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Contax Tessar T* 45mm f2.8 35mm Primes

5/5 (8 Reviews)

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  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length45mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/2.8
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeManual Focus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    Closest Focusing Distance24 in
    Picture Angle50 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size49 mm
    Groups / Elements4 Elements in 3 Groups
    Diameter2.4 in
    Length0.7 in
    Weight3.2 oz
    MPN632810
    Product ID20724261

Product Description

Exceptional sharpness in the classic Tessar 4-element design. It has an extremely small size and is light weight. Slightly wider than "Standard" lenses for application in all types of photography.


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Reviews 1 - 5 (8 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by MBR a Expert

Date Reviewed: December 21, 2004

Strengths:    Size, weight, optical quality, build quality.

Weaknesses:    Close focusing--the lens cannot focus closer than approx. 2 feet (as compared to the typical 1.5 feet of many standard lenses). However, I have gotten around this by carrying around a medium strength close-up filter with me and it works very well for close-ups of flowers, still life compositions, etc. In fact, with the contrasty quality of the 45mm Tessar behind the close-up filter, it seems that the results are usually superior to those other standard lenses that can focus at closer distances. I'd like to see Contax bundle a compact hood for this lens similar to the one that comes with Nikon's 45mm P lens.

Bottom Line:   
I'm in love with this lens.

It's very sharp and contrasty and has a focal length that is appropriate for a wide variety of situations.

The lens particularly impresses me with its sharpness at all apertures. I got this lens with a Contax Aria and they make a first-rate combination for travel. This little 45mm Tessar has produced so many "keepers" for me that I feel like it is becoming indispensable. I have bigger zooms that cover the 45mm range, but the color rendition, contrast and sharpness of the Contax 45mm Tessar seem to be the most satisfying.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Similar Products Used:   Nikon 45mm (also very nice and a winner for people shots, but doesn't seem to be quite as contrasty or sharp as the Contax (Zeiss).

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by VincentD a Intermediate from NEW YORK,NY,USA

Date Reviewed: January 16, 2004

Strengths:    Sharp, great color rendition(the Best of all???) nice and small.

Weaknesses:    None

Bottom Line:   
This is a gem of a lens. It is great for street photography and I think this baby renders colors even better than my other CZ lenses. It is called a pancake with good reason and with the Aria or the Yashica FX 3 Super 2000 it makes you almost inconspicuous on the street.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $175.00

Purchased At:   ebay

Similar Products Used:   n/a

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by russmead a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003

Strengths:    size, sharpness

Weaknesses:    a bit small to grab to focus.

Bottom Line:   
This lens is unusual. It is as sharp as they come with the slow speed and 4 element desing. But the best thing is the size. I have it on a 139 and I can put the rig in most pockets like a point and shoot. The only thing I have seen better is a 105 hassablad for medium format.

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $300.00

Similar Products Used:   I know of nothing like it in the "normal" lense catagory for 35 mm

Type of photography:   People

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by etienne33 a Expert from New York

Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003

Strengths:    1. Ultra-portable and really really tiny
2. Very high definition at all apertures
3. Sharp and contrasty at all the mid-
range apertures.

Weaknesses:    1. You might already have a 50mm lens,
and have to sell it on the market, or
keep it and rarely bring it out.

Bottom Line:   
This is my live-in lens for a Contax S2b.
The combination works a treat.

Shrapnel comes to mind. This lens splits hairs in images of 16x 12in.

Very powerful performance, in such a tiny lens. I work at mostly f4-f11 and the results are impeccable. The advantages of a 50mm f1.7 just aren't there for me (this is my main travel camera combination).

Thoroughly recommended for any manual C/Y SLR users.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $250.00

Similar Products Used:   Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.7, 50mm f1.4, G series 45mm lens

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Craig Norris a Intermediate from Hong Kong

Date Reviewed: July 6, 2001

Strengths:    Small, light, sharp and contrasty.

Weaknesses:    None

Bottom Line:   
I bought this lens to go with a Contax 167MT. I took a lot of shots, mainly portraits of a beautiful woman and her daughter. Later, I upgraded to the 28-85 Vario Sonnar zoom and then an Aria body. I loved the zoom and the Aria. Then one day, I reviewed some of the older photos in my portfolio and was moved emotionally by the quality of the pics that were taken with the Tessar. So I put the Tessar on the Aria body and immediately fell in love with that combination. It looks so good and feels so good in the hand. And then, lo and behold, I shot a roll of film and found the Tessar to be noticably sharper than the 28-85 zoom. Now I leave the zoom at home. The Aria with the 45mm Tessar and the TLA200 flash are an unbeatable combination for super quality in a compact, easily portable package.
I carry a Mutar 2x converter when I need a 90mm focal length for a great close-up portrait. The results are beautiful. This 45mm Tessar is my favourite lens.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

Price Paid:    $200.00

Purchased At:   Tin Cheung Camera

Similar Products Used:   Minolta Rokkor 50/2.0

Type of photography:   People


Reviews 1 - 5 (8 Reviews Total) | Next 15

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  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length45mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/2.8
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeManual Focus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    Closest Focusing Distance24 in
    Picture Angle50 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size49 mm
    Groups / Elements4 Elements in 3 Groups
    Diameter2.4 in
    Length0.7 in
    Weight3.2 oz
    MPN632810
    Product ID20724261


 

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