conurus

conurus · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: Answer from Carl Zeiss

I presented this question to Carl Zeiss and got the following reply.

Dear Mr. Tong,

Thanks for your request.
Yes, you´re right, these two Contax N-mount lenses were similar in their optical design with Sigma models.
Like all Carl Zeiss photo products (made in Germany or made in Japan), the quality control was done by Carl Zeiss according to our specifications.

From the beginning of the long history of the Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division in the 1890´s, many superb lenses designed by Carl Zeiss have been manufactured all around the world. During our partnership with Kyocera until 2005, most of the famous C/Y-mount, G-mount, N-mount and Contax 645 mount lenses were made in Japan.

The lenses you mentioned were results of a co-operation with Kyocera and Sigma. Like all lenses that were sold with the Carl Zeiss brand name on them, these two N-mount lenses were also "genuine" Carl Zeiss lenses which were designed, manufactured and controlled according to our high quality standards.

Like all other major brand products in our modern world of globalization, our products for the world market are designed and manufactured under the participation of different designers, suppliers and companies which are specialized to be world-leading in their field of business.

Please understand that we cannot publish such internal details you are asking for.

Best Regards

Bertram Hönlinger

PLEASE NOTE: Carl Zeiss answers all requests in a timely manner and to our best ability at the time of the request. Please understand that all answers are subject to the technical standards at the time of the request.

If you have received this message by mistake, please inform the sender immediately and delete the original. Any further use of this mail is prohibited.

mwtphoto · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Toronto, Canada

oh well, looks like I will have to wait until Sept to get my lens done. I snoozed.....

conurus · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:

I am sorry! With more than 100 lenses in the pipeline it will take me at least until September to clear all backlog anyway. Sorry for the wait...

mwtphoto · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 104 Location: Toronto, Canada

No problem - it is worth the wait. By then I should be able to find a 50/1.4 and I will get them done together. The 24-85 that you have already converted lives on my camera and the 100 macro is fantastic.
thanks.

DSLR18 · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 15 Location: New York

contax 70-200

romanoff · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 51 Location: Canada

I like this lens.

romanoff · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 51 Location: Canada

hungmo · Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Hong Kong

Finally I can have a test on my lens. No touch-up on the photo. Image resized to 30%. Thx Bo-Ming~

hungmo · Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Hong Kong

@200mm. Image resized to 30%

hungmo · Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Hong Kong

100% Crop. Sharper image with f/5,6.

romanoff · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 51 Location: Canada

romanoff · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 51 Location: Canada

Happy holidays!

Joanne Tong · Joined: 25 Nov 2010 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

Central Park, Burnaby on May 23, 2011

ManWearPants · Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 74

Flogging a dead horse. While I am able to find Sigma 28-80/3.5-4.5 which the Contax N is probably based on. ( The overall dimension and lens design are identical) There doesn't seems to be a 70-200/3.5-4.5 equivalent in the older Sigma line up. The closest is Sigma 70-210/3.5-4.5 APO which is not identical at all. And general review of that Sigma lens is not so favourable. So I do wonder which Sigma lens in the 70-200 focal length has impressed Zeiss so much that they adopted the design for Contax N 70-200?

BTW, these 2 "Sigma" Contax N lenses are released later than the original Contax N zoom lenses. And I understand the 24-85 and 70-300 are kit lenses then. Does these 2 (28-80, 70-200) replaces the kit lenses or complements the original zooms. I am curious why Zeiss releases 2 sets of zooms in similiar focal length.