Contax Vario-Sonnar T 35-70 Carl Zeiss Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: daveproctor
(Intermediate)

Review Date
October 28, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 1 of 6

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

I love this lens to bits!!! I have been using bulky SLR's for a few years and got fed up with lugging them around. I have now traded all my SLR gear for a Contax G2 with lenses and a Canon G2 digital. I was lucky enough to do a swap with a friend for the Contax so didn't have to pay a fortune for this lens. I admit that a) it is VERY expensive b) under close scrutiny it probably doesn't match the quality of the Contax prime lenses (however these are acknowledged to be amongst the best around) and c) it would be nicer if it was faster. I now use this as my day to day camera and it is fantastic for holidays/travel. For the first time I can pack ALL my gear in a small(ish) bag, carry it around comfortably all day and get great quality pictures. Thank you Mr Zeiss!!!!

Strengths:

Fabulous image quality - sharp and amazing Contax contrast Small and light (compared to a quality SLR zoom) Makes a truly superb day to day camera/travel camera

Weaknesses:

Faster aperture would have been nice (but probably made it much bigger) Expensive (but worth it as far as I am concerned) In an ideal world 28-70 would have been nice - but why worry when the 28mm lens is small, fabulous and very good value 2nd hand

Similar Products Used:

Contax G series lenses - 21mm, 28mm + 90mm

Customer Service:

Not used and hope not to

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Savvas
(Casual)

Review Date
October 25, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 2 of 6

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

I use this lens to supplement my 28 biogon, and find the comparative sharpness remarkable. It is 99% of the 28 in sharpness (maybe 90% in bokeh). While it is slightly slow, for outdoor action (moving children- they never stay still) it is irreplaceable. It is possibly the finest zoom I have ever used.

Strengths:

Approaches zeiss prime lens quality

Weaknesses:

only 35-70

Similar Products Used:

None

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Orlando Galindez
(Intermediate)

Review Date
August 26, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Review 3 of 6

Summary:

A nice compact lens that is very contrasty but not very sharp as compared to Zeiss 45/2 or 90/2.8. Furthermore the aperature of this lens is small requiring the use of higher speed film, bright out door lighting or flash photgraphy. If one is concerned with optical sharpness and likes the larger aperatures one would be better off buying the Zeiss prime lenses for the G-camera.

Strengths:

Solid contruction
Compact size

Weaknesses:

Not very sharp for a lens of this price or brand (Zeiss).
Maximum aperature too small for a lens of this price.

Similar Products Used:

None

Customer Service:

Not used

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: wo
(Intermediate)

Review Date
August 5, 2001

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Review 4 of 6

Summary:

just a little bit better than TVS III, but far from the result of contax 35-70mm /3.4 when used together with AX

Strengths:

nil

Weaknesses:

not sharp enough, far below the average of a zeiss zoom

Similar Products Used:

contax 35-70/3.4MM mount, TVS III 30-60/3.5-6.5; leica minilux zoom 35-70/3.5-6.5

Customer Service:

nil

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: William Wong
(Intermediate)

Review Date
April 11, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 5 of 6

Price Paid: $760.00 from Chung Pui Photo Supplies (Hong Kong)

Summary:

Perfect for traveling. But still can't replace 45mm/2 because of aperture.

Strengths:

Amazing quality. Great to have a Zoom for G2.

Weaknesses:

1) largest Aperture is 3.5, 5.6for 70mm

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Sigma, Minolta Olympus

Customer Service:

never needed

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.