Zeiss C/Y lenses with 5dm3 help

I am looking to add another Zeiss lens to my collection and started doing research on C/Y zoom lenses. My research indicates that Zeiss 35-70mm and 28-70mm do not cause any issues with hitting the mirror on 5dm3 (when used with a good adapter).

Can anyone provide real life experiences with using C/Y lenses on 5dm3?

I have used C/Y lenses on my T1i and 60D with no problems. I read of others using them on the original 5D with no problems. I have no first hand information about C/Y on FF digital bodies.

Most of my comments are about lenses. I had two really exceptional C/Y lenses. The first was marketed by Vivitar - the 28-105mm zoom. I think it was actually made by Tokina and was f/3.5-4.5. I donated that one to a local high-school with a bunch of other C/Y bodies and glass. The other really good C/Y lens, which I still have, is the Vivitar 70-210 f/3.5. I got this lens for $99 on e-bay. The serial number starts with 37, so I know it is a Tokina product. This really is a top-flight lens in every respect. IQ and build are superb. It is smaller, but heavier, than the EF-s 18-135 and f/3.5 at 210mm is pretty darn fast!

One other lens that is worth buying is the Yashica 135mm f/2.8 MLc. All around winner, in my book.

Yashica marketed a lot of mediocre lenses. Most of them were designated DSB or YUS, in the model name. The good stuff was designated ML (multi-layer), MC (multi-coat) or MLc. The 'c' is for compact. These are completely different lenses, with different coatings, than the DSB/YUS stuff. There is a lot of DSB/YUS stuff out there, and it is appropriately inexpensive.

The good stuff is harder to find and more expensive. I find that most people selling this stuff on e-bay don't even know what they have. It was handed down from grandpa, or found in aunt Mable's place after she left this world. Some really good bargains are out there, if you keep your eyes open.

I've got a Zeiss 28mm in CY mount that works fine on my 1Dx and I doubt that the 5D3 mirror swing arc is any different.

Bob

Thank you both for comments. I have been looking around on Fleabay and keeping my eyes for the lens I originally mentioned. I will take a look into Vivitar 70-210, if I can get it for that cheap I will definitely pick up a copy.

I dont have any C/Y lenses at all but I did manage to pick up a minty CZ 35mm Flektogon last year in M42 mount which works fine on my 5dm3.

Good luck with your search. Here is a link to an article describing some of the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 zooms.

http://www.robertstech​.com/vivitar.htm

There is a lot of good information in there. I have version 2, as described in this article. The simplest way to distinguish them is by the look of the focal length scale. Filter size is also helpful. I can post/e-mail some photos of my lens if you want them. The focal length scales make them pretty easy to tell apart.

I wish you could handle this lens. The focus and zoom are as smooth as silk. One thing is a tad annoying. Keep this in mind: you have to turn the aperture ring; it is manual selection only. There are nice positive click-stops every one-half stop between f/5.6 and f/22. That is nice. There are no click-stops between f/3.5 and f/5.6. If you are counting, you will get confused the first few times you use this lens.

I have seen people complain that C/Y glass will not give a confirmation beep (requires proper adapter) when stopped down to f/8 or narrower. They are not using their equipment properly. That has nothing to do with the lens. It is their camera. Not many Canon cameras can focus at f/8. Duh!
Proper sequence of events for shooting C/Y glass on an EOS body is:

Start with ISO and shutter speed in the right ballpark.

1.) Set wide-open aperture.
2.) Focus. Always focus wide open to give your camera the most light to work with. EF lenses do this automatically.
3.) Frame your shot.
4.) Adjust aperture to desired exposure.
5.) Release shutter.

Focus wide-open, just like you EF/EF-s lens do. Stop down just before releasing the shutter, just like EF/EF-s lenses do. You'll be fine. Happy manual shooting.

I couldn't resist.

Looks like someone has some reading and fleabaying to do when he gets to work.

Hi, I'm using a Zeiss C/Y 85mm f/1.4 on my 5D and that's a pleasure to use it. The all metal construction is a joy to use.

For the lenses suggerated, I would take the 35-70 which had and still has a great reputation. And it's a light lens + has macro/proxy abilities.

Titi

Thanks, it seems French sure love Zeiss lenses.

I want to get a Zeiss zoom as I am not too happy with the results of 24-105mm 4L. Most of the stuff I should is using a tripod so MF should not be a problem.

Not sure if the 5DII and 5DIII have the same clearance, but my 5DII will work with all the Zeiss C/Y lenses in my sig, except the 18, which hits the mirror. All are solidly built and have velvety focusing.

electronpusher wrote in post #15714960
Not sure if the 5DII and 5DIII have the same clearance, but my 5DII will work with all the Zeiss C/Y lenses in my sig, except the 18, which hits the mirror. All are solidly built and have velvety focusing.

Thanks for the report.

I am using the Contax-Zeiss 25mm F2.8 (supposed to be one of their poorer lenses) on a 1D4 abd 5D and love it!
This site may be helpful regarding compatibility: http://www.pebbleplace​.com/Personal/Contax_d​b.html

johnf3f wrote in post #15716118
I am using the Contax-Zeiss 25mm F2.8 (supposed to be one of their poorer lenses) on a 1D4 abd 5D and love it!
This site may be helpful regarding compatibility: http://www.pebbleplace​.com/Personal/Contax_d​b.html

Thanks, I found this website during my searches. I also know that he sometimes sells lenses on Fleabay. Unfortunately his website only talks about primes, not zooms.

dkizzle wrote in post #15717399
Thanks, I found this website during my searches. I also know that he sometimes sells lenses on Fleabay. Unfortunately his website only talks about primes, not zooms.

At the bottom of the chart are tabs for pages 2 and 3....the zooms are on page 3.

Bob

Thanks, I didnt see that it had multiple pages.

*add* I originally found this page - http://www.pebbleplace​.com …x_db_Specific_L​enses.html not page that you gave me, thanks again.