Comments on specific lenses

Overall, I feel that Carl Zeiss didn't make any bad lenses for the Contax. They each have their own "signature," and even the bargain lenses perform at a level that will surprise most people. Note that these are only the lenses I have used, not every lens in the Contax lineup. The issue with the uncoated lenses is that they often will show cleaning marks. The glass on the coated lenses seem to be in better condition.

• Prewar collapsible f/2.8 5cm Tessar: Heavy lens, suitably sharp at f/5.6 and smaller. Prone to flare. Not a bad performer wide open. Aperture settings are on a tiny dial on the front of the lens.

• Prewar collapsible f/2.0 5cm Sonnar: Nice all-around lens, although often seems to give me trouble to pull into position and lock. A bit soft wide open.

• Postwar coated f/2.0 50mm Sonnar: Great all-purpose lens with plenty of speed. Seems to be sharp at nearly all apertures.

• Prewar f/1.5 5cm Sonnar: Great lens with a tendency to flare. A bit low in contrast but does a nice job in recording fine detail.

• Postwar coated f/1.5 50mm Sonnar: Probably one of the finest classic-camera lenses ever made. Very sharp. Excellent performer in low light.

• Postwar 35mm Biogon: Very well made and somewhat heavy. Aperture settings tend to get moved from their settings quite easily. Photographs are very sharp but don't have that "wide" look -- stretching of objects near the edges of the frame.

• Prewar 8.5cm Sonnar: Big and heavy and can break toes if you drop it ... seriously. Nice color rendition, although slightly low in contrast with a tendency to flare. No surprise there. Otherwise, a very nice lens.

• Postwar 85mm East German Sonnar: Similar to the prewar model in how it renders people. Nice and sharp. Tendency to flare. Hood is recommended. Focusing was somewhat problematic and was "sticky" at certain points.

• Postwar 85mm West German Sonnar: Similar to the prewar model in how it renders people. Nice and sharp. Tendency to flare. Hood is recommended. Still a heavy lens but not nearly as heavy as the prewar version.

• Postwar 85mm Triotar: A real bargain lens, if you can find one. Surprisingly sharp, even at f/4.0 (five photos | shooting wide open).

• Prewar 13.5cm Sonnar: A very nice lens in a heavy chrome and steel barrel. Photos are sharp, and a lens hood is recommended because the front element sits near the front of the barrel. Good for portraits because of a very usable close focus distance of about five feet.

• Postwar 135mm Sonnar: Another sleeper and another bargain. Brutally sharp. Close focuses to about 5 feet -- great for use as a portrait lens. If you only buy one more lens for your Contax, this should be the one.