Contax 28mm f2.8 Carl Zeiss Biogon T* for G1/2 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Johann B
(Expert)

Review Date
August 13, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 1 of 13

Price Paid: $325.00 from eBay auction

Summary:

Easily the sharpest 28mm lens I've used, the Biogon also has a pleasing, three-dimensional image rendition that can't be measured by LPPM resolution tests. Obviously it's an incredible value, particularly when you figure how cheaply you can pick up a G1 body. It's a wonderful lens.

Strengths:

sharp, small, light, pleasing rendition, cheap!

Weaknesses:

none noted

Similar Products Used:

Elmarit 28/2.8, Takumar 28/2.8, Canon FD 28/2.8, many others...

Customer Service:

none needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Clive Hickman
(Intermediate)

Review Date
June 23, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
3 votes

Review 2 of 13

Price Paid: $289.00 from eBay

Summary:

This must be the world's premier 28mm f2.8 lens. The results are dazzling, vibrant color rendition, almost non-existent distortion even wide open, wonderful build quality and hardly any weight. It is amazing that you can pick these CZ gems up on eBay for under $300 (often brand new in the box)whereas the optically inferior Elmarit Leica offering will set you back $1500+ (see Swedish test site www.photodo.com). That is 5 times as much folks!

Strengths:

Quality in every respect

Weaknesses:

None

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 28mm f2, various CZ N series and G2 lenses

Customer Service:

Not tried

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Rating
Reviewed by: Yamanomichi
(Expert)

Review Date
February 26, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 3 of 13

Price Paid: $280.00 from Ebay

Summary:

This is a real gem! Although I don´t like the small viewfinder of the Contax G2, this lens makes me sticking to the Contax equipment. Even wide open, this lens delivers exceptional sharpness over more than 60% of the image area. This quality further increases gradually at f4; and maximal sharpness is seen at f5.6. Both contrast and flare resistance are amazing. Conventional prints from the "around the corner" lab look simply overcontrasted since they have adapted to customers having cheaper optics (personal interpretation). Even on chromes the color saturation and the contrast are breathtaking. What a difference to the keyhole-like finder of the G2. No ghost images even in critically lit situations. Flare simply doesn´t not exist with this lens. A true highlight - may be due to a very simple lens design (Gauss type) which is only possible with the rangefinder camera system allowing an indruding back element.

Strengths:

excellent sharpness, contrast, color rendition relatively affordable

Weaknesses:

"in lens" bajonet handles a bit tricky poor viewfinder coverage as compared to the real image fast but loud autofocus shade (GG-1) is vignetting the viewfinder image

Similar Products Used:

Planar 45/2.0 Sonnar 90/2.8 Canon EF 28/2.8 Canon EF 28-80/2.8-4.0 L USM Sigma 21/2.8 (Canon FD mount) Leica 19/2.8 1st version

Customer Service:

not needed (yet)

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Rating
Reviewed by: Meryl Arbing
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 18, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5,
4 votes

Review 4 of 13

Price Paid: $540.00 from Henry''s (Toronto)

Summary:

When you buy Zeiss you know what you are going to get and this lens doesn''t let you down. It is my favourite "walking around" lens and is as good or better than my Zeiss 28/f2.8 for my SLR

Strengths:

Tack sharp, incredible build quality, takes fantastic pictures!!

Weaknesses:

NONE!!

Similar Products Used:

Zeiss 28/f2.8 SLR

Customer Service:

efficient, professional helpful

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Rating
Reviewed by: lofan
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 10, 2002

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.75 of 5,
4 votes

Review 5 of 13

Price Paid: $0.00 from Man Sing

Summary:

This lens is highly portable, the optics is good, if you are a beginner in G, it is a highly recommended lens. But the bad thing happened after I bought the G mount 21mm since the 28 is not as impressing. Since I found myself no longer using this 28mm after having the 21. Now I just use it when I need to shoot indoor when flash is a must. Anyway, it''''s a good and light lens, but it will be rather difficult to co-exist with the 21mm. (or 35? since I don''''t have a 35)

Strengths:

Good optics, good color, light weight

Weaknesses:

none noticed.

Similar Products Used:

Ricoh GR1, Contax T3 (can it be said to be similar?)

Customer Service:

None yet

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