Category Archives: Contax G-Mount

Analogue Adventures – Part 21: Kodak Portra 400

kodak portra 400 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Kodak Portra 400

The Kodak Portra 400 is Kodak’s midspeed film from the Portra series sitting inbetween the Portra 160 and Portra 800. It is also the more expensive ISO 400 color negative film in the Kodak lineup, the cheapter alternative being the Ultramax 400.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

kodak portra 400 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Portra 400
kodak portra 400 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM | f/1.4 | Kodak Portra 400
kodak portra 400 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/4.0 | Kodak Portra 400
kodak portra 400 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/8.0 | Kodak Portra 400

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 21: Kodak Portra 400

Analogue Adventures – Part 19: Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2 processed

Fuji Superia X-Tra 400

Any film is hard to get these days, but the Fuji films are even harder to get than the Kodak ones here in Germay. Therefore I developed the habit of buying any type of color negative film I haven’t used before for this series – even when it means paying 20€ for just this one roll of Fuji Superia X-Tra 400.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Fuji Superia X-tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/8.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/4.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 19: Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2 processed

Review: Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon

Introduction

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Modified to Leica M-mount 16mm 8.0 Hologon on Leica M6

Over the decades some exotic lenses saw the light of day that have a bit of a legendary status now and these also happen to be my favorite lenses to review. One such lens is the Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon, an eccentric ultra wide angle lens still made by Zeiss in Germany, when every other part of the Contax-G system had already been manufactured in Japan. The Hologon sure looks cool, it has a history, but is it also still relevant today? We will try to find that out, see how to change its bayonet for M-mount and I will tell you what cameras it can best be used on.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
cinestill 800t 800 tungsten cinefilm kodak vision 3 review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Cinestill 800T
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Center Filter
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Center Filter

Continue reading Review: Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon

REVIEW: Carl ZEISS 28mm f/2.8 Biogon T* + 1.5m pcx filter

The Contax G 28mm Biogon was considered one of the best 28mm available on film, but suffers serious issues on digital due to sensor cover glass. Can a simple filter make the lens a competitive performer on Sony cameras? Find out below.

I have shot this lens for years on the Sony A7 and more recently with a PCX filter and then on a Kolari UT modded A7. Unless otherwise noted, all of the tests in this review were performed on a Sony A7RII with a reversed 1.5m PCX filter on the lens (Thanks again to Nehemiah for lending me the A7RII). Check captions on sample pictures to see what camera was used. Bonus: The Contax G 28mm Biogon is both Phillip and my favorite lens on aps-c cameras, so I will also add a second installment later reviewing the lens for aps-c provocatively titled How the A6000 + Contax G 28/2.8 is better than an RX1.

Sample Images

Sony A7 | Carl Zeiss Contax G 28mm f/2.8 Biogon | f/2.8
Sony A7 | Carl Zeiss Contax G 28mm f/2.8 Biogon | f/8
Sony A7 | Carl Zeiss Contax G 28mm f/2.8 Biogon | f/11
Sony A7 | Carl Zeiss Contax G 28mm f/2.8 Biogon | f/11

Continue reading REVIEW: Carl ZEISS 28mm f/2.8 Biogon T* + 1.5m pcx filter

Review: Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/90 T* on Sony a7II

Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/90

The specs of the Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/90 sound great: Small, cheap, it’s from Zeiss so it should be very sharp and with the right adapter it even offers AF on the a7II! So how will it actually perform? Read on if you want to know.

Thanks to Uwe for loaning me the lens and Techart adapter for this review!

Sample Images

Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/90 Sample Image
Sony a7II | Zeiss 2.8/90 | f/2.8| full resolution
Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/90 Sample Image
Sony a7 | Zeiss 2.8/90 | f/5.6
Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/90 Sample Image
Sony a7II | Zeiss 2.8/90 | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/90 T* on Sony a7II