TAYLOR ZAO Filmmaker | Director of Photography | Editor
After renting and working with Zeiss CP.2 primes in 2012, I have always loved the iconic and distinct "Zeiss look" that their lenses can provide to a cinematographer.
The lenses that I have chosen to own and film with were made between 1975 - 1994, the golden era of lens manufacturing. They render images soft and cinematic, highlighting the imperfections and aberrations, flaring and blooming which gives a lot of character to a subject and composition. These lenses have incredible micro contrast detailing and colour rendition, and can be easily manipulated in post to increase overall contrast.
I find that digital sensors with modern lenses create an incredibly clean and sterile image, which is great for certain projects, however I find these Contax Zeiss lenses have more versatility for a similar if not cheaper price.
Contax Zeiss 18mm f4
Contax Zeiss lenses are easily modified for video use and are also full frame, which is great for my Sony FX6 camera. Stefan Kraus from STC Lenses has been an amazing help with assembling and modifying these vintage tools into a utilitarian working lens kit.
When stopped down beyond f4 the lens aberrations disappear and the images become sharper and more modern looking. They provide great flexibility for poetic narrative or commercial and documentary productions.
There are many photographers and cinematographers who claim there is a "3D pop" that certain vintage lenses can produce, whether that is due to the now discontinued and illegal manufacturing process with lead in glass elements or perhaps the imperfect element designs. Currently, Zeiss and other lens manufacturers are starting to intentionally produce lenses with imperfections as there is a demand from cinematographers to offset the clean digital look that modern camera sensors produce.
My favourite Contax Zeiss lenses are currently the 28mm f2, nicknamed the "Hollywood" which has a cult following amongst photographers and cinematographers - my go to wide angle portrait lens. And the Contax Zeiss 100mm f2 for architectural or detail shots for its soft rendering and zero distortion qualities. The 21mm f2.8 also deserves a mention - it is the cleanest and most modern wide angle I use, with low distortion and strong colour rendition.
1# June 11 2023
CONTAX ZEISS
© 2023 Taylor Zao
