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Camera Lens News No. 7
Summer 1999 |
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Carl Zeiss lenses for medium format cameras
from Contax, Hasselblad, and Rollei – Questions and answers
Q: Are the Carl Zeiss lenses for Contax 645 as good as the Carl Zeiss lenses for Hasselblad and Rollei? Or are they superior because they are newer? Or are they weaker because of auto-focus?
A: Carl Zeiss developed the Contax 645 lenses for the high quality expectations of demanding medium format photographers. These lenses are medium format top quality like the Carl Zeiss lenses for Alpa, Hasselblad, and Rollei. A test report published in ”Color Foto” 7/99, page 36, supportsthis statement.
Q: Is it wiser to decide for a Contax 645 or a Hasselblad or a Rolleiflex?
A: All three are excellent medium format SLR cameras. However, they are quite different and should be selected with thought:
• The Contax 645 offers Carl Zeiss optical quality combined with modern features and autofocus in medium format. The Contax 645 is the right choice for medium format photographers who prefer a 4,5 x 6 SLR focal plane shutter camera for their work. Carl Zeiss sees the Contax 645 as superior alternative to all other 645-SLR-cameras. It is featuring the fastest shutter (1/4000 s) available in medium format today. Zeiss lenses for the Contax 645 autofocus system currently range from 35 mm super wide angle to 210 mm telephoto.
• Hasselblad is a huge and mature 6 x 6 medium format system. Hasselblad is very well received wherever the benefits of the 6 x 6 format are particularly well understood (e.g.: the camera never has to be turned vertical or horizontal), when straightforward operation and ease of use matter, when compatibility of system components over long periods of time are important, when very high reliability and/ or independence from batteries are critical. Both central shutter (battery independent Prontor shutter 1s–1/500s) and focal plane shutters (with battery, 34 min –1/2000 s) are available in the system. Zeiss lenses for Hasselblad currently range from 30 mm fisheye-type super wide angle to 500 mm telephoto, including 3 superachromatic lenses.
Hasselblad has been the preferred medium format system with all manned NASA space missions right from the beginning.
• The Rolleiflex 6000 is a very versatile 6 x 6 medium format SLR system which is highly automated. The cameras are ex-tremely well equipped and are very convenient to work with. Electric central shutters are used which offer a range from 30 s –1/1000 s, the fastest central shutter currently available in medium format. The high degree of automation enables both fast action and remote controlled medium format photography in commercial, industrial, advertising, aerial, scientific, and technical photography.
Zeiss lenses for the Rolleiflex 6000 system currently range from 30 mm fish-eye- type super wide angle to 1000 mm telephoto. | |
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