ZEISS PLANAR T* 85MM F/1.2 "CONTAX 50 YEARS" - Converting to M

[NullMind]

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Hi 

I am in the process of moving from Sony to Leica, one of the lenses I used on my Sony I am thinking of moving over is this lens (ZEISS PLANAR T* 85MM F/1.2 "CONTAX 50 YEARS") .. I do have a mint condition one.

I like it allot, but I dont like the adaptors for C/Y -> M, it never feels secure and I am always afraid it will fall off, the current adaptor I have is the 3rd, the first one I had did indeed make the lens go loose and fall off, luckily it didn't hit the ground

I had read somewhere that there is a company in the Netherlands I believe that does Canon 50 0.95 and others conversions to M mount, but I cant find that thread anymore.

I do have a Dream Lens that was converted to M, it was done in the states by DAG, I'd prefer not to send lenses to the states and keep them in EU, because when they return my customs offices try to charge me for taxes, even being something that was sent out for conversion.

Two questions:

- Any EU based places that anyone recommends for me to try to see if this can be done

- Am I wrecking an old rare lens by doing this ? 

Alternative is to sell it and buy something else, but this lens is quite special

Thanks for any assistance

I have attached a generic image of the lens (not my own) so you know what I am talking about

 

 

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[LocalHero1953]

If you can deal with Europe rather than just the EU, there is Skyllaney and their sister company Omnar that do this sort of work and have a good reputation - but a high workload.

[NullMind]

30 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

If you can deal with Europe rather than just the EU, there is Skyllaney and their sister company Omnar that do this sort of work and have a good reputation - but a high workload.

UK after Brexit makes it hard as well, again .. customs, but thanks, I will check it out.

[BernardC]

It sounds like a bad idea to me. The only mounts I would consider for conversion are PL/LPL (Arri cine mounts), and even then there are better ways to mount that lens on a cinema camera.

As @Al Brown points-out, you won't get RF coupling with any conversion, short of paying many times what the lens is worth (in which case just buy a Noctilux 75 or 90).

Which adapters did you try? My Novoflex C/Y adapter feels almost exactly the same as the native mount on a Contax body. I've tried other (cheaper) adapters and they feel terrible.

The other adapter option in the EU is c7adapters.com who are based in Poland. They don't currently list a C/Y-to-M adapter, but they can probably make you one. Their adapters are extremely good, but expensive.

[pgk]

An 85/1.2 lens will need to be focussed by using liveview because making an accurate enough cam ramp for rf focus would no doubt be very expensive indeed, even assuming someone was willing to try to do so. So its really a matter of getting a solid enough fitting adapter from Contax SLR to Leica M. I've found Metabones to be quite good but that said, all the different adapters I've tried, from a variety of makers, can seem to be a bit hit and miss in that some are tight, others ok, some loose. In all honesty I'm not sure that this is such a good lens to adapt. Focus will always be tricky and slow, the lens is inevitably fairly heavy, bulky, and just how usable will it be? Personally I wouldn't try any further than buying an adapter from a reputable maker and seeing if it works for what you want to use it for. If it does you are sorted, if it doesn't, well its a cheaper way to figure this out.

[BernardC]

13 minutes ago, pgk said:

An 85/1.2 lens will need to be focussed by using liveview because making an accurate enough cam ramp for rf focus would no doubt be very expensive indeed, even assuming someone was willing to try to do so.

There's a reason why Leica's fast teles are the Noctilux-M 75/1.25 and 90/1.5. That's the practical limit of rangefinder accuracy. An 85/1.2 is a little beyond that, so it's unlikely that you'll be able to focus accurately with the rangefinder.

[NullMind]

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Thanks guys, yeah, I am having second thoughts, I did loved it on the Sony, but maybe it's one to be passed onwards

Edited April 29 by NullMind

[darylgo]

The Novoflex people have been very responsive to issues, if an adapter isn't fitting well they could be contacted and asked to help.  My many adapters from them fit well with years of use.  

 

[Ecar]

3 hours ago, Al Brown said:

@Ecar will perhaps be able to competently answer... There is this outstanding tiny RF coupling issue...

Thank you Al, although you may be overestimating my knowledge in this case. I confess to having looked at this lens (or the '60 years' version) from time time but never got one.

Based on my experience and to keep it short: I think it could be converted with RF coupling. This might possibly involve replacing the helicoid. I don't know whether the process would be reversible or not. Expect to pay between a third and half of the current going price of the lens.

Skyllaney would be my first choice in Europe, but they are indeed based in Scotland.

Shoten makes an helicoid adapter that provides RF coupling for C/Y lenses, but only for the 50mm FL. Your lens will mount, and you'll be able to use it with LV, but RF focus will be off. 

The Dutch technician you are referring to is perhaps Will van Manen. He retired at the end of last year, much to my (and others') dismay. He did indeed offer the conversion of the Canon 50/0.95. But that's a relatively 'simple' one - and the only conversion he offered.

FWIW, there are several vintage lens options in the 85mm focal length that are RF coupled. The Nikkor 85/1.5 is a personal favourite.

[lct]

2 hours ago, NullMind said:

Thanks guys, yeah, I am having second thoughts, I did loved it on the Sony, but maybe it's one to be passed onwards

I would do the same since no RF except the M3 is accurate enough to focus such a lens IMHO. At f/2 yes, at f/1.5 perhaps but at f/1.2 i'm afraid not, except possibly with a magnifier.

[PCPix]

You might just call the Skylaney guys and ask. I tried to convince them to do my Contax 85/1.4 (very similar to the 1.2) as they have done some Contax 50/1.4s in the past - but unfortunately I couldn’t convince them to have a go. This was a while ago so maybe things have changed?

Definitely do not sell it! I’ve never seen a 1.2 before and I suspect that if you do sell it you’ll long for another forever. 

I use mine on the SL2 instead of the M. 

Edited May 1 by PCPix

[Biotar]

Am 29.4.2025 um 17:34 schrieb NullMind:

Thanks guys, yeah, I am having second thoughts, I did loved it on the Sony, but maybe it's one to be passed onwards

The lens would be reason enough for me to opt for an SL2-S instead of the M (or even in parallel). I really enjoy its younger brother, the 1.4/85 Planar in the ZE version on the SL2-S ... here it behaves like a manual native lens.

[Eoin]

I can't advise on a solution for you, but many years ago I had the pleasure of owning the 60 year version of the same lens.

The 50 & 60 year versions are sought after with a hefty price premium over the standard f/1.4. Any modification would compromise the "collector" value.
I get where you're coming from with regard to adaptors and the Novoflex CY are perhaps the best I've used for that mount.
 

I still keep the Contax Planar 100 f/2 & Distagon 28 f/2 but rarely used them on the M system, even with the Visoflex 20 & 2, they somehow seem to upset my workflow on the M and I prefer to use them now on the SL system ... but still sparingly and more for nostalgia.

Perhaps consider picking up a well calibrated Leica 75 Summilux but it lacks the micro contrast inherent Zeiss lenses.
Closest affordable solution I found to the Zeiss look is the APO Summicron 75 along with the (not so affordable) Noctilux 75 & Summilux 90 in M mount.
But even then the latter 2 are more suited to the SL with an adapter. However the APO Summicron-SL 90 is a far more practical solution on that SL system.

One final lens to possibly consider is the Voigtländer 75 f/1.5 in M mount, I've no personal experience of it, but seems to be well regarded.

 

 

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