LENS PERFORMANCE

As stated earlier, adding a floating element improves resolution, sharpens corners and provides better frame illumination across the entire focus range. Most often a floating focus design is used to improve near focus performance. The use of a floating element can helps minimize focus shift. Focus shift is the shifting of the plane of focus as the aperture is changed. For example, the new Canon 50mm F1.2 L has a nasty reputation for focus shift.

The Contax 28mm F2 has a shallow depth field (F2 or F2.8) with outstanding near field performance, thus the lens is ideal for full length portraits and close-up photography. Add in the drama created with 28mm lens, and F2 Distagon is without peer. Normally one would not think, “Ahhh 28mm, yes a good lens for product shots,” And they would be even less likely to think of CLOSE-UP shots. The 28/2 excels in this application. The Canon EF 35L F1.4 is better up to about F2.8, but past F2.8 the Contax 28/2 is unbeatable. The Contax 28mm F2 was about 10 inches from the flash tube for the picture on the previous page. The 28mm F2.0 Distagon also does very well with regular landscape pictures with the focus at 20 feet, 30 feet, infinity, etc. By F5.6 the lens is perfectly sharp from corner to corner and easily out-class lenses such as the Canon EF 35mm F1.4 L USM.

Soft corners and wide angle lenses go hand in hand. Soft corners are not always due to poor lens performance, in most cases the problem is inadequate depth of field (DOF). As an extreme example, a 15mm lens on a full-frame 35mm dSLR focused at infinity at F4 will not have enough DOF for sharp lower corners. Wikipedia has a nice write-up (click here). To guesstimate DOF, this is a handy website: www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html. Keep in mind DOF is not an absolute and varies with each lens design. For example, The Contax 100mm F2 Planar and the Canon EF 100mm F2 USM both may have different DOF at F2. A DOF table is a general estimate or guide.

F8 to F16 are common apertures for landscape photography, and at these apertures the 28mm F2.0 Distagon’s landscape performance is the best I have used at 28mm. The lens produces excellent resolution, perfect corners, micro contrast, little or no CA (fringing) and pleasing color. Of course, there is nice bokeh (background blur) at faster apertures such as F2 through F4 if the focus and subject are pulled forward. The 28mm F2 Distagon can be used for landscape work at F2, but lacks necessary DOF for sharp lower corners - unless focus is pulled forward. And since the 28mm is a F2, pulling focus forward, shooting with a faster aperture can be quite fun because of the narrow DOF.

ADAPTERS FOR CANON EF & EF-S BODIES

There are mixed reports with the 28mm F2 Distagon when mounted on a Canon 5D or 5D Mark II dSLR. There have been successes with Cameraquest, Fotodiox, HappyPageHK and Adapter Solutions. Meanwhile other people say the Canon 5D mirror hangs on rear of the lens regardless of which adapter. There is some speculation that the problem is due to Canon production variances in Canon 5D’s mirror box assembly. I successfully used the 28mm F2 Distagon on a Canon 1Ds Mark II with a HappyPageHK focus confirmation adapter. My preferred adapters are from Leitax (review here). And there is more adapters information in the Contax db section - click here.

ZEISS ZE LENSES

Having owned both the Contax 28mm F2 Distagon and Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE, the new Zeiss ZE does seem better at F2. The Contax had some halation at wide apertures (what Leica users call the “Leica Glow”). That seems be gone, or at least significantly reduced in the new ZE. The new ZE also seemed sharper at F2 compared to what I remember of the Contax 28mm F2 Distagon. And it is possible that my 28mm F2 Distagon’s were slightly out of spec. One important consideration, Zeiss no longer services the Contax 28mm F2 in the older AE configuration (MM’s are still supported). When buying a used lens that is 10, 20 or 30 years old, there is a good chance that the lens will need service in the near future.

Before the Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE I would have whole heartedly recommend the Contax 28mm F2 Distagon. But now we have a Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE in a native Canon mount with modern electronics, updated lens coatings optimized for digital and an updated lens formula. A Contax 28mm F2 Distagon costs around $800 US, plus an adapter, plus the 55/86 Contax Ring and Contax #1 Metal Hood. Total cost easily reaches $1000. Or for about 20% more there is a new Zeiss ZE with no adapter woes and a full manufacturer’s warranty. Plus all the benefits of an auto aperture and EXIF data. I love the Contax 28mm F2 Distagon, but time moves on and these days I would pick the Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon instead. My Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE is here.