there are others.
It's funny, I picked up the 85mm 1.4 MMJ (MINT) condition by the way from a guy selling it in Toronto. It was about right after I had to send back the modded Nikkor and Contax Zeiss set and it was that experience I realized I need to start collecting.
From there it was the 60mm macro 2.8 AEJ, the 50mm 1.4 AEJ (might get an MM version, I just wanted the entire box set that came with the lens). The 35mm 1.4 because it's probably one of the best lenses for what I shoot and ya...looking at the 35-70 3.4 now.
Not sure when it will stop...if ever.
Mark another solid video! Considering the situation right now would be a great time to seriously consider doing that 20 hour video segment haha cause it looks like Florida is going to be under curfew and then after quarantined ;)
Okay, that was worth waiting for. Great work. Will you make separate videos for the lenses you have?
Yes for sure. Just wanted to get some general info about the lenses first. Saves me repeating it in the reviews. Get to use new info for those :)
Killer editing in this, now I want those lenses
They’re good, they’re great...they’re made of pixie dust bexause the moment I held one, they had to be mine ;)
I actually have some of these left over from the 80's, so I can tell you they really are that good, with the exception of the 50mm f 1,4, maybe.
Brilliant! Hold onto them! I dig the 50, it’s a great video lens to be honest.
@@MarkHoltze I'm not saying it's a bad lens, it just doesn't seem to reach optimal sharpness before f4 and I really like sharpness. If I want to shoot at f4, I'm better off using my old Pentax 50mm f4 macro, which is outlandishly sharp, much lighter, smaller, equal in color definition and of course, it focuses a lot closer.
Graete material: information? brols , sound affects! Better than Tv shows! Nice job!
Thanks 🙏
This is great Mark. As a fellow lens nerd, I rely on these videos and they impact my decisions on which lenses to buy and try. So thank you! Currently testing the CY Zeiss 100mm f/3.5. I keep vacillating between keeping it and returning it. I can't tell yet if it could replace the Nikkor 105mm 2.5 pre-ai lens that I love and is about half the price.
If you're going to build a set of the CZ's then maybe consider keeping it. If not, sell it and use the money to start building a pre ai kit. I feel consistency in the brand is the most helpful.
Fantastic video thank you for putting so much effort it’s a visual treat! This is so enticing
My pleasure, thanks so much for noticing and taking the time to watch.
I would love to see the head to heads with the takumars! Thanks for always educating.
It’s coming :) thanks mate
Love the real neon sign, keeping the craft alive 😉
✊
I fucking love your channel. Thanks for the education - I always leave your channel feeling more knowledgeable than when I got here
This is the goal, of your time is being used I’m hoping you can walk away with a better understanding. It’s how you can use that moving forward to build your own creative empire.
Thanks for such an insightful and thorough video! Contax lenses were on my shopping list and this just saved me from getting the wrong ones 😎 Recently discovered your channel and really enjoying it.
Happy you found the content helpful mate! I wasn't fully convinced back in 2017 to invest fully in them, I messed around and was convinced by the Takumar's that I'm IN LOVE with these SLR lenses and after handling my first cine set of CZ's, I just had to start collecting my own. You'll love them!
Got a couple MMJ versions for my Contax S2. Really amazing lens
Beauty! Hold onto them!!
Wow ... Thanks a Lot, Mark ... you made me proud !! I own a 35/1.4, a 50/1.4 and a 85/1.4 ... and thanks to this video I now know that only the 50/1.4 is a MM ... I use them too little, I must admit ... but your video has encouraged me to do this again ... cameras used ( plus Novoflex adaptors ) Sony A7 I & II ... Next up would be a comparison between the 35 mm Lenses, I have ... Leica Sumicron-R 35/2 ... Zeiss Loxia 35/2 ... Olympus Zuiko 35/2 ... and the a.m. Contax 35/1.4 ... at a comparable scale ... i.e. the same object and setting ... and off course I love the Ninja Star ;-) ... Any ideas on objects for the comparison ?? Cheers ...
Im looking forward to that rival video, oh yes indeed. I have a CZ Jena Pancola 50 1.8. It's a pretty sweet lens. Beautiful lenses you have there, I am jealous very much ha ha.
I've read a lot about zeiss, Takumar and Olympus zuiko lenses. You should definitely try the zuiko, probably the most value you can get for money, at least here in Europe. Unfortunately I have never had the chance to use one of this lenses, even while owning a 50mm zuiko (in the future I think I'm going to buy an Olympus om2n but I have way too film cameras to carry around at the moment)
Zuiko! I’ll take a look into them! Thanks for the suggestion!
Now I'm wondering...will you be using an 8 or 7 element takumar for that comparison video? Great video like always Mark!
8 for sure...it’s the “planar killer” the lens thay took the crown; at the cost of losing money on every sale...;)
My set is being modded right now =). Getting much harder to find the 21 and 28 in mm variant. Wasn’t a big fan of the contax macro since the focus ring moves out. Great video!
The 21 is $$$$$$$$ a 28 2.8 mM is for sale in Toronto. $350.
@@MarkHoltze YUP. I was really excited to keep building my kit, then I saw the price tag of the 21 and stopped.
@@reelsportrd One quick way to wake you up from that dream right? HOW MUCH?!?!?! Back this horse up PLEASE!
Wow dude your videos are always so top notch
Thanks Cam, it’s the lenses fault entirely. They just tell me what to do ;)
I've got a Contax G2 with a Carl Zeiss 45mm Planar F2 lens. Let me tell you the quality of this lens is nothing short of spectacular. It makes my 35mm images look like they could be medium format.
That's amazing! I should check out the G2 stuff! Thanks, you have THE ANSWER.
Hoade also has a cheap reliable adapter. and leitax has solid eos-mounts. K+F comfort adapter also can be recommend. and Dandelion Lushnikov chip(no battery drain and eTTL exclusively)
Too quality, like every video. Great Mark!😍 I hope in the future a set of rivolutionary videos about anamorphic lens for videomakers without 20k money. 😅
Thanks mate! Yes keep it accessible for sure!
蔡司鏡在非林年代唔觉得他特别好，影像一般般，又難对焦，但到數碼年代反而影像效果容易表達出来，色彩又濃
Great video! I've had a set of both AEG and MMJ Contax Zeiss lenses and after a couple of years of shooting with them I came to the conclusion that they are not that great, and ended up selling them. They ARE NOT like true Zeiss Cine super speeds which have superior optical glass formulations, Except for some of the later MMJ versions, the Contax Zeiss lenses produce somewhat muddy, desaturated images. You're better off getting newer ZE/ZF lenses and desaturate the colors in post if you want that look. For my taste, even though I now own a set of ZF lenses, I much prefer the color rendition and saturation of Nikkor AIS lenses. To my eye the Nikkor AIS are more like Spherical Panavision lenses of the 80s. Pre Nikkor AIS, the colors are not as nice. At the end it comes down to taste. The high cost of a few of some of the Contax Zeiss lenses like the 28mm f2 and the 21mm are not worth it. Your images are not going to magically look better. Lighting, filtration (Black Pro Mist), quality of talent and set design make more of a difference than going with vintage lenses. A lot of that look can be achieved in the grade. Even though so many DPs nowadays are using vintage glass like Canon K35 and Kowa anamorphics, no one ever thinks that the images Roger Deakins produces are not as good, and he uses the most modern lenses with not filtration on them. Deakins' magic is with the light. I'm sure if you gave him Sigma lenses his stuff would look just as great. Cheers!
It’s all very subjective, working with DP’s with different pallet choices I’ve come to accept this. I know a few who prefer the MM’s over the ZE/F’s even though the bokeh is softer in the later models.
Had a set of AIS last year and didn’t lime them as much. The Zeiss lenses and nikkor AIS’s I had on loan both modded and I just naturally gravitated towards them. Nothing wrong with the AIS, it’s just a how our brains interpret colour differently.
With 12 bit colour, the desaturates consistent colour works nicely for some looks. Really depends what the colour tone you’re going for in a film.
Great comment mate! Thanks so much for adding some value down here!
Haha. This is so familiar. I tried some of the "hyped up" vintage lenses that the internet goes on and on about (i.e. Pentax Takumars, Helios 44-2, etc.), and absolutely hated all of them. Wound up sticking to a set of modern primes (Sigmas) which I'm not super happy with, but they're certainly more versatile than the vintage lenses. Currently looking to try out the Leica R's as they're supposed to be on the high end of vintage glass.
@@s8AEPdeqb699uQVcyV4e sorry but that's bull shit...a coated full manual lens it's way more versatile than a super high contrasty sigma crap lens.
If you don't want to go with real cinema lenses, you should consider only Zeiss/ Leica/ Voigtlander/ Super takumar lenses to build a decent set.
Ps.
The Helios 44-2 it's a fantastic lens considering the low contrast and increased dynamic range that can provide you, it's largely used in the world of fashion films with RED or Arri cine cameras.
Luca Bono Easy. Sounds like some ppl are not DP in industry😄therefore, they may not cherish the characteristic of those unique lenses. I’m searching Contax 28 f2 now. 😄
'Muddy images'? Care to give us all an example? I've heard a lot about the Contax lenses, but 'muddy images' is a new one.
This video is awesome. Thanks for giving us some history on this!
My pleasure Luke! Thanks for watching mate!
HA HA !! hell yea - Well done Mark. Well done. I am so with you on this. We talk passionately about the old lenses. But when you think about it, with all the advances, 30 years past, here we are. And What would those lenses be worth by today's standards? In the 80's these were, in that day and age, very expensive. Planned obsolescence is front and center today. Yet the FD line for me is, well, it's Timeless. lets put it this way, after shooting this last home with all FD, never once using the Rokinon, I may skip renting to shoot real estate altogether. Great Epsisode Mark. I'm calling it, the next Mckinnon.
lol, thanks Ned. Doubtful on the McKinnon thing though, but I'll take it as a compliment.
Part what motivated me to do this was to give options for McKinnon's audience who I saw complaining they couldn't afford the Canon sent lenses he was promoting "the one lens you NEED to have" ;) You can do a lot with a $50 lens, these CZ's aren't the best examples of that, but plenty of quality more affordable alternatives.
Zeiss Contax are very under-rated lenses, especially for digital video where they offer a lower contrast than most modern glass so ideal for log grading. The constant aperture 35-70mm zoom is a real stunner but my firm favourite is the Contax 21mm Distagon F/2.8 which remains virtually a fixture on my Sony FS5 via a focal reducer. (aka: Speed Booster) The latter of course restores the Full Frame AoV on S35 sensors and gives me approximately F/2.0 at the sensor. Mated to the FS5's floating electronic ND, I set the 21mm at say F/8.0 where the focus is virtually from the glass to infinity with zero barrel or pin-cushion distortion. It's the wide angle lens you want when you don't want your pictures to look like a wide angle lens!
agree 100% Thanks for the fantastic comment mate! Appreciate it!
I remember users of the 120 macro, especially shooting chrome and insect photography, that it was said this lens created an almost 3-D effect. It was THE lens. Well, now I have a Hasselblad 120 macro with a converter for my Fuji X. That will have to do. (400 bucks ebay)
I'd love to see how a 120 macro would confer to 35mm sensor. 400 on the Bay isn't bad for a Hasselblad!
@@MarkHoltze I lost the macro mounting it with a fotodioX adapter to Fuji X. Really lost it. Closest focus is somewhere around 30 inches. Go figure.
Great video Mark. Recently sold my contax zeiss 50 1.7... you're making me regret it
Never too late to get back in. The 1.4 is nicer feeling. I’m prob going to sell my 1.7 as well. Should do a compare video between the two first. Might make me second guess that decision ;)
These lenses are on my top of the lenses to own one day! I purchased the wrong lens (Contax/Yashisca 28-70mm F3.5-4.5 Vario-Sonnar Lens) and eventually buy the correct lenses sometime sooner than later but more likely later! Hahahaha! Great review Mark!
“Ninja star bokeh” what’s NOT to like about that. Sweet video and really like history in those lenses...very tempting indeed
The Takumars feel premium at a very discounted price. That makes them feel like a “find”. These ones are more expensive, have the reputation and feel like a million bucks. If I wasn’t convinced by what these old lenses are capable of, I would have steered clear, and for the most part it’s what I did in the beginning.
Now I’m hooked!
Great one Mark !!! I actually like ninja stars bokeh a lot. The only exception would be the pancake 45mm f2.8 that I would take in MM because I can use it on my Contax Aria with a close to point & shoot experience.
Im' a fan myself, been seeing a lot of those patterns in latest season of Better Call Saul as well ;)
@mark holtze - I'm about to add my first lens to a Panasonic G7 for pure 4K video work (UA-cam). This is for the love of it only - I can't monetize these videos, as they feature fully copyrighted music everytime. One great lens, for close-up and even macro video work for UA-cam, needed.
Is it a Contax, a Zeiss Flektogon MC 35, a Pentax Takumar, a Helios 44, or perhaps a Canon FD 50?
That's awesome about the new lens for the G7. Can you find some non copyrighted music?
That lens lineup is a good mix mate!
@@MarkHoltze you misunderstand me Mark. I'm asking from that list, what would YOU choose to use?
Also, the videos I'm doing feature the original artists and songs, so the answer is no on the music. See here : ua-cam.com/video/g27MkhGOxyA/v-deo.html
Great! Now all the Ebay sellers are going to hike up their prices! 😂 Seriously though these are amazing lenses and I own five of the primes. I actually bought a Contax RTSIII just so that I can shoot with them on film as well.
I know those dang dealers! I’m shooting myself in the foot with these 😂
Frank de Kock, same here, been using the C/Y primes forever and bought the RTS III to upgrade from my 159MM's...
I just came from Matti Haapoja's channel about why he needs to spend all this money on gear. Here you are making stuff that's 100% better looking and sounding with a C100 and is that an IMAC? The density of this video is also better than anything I've seen from that twit. I have no idea how he has so many subscribers and you have so few. I know this is weird for you to hear probably, but I'm just being frank. My name is Frank by the way.
Thank you Mark. It is good review and can't wait to see comparison between Super Takumar and Contax Carl Zeiss. As man dusky so mentioned because of you he bought Takumar lens and this happened to me. I watched your video and bought Super Takumar 55mm F 1.8 and love feel of lens and focusing and manually taking good photo with my Olympus OM-D E-M 10 Mark II
The 55 is arguably one of their best lenses! A lot of people love it, that 55 focal length is perfect as well. Seems odd at first, it's how I felt about the 58mm focal length from the helios, but I kind of love it. Those extra mm's really make a difference for portraits, but still keep it wide and versatile enough for other stuff.
@@MarkHoltze Thank you for replying to my comments and appreciate your time to read my comment and reply.
@@daifuruta581 The least I could do, you gave me 7 mins of your time, I'll give you that in spades here mate.
Hope you have a nice weekend!
You deserve way more subs and views for this incredible content. ✌️❤
Kind of you to say! Glad you liked it mate, made making it worthwhile.
as always, AMAZING content ! Just got the 28mm f2 hollywood, last week ! Amazing lens, paired really amazing with my 50mm 1.4
OHHHHH the F2!!! That's a keeper! Because I have the 35 I'm not sure I need the 28, but ask me again in a few months and what I "need" may change ;)
@@MarkHoltze I was looking for one last year but the prices where waaay too high, around 4000 dolars here in Brazil, so i was looking for the 35mm 1.4 which was around 2k and a better buy at the time, but time passed and while I was saving some money , a friend of mine got this 28mm on a trade and sold to me for a really good deal because he knew I loved some old zeiss glass and the lens truly is amazing !
I shot my last music video mostly with it , as well as a couple shots with the 50mm and the 11-20 tokina for wide shots while I search for the 21mm zeiss
here is the music video : ua-cam.com/video/JGYbNy7ptJo/v-deo.html
Top notch video 👏🏼
What’s your thoughts on Contax Zeiss vs Leica R for video? Deciding between the 2 / build a set
They're both fantastic to be honest, the differences are subtle I think. Contax have less natural contrast and more muted colours, this is a look many DP's like because it allows them a little more flex when pushing colour. The R's are beautiful, for me it just came down to how the Contax Zeiss lenses had me feel vs the Leica R's...I kind of committed to one over the other, but i'm not particular enough to really say why. R's I think have a stronger reputation and you'd have an easier time renting those out, but in my opinion you can't go wrong with either.
I like the size of the Contax lenses a bit more too, a bit bigger and heavier with longer focus throws as far as I can tell (don't hold me to this). :)
Another banger!!!! Great job Mark!!!
Thanks Kyle!
Very interesting and well researched. After Leica, Zeiss are very good !
Leica vs Zeiss.....that's an entire NEW video and depending on who you ask, the perception will change ;). One thing I've noticed is Leica have more natural colour pop, but with the CZ the flatter colour profile helps with grading. Leica R's I think were a direct reaction to these as well. The BATTLE of Germany's top glass maker ;)
Leicas render some of the nicest bokeh you can ask for. I find they tend to be sharper wide open than Zeiss, whereas Zeiss sharpens up significantly more stopped down. Leica has the signature creamy bokeh with warmer tones; Zeiss has a classic bokeh with cooler tones. They both have their 'looks'; in terms of bang for buck zeiss certainly beats out the leica there :)
@@chrismhp Very nicely put. I've used the Zeiss 35mm 1.4, but still return to the Leica equivalent (at a higher price of course).
I'm impressed, that's saying a lot. I'll tell you those Super Speeds might be my favourite lenses to shoot with even with all the cinema lenses that have come after the fact. They remind me of my younger years and it's really refreshing to see a young man like yourself showing an interest into the more refined aspects of the craft.
The Critic has Spoken
Have a set on hand you could loan out? Appreciate the verbal vote of confidence mate. I don’t know what’s come over me with these ;)
To me the Taks flare giving character, same with Helios(bokeh aside). But the T coatings of the CY Zeiss flare way less which would be better for video "on set" given shooting considerations , etc. I love the price/sharpness ratio of the 35-70 - 3.4 CY but my 85 1.4 is a bokeh beast. That said my lowly Tak 135 3.5 has delicious bokeh, add micro contrast in post and sweet.
Keeping my eye on a 35-70, I suspect that will be my next lens purchase. It's nice to be able to use different lenses to achieve different look characteristics.
Hi Mark! I love to watch your vintage lenses reviews. You really got me hooked on the Takumars and I decided to buy the 85 and the 135 versions of them. But: do I see a S1H in your hand? If yes, have you decided on what gimbal you are going to put this awesome camera? I am in the process of comparing the best options here. My favorite so far is the Weebill S. Greetings from Europe!
Weebill S I think is the best option. It’s great for heavier cameras and it’s priced right I think.
I rarely use a gimbal and my Sony and Crane version 1 will be my go to when I do. The S1H is blowing me away though, fantastic camera! Just need more mounts to come out for it ;)
You won’t be disappointed by either the 85 or the 135!
@@MarkHoltze Indeed, it is an amazing camera. In combination with vintage lenses a neverending delight. I bought the sigma mc 21 ef adapter. It costs nearly as much as my Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35 2.4. So you would go for the weebill s. Thanks for the tip and I am looking forward for your next review.
Sooo much pleasing to watch!
Thanks mate! It was a passion project for sure, found myself saying half way though "not even sure anybody will even care" but I just felt it was an important one to get out the way before I dive more closely into these lenses for review.
@@MarkHoltze Oh, I'll re-watch it at least several times. Because there is so much details that I want to notice. It's like to listen a new track. First you just listen, then you emphasize
only the beat, then violin or other instruments. It's layered experience for me )
Looking forward to your video featuring The Zeiss 50mm f1.4 vs the "Zeiss Killer" Super Takumar 50mm f1.4
Looking forward to that one as well, I got a fun place I could shoot it as well!
Very interesting. Takumar vs Zeiss for when?
SOON, was hoping to do it but then everything got locked down and i pushed it off to make a bigger deal of it. I should get to it this summer though latest.
I'm fairly new to your channel. Great job. Watches like a doc film. Good effects. And glad to see you've upgraded lenses. ;)
Hi Mark, love these videos and the way you deliver them. Quick question. I just go my Contax 35 1.4 lens, and it seems like everything is out of focus. I have the Contax 50 1.4 too, which focuses fine with the simple Fotodiox adapter I am using. (C/Y to EF, then EF to my S1H and A7iii). Did you have to do anything different with the 35? Or did I just get a bum lens?
That’s so weird mate. It’s the same setup I have and zero issues. Any other way you can test it? 35 MMJ?
@@MarkHoltze 35 AEG. It's really weird. When I take off the adapter and lens wack real close to the sensor, it looks like it starts to get in focus more. All the Takumars and other Contax lenses work as expected. I wonder if a previous owner had it adapted to shoot mirrorless or something... (because of the closer focus).
nice one Mark great job yet again
Thanks for watching Tigers! 🐯
@@MarkHoltze a pleasure mate always entertaining and always learning something cool about our camera history !
Great UA-cam algorithm we got here, so glad it reads my interest so darn well. Thanks for video, imma subsrcibe right away!
I was wondering where the spike came from. Welcome and thanks for stopping by!
Hrvat sam bio i Hrvat cu biti! Zivjela Hrvatska!
Which lens do you think is sharper wide open? The Contax Zeiss 85mm f1.4? Or the Super Multi Coated Takumar 85mm f1.8? They’re similar in price and I don’t know which one I want to get.
1.4 is much different than 1.8, the Zeiss at 1.8 is sharp, the Tak is a bit soft (lenses wide open rarely perform optimally). The Tak at 2.8 is perfect; so just depends I think. I should compare them
Information-packed video! 👏🏼
Thanks Glenn!
I own the 50mm AE and its the best lens I own I love it!
So good!
Just bought the 35-70mm 3.4 😎
Tell me everything about it when you get it! It's on my watch list currently ;)
always great vid.. and great information
Many thanks mate! Glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Mark, great video! Would you like to test Minolta MC/MD lenses? I could send you a lot. Possibly for a next video?
I have a pretty big backlog right now mate. I appreciate it that! Maybe a bit later? When I test them it usually is over the course of weeks of use to developer a good sense. So the stuff I’m coming up to test has sort of been on the works for the last little while.
no problem. let me know if you feel like it.
Very generous of you mate! Thank you!
Since Zeiss ZF/EF lenses are prone to fucs shift - Did you experience any focus shift in these lenses? Any advice would be aprreciated! And thank you very much for the in-depth review!
There is some focus breathing on C/Y lenses. Most SLR stills focus breath a bit, they were designed with video in mind. I don't find them too intrusive though, it's rare i'm doing a massive focus pull where it would be a problem.
I'd have to see how the ZF lenses compare, but need a set.
God damn not another you tuber making the price go up
Still not enough people watching mate ;)
Great Content! Nice work!!
Thanks mate! Appreciate it!
VINTAGE LENS KIT: @t page not found :(
Ya not sure why. I need to fix those. I should just make a webpage. :(
Which one is better? Use C/Y lens on CY to MFT adapter? Or just covert it to EF mount and then use is on Metabone speedbooster?🤪
ohhhh not sure, anytime you put glass in front of a lens i feel there's a compromise there, but those boosters do great things for MFT sensor sizes and full frame lenses. I say go for the metabones to get the FOV bump
Always a great watch! Thanks!
Thanks Bo, happy you enjoyed it!
Found a Contax Zeiss 50/1.7 on ebay while searching for Rollei 50/1.4s, got one for $80 and it's the best damned lens I ever had.
Though I did sell it and got a Contax Zeiss 28-85mm since work was starting to pick up and I couldn't afford a CZ prime set yet (upwards of $200 per lens!).
Will definitely buy a CZ set when I save up though 😄
You won't be disappointed with them! Just make sure they're all in good condition and worst case sell them in a few years for more than you paid ;)
@@MarkHoltze Actually sold the 50/1.7 that I first got for a bit more than twice the price I got it for and I still considered it a loss 😅 Near mint condition with the original caps and leather pouch for around $180.
1.7plastic,1.4metal body
Do you use After Effects? How do you achieve those awesome graphic effects in your videos?
After Effects yes. Been awhile but happy to be back into it again.
Each time I watch your video I want to buy a new vintage lense 🤣 Well done. I saw you have now the Panasonic S1H. Which adapter can you recommend for it? Thanks
I’m sorry for that Steve! ;) I’m waiting for Fotodiox to build out their adapter line now, but currently I’m using a sigma EF to L as a base, and EF to C/Y onto my Carl Zeiss. That makes my C/Y lenses EF mounts and then attach that to the sigma adapter. Works fine for now; but once more L adapters are out for M42 and C/Y it will do.
@@MarkHoltze thank you :)
Damn, you are good, always interesting and entertaining!
For a complete beginner on a budget, is there a better and free video editor, compared to Win movie maker ? (1080p)
DaVinci Resolve is pretty powerful....also free version is very capable. Check it!