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Carl Zeiss compare to other lenses

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benwang

Well-Known Member
When I first started to switch from Minota to N1, I was very please with the changes, the colour is very much more vivid, and the red is just amazing! Compare to other general brand, nikon, cannon, minota, pentax, etc the picture is a lot more 3-D, and the changes in colour is top compare to other brand. As far as sharpness is concern, I think nikon is comparible, yet the image in Nikon are flat compare to CZ.
However I have no experience in using Leica. I saw the word "smoothness" in the sister site in describing the Leica's glass, can somebody describe more on these glass and share their experience with other contax user?
 
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fotografz

Well-Known Member
Ben, are you refering to M (rangefinder) or R (SLR) Leica glass? There is a difference. Which were they talking about on the other site?
 
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benwang

Well-Known Member
well they use it in the why leica link, I think it is a general remarks, Marc, do you have experience in both the system, care to share your comparison.
 
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fotografz

Well-Known Member
Ben, This is strictly a personal, subjective opinion. My favorite 35mm glass of any I use are select Leica M optics. The lenses are extremely fast aperture ASPH designs: 24/2.8,
28/2, 35/1.4, 90/2 APO/ASPH. Supplemented with the legendary 50/Noctilux & 75/1.4, these lenses deliver a look and feel that go beyond
MFT chart comparisons, and are the basis of the Leica mistique. In some cases, like the 75mm, the Bokeh is the most pleasing I've seen from any lens.

This performance migrates to a few of the Leica R prime optics, like the current 50/1.4, 90AA , 100/2.8 Macro and 180/2.8 APO. However, IMO the Leica Zooms are less than spectacular. I prefer Contax N glass to Leica R when it comes to zooms...and especially like the N 85/1.4 prime. I wish the 50/1.4 had a better rendition of Bokeh, but is over-all acceptible considering it is 1/3rd the price of the Leica 50/1.4.

My all time favorite 35mm SLR optics were the German Zeiss made Contax 55/1.2, 85/1.2 & 135/2; all of which now cost a kings' ransom if you can even find them.
 
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benwang

Well-Known Member
Thanks, Marc.
When I switch from minota to contax, although I paid for a very high permium, yet I was very please: the picture quility improve so much and now I usually have my print enlarge to 8F. I consider it to be a very wise switch. I have even influence my brother to switch from minota to contax and he was very please with that change!
People say that CZ's glass is comparible with leica's glass, if so why is there such a high price different. Here is the main question in my mind, Marc, do you think if I switch from CZ to Leica, will I get a similar pleasure switching from minota to CZ?
 
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colin

Well-Known Member
Ben, IMHO I don't think you'll see any difference in optical quality. You will notice a difference in you bank account! I was a Leica SLR user from 1966 and switched to Contax in 1993.(money was not the reason).
I do think that the Leica "build quality" of its products is somewhat superior, but Ive not had problems with Contax.
Stick with what you've got is my suggestion
Colin
 
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