Contax Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 140mm f2.8 IF (645) Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Alex Ng
(Intermediate)

Review Date
August 17, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 1 of 3

Summary:

Supposed to be a great portrait lens with very nice bokeh, only hindered by the rather lengthy closest focusing distance(because of IF) for tightly cropped shots.

Strengths:

Great optical performance, nice bokeh. Fastest AF out of the Contax 645 lens crop. Uniform 72mm filter size.

Weaknesses:

Closest focusing distance not close enough.

Similar Products Used:

All other Contax 645 lenses

Customer Service:

None required

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Rating
Reviewed by: Bradley Hanson
(Professional)

Review Date
June 11, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 2 of 3

Model Reviewed:
Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 140mm f2.8 IF (645)

Summary:

The perfect portrait lens. As sharp as you can imagine, even wide open, and the f2.8 is a bright lens. Portrait backgrounds have a beautiful, painted look. You could shoot an entire wedding with this lens alone. If you are a 35mm shooter and are used to the 85mm length, you'll love this lens.

Strengths:

-Reasonably lightweight and short
-Typical Zeiss sharpness
-Fast f2.8 aperture yields bright viewfinder and easy focus
-Creamy smooth bokeh. Perhaps the best in the business.
-Equivalent to 85mm lens in the 35mm world. Versatile portrait lens for tight quarters.
-Great wedding lens for candids and portraits.
-Rock solid operation and easy focus with giant focusing ring.

Weaknesses:

-I'd like it to focus a tad closer for tight head shots, so I use the 120 Macro or 210mm for those.

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya, Hasselblad

Customer Service:

No experience

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Rating
Reviewed by: Gary Meek
(Professional)

Review Date
June 4, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 3 of 3

Model Reviewed:
Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 140mm f2.8 IF (645)

Summary:

The 140 provides, even wide open, very sharp images of people. The thing that impresses me most is the out of focus backgroud. It is very hard to discribe, the area behind the person looks as if Monet painted it. That area has such smoothness and eveness. I can hardly wait until the images are processed each week to see them.

Strengths:

Sharpness, size and cost.

Weaknesses:

None

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya

Customer Service:

Very good.

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