{"id":11801,"date":"2019-03-15T11:23:36","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T10:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=11801"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:26:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:26:39","slug":"review-contax-vario-sonnar-t-4-5-5-6-100-300","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-contax-vario-sonnar-t-4-5-5-6-100-300\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Contax Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 4.5-5.6\/100-300"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17255\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17255\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17255 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09422.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09422.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09422-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09422-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09422-800x534.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17255\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Contax Vario-Sonnar 4.5-5.6\/100-300 mounted on my Sony A7III via <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2SsPj8w\">Novoflex NEX\/CONT*<\/a> adapter and with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2VmU8lq\">Novoflex ASTAT-NEX*<\/a> tripod collar.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Contax Zeiss 4.5-5.6\/100-300 T* MM is a telephoto lens that hit the market in the mid 1990&#8217;s. It was also one of the last lenses that were designed for the Contax\/Yashica mount. It is rare because it was very expensive in a time when autofocus telephoto lenses were already available. Lets have a closer look at this exotic legend.<\/p>\n<h1>Sample Images<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17225\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17225\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17225 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01974.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01974.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01974-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01974-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17225\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/SNh6DA\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17226\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17226\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17226 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08025.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08025-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08025-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17226\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/SNh5WU\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17227\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17227\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17227 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08154.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08154.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08154-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08154-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17227\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/SNh5e1\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17228\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17228\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17228 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09297.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09297.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09297-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09297-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17228\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/Rb1ZfB\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h1>Specifications<\/h1>\n<p>The Contax Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 4.5-5.6\/100-300 T* has the following specifications:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Diameter: 70 mm<\/li>\n<li>Field of view: 56\u00b0 (diagonally)<\/li>\n<li>Length: 143 mm (10mm, infinity focus)<\/li>\n<li>Weight: 925g<\/li>\n<li>Filter Diameter: 67 mm<\/li>\n<li>Number of Aperture Blades: 8 (slighly rounded)<\/li>\n<li>Elements\/Groups: 12\/7<\/li>\n<li>Close Focusing Distance: 1.5 m (100-300mm)<\/li>\n<li>Maximum Magnification: 1:3.3<\/li>\n<li>Mount: Sony-E<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zeiss.de\/content\/dam\/camera-lenses\/files\/service\/download-center\/datasheets\/historical-lenses\/contax-yashica\/datasheet-zeiss-vario-sonnar-4556100300-de.pdf\">Zeiss data sheet (German)<\/a><\/p>\n<h1>Build Quality \/ Handling<\/h1>\n<p>The build quality of the Contax 100-300 is great. The lens is made out of metal and the focus\/aperutre rings are rubberized but not sticky. After all the years of use, the lens still looks great. All markings are engraved. The aperture ring has full stops and the clicks feel just right. My sample of the lens shows a low amount of zoom creeping when pointed directly down. Not an issue in normal positions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17261\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09438.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09438.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09438-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09438-768x533.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09438-800x555.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There was a lens hood available by Contax that consisted out of two parts: Contax 67\/86 Ring and Contax Metal Hood 5. The lens was shipped with a nice leather lens pouch that still looks good.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twentytwenty\" class=\"twentytwenty-container\" style=\"display: none; max-width: 100%; width: 1024px; height: 371px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09429.jpg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09431.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<p>The handling of the lens can be a bit complicated though. MF at 300mm can be a challenge by itself but a tele zoom lens is even more tricky. The stabilizer needs to be adjusted manually, you have to take care of that all the time. This is not an issue for landscape photography though.<\/p>\n<p>The front element rotates which makes the use of circular polarizers more complicated.<\/p>\n<p>The lens is compact (70mm diameter, 143-210mm length) but quite heavy. I prefer to use the lens with a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2SsPj8w\">Novoflex NEX\/CONT*<\/a> adapter and with a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2VmU8lq\">Novoflex ASTAT-NEX<\/a>* tripod collar.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17260\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17260\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17260 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09439.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09439.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09439-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09439-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/JLA09439-800x598.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17260\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2VmU8lq\">Novoflex ASTAT-NEX<\/a>*\u00a0 tripod collar and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2SsPj8w\">Novoflex NEX\/CONT*<\/a> adapter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The lens is known for having problems with developing haze in the rear group. The used cement gets damaged in some cases over time, it is easily visible when you look against bright light. <a href=\"http:\/\/lens-cla.blogspot.com\/2014\/07\/contax-carl-zeiss-vario-sonnar-100.html\">More information<\/a>. This review sample was not affected by that.<\/p>\n<p>This lens is not officially compatible with the Zeiss Mutar teleconverters. I used a Mutar-II with it and it was possible at the long end of the lens. If you mount it at short focal lengths or zoom to shorter focal lengths, it will hit the rear element. Therefore, you need to be very careful if you consider this. Optically, this is also no option to rave about. Sharpness drops significantly and spherical aberration becomes visible as well.<\/p>\n<h1>Sharpness<\/h1>\n<p><em>infinity<\/em><\/p>\n<p>100mm:<\/p>\n<p>f4.5: Center is very good, midframe has low contrast, corner is good<\/p>\n<p>f5.6: Center peaks, midframe and corner contrast improves<\/p>\n<p>f8: Best aperture for overall image quality<\/p>\n<p>f11: Diffraction starts to degrade IQ<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11804\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-139x300.jpg 139w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-768x1659.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-593x1280.jpg 593w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>135mm:<\/p>\n<p>Same behavior as 100mm.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11805\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-1-139x300.jpg 139w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-1-768x1659.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_135mm_II-1-593x1280.jpg 593w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>200mm:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; basically still the same behavior, image is very good across the frame at f\/8. LaCA shows up in the corners.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11807\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_200mm_II.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_200mm_II.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_200mm_II-139x300.jpg 139w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_200mm_II-768x1659.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Blendenreihe_200mm_II-593x1280.jpg 593w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>300mm:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; This is the weakest focal length.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; f4.5: Interestingly, f4.5 is still selectable and makes a difference in exposure. Image quality also makes a difference to f5.6<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; f5.6: This is the official aperture at 300mm and it is a good choice. The center is better than the center at f8 where diffraction starts to show. Midframe and corner are also much better than (wider than) wide open<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; f8: Best for overall image quality. Corners show still aberrations but are acceptably sharp.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17265\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blendenreihe_300mm_III.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blendenreihe_300mm_III.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blendenreihe_300mm_III-139x300.jpg 139w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blendenreihe_300mm_III-768x1659.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blendenreihe_300mm_III-593x1280.jpg 593w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1>Flare resistance<\/h1>\n<p>This lens is quite flare resistant, the longer the focal lenght the better.This is the worst ghosting I was able to provoke:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17246\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17246\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17246 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09924.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09924.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09924-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09924-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17246\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">100mm, f11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17247\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17247\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17247 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09929.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09929.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09929-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09929-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17247\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">100mm, f11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It is also nice that the lens shows quite low veiling flare and keeps its high contrast, especially compared to other legacy tele lenses. Still a good performance by modern standards.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twentytwenty\" class=\"twentytwenty-container\" style=\"display: none; max-width: 100%; width: 800px; height: 541px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VeilingI.jpg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/VeilingII.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<h1>Distortion<\/h1>\n<p>100mm:<\/p>\n<p>Very low pincushion distortion: LR Correction Value: -1<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17243\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09910.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09910.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09910-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09910-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>300mm:<\/p>\n<p>Pincushion Distortion: LR Correction Value: -9<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17244\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09922.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09922.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09922-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09922-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1>Vignetting<\/h1>\n<p>Vignetting is moderate at 100mm wide open and low at the long and and at every focal length stopped down. Rather good performance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17245\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Vignetting.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Vignetting.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Vignetting-300x244.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Vignetting-768x624.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1>Bokeh<\/h1>\n<p>The bokeh of the Contax Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 4.5-5.6\/100-300 is good for a lens in the 100-300mm lens class but not great in absolute terms. Bokeh balls are mostly clean. At close focus distances, there is mechanical vignetting that cuts the round shape of the bokeh balls.\u00a0 Bokeh is most critical at 300mm and MFD. Outlining and chromatic aberrations become visible, especially in the transition zone.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17241\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17241\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17241 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09815.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09815.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09815-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09815-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17241\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mechanical Vignetting and a bit of outlining<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17240\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17240\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17240 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bokeh-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bokeh-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bokeh-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bokeh-1-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17240\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">100% crop of the image above. You can see LoCA around the highlights. Outlining is well visible in the transition zone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17238\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17238\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17238 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00040.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00040.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00040-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00040-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17238\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mechanical Vignetting near the MFD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17239\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17239\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17239 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17239\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Clean and good looking highlights<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>Aberrations<\/h1>\n<p><strong><em>Lateral CA<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not really an issue at 100mm and 135mm. Visible at 200mm and pronounced at 300mm. Can be corrected easily.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17237\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17237\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17237 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/LaCA-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/LaCA-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/LaCA-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/LaCA-1-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17237\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lateral Chromatic aberrations in the corners at 300mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em><strong>Longitudinal CA, Purple Fringing and Coma<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I can rarely see coma in daylight but this wet stone made it visible at 300mm wide open. There is also some LoCA and purple fringing wide open but nothing to worry about. This is a pain test, every normal image will look much better (as you see in the samples)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17242\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Coma-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Coma-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Coma-2-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Coma-2-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Sun Stars<\/h2>\n<p>Sun stars have 8 rays and look like the typical sun stars of 8 slightly rounded blades that we have seen in lenses like the Contax 3.4\/35-70 or the Canon 4\/70-200.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17236\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17236\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17236 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Sun-Star.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Sun-Star.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Sun-Star-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Sun-Star-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17236\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7II, 200mm, f8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>Alternatives<\/h1>\n<p>These are the alternatives that I have used yet or are native. There are much more 70-300, 100-300 or 100-400 lenses out there.<\/p>\n<h6>Contax Vario-Sonnar 4\/80-200<\/h6>\n<p>This lens is also a good performer optically, but the Contax Vario-Sonnar 4.5-5.6\/100-300 outperforms it in shared focal lengths and apertures. Longer but thinner, cheaper and more easily available than the 100-300.<\/p>\n<h6>Canon FD 5.6\/100-300 L<\/h6>\n<p>This lens is quite decent at the short end but almost unuseably bad on the long end on modern 24MP sensors.<\/p>\n<h6>Canon FD 4\/80-200 L<\/h6>\n<p>I can&#8217;t recommend this lens, usually plagued by worn out plastic bearings and not as performant as it was in its time. Usually decentered.<\/p>\n<h6>Sony 4.5-5.6\/70-300 G OSS<\/h6>\n<p>Optically less capable, has high sample variation. Bokeh is also not very good. Nevertheless an equally compact and more convenient solution.<\/p>\n<h6>Sony 4.5-5.6\/100-400 GM OSS<\/h6>\n<p>This comparison was made by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredmiranda.com\/forum\/topic\/1501962\/0?keyword=contax#14126581\">Fred Miranda<\/a>. The Contax is better at 100mm and 200mm. The GM has the edge at 300mm. Both lenses are great and expensive. The GM is larger, heavier and more convenient because of AF and OSS.<\/p>\n<h1>Conclusion<\/h1>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>good<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Sharpness at 100mm &#8211; 200mm<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">low chromatic aberrations at 100mm<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">close focusing at 300mm<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">low distortion at 100mm<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">build quality<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">flare resistance<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">low vignetting<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">small when collapsed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td><strong>average<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>sharpness at 300mm (useable stopped down)<\/li>\n<li>bokeh<\/li>\n<li>zoom creep<\/li>\n<li>distortion at 300mm<\/li>\n<li>sun stars<\/li>\n<li>weight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td><strong>not good<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">coma<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">rotating front element <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">manual adjustment of IBIS needed (annoying in a 3x zoom lens)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">corner aberrations at 300mm<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The Contax Vario Sonnar 4.5-5.6\/100-300 has gained a legendary reputation because of its rarity and its optical qualities. It was the first Zeiss lens that used special glass which is a proof of the ambitions that Zeiss had with this design.<\/p>\n<p>I can confirm that this lens has undeniable qualities. The sharpness is very good in the 100-200mm range and can keep up with good prime lenses.Good flare resistance, low to moderate pincushion distortion, low vignetting and acceptable sun stars are also welcome. The bokeh is among the best in the xx-300mm zoom lens class although not perfect.<\/p>\n<p>At 300mm, the image quality degrades a bit. The important central region is useable already wide open but it is clever to stop it down for better peripheral performance. The degradation in image quality is also visible in several aberrations that should be removed as far as possible afterwards (Especially LaCA).<\/p>\n<p>The lens is very versatile and can be used for landscapes, portraits, animals or tele macros. The 1.5m MFD at 300mm is very useful and makes insect photography much easier than with classic 90-100mm macro lenses.<\/p>\n<p>What makes this lens special is not only its very good image quality between 100mm and 200mm but also its small size when collapsed. Therefore it is a very good option for traveling landscape photographers with limited baggage.<\/p>\n<p>The handling of the lens can be frustrating, adjusting IBIS permanently and the rotating front are two major shortcomings. Make sure that you are a patient photographer.<\/p>\n<p>The big question is if it is worth the premium price tag. If you look for the optical qualities mentioned above in a rather small package and value the great build quality, the answer could be yes. Especially landscape photographers could be attracted by this lens. Nevertheless, most photographers will need AF, EXIF and even OSS at this focal length, those won&#8217;t be happy with a lens like this.<\/p>\n<h1>More Sample Images<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17229\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17229\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17229 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00017.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00017.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00017-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC00017-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17229\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/24jX2Ge\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17230\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17230\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17230 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01906.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01906.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01906-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC01906-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17230\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 |<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/SNh6V7\"> full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17231\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17231\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17231 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08474.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08474.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08474-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08474-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17231\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2eWpWtH\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17232\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17232\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17232 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08507.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08507.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08507-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08507-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17232\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2eWpWd2\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17233\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17233\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17233 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08663.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08663.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08663-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC08663-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17233\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 | <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2dQtwFS\">full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17234\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17234\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17234 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09229-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17234\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 |<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2dxB2rM\"> full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17235\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17235\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17235 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09999.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09999.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09999-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DSC09999-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17235\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sony A7III | Contax 4.5-5.6\/100-300 |<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/Rb1YWa\"> full size<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>Further Reading<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=firefox-b-d&amp;q=tamron+28-75+2.8\">Review: Tamron 2.8\/28-75 Di III RXD<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-zhong-yi-mitakon-50mm-0-95-dark-knight\/\">Review: Zhong Yi Mitakon 50mm 0.95<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-sony-fe-85mm-1-4-gm\/\">Review: Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/fe-lenses-sony-comprehensive-independent-guide\/\">Guide: Sony FE lenses<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using any of the links marked as affiliate links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the creation of future content.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Contax Zeiss 4.5-5.6\/100-300 T* MM is a telephoto lens that hit the market in the mid 1990&#8217;s. It was also one of the last lenses that were designed for the Contax\/Yashica mount. It is rare because it was very expensive in a time when autofocus telephoto lenses were already available. Lets have a closer &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-contax-vario-sonnar-t-4-5-5-6-100-300\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Review: Contax Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 4.5-5.6\/100-300<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4333,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,18,419,169,144],"tags":[182,183,184,180,61,65,66,185,181,59],"class_list":["post-11801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lenses","category-review","category-vintage","category-zeiss","category-zeiss-c-y-mount","tag-100-300","tag-100-300mm","tag-4-5-5-6-100-300","tag-c-y","tag-contax","tag-manual","tag-tele","tag-telezoom","tag-vario-sonnar","tag-zeiss"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Review: Contax Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 4.5-5.6\/100-300 - 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