Zeiss 100mm f2 Planar macro.....
Apr 22, 2022 10:40:49 GMT
on Apr 22, 2022 10:40:49 GMT
Posted: Apr 22, 2022 10:40:49 GMT
On the basis that you can never have enough of a good thing, two extra Contax items arrived yesterday: a Contax AX and Zeiss 100mm f2 T* Planar.
Contax_AX Zeiss 100 f2 Planar
I make no GAS apologies for gear this good; it feels safer to have a back-up to the back-up. That's especially true for the AX as spares have now all gone and repair to the amazing AF mechanism is nigh impossible.
And why do I claim the 100mm Planar as a macro lens? Well, purely because when attached to the AX, that's exactly what it can become. For those not familiar with this handsome camera, it offers AF for any C/Y lens and thanks to its clever engineering, which involves focusing by moving the entire film plane backwards or forwards, it also turns every lens into a macro. Simply move the focusing switch to the macro setting and you'll hear the film carriage-assembly shift, allowing you to get really close to your subject. Unfortunately, if you have small hands, the AX may not be for you; you can see the extra depth of the body which is necessary to allow the horizontal movement of the film plane.
Also shown is the Contax 70/86mm Adapter Ring which is ready to take the No.5 Lens Hood. Sadly, today this ring can cost as much as a 50 1.7 Planar to buy; they're increasingly hard to find, especially for a sensible price. They can also be used on the lovely Tamron SP 17mm f3.5 Model 51B as the Tamron hood is also incredibly hard to find and - surprise, surprise - expensive as a result...
Contax_AX Zeiss 100 f2 Planar
I make no GAS apologies for gear this good; it feels safer to have a back-up to the back-up. That's especially true for the AX as spares have now all gone and repair to the amazing AF mechanism is nigh impossible.
And why do I claim the 100mm Planar as a macro lens? Well, purely because when attached to the AX, that's exactly what it can become. For those not familiar with this handsome camera, it offers AF for any C/Y lens and thanks to its clever engineering, which involves focusing by moving the entire film plane backwards or forwards, it also turns every lens into a macro. Simply move the focusing switch to the macro setting and you'll hear the film carriage-assembly shift, allowing you to get really close to your subject. Unfortunately, if you have small hands, the AX may not be for you; you can see the extra depth of the body which is necessary to allow the horizontal movement of the film plane.
Also shown is the Contax 70/86mm Adapter Ring which is ready to take the No.5 Lens Hood. Sadly, today this ring can cost as much as a 50 1.7 Planar to buy; they're increasingly hard to find, especially for a sensible price. They can also be used on the lovely Tamron SP 17mm f3.5 Model 51B as the Tamron hood is also incredibly hard to find and - surprise, surprise - expensive as a result...
