Sony NEX-5 with Contax Zeiss Distagon and Planar

Here are my dream slr lenses on the Sony NEX-5. They are Carl Zeiss lenses made for the Contax SLR system. These lenses are on par with the modern Carl Zeiss lenses for Sony/Minolta, Pentax, Canon, and Nikon at a very reasonable price.

All the lenses were previously used on a Canon DSLR via a Contax / Yashica to Canon EOS adapter. They were mounted on the Sony NEX-5 using an EOS to NEX E-mount adapter. The direct way would be to use a Contax/Yashica to NEX E-mount lens adapter.

Here are the lenses mounted on the NEX and sample snap shots at wide open aperture and stopped down at f/5.6. These images are straight jpgs out of the NEX-5.

The first lens is the Contax Zeiss 28mm Distagon with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. This is a great landscape lens at a bargain.
sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Sony NEX with Contax Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 Distagon


sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Contax 28mm Distagon at f/2.8


sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Contax 28mm Distagon at f/5.6



The second lens is the Contax Zeiss 50mm Planar with a maximum aperture of f/1.4. The perfect normal lens, dreamy wide open at f/1.4 and tack sharp stopped down.
sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Sony NEX with Contax Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar


sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Contax 50mm Planar at f/1.4


sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Contax 50mm Planar at f/5.6



The third lens is the Contax Zeiss 85mm Planar with a maximum aperture of f/1.4. The perfect portrait lens, dreamy with creamy bokeh wide open and tack sharp at smaller apertures.sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Sony NEX with Contax 85mm f/1.4 Planar


sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Contax 85mm Planar at f/1.4


sony nex contax zeiss distagon planar

Contax 85mm Planar at f/5.6



The announcement of Carl Zeiss joining the Sony E-mount system with their rumored 24mm f/1.7 lens was great news to us. We are hoping that other Carl Zeiss lenses optimized for the Sony NEX are being developed.

Comments

  1. NathanMay 3, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    So... are you using 2 adapters?
    Contax lens —> Contax to EOS adapter —> EOS adapter —> NEX E-mount?

    ReplyDelete
  2. kenMay 3, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    Yes Nathan, in this configuration there are 2 adapters. You can siplify by using a Contax > E-mount adapter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ArthurMay 4, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    Hi,

    I'm taking most of my pictures around 33mm with my 18-55 and i'm looking for a lens with a bigger aperture.

    Is the "Contax Zeiss 50mm Planar" taking pictures on the NEX like a 33mm (33mm for the nex) ?

    I don't really understand that ratio stuff with the nex. All i know is that i'm looking for a lens that would equals a 33mm on my Nex.

    Thanks a lot !!

    R.

    ReplyDelete
  4. kenMay 4, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    Arthur, the NEX cameras have a 1.5x crop factor, which means that a 33mm focal length lens will have a field of view of a 49.5mm lens on a camera with a full frame sensor.

    If you are looking for a replacement to use on your NEX, you will need a lens with a focal length close to 33mm.

    If you have a Sony A900 or A850 (full frame sensors), you will need a lens close to 50mm.

    ReplyDelete
  5. NikkoMay 9, 2011 at 3:42 AM

    Looks awesome... are these Contax Zeiss lenses affordable?

    ReplyDelete
  6. kenMay 16, 2011 at 2:02 AM

    @Nikko It's the least expensive way to get a Zeiss lens on your NEX - affordable for a Zeiss.

    ReplyDelete
  7. dgbSeptember 12, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    hi,
    have you ever tried to shoot video with those lenses? can you set the camera to be able to use manual aperture (using the mechanical aperture of the lens..)?

    ReplyDelete
  8. kenSeptember 12, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    The NEX-5 shoots video in Auto mode but with a manual lens you can control the Aperture.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownJanuary 15, 2014 at 8:38 AM

    Hi I am using a sony alpha 100 with the 50 and 85 mm contax lenses + an adapter.
    I am having a blurry images. what is wrong ??
    do i need to make any special settings on the camera ??

    ReplyDelete

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