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#1
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Contax legacy
I have been lurking this newsgroup for a while, getting a lot of useful
information. I now have a question. I am one of the (many?) owners of contax/yahica systems who have been left without a smooth path to digital photography. I am just an hobbyst, and I don't have any of the more expensive Zeiss lenses, but still I have a good range of stuff and I guess that some could be occasionally useful even after getting a digital body (for one, the normal 50/1,4 planar could turn out a nice portrait lens, or my macro set could still be used). So, thinking of getting a digital camera I thought that it could be wise to look among those that could use my old lenses. Searching around, it seems that adapters exist for using manual C/Y lenses on Olympus and Canon. If I understand correctly, to use them on any of those cameras, after buying and mounting the adapter, one should first frame and focus manually with the lens wide open, then meter manually closing the diafragm at the desired F stop (without it being shown on the viewfinder). Somethig to which one could be get accustomed, but clearly limits the situations in which it can be done probably to still photos of when using a wide angle lens with broad DOF. What may change between different models is the usability of the fiewfinderfor for manual focusing, since all of them are designed primarily for autofocus. So my questions a All other considerations apart (sensor, noise, lenses, commercial perspectives etc) which is the camera more easy to use in manual focus, among Olympus E300 and E500 and Canon 350D? Are there other issues about using C/Y on those cameras? And should I bother at all? thanks Piersante |
#2
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Contax legacy
"Piesse" wrote in message ups.com... I have been lurking this newsgroup for a while, getting a lot of useful information. I now have a question. I am one of the (many?) owners of contax/yahica systems who have been left without a smooth path to digital photography. Huh? You've got the smoothest path around. Get a Contax to EOS adapters for your lenses and a Canon 5D. I am just an hobbyst, and I don't have any of the more expensive Zeiss lenses, but still I have a good range of stuff and I guess that some could be occasionally useful even after getting a digital body (for one, the normal 50/1,4 planar could turn out a nice portrait lens, or my macro set could still be used). Exactly! (Although that's on the APS Canons, not the 5D.) Searching around, it seems that adapters exist for using manual C/Y lenses on Olympus and Canon. If I understand correctly, to use them on any of those cameras, after buying and mounting the adapter, one should first frame and focus manually with the lens wide open, then meter manually closing the diafragm at the desired F stop (without it being shown on the viewfinder). Somethig to which one could be get accustomed, but clearly limits the situations in which it can be done probably to still photos of when using a wide angle lens with broad DOF. What may change between different models is the usability of the fiewfinderfor for manual focusing, since all of them are designed primarily for autofocus. One way to try would be to buy a Contax to EOS adpater and a used cheap Rebel _film_ camera (from KEH). These are older models, the screen is different, and they're not cropped, but you could determine if they actually work for not all that much money. And should I bother at all? Yes. Your old Contax/Yashica lenses are not junk, and it would be a shame to waste them. David J. Littleboy Tokyo, Japan |
#3
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Contax legacy
Hello,
I would like to point to these links that I have found with Google: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...id=00EoKc&tag= http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/best19_21.html http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/index.html -- read everything under it carefully! Notice that the Olympus 4/3 models have essentially a 2x focal length multiplier, so your 28mm Zeiss would become a 56mm lens (not too exciting, I guess), while on cameras like the EOS 350D (with a 1.6 focal length multiplier) this lens would become a 45mm lens or so. If you want to re-use your Contax lenses in landscape shots, I feel that the full 35mm frame Canon EOS 5D is your best choice at the moment, since you keep the focal length, and this camera has a big and bright viewfinder, which should help with focusing. Surely missing autofocus and having to use stop-down metering is a bit of a slow down, but if you don't shoot fast action shots you won't have any serious problem (I *think*). And you can always use pre-focus in action shots anyway (sometimes the autofocus isn't suitable). Best of luck, many of us would *love* to see Zeiss wideangle lenses in EF format, N.Fotis |
#4
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Contax legacy
Piesse wrote:
Thanks. Very interesting links! I agree that small-format digital cameras have problems with wide angle. Unfortunately, the D5 still costs more than three times more than than the other options :-( Well, before the Canon EOS 5D, the only full-frame 35mm digital SLRs were the 1Ds and 1Ds MkII, at 8000 USD (body only), so the 5D is a step into the right direction. I wouldn't be very surprised to see the 5D or its follow-up model at less than 2000 USD in 2007. It just takes some patience. Also, there are split-screen mirrors for the bigger Canons (1Ds) for easier using of manual focus lenses, probably we'll see similar items for the 5D (which *can* change focusing screens). You may have heard that Zeiss has announced some of their lenses in Nikon F-mount and M42 screw mount (which has, in turn, adaptors for nearly every other SLR mount). Hope this makes you feel better - good glass is never lost ;-) N.F. |
#5
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Contax legacy
Forgot to add this link:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-manual-lenses/ - everything you wanted to know about using manual focus lenses with EF-mount cameras. Oh, by the way, in the Zeiss site I have read that Braun has presented a low cost film camera which uses the C/Y mount, you may be interested in it? Look under www.zeiss.com N.F. |
#6
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Contax legacy
Thanks. Very interesting links!
I agree that small-format digital cameras have problems with wide angle. Unfortunately, the D5 still costs more than three times more than than the other options :-( But your note on the bight viewfinder of the D5 is very comforting! Piersante |
#7
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Contax legacy
Huh? You've got the smoothest path around. Get a Contax to EOS
adapters for your lenses and a Canon 5D. Well, to me the smoothest path would have been just a Contax databack with a digital sensor in place of the film plate, a mechanical dial to set the speed (it it was not possible to sense it from the camera controls), and a wireless gizmo (such as bluetooth) to send the pictures to my palm for display :-) But I admit that this is unrealistic... I sure should have a look to the D5 thanks Piersante |
#8
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Contax legacy
Also, there are split-screen mirrors for the bigger Canons (1Ds) for easier
using of manual focus lenses, probably we'll see similar items for the 5D (which *can* change focusing screens). I just discovered in a recent post that www.katzeyeoptics.com also makes a split-screen for the 350D as well. The Oly E300 (but not the E500) also is reported in a previous post to have decent manual-focus capabilities, and maybe could be an affordable option while waiting for the prices to go down (although then I would also get at least their 18-54 F2.8 in place of the kit lens, and that is quite expensive) thanks Piersante |
#9
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Contax legacy
Piesse wrote:
I just discovered in a recent post that www.katzeyeoptics.com also makes a split-screen for the 350D as well. The Oly E300 (but not the E500) also is reported in a previous post to have decent manual-focus capabilities, and maybe could be an affordable option while waiting for the prices to go down (although then I would also get at least their 18-54 F2.8 in place of the kit lens, and that is quite expensive) Hmm, besides losing wide angle coverage (the reason d'?tre for the interest in Zeiss lenses for many people), you'll have to contend with rather dark and small viewfinders in the cheap dSLRs. Try some of these models yourself, compare with your Contax. I don't think these focusing screens will be easy to install as well in cameras smaller than the 5D (installation is an additional cost). N.F. |
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