Zeiss G 16mm HOLOGON Lens

[focusnetwork]

I've mentioned this lens before, but I can't stop thinking about adding it to my kit. If ANYONE has experience of this lens or owns one, please share your thoughts because I am intriuged. Now seems to be a good time to buy. I reckon if I search hard enough I'll be able to get one for less than £600 / $1000. They are currently selling in the back of Amateur Photographer for no less than £1000 / $1600, so if I don't like it I could make a profit. Your thoughts please...

 

[richam]

James,
I just got one from B&H in New York for $900, but haven't taken any pictures yet. It was a "used" demo, but seemed like new in box. I'm impressed by the look and feel of the lens, and intend to try it out soon, possibly this weekend. Don't know how familiar you are with it, but there are three pieces to it -- lens, viewfinder, and 4x gradation filter. It comes in a nice hard leather case. There's a bubble level that can be seen in the viewfinder. It's fixed f8 and you set the exposure compensation to +2 with the filter in place.
I think they have others in stock if you're interested.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

. Look for 35mm lenses in the used department.
Mike

 

[focusnetwork]

Out of interest, does the 16mm hologon come with any kind of protective filter to protect the front element i.e. a UV or skylight; if not is one available? I don't want to own a lens worth this much with risk of scratching it or even having the front element open to air and dust etc.

 

[mattj]

There is no protective filter for this lens and nobody makes one. Also there is no threads on the lens so there is no way to screw one in. It comes with center ND4 filter that slips on and makes the lens f16. By no means this filter would provide a tight protection like a screw in UV filter. But it would protect the front element from fingerprints. Lens also comes with a finder that has a buble level build in and leather case. I found that lens cap can get pretty loose so I put two pieces of gaffers tape on the ring of the lens to make it tight. I used this lens on many occasions but month back I switched to Voigtlander Bessa L and 15mm lens ($430 for camera+lens). This is a faster lens with very similar quality and half the price. Don't get me wrong, Hologon is a great piece of glass but it's too dark for me too shoot with it on daily bases. I very rarely use anything over 100 when it comes to film and with f8 (or f16 when filter is on) there is not much you can do without a tripod. But with the prices of Contax lenses falling down maybe it's a good idea to pick one up. I got mine from KEH. B&H has them too but since I live in NYC I didn't want to pay tax. Hope that helps,

Matt

 

[leo_jar]

I got one in Hong Kong and cost me US$700. It is a great lens but not a practical lens indeed. Owning this lens is a temptation.... I do not use the 4x filter and image quality is great expecially there is no distortion. You better to have a separate body for this lens so you can snapshot on the street in ease. Otherwise you may get trouble in changing the lens. It is not a easy task.!

 

[trust]

I have to agree to what has already been said:
However excellent the Hologon may be, at f16 there are hardly ever suitable moments (if you want to hand-hold it).
I will unload mine. The Voigtlaender is clearly a more practical lens, and there is an adaption available for Contax G.

Till

 

[faisal]

Till said "there is an adaption available for Contax G" for Voigtlaender lenses

Are you sure? I only know of an adapter for classic Contax rangefinders Is it made by Voigtlaender?

Regards, Faisal

 

[vieth1]

It is made by Zoerk Fototechnik (Zoerkendorfer, Munich). Look at

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

or ask at info@zoerk.com . Greetings gv

 

[faisal]

Thanks gv but at 849$ I would rather get the Voigtlander lens body combo for almost half the price.

Still I am curious. On the site it is mentioned that the conversion can use the distance finder on the G2 dos that mean it uses the focusing dial and can the g2 confirm focus with this lens?



Regards,

Faisal

 

[focusnetwork]

Hello, can someone please fully explain to me the Voigtlander option. What lens is it? (ie. what fit/mount), where can I find a converter? What is the minimum aperture? How do you frame shots? Thanks for this.

 

[mattj]

Voigtlander lenses 12/5.6 and 15/4.5 asph are originaly made in screw in mounts to fit leica or bessa camers. There is a company in Munich called Zoerk that takes those lenses and modifies them so you can use them on Contax g2. You focus using scale ( just like you would focus a hologon or any manual focus lens). You frame the shot using supplied external viewfinder ( just like you would with Hologon). Since on any of these lenses rear element sticks out too much, external meter is used for exposure, so the reading will be the same with all the lenses.

Now I see no reason to get Zoerk converted lens. It cost twice as much as you would get a second body and a lens from Voigtlander. I did as I mentioned in previous email get a body and lens for $430 and i love it. When few years back I used 12 and 15 side by sice 12 had a much bigger fall off so i settled for 15. Only disadvantage that you may have with Voigt. lenses is that there are no center filters available for them, so fall off can't be corrected in any circumstances. And of course body of the camera is not AE or motordrived.


Matt

 

[focusnetwork]

Do Zoerk produce an adaptor for the Voigtlander lens to G2 or does the lens actually have to be sent to Zoerk so they can adapt it?

You said you focus using the focus reading from the G2 for both the VL and Contax hologon, so am I right in thinking the hologon is not autofocus? Is the Contax biogon 21mm autofocus?

You also mentioned that an external meter is required for the vl lens and the hologon. Can the G2 not accurately judge exposure TTL as I'm not fond of the idea of using an external meter.

Cheers, James.

 

[mattj]

There is no adaptor. Entire lens is modified by Zoerk. You can send them your lens for modification or you can buy one that was already modified.

Yes Hologon is not AF lens. Biogon is AF.

G2 has two meters build in. One is ttl and one is external. TTL is a small sensor that drops from the inside of the camera and gives you the exposure. Since on Hologon rear element sticks out to much to the back, meter can't drop. So you need to use the external build in meter. Camera automaticall switches between those two. When you look at your g2 you will see a small round window on the left hand side. That's your external meter.

Matt

 

[mattj]

To be exact. IF you go to features section of G2 on Contax website and select front view of the camera you will get an interactive page. You can find the external meter there. It's off center to the left on top of the focusing window.

Matt

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

 

[richam]

Here's a s&le of my first photos with the 16 Hologon. The gradation filter was in place, but all the photos I took Sunday seem to have the same vignetting problem. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I'm quite disappointed with the light falloff toward the edges of the photo. Anyone have any similar experience?

 

[picturetaker]

Contax Bullshit G Users

I am realy disapointet about the G system, yes the lenses are superb exept the G 16mm Hologon seems to be a failure (too expensive and aperture 8 with centerfilter 16 only for Sunny days)
I wonder how Contax justify the 2000 US Dollar Price for the Hologon.
Voigtländer made a 15mm wide angle for under $500.
Contax G Cameras are also not soo high Quality for the Price i payed for a brandnew G equipment. The resale value of a new G System shows us the system wasnt a goodbuy.
Today i woud probably go for a Voigtländer.

 

[coodeville]

Ok!

 

[traderbc]

> The G16 price has come down considerably in the last year or so.=20

The last i heard it is selling at around US$900 in Hong Kong.

At one point it was even less than this.

For comparsion the G21 is selling around US$550 in HK as well.

For this kind of price they are really a bargain.

 

[picturetaker]

I also hear from this big difference in Pricing. In HK you pay US $900.- for a Hologon. By a Contax dealer in Europ you pay 2500.- Dollar.
Please tell me were i could get one of the Hologon for 900 Dollar.

 

[traderbc]

> Try >

The G16 is listed at US$910.00. They ship worldwide. Never tried them but heard from other users they are honest merchants.

Obviously if you are shopping directly in HK you will get slightly better price.