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emia268's picture
Submitted By: emia268
Joined: Jul 17 2006
Posts:
Manual Lenses - Can ANY be used on digiAF cameras?
Posted: July 17, 2006 - 7:08am

Hi there, I hope someone can help me...?

I am about to make the leap into digital but haven't bought a camera yet - I had been thinking of starting with a Canon EOS 350D, purely as it is reasonably priced for 8mp and because I already own a 28-80mm AF Canon lens. HOWEVER...

Today I have been offered the long-term loan of loads of manual equipment which includes a number of Carl Zeiss lenses (incl. planar, distagon) originally (albeit rarely) used with a 35mm Contax - I don't have the full specs yet for what I will be getting.

My question is - (a) do I accept the loan and find a digital body that will accept these lenses, and (b) does such a thing even exist??

I don't know what to do!!

Thanks in advance if anyone can offer suggestions!

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lightontheland's picture
Submitted By: lightontheland
Location: Crossville, TN
Joined: Jun 2 2005
Posts:
#1
Re: Manual Lenses - Can ANY be used on digiAF cameras?
Posted: July 17, 2006 - 10:16am

Hi, Emma,

I don't know if you'll be able to find a DSLR body that the Contax lenses will fit (you'll probably get a better answer on that from someone else), BUT.......even if you can: Unless it's a lifetime loan, sooner or later you'll have to return them, and you'll be stuck with a body and NO lenses, right? On the other hand, the 28-80mm AF lens you have will work nicely with the 350D, and you can add more lenses to your arsenal whenever you want. I'd go with the 350D.....

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emia268's picture
Submitted By: emia268
Joined: Jul 17 2006
Posts:
#2
Re: Manual Lenses - Can ANY be used on digiAF cameras?
Posted: July 17, 2006 - 10:37am

Hi - thanks for such a quick response! Just to clarify, the loan is a "permanent" loan, i.e. I can use them forever, but I can't sell them!!! (Unless I give them the cash that is I presume!)

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lightontheland's picture
Submitted By: lightontheland
Location: Crossville, TN
Joined: Jun 2 2005
Posts:
#3
Re: Manual Lenses - Can ANY be used on digiAF cameras?
Posted: July 17, 2006 - 11:47am

OK, I guess that gives you a little more wiggle room. So, the next thing you should consider is that Canon's EF lenses are usable across their entire product line. if you decide later to upgrade to a 20D or even a 5d, the lenses you have will work just as well with them. The Contax lenses, well, I just don't know. Hopefully, someone will jump in here and give you the definitive answer on that. Good luck, and good shooting!

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emia268's picture
Submitted By: emia268
Joined: Jul 17 2006
Posts:
#4
Re: Manual Lenses - Can ANY be used on digiAF cameras?
Posted: July 17, 2006 - 2:01pm

Good point. And I know I will want to upgrade the body. It just seemed like such a waste of what (I am guessing) are some lovely lenses...

Thanks for the advice.

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DaveBelew's picture
Submitted By: DaveBelew
Joined: Mar 16 2005
Posts:
#5
Re: Manual Lenses - Can ANY be used on digiAF cameras?
Posted: July 17, 2006 - 2:21pm

Hi,
If the Contax mount lenses are in an autofocus mount, Contax did make a digital camera to use them. However, there appears to have been problems with the camera and it went off the market prior to Contax going out of business completely.

The manual focus Contax lenses are NOT compatable with the
AF system, including the digital model.

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