First video of the Contax to E-mount AF adapter!
As you know we now have three AF E-mount adapters for the Canon EOS lenses. But most of these lenses are big and certainly not a valuable solution if you need to be “Light”. So it may interest you to know that a new Contax G AF adapter is coming too! And the video on top proves you that it actually works. It will be soon sold by MXcamera on their own direct eBay Store (Click here to see).
And here you see the list of great G lenses with links to eBay price:
Hologon 16mm; 1:8 on eBay (Click here).
Biogon T* 21 mm; 1:2,8 on eBay (Click here).
Biogon T* 28 mm; 1:2,8 on eBay (Click here).
Planar T* 35 mm; 1:2,0 on eBay (Click here).
Planar T* 45 mm; 1:2,0 on eBay (Click here).
Sonnar T* 90 mm; 1:2,8 on eBay (Click here).
Vario-Sonnar T* 35 – 70 mm; 1:3,5-5,6 on eBay (Click here).
Vivek
5 months ago |Fabulous! Congratulations to the makers!
Freddo
5 months ago |Yay! I want one of these!
John Maverick
5 months ago |Feel the lust!!!. For those that don’t know, these lenses are exceptional high quality, both in build and optical quality. The Contax G 45/2mm was rated the second sharpest lens ever tested by one reviewer magazine.
awmenard
5 months ago |It looks really nice, my only concern is it seems like the video is not in real speed.
It might just be me but it looks a little faster then it should be. Maybe they did this to speed up how the lens actually focuses . The assist lamp looks a little quick
obican
5 months ago |Only problem is, these focal lengths don’t really make sense when used with an APS-C sensor.
16/8.0 is too dim.
21/2.8 and 28/2.8 could be replaced by Sigma 19 and 30mm lenses respectively.
35/2.0 is nice but Sony 35/1.8 will probably cost less and will be of comparable quality.
45/2.0 would be something I don’t really want with a x1.5 crop.
90/2.8 would be kinda fine, I’d prefer a 85/1.8 or 100/2 though.
But if the adapter supports FF sensors and we finally get our long rumored FF Nex, then it’ll be awesome.
Froo
5 months ago |If anyone wants the 90/2.8, just buy the Sony Alpha 85/2.8 instead. It’s the exact same optical formula (not a Sonnar at all but a classic Ernostar), and it will AF with the LA-EA1 or EA2 adapter. And it can be used with an Alpha camera.
By the way: The video of AF operation is likely sped up, methinks.
silas
5 months ago |You forgot the 28 f2.8. it’s fantastic!
mtechnic6
5 months ago |What are you talking about obican?
Have you used any of these Contax G lens and compared them to the Sigma lens, you mentioned? As I have both brands and I disagree BIG Time! It is like saying Zeiss or Leica lens is no better than Sigma! Which by the way these Contax G lens are made by Zeiss.
Fants
5 months ago |If you have a NEX-7, he’s on the money. Both of those Contax lenses have issues on the borders with the microlens-less NEX sensors. The 5n/5r are likely a different story, though.
John Maverick
5 months ago |Singling out the Contax G lenses on this basis seems a bit unfair imho. The NEX7 turns the corners purple for even SONYs own pancake 18 and the new wide zoom. It was a poor sensor design from the start (not followed for the NEX 6).
obican
5 months ago |Well, actually according to some, Zeiss and Leica are really no better than 30/2.8 on a Nex. Don’t compare that lens to anything else made by Sigma.
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/04/nex-7-lens-imatest-resolution-comparison
There you’ll see that Sigma 30mm is better than Leica 50 Summilux at f/2.8.
Maybe, just maybe Contax 28mm might be a bit sharper than Sigma 30mm. Even then, I wouldn’t really care as Sigma has plenty of sharpness, character and is much lighter and it also comes in black.
And I haven’t even started with the price issue.
Vivek
5 months ago |Contax 28 sucks big time compared to the Sigma 30 on a NEX. The Sigma is a telecentric lens and the Contax is an yesteryears RF lens belonging to defunct system.
annex
5 months ago |Ah right, because its defunct it must be bad.
Great logic and your experience is really shining through.
Vivek
5 months ago |Read what Jim DE posted below.
Just because something has Zeiss on it does not mean it will be good on the NEX.
Yes, I am experienced enough to say what I said.
Vlad
5 months ago |Contax may be great lenses, but you can get very good quality and AF for cheaper. Even the new SEL35f18 is cheaper than the 35f2, at least at the places where I have checked.
annex
5 months ago |Obviously not.
These lenses are fantastic across the board on the 5N and good up to the 35mm on the 7.
I own the 21, 28, 35, 45 and 90 personally and they’re by far the sharpest lenses Ive used on the system. For context I also own the 50 1.8, a number of Rokkors, the sigma 30 and 19, the 18-55, 16 and the a number of quality alpha lenses.
The contax outperform everything. They say Zeiss, they are Zeiss and they perform like Zeiss (even down to the microcontrast).
John
5 months ago |For the zeiss colors and micro contrast which many of these lenses have, very nice addition
Fants
5 months ago |Is that a power cable I see running into the adapter? It’ll be interesting to see what the battery drain is like, considering the fact that there’s got to be a motor inside the adapter.
Obican, I’m with you there. I own the 45/2 and used to own the 90/2.8. The 90 was nice, but didn’t have the nicest bokeh – which is fairly important on a 135mm-equivalent lens. The 45 is fantastically sharp, and is one of the only lenses out there that really does the NEX-7′s sensor justice…but you really do have to love the FL to make it worth the expense. Particularly considering that for a slightly lower price than the 45/2 (not to mention the minimum $100 you’ll spend for a good adapter), you can get the SEL50, which, while not as clinically sharp as the Contax, is faster and has AF and IS.
CTPhotographX.com
5 months ago |Excellent!
Clyde
5 months ago |Very cool!
Makro
5 months ago |Is there any macro lens that uses this mount? I Really need a longer macro lens with AF for underwater photography! 30mm isn’t cutting it.
MF won’t work either due to lack of custom focus gears I will need. The Canon alternative is too big for the housing ports
Chris K.
5 months ago |Makro: I love my Sony alpha-mount 100mm lens (is a great lens all-around, plus 1:1 macro at 100mm); works great with the SLT adapter…but for hard-core macro work, AF isn’t the best.
It’s great that we’re seeing more and more adapters supporting auto-focus! More adapters with more capabilities (aperture, EXIF, AF) always appreciated.
Pablo
5 months ago |Well… I don’t know.
I had the 45/2 Contax lens on my 5N, however I found the SEL 50/1.8 to be sharper and provide more 3D in regards to microcontrast, so I sold that damn old thing as it was a real PITA to focus manually via the ring adapter.
RickJ
5 months ago |It’s very amusing to see NEX users tout how compact the bodies are…. then stick huge adapters and lenses on them.. Very amusing
annex
5 months ago |These lenses (with adapter) are shorter than the 18-55mm.
Vlad
5 months ago |It’s also amusing how people just don’t understand physics. Whatever lens you put on a NEX, the body dimensions or weight won’t change.
Douglas
5 months ago |Why nobody do a Nikon to Nex adapter with electronic support?, That! will be a killer hit.
EnPassant
5 months ago |Why use big DSLR lenses on the small NEX cameras instead of the cameras made for them? I find that kind of pointless. Especially as there are APS-C DSLRs on sale for not much more than the cost for advanced adapters. Used prices are even lower.
RickJ
5 months ago |I think because most Nex users are closet 4/3 users and haven’t realized it yet. They figure shooting wide open with a bunch of different lenses on sketchy adapters is amazing.
Vlad
5 months ago |I see less and less reasons to actually bother adapting old lenses. Especially with the upcoming 85mm and 3 Zeiss.
EnPassant
5 months ago |Here: http://photoheadonline.com/2012/05/03/sony-nex-7-w-contax-g-90mm-f2-8-sonnar/ are tests made with the NEX-7 and Contax G 28, 35, 45 and 90 mm lenses.
Unless one already have a collection of Contax G lenses it is questionable if it is really worth it getting this quite expensive AF-adapter and the not so cheap 28, 35 and 45 mm lenses instead of the original 24, 35 and 50 mm NEX lenses or Sigma’s affordable 19 and 30 mm lenses. At least as long as NEX is APS-C only. The 90/2.8 Sonnar is the only Contax G prime that doesn’t have a NEX equivalent yet. It is also the Contax G lens that can be found for the lowest price used. With this AF-adapter it would differ from manual only 90 mm rangefinder lenses.
The reports I read say the 21/2.8 is great on film, not so on digital. The 16/8 hologon is just such special, slow, no AF and need a centerfilter that it was a hassle in use even on the Contax G. It is also rare and the most expensive of the G lenses. Not recommended for use with digital sensors!
CTPhotographX.com
5 months ago |OK where’s my Vectis adapter? Should work identical to existing NEX protocols. The Mino 17mm and 400mm CAT are supposed to be best ever in class, designed for APS-C to begin with.
Jim DE
5 months ago |I cannot disagree that the 21, 28, and in fact the 35 have smearing or at least purple fringing issues on the NEX 7 as I own all of these. The Contax G2 I also still own and all the Contax G glass (don’t own the 16 or the 35-70mm) works great on color positive film or B&W…. especially the 21mm.
I do have to throughly disagree that any Sony or Sigma glass (as I own the 19, 30, 50, 18-55, 55-210, and the 16mm with both accessory lenses) made for the e mount comes anywhere close to the IQ of the 45mm or 90mm for that matter. There just is no comparison in any IQ aspect one care to examine to these 2 Contax lenses with any of the e mount glass.
I for one will be waiting for this adapter anxiously ……. though I am so used to manually focusing my 45 on my NEX 7 that I probably won’t realize much benefit from it. My 45mm CG lives on my NEX 7 98% of the time as I find it just that good compared to anything else I own. I’d rather step forward or backwards or stitch or crop images rather than use a lesser piece of glass.
TY
5 months ago |more video:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDkzMzAxMzI4.html
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDc5NjM5NDMy.html
KaKtusss
5 months ago |To me, the Contax G 45mm 2.0 is the sharpest, best “3D effect”, best micro-contrast, best color rendition and CA-free lens I’ve put on my NEX-5 (have more than a dozen including SEL50F18). You could argue on harsh bokeh and odd manual focus, but every other aspect (size, weight, build and optical qualities) make an amazing lens I’ll never sell. The SEL50F18 is a great lens (despite its awful focus speed), but it’s really not in the same league, even if the bokeh is creamier, it suffers a lot of bokeh fringing, that’s nearly invisible on the contax g lens. The Contax G is plenty sharp all over the frame, even with a NEX-5 at f2.0.
Even compared to the praised Olympus 45mm 1.8, which is imho better than Sony 50 1.8, I still prefer the Contax G rendition. If I keep image quality in mind, the contax g is a true jewel at a fair price.
CTPhotographX.com
5 months ago |No manual focus override with this adapter?
Jim DE
5 months ago |Don’t know as of yet but I don’t see any focus ring on the adapter moving during the AF sequence
Drcrane
5 months ago |The G45 is the best lens evermade, and it is the only reason i keep my nex-7. IQ is nothing but pure magic even wide open. If you like the ~70mm focal length and like MF with peaking just grab one and a decent adapter and be happy for life!
I used and tested so many lenses on so many bodies from nearly all manafucatures and nothing is even remotely comparable to the G45 on nex-7.
The new sigma 35/1.4 comes close but is a totally different piece of glass…