Contax Zeiss 45mm 2.8

It is apropos to start this blog with my very first lens, Zeiss Tessar 45mm 2.8.  My first camera was my dad’s camera, a Zeiss Contessa.  It just happens that the same exact lens with the exact same T* coating is available in Yashica/Contax mount.   May be I get impressed too easily but I think this tiny lens is magical.  The colors and sharpness of this lens are hard to beat.  The sharpness is biting and colors are jewel toned.  In fact this lens may well be my sharpest lens at f11. Sometimes I think this lens is too harsh but then I use it and....

Here are a couple of samples at f11.

And one at f4

Using a cheapo ebay adaptor, I had to shave/shorten about a millimeter from the flange around the rear element to gain infinity focus.  You may have better luck with your adaptor.  If I recall correctly,  I paid around $175 for this lens in 2013.

Here are some pictures of the Contax Zeiss 45mm 2.8 on my Canon 5DII.

Here you can see how I had to file down the top part of rear flange.  I then tried to paint the bare metal black with a sharpie :-)

Rating:  9 out of 10