Review 4 of 4
Price Paid:
$200.00 Summary:
found this lens on ebay, and got it just in time for x-mas, for family shots.
Over two days, I shot with both setups, my Canon, with it''''s 50mm and 100mm lenses, and my Contax, with it''''s 50mm and 135mm lenses.
I swear, the more I shoot with Contax lenses, the more it makes me want to sell off all my Canon equipment.
This lens exhibits the same sharpness familiar to me with the 50mm planar, and the same deep blacks, and beautiful tones and textures that all my Contax equipment possesses, and none of my Canon equipment can seem to manage.
Wide open, this lens is sharp! The eyes really snap(!) in portraits. The textures in skin, and all the subtle shading, make the photos look wonderful. By comparison, my Canon 100mm looks lifeless and soft, and the colors look boring.
My only complaint with this lens, is the minimum focusing distance, which doesn''''t allow for tight head shots, but for candid shots, it''''s no problem. shooting for two days over X-mas, there was only one time when I was too close to the subject, and had to back away about half a foot.
That said, this lens is outstanding! All the shots I took with it, I used consumer Fuji 800 speed film, and the results were AMAZING! (I''''ve never seen that film look so wonderful, and I''''ve used it alot) I still can''''t believe how sharp the pictures are, or how the colors look so strong without being overstated.
But, it''''s not just shaprness. It''''s hard to explain in a scientific way, what I see in photos taken with my Contax equipment that I never see in my Canon equivilants, but I see it.
So does my mom.
So does anyone i show the photos to.
I don''''t care if MTF graphs see it. I see it in my photos.
The differences between the two systems seems to dissapear when the lenses are closed down, but wide open, the Contax lenses really shine (and, I tend to shoot that way more ofen than not)
After seeing the photos I took with this lens, I''''m really looking forward to owning it for a very long time.
If you use medium telephotos often, and can find one of these at a decent price, by it! The photos you take with it will reward you plenty. Strengths:
Unbelievably sharp wide open!
Built in lens hood.
Colors and textures in photos look very live (you are there!)
Cheapest telephoto in the Contax line-up (as most 135mm''''s are) makes this thing a BARGAIN!
Smooth focus has wonderful feel.
The photos! Did I mention that I love the look of the photos taken with this lens? Weaknesses:
minimum focusing distance 5.5 feet rather long, but not as much of an issue as I thought it would be. The added distance from the subject actually gives them more space, and makes them less aware of your presence.
The lengthy review I posted, trying to describe how wonderful this lens really is! Similar Products Used:
various Canon and Contax equipment Customer Service:
never used, never needed
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