Zeiss Lenses for Contax SLR

I used the Contax SLR system for several years and the lenses were the primary reason. The focus and aperture go in the same direction as Leica M, which I was also using so it was very comfortable. There are probably only about 20 people out there still shooting film on Contax SLR, and I'm not one of them, but more power to you, brother.

21mm 2.8 The best super-wide I've ever used. (See entry "Best of the Best")

28mm 2.0 A-hard-to-find and expensive lens but a real scorcher, worth its value. Great contrast and sharpness even wide-open, bulky and heavy for its focal length but well balanced and easy to focus.

28mm 2.8 Super compact, easy to focus, excellent optics and cheap to buy on the used market. I shot practically an entire travel guide for a major publisher with this lens. I miss it.

35mm 2.8 Not quite as good as the 28. Better than the equivalent in Nikon or Canon but maybe just short of "great".

50mm 1.4 Excellent lens. Perhaps a bit less contrasty at 1.4 (as is normal) but very sharp throughout the range. The long focus throw makes it a bit slow to focus as the images don't quite "pop" on the screen. A tremendous value for the money. Basically as good of a 50 as you're going to get.

85mm 1.4 Again, an excellent lens. Sharp and contrasty wide-open, compact and easy to foucs. No complaints.

85mm 1.2 Rare and expensive. Never owned it but tried it out once. It was really good.

100 2.0 First-rate lens optically. Solid, compact and heavy. The ZF version is supposed to be even better. Some versions have a bit of stiff focus ring.

135. 2.0 This is comparable to the 100mm. Terrific color, very sharp. Difficult to find and pricey but if you've been craving it, you won't be disappointed.

180 2.8 Dated optics. OK but the Nikon 180mm 2.8 ED is way better is so are the modern 2.8 Canon and Nikon zooms.

200 3.5 This might be better than the 180mm. Not brilliant but pretty solid performer.

70-210 3.5 Optically very good, better than the above two lenses but totally sucky ergonomics.