albert4321
Well-Known Member
I finally got a change to test my N17-37mm zoom, Contax 645 35mm lens and Sony DSC-V1 digital P&S with Carl Zeiss lens. I have posted some test images to the photo gallery for your review.
First, it is not a comparison test, as they are in different format, and I used different films or capture media.
Test setup – Since I found that ultra wide angle lens is best for interior shots, I decided to shoot my house. I use the same lighting with all three cameras, which was two mono lights. For the N1+N17-35mm, I used Fuji Sensei 400 negative. For the Contax 645+35mm, I used Provia 100. Why these films? It is because that what I had in the cameras already. For the Sony DSC-V1, I used fully auto setting with the on camera flash to trigger the two mono-lights. The exposure turned out good.
The results – Although it is hard to tell from the photo gallery, there are quite a different from my personal take.
First of all, the Sony is really good. With 5meg resolution and Carl Zeiss Lens, it is one of the best digital P&S cameras. Images are sharp and exposure are accurate. Plus all these features and manual controls in a very small size. I love it.
The N17-35mm f2.8 lens is excellent. Distortion is very controlled. It fits the N1 perfectly even it has a 95mm filter size. Images are sharp at widest zoom range and wide open. Color rendition is superb. The zoom ring and focus ring are very smooth with the right amount of tension. A joy to used. It becomes my favorite N lens instantly. The downside, AF is slow due the the huge glasses.
For the contax 645 35mm f3.5 lens, it is 21mm in equilvant to 135 format. It is the best medium format (even large format) wide or ultra wide angle lens I ever used. It shares the same filter size (95mm) as my N17-35mm lens. It is well balance with the C645 body. It has a very minimal distortion, looks nice and bright in the view finder. The pictures are crisp and sharps. Color saturation is the best that anyone can expect on any Carl Zeiss MF lenses. I shot in chrome which always helps.
In short, I love the C645 35mm lens the most. Although it is the most expensive one here. But it confirms me that I should keep my medium format gear and forget about DSLR for now. The C645 system is just hard to beat. Besides, it handles just like a 35mm camera. And I can share its lenses with my N1, which is one of the reason I switched to the Contax system. The other reason is the ND. Now I just scan my films and get the best of both film and digital world. My favorite C645 lens is the 120mm APO Macro lens.
First, it is not a comparison test, as they are in different format, and I used different films or capture media.
Test setup – Since I found that ultra wide angle lens is best for interior shots, I decided to shoot my house. I use the same lighting with all three cameras, which was two mono lights. For the N1+N17-35mm, I used Fuji Sensei 400 negative. For the Contax 645+35mm, I used Provia 100. Why these films? It is because that what I had in the cameras already. For the Sony DSC-V1, I used fully auto setting with the on camera flash to trigger the two mono-lights. The exposure turned out good.
The results – Although it is hard to tell from the photo gallery, there are quite a different from my personal take.
First of all, the Sony is really good. With 5meg resolution and Carl Zeiss Lens, it is one of the best digital P&S cameras. Images are sharp and exposure are accurate. Plus all these features and manual controls in a very small size. I love it.
The N17-35mm f2.8 lens is excellent. Distortion is very controlled. It fits the N1 perfectly even it has a 95mm filter size. Images are sharp at widest zoom range and wide open. Color rendition is superb. The zoom ring and focus ring are very smooth with the right amount of tension. A joy to used. It becomes my favorite N lens instantly. The downside, AF is slow due the the huge glasses.
For the contax 645 35mm f3.5 lens, it is 21mm in equilvant to 135 format. It is the best medium format (even large format) wide or ultra wide angle lens I ever used. It shares the same filter size (95mm) as my N17-35mm lens. It is well balance with the C645 body. It has a very minimal distortion, looks nice and bright in the view finder. The pictures are crisp and sharps. Color saturation is the best that anyone can expect on any Carl Zeiss MF lenses. I shot in chrome which always helps.
In short, I love the C645 35mm lens the most. Although it is the most expensive one here. But it confirms me that I should keep my medium format gear and forget about DSLR for now. The C645 system is just hard to beat. Besides, it handles just like a 35mm camera. And I can share its lenses with my N1, which is one of the reason I switched to the Contax system. The other reason is the ND. Now I just scan my films and get the best of both film and digital world. My favorite C645 lens is the 120mm APO Macro lens.