Contax Vario-Sonnar T * 24-85mm F3.5-4.5 Lens Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: SingLO
(Intermediate)

Review Date
February 5, 2004

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Review 1 of 11

Price Paid: $785.00 from UK

Summary:

I bought this lens with the N1. This is a very versatile "walk about" universal zoom lens. Sharpness and contrast are typically Zeiss class. This makes perfect partner with the N70-300 VS covering most photographic needs. Yes it is slow aperture compared with Canon 24-70 f2.8L but it is every bit as good as the L glasses.

Strengths:

Very sharp and versatile, built quality, pricy

Weaknesses:

need expensive slim 82mm filters, AF speed is not as snappy as Canon L fast glasses.

Similar Products Used:

many Zeiss C/Y glasses and Canon L glasses.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Stefan_leman
(Professional)

Review Date
October 14, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Review 2 of 11

Price Paid: $1000.00 from PT. ANEKA WARNA

Summary:

I bought Vario Sonnar Zoom 24-85 T* with the camera N1 AF several month a go. I shot outdoor, like as nature, sunset. The result is amazing compare with my Nikon Lens 35-70 f 2.8. Rich color, saturation, tonal balance at every detail. If you blow up to 30 x 40 cm the image still sharp, I used Fuji filem Reala ASA 100. Your image become live and I did not ever saw before with my Nikon. it's true.

Strengths:

Sharp, rich color, saturated, solid build and optical quality is excellent.

Weaknesses:

bulky, and 82 mm filter, but it's not nessecery with result you can get.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 35-70 f 2.8

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Rating
Reviewed by: Clive Hickman
(Intermediate)

Review Date
June 11, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Review 3 of 11

Price Paid: $600.00 from eBay

Summary:

I purchased this lens along with a Contax NX and shot several rolls of Fujichrome slide film on vacation. Projected on an 80 X 80 screen through a Leitz Pradovit projector fitted with a Leica 90mm Colorplan lens the results were stunning. I could not detect any distortion at either extreme of the zooming range. The colors were saturated (I used Velvia and Provia known for this) and the images appeared three dimensional--Zeiss magic? This lens is possibly the best available and it truly does obviate the need for a bag full of primes. Pity is is not f2.8 all the way through but then who could afford one if it was? BTW, the inexpensive Contax NX ($440 on Eaby)did a beautiful job and only got the exposure wrong about 6 times out of 6 rolls of 36 exposures and I may have been at fault by switching the camera all the way to AEL instead of simply "on." Overall, I think I prefer manual cameras and its a pity this lens will not operate on a non-AF Contax body. There may be be better AF bodies out there but no one can touch Zeiss optics when it comes to zooms.

Strengths:

Eliminates the need for primes in this range. It is the best wide-angle zoom there is.

Weaknesses:

Could be faster but who could afford one if it was.

Similar Products Used:

Zeiss G2 system, Nikon Manual Ais lenses, Zeiss 70-210mm AF.

Customer Service:

Have not yet tried it.

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Rating
Reviewed by:
(Casual)

Review Date
May 30, 2002

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 4 of 11

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

One day I used this lens with tripod and took photo for a object on the floor. I found the zoom easily extending by gravity pull. I guess it may be due to the heavy front lens elements or zoom tubes are not tightly fitted. Anyway, not a big deal. Price is a carl zeiss standard, of course more expensive than other brand's similar products.

Strengths:

Good optics and useful zoom range in my daily hiking. Some people may think it too big, but I like this kind of lens. The lens hood is free of charge, but not the other N lenses.

Weaknesses:

see summary

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF 24-120mm and Pentax FA 24-90mm.

Customer Service:

Nil

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Rating
Reviewed by: Gavin Jones
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 8, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
7 votes

Review 5 of 11

Price Paid: $899.00 from Samy''s

Summary:

The old rule of thumb saying prime lenses have a much sharper image than a zoom is dead. I am so excited that I went with the Contax over the Nikon and Canon. Most of my photography is people (Weddings, ext). As a matter of fact even though this lens is set up for 35mm I find it hard to notice much of a difference in sharpness from my Contax 645 to the N1 with this lens. I have never seen an image as sharp as this one in a 35mm zoom. Yes, the price is a bit more, but lets face it. If you are shooting professionally what is a few hundred dollars difference between Zeiss lenses and Nikon or Cannon. The return on investment is my far worth the extra money. Especially when you will recover the cost of the lens after just one shoot any way. If you need a sharp zoom wide to mid telephoto range this lenses is it, end of story!

Strengths:

Nothing sharper

Weaknesses:

None

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