Hello. I have an opportunity to buy this lens , it's the jena T version . Does anybody have any experience with this setup and it's value ? thanks leonid

-- leonid kotlyar (murka@webtv.net), October 01, 2000

Answers

Leonid, Look at Gandy's site (www.cameraquest.com), he reviews many of the Contax lenses. Sergio.

-- Sergio Ortega (s.ortega@worldnet.att.net), October 01, 2000.

I have a book called, "Collecting and using Classic Cameras", by Ivor Mantanle, which has a chapter on the Contax line. His basic assertion is that the lenses took a divergent path after WWII, with the West German line making significant leaps in both optical and mechanical quality. He also states that the East German line, (the one you asked about), went into a suspended animation of sorts... simply putting out "pre-war" technology forever... without improvements.

The West German 50mm f1.5 lens is said to be very good, much better than the Jena version. I had as my first Leica lens, the 50mm f1.5 Summarit, and it almost turned me off on Leica... I was foolish and didn't do my homework. The West German 50mm f1.5 is said to be a bit softer, but more contrasty than the Leica Summarit... giving the overall illusion of better performance. Only knowing the Summarit myself, I couldn't imagine enjoying a lower performing lens... the East German model.

With the advent of the Voightlander line, you should be able to purchase a very fine performing 50mm f1.5 screw mount lens that in some reports bested the Lieca Summilux...(see Erwin puts review).

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigtl01.html

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), October 01, 2000.

I owned the lens in a Contax mount, and optically it was excellent-- as good as my Leica Summicron. Because of this, I recently bought one sight unseen in the Leica screw mount version like you mention above. I returned it immediately. The design of the lens for the Leica screw mount version has the most pathetic focusing system I have ever seen. Absolutely horrible focus feel, very sloppy design- it almost seems like something soembody made up in their garage. This was a clean lens by the way, and not a beat up one. If you want a nice 50mm fast lens in Leica screw mount, either the new Voigtlander or an older Canon or Nikon in the Leica screw mount lens would be a better choice.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 01, 2000.

hello again . Thanks for the info , was wondering if there exists a leica mount 21 4.5 biogon .

-- leonid kotlyar (murka@webtv.net), October 01, 2000.

Roger W. Hicks is a Leica user who has a regular feature in "SHUTTERBUG" magazine... he also authored numerous books on lenses and other photographic topics. He uses the Contax 21mm lens in a M- mount. His 21mm Elmarit was stolen in Moscow, and he can't afford to replace it. He used the Biogen for years... his only critisism is the speed... or lack of such.

He says it is a modified lens, but I don't know if it was custom or something that was done in quantity.

-- Al Smith (smith@msn.com), October 01, 2000.

Someone on ebay right now is selling the 28mm Biogon from the Contax G cameras that has been modified in Japan into a Leica m housing. People are bidding on it heavily. It couples with the finder and everything. It made me wonder why Contax doesn't sell lenses for Leica anymore- obviously they mustn't think there is any money to be made. I beg to differ. People are already adapting the 16, 21 and now the 28mm as well. The marketing and product development policies of many companies baffle me. Contax lenses (16, 21, 28, 35, 90)for sale in the now "patent expired" Leica m mount would be a huge success if they could be priced near what they sell for now for the Contax G cameras.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 01, 2000.

A site with info on the russian 20:

http://www.cameraquest.com/russian.htm

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), October 01, 2000.

Found this site about 21mm Biogon. Talks about use on M Leicas.

http://www.cameraquest.com/zeissbio.htm

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), October 01, 2000.

I have a East german 50/1.5. The mount is aluminum and will deterioate with heavy use. The glass is excellent.

-- D Skogstad (Viking@netidea.com), January 08, 2002.

Andrew. I don't know how successful would be these Contax G lenses if they were officially offered in Leica M mount. The Cosina/Voigtlander lenses are "successful" (attract buyers) because they offer good quality at a relatively low price, but I don't know how much of a profit Cosina actually makes on these lenses. It might not be very much.

In addition, Konica's M mount lenses, which all duplicate Leica offerings, except for the 50/1.2) don't seem to be hugely successful. A number of Leica users buy the Hexar-RF camera and then get rid of the lens that comes with it. For all of those Contax lenses you mention, there are new and older Leica versions to choose from, except the 16/8.0 Hologon (there was a Zeiss 15/8 Hologon offered briefly in 1973).

Thus, the Hologon is the only Contax lens that would interest me in a Leica M mount, but not at $ 2000+. [I already own a C/V Heliar 15/4.5 with finder that cost me about $ 440 and works well.] Yes, it might be nice to had an additional makers lenses available in Leica M mount, but the economics may not be conducive.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), January 08, 2002.