CONCLUSION

The Contax 100mm Planar has a unique signature that is not easy to match with other lenses. Time and time again I have sold the Contax 100mm, and have ended up buying another. My biggest gripe is stop-down metering. When things are moving quickly, opening the lens to F2, focusing, composing, focusing, adjusting metering, focusing again - and then having to stop down to F4 or F5.6 can mean missing the shot. At times I get frustrated and sell the Contax 100mm in favor of the Canon 135L (review here).

I like the 135L, but with its added reach (ie - 135mm instead of 100mm) it is more of a telephoto lens. Simply put, 135mm is not 100mm and when comparing the field of differences side by side, 135mm is much longer. The Canon 135mm F2 L is a nice portrait lens, but landscapes and walk-around use, it is too long for my needs.

The obvious alternative to the Contax 100mm F2 Planar is the new Zeiss 100mm F2 Makro-Planar ZE. Retail prices for the new Zeiss 100mm F2 Makro-Planar ZE range in the $1840 range. An excellent condition 100mm Planar costs ~$900. The Contax requires an adapter and a hood set-up, so the total expense will be around $900-$1200 depending on which adapter and the condition of the accessories. The total price is less than the new Zeiss, but the Zeiss has auto-aperture and macro capabilities. It comes down to individual preferences as to whether or not the extra cost for auto aperture and macro mode are worthwhile. My opinion on the topic changes weekly. The next page has images from the Zeiss 100mm F2 Makro-Planar ZE.

The Contax 100mm Planar is a well liked lens and most people are very pleased with its optical performance. The decision is not so much about whether the Contax 100mm F2 Planar is “good” or “bad” lens. It is a good lens. The pictures on this page were selected for their 3D feel, the images on the second page for their micro contrast and detail, and third page is a small collection of black and whites. The images span the Canon 1Ds, the 1Ds Mark II and the 1Ds Mark III. The decision really is whether or not stop-down metering and adapters are an acceptable solution. Chances are, if you are still reading this review, then stop down metering is a non-issue.

When we go on vacations, zoom lenses do most of the shooting. Technical features such as auto-focus and image stabilization significantly improve my keeper rate. But the downside is the image quality. The Canon 24-105mm F4 L IS (review here) is a wonderfully capable lens, and I have taken over 10,000 pictures with it. That said, it will never match the optical capabilities and signature of the Contax 100mm f2 Planar. When selecting prime lenses, the big question for me is - “will I be willing to carry this lens, and is it worth taking off the zoom lens to shoot with this lens?” I have been using the Contax 100mm F2 Planars for ~8 years, and time after time they deliver great pictures which clearly stand-out (in a good way) compared to the Canon zooms.

For me the Contax 100mm F2 Planar is worth dealing with adapters, manual focus and stop down metering. If those mechanical trade-offs are acceptable, the odds are in your favor of the Contax 100mm F2 Planar being a valuable addition to your lens kit. If all the talk of adapters and manual operation sounds troublesome, no problem - there are options:

1. •Zeiss 100mm F2 Makro Planar ZE (next page)
   

2. •Canon 135mm F2 L (review here)
   

3. •Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS Mark II (review here)
   

And some lenses I would skip, the Canon 85mm F1.2 L IS (big, heavy and tends to clip skies very easily - frustrating as a landscape lens) and the Canon 100mm F2 USM (not even close to being in the same league as the Contax and Zeiss).