Contax - any digital options?

[Descartes]

May someone help me to find some link in this forum, where threads how to switch in Digital from Contax? many thanks.

 

[dirk]

May someone help me to find some link in this forum, where threads how to switch in Digital from Contax? many thanks.

do you mean you want to use contax as a digital camera or do you mean selling your contax and buying a digitalncamrra from another brand?

 

[Descartes]

the first you wrote dirk, use Contax body or Zeiss MM T* lenses, or both, in a digital domain.

 

[dirk]

the first you wrote dirk, use Contax body or Zeiss MM T* lenses, or both, in a digital domain.

In this case your options a limited. You can use Contax-Zeiss lenses with C/Y mount on Canon DSLRs with an adapter. Manual focus and only aperture priority.

Another option is adapting them on mirrorless cameras. Same functionality like above. You can use Fuji X, MFT, Nikon 1, probably also Canon M.

You get these adapters cheap at ebay. But do not expect wonders. Time goes by and modern lens design catched up compared to 20-30 year old Zeiss designs.

If you have Contax-Zeiss N lenses (AF), then there are less options. I know only one with Canon DSLRs. You have to change the mount though, which you can not do yourself. This is expensive.

There are companies who offer the change of the lens mount. Leitax is one of them.

The only Contax DSLR was the Contax ND. This was the first fullframe DSLR in the world. Even before Canon introduced its first fullframe DSLR.

I would not recommend the Contax ND. Images above ISO 250 are not looking good and it eats batteries...

I will move these postings into the Contax Forum.

 

[Descartes]

I own only T*MM lenses. I just tried to adapt Canon EOS 1 with bad results. I would try on Fuji X or MFT...or Canon M.

 

[dirk]

I just tried to adapt Canon EOS 1 with bad results

What was bad about the results?

I tried it years ago with a Canon 450D and Canon 5D MkI with good results. I know others (i.e. Marc /username fotografz) who used to have that also with good results.

Which adapter did you use? Which lens?

 

[Descartes]

No focus, neither in manual. Tested with 21mm, 50mm f1.7, 80mm f.2. Ring adapter was japaneese, don't remember brand, it was red.

 

[dirk]

No focus, neither in manual. Tested with 21mm, 50mm f1.7, 80mm f.2. Ring adapter was japaneese, don't remember brand, it was red.

o.k., then there is definitely something wrong with your adapter. You should be able to fokus tack sharp with all those lenses. I assume you meant the Zeiss 85/2.8? Because there is no 80/2.0 with C/Y mount...

With those adapter for the RTS system, you will never have AF by the way. Only manual focus is possible. And only aperture priority. You need to make the right settings in the Canon camera so that it accepts the use of manual lenses. I think the option is somehow called "release without lens attached.." or something similar...

 

[Chuck Koosmann]

the first you wrote dirk, use Contax body or Zeiss MM T* lenses, or both, in a digital domain.

Which Contax body do you have? Phase One makes digital backs for Contax 645.

 

[dirk]

Which Contax body do you have? Phase One makes digital backs for Contax 645.

He wrote in his introduction that he is using a Contax 159. So no medium format. I had the same thought when I read Zeiss 80/2.0, which is the lens for the Contax 645. This is why I checked the introduction again