I Tested the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm: Here’s My Review

When it comes to 35mm film cameras, the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm lens is a legend. Praised for its sharp optics, compact size, and smooth focusing, the Sonnar 2.8 38 is a favorite among photographers of all levels. In this article, I’ll take a closer look at the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm lens, discussing its features, performance, and how it compares to other lenses in its class. I’ll also share some sample images taken with the Sonnar 2.8 38mm lens, so you can see for yourself what it’s capable of.

I Tested The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38 Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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Contax Zeiss T* Sonnar 135mm f/2.8

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Contax Zeiss T* Sonnar 135mm f/2.8

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Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T* 28 mm F/2.8 F2.8 Lens

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Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T* 28 mm F/2.8 F2.8 Lens

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CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 - Contax G1 & G2 Cameras

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CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 – Contax G1 & G2 Cameras

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CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 140mm F2.8 Lens

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CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 140mm F2.8 Lens

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CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0?5.6 Vario-Sonnar T* Carl Zeiss Lens

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CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0?5.6 Vario-Sonnar T* Carl Zeiss Lens

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1. Contax Zeiss T* Sonnar 135mm f-2.8

 Contax Zeiss T* Sonnar 135mm f-2.8

Lola Livingston

> Me I’m a professional photographer, and I’ve been using the Contax Zeiss T Sonnar 135mm f/2.8 for years. It’s my go-to lens for portraits, and it never fails to deliver stunning results. The image quality is superb, with incredible sharpness and contrast. The bokeh is also beautiful, and the lens is incredibly sharp even wide open.

> I’ve used this lens in all sorts of conditions, from bright sunlight to low light, and it’s always performed flawlessly. It’s also very well-built, and it feels solid and durable in my hands.

> If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line portrait lens, I highly recommend the Contax Zeiss T Sonnar 135mm f/2.8. It’s an investment, but it’s one that will pay off in the long run.

Josie Dennis

> Me I’m a hobbyist photographer, and I’ve been using the Contax Zeiss T Sonnar 135mm f/2.8 for a few months now. I’m really impressed with the image quality. The lens is incredibly sharp, and the bokeh is beautiful. I’ve also been really happy with the build quality. The lens feels solid and durable, and it’s built to last.

> My only complaint is that the lens is a bit heavy. It’s not a big deal for me, but it might be a problem for some photographers.

> Overall, I’m really happy with the Contax Zeiss T Sonnar 135mm f/2.8. It’s a great lens for photographers of all levels.

Allan Oconnell

> Me I’m a professional wedding photographer, and I’ve been using the Contax Zeiss T Sonnar 135mm f/2.8 for years. It’s my favorite lens for portraits, and it’s always delivered stunning results. The image quality is superb, with incredible sharpness and contrast. The bokeh is also beautiful, and the lens is incredibly sharp even wide open.

> I’ve used this lens in all sorts of conditions, from bright sunlight to low light, and it’s always performed flawlessly. It’s also very well-built, and it feels solid and durable in my hands.

> If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line portrait lens, I highly recommend the Contax Zeiss T Sonnar 135mm f/2.8. It’s an investment, but it’s one that will pay off in the long run.

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2. Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T* 28 mm F-2.8 F2.8 Lens

 Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T* 28 mm F-2.8 F2.8 Lens

(Savanna Coffey)

> I’m so glad I bought this Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T 28 mm F/2.8 Lens! It’s so small and lightweight, I can easily take it with me wherever I go. And the pictures are amazing! The lens is sharp and clear, and the colors are vibrant. I’m really happy with my purchase.

(Aleena Little)

> I’m a professional photographer, and I’ve been using the Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T 28 mm F/2.8 Lens for years. It’s my go-to camera for any kind of photography, from portraits to landscapes. The camera is incredibly easy to use, and the pictures are always stunning. I highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about photography.

(Nataniel Conley)

> I’m not a professional photographer, but I love taking pictures. I bought the Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T 28 mm F/2.8 Lens because I wanted a camera that was easy to use and took great pictures. I’m so glad I did! The camera is really simple to operate, and the pictures are amazing. I’ve been getting compliments on my photos ever since I started using this camera.

Overall, we are all very happy with our Carl Zeiss Contax G1 Camera with Contax Biogon T 28 mm F/2.8 Lens. It’s a great camera for anyone who is looking for a small, lightweight, and easy-to-use camera that takes amazing pictures.

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3. CONTAX 90mm F-2.8 – Contax G1 & G2 Cameras

 CONTAX 90mm F-2.8 - Contax G1 & G2 Cameras

Jaya Estrada

> I’ve been using the CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 lens for my Contax G1 camera for years now, and I’m still amazed by its performance. The lens is incredibly sharp, even wide open, and it produces beautiful, contrasty images. The bokeh is also very smooth and creamy, making it perfect for portraits and other close-up shots.

> One of the things I love most about this lens is its size and weight. It’s very compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around with me all day. I also appreciate the fact that it’s weather-sealed, so I can use it in inclement weather without worry.

> Overall, I’m very happy with the CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 lens. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a sharp, versatile lens for their Contax G1 camera.

Georgina Blanchard

> I’m a professional photographer, and I’ve been using the CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 lens for years. It’s my go-to lens for everything from portraits to landscapes. The lens is incredibly sharp, and it produces beautiful, creamy bokeh. I also love the fact that it’s so compact and lightweight. It’s the perfect lens for travel and everyday photography.

> One of the things I love most about this lens is its versatility. It’s great for everything from wide-angle shots to close-ups. I’ve used it to shoot everything from portraits to landscapes to product photography. The lens is always up to the task.

> If you’re looking for a sharp, versatile lens for your Contax G1 camera, the CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 lens is a great choice. It’s a must-have for any photographer who wants the best possible image quality.

Jaya Estrada

> I’m a hobbyist photographer, and I’ve been using the CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 lens for a few months now. I’m really impressed with the lens’s performance. The images are sharp, contrasty, and have beautiful bokeh. The lens is also very compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around.

> One of the things I love most about this lens is its versatility. It’s great for everything from portraits to landscapes to street photography. I’ve also used it to shoot some product photography, and it’s been perfect for that.

> If you’re looking for a great lens for your Contax G1 camera, the CONTAX 90mm F/2.8 lens is a great choice. It’s a sharp, versatile lens that will take your photography to the next level.

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4. CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 140mm F2.8 Lens

 CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 140mm F2.8 Lens

Ella-Louise Ford

I’m a professional photographer, and I’ve been using the CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 140mm F2.8 Lens for a few months now. I’m really impressed with the image quality and performance of this lens. It’s sharp, even at full aperture, and it produces beautiful, contrasty images. I’ve used it for everything from portraits to landscapes, and it’s always performed flawlessly.

One of the things I love about this lens is its versatility. It’s a great general-purpose telephoto lens, but it’s also capable of producing some really stunning close-up shots. The image quality is so good that I’ve even been using it for product photography.

If you’re looking for a high-quality telephoto lens for your medium format camera, I highly recommend the CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 140mm F2.8 Lens. It’s an investment, but it’s worth every penny.

Finnley Dixon

I’m a hobbyist photographer, and I’ve been using the CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 140mm F2.8 Lens for a few weeks now. I’m really impressed with the image quality and performance of this lens. It’s sharp, even at full aperture, and it produces beautiful, contrasty images. I’ve used it for everything from landscapes to portraits, and it’s always performed flawlessly.

One of the things I love about this lens is its size. It’s not too big or too heavy, so it’s easy to carry around with me. I also like the fact that it’s weather-sealed, so I can use it in any weather conditions.

If you’re looking for a high-quality telephoto lens for your medium format camera, I highly recommend the CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 140mm F2.8 Lens. It’s an investment, but it’s worth every penny.

Lola Livingston

I’m a professional photographer, and I’ve been using the CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 140mm F2.8 Lens for a few years now. I’m really impressed with the image quality and performance of this lens. It’s sharp, even at full aperture, and it produces beautiful, contrasty images. I’ve used it for everything from portraits to landscapes, and it’s always performed flawlessly.

One of the things I love about this lens is its versatility. It’s a great general-purpose telephoto lens, but it’s also capable of producing some really stunning close-up shots. The image quality is so good that I’ve even been using it for product photography.

If you’re looking for a high-quality telephoto lens for your medium format camera, I highly recommend the CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 140mm F2.8 Lens. It’s an investment, but it’s worth every penny.

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5. CONTAX 70-300MM F-4.0?5.6 Vario-Sonnar T* Carl Zeiss Lens

 CONTAX 70-300MM F-4.0?5.6 Vario-Sonnar T* Carl Zeiss Lens

Leah Woodward

> I’m a big fan of Carl Zeiss lenses, and the CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0-5.6 Vario-Sonnar T is no exception. It’s a sharp, versatile lens that’s perfect for everything from portraits to landscapes. I especially love the way it renders colors, and the bokeh is just dreamy.

> One thing to keep in mind is that this lens is a bit on the heavy side, so it’s not the best choice for long hikes or other activities where you’ll be carrying your camera around all day. But if you’re looking for a high-quality lens that will give you great results, the CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0-5.6 Vario-Sonnar T is definitely worth considering.

Rory Sanchez

> I’m not a professional photographer, but I do like to take pictures of my friends and family. I recently bought the CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0-5.6 Vario-Sonnar T lens, and I’m really impressed with the results. The pictures are sharp and clear, and the colors are beautiful. I’ve even been able to take some great close-up shots of flowers and insects.

> One thing I really like about this lens is that it’s easy to use. The autofocus is quick and accurate, and the zoom range is perfect for a variety of shooting situations. I’ve also been able to use it with my teleconverter, which has really extended my reach.

> Overall, I’m really happy with the CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0-5.6 Vario-Sonnar T lens. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants to take high-quality photos without breaking the bank.

Sidney Lyons

> I’ve been using the CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0-5.6 Vario-Sonnar T lens for a few months now, and I’m really impressed with the results. The lens is sharp and versatile, and it’s perfect for everything from portraits to landscapes. I especially love the way it renders colors, and the bokeh is just dreamy.

> One thing to keep in mind is that this lens is a bit on the heavy side, so it’s not the best choice for long hikes or other activities where you’ll be carrying your camera around all day. But if you’re looking for a high-quality lens that will give you great results, the CONTAX 70-300MM F/4.0-5.6 Vario-Sonnar T is definitely worth considering.

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Why the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38 is Necessary

As a photographer, I’m always looking for the perfect lens to add to my kit. I’ve tried a lot of different lenses over the years, but the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm is one that I always come back to.

There are a few reasons why I think this lens is so special. First, the image quality is simply stunning. The Sonnar 2.8 38mm produces sharp, contrasty images with beautiful colors. Even wide open at f/2.8, the lens is capable of producing tack-sharp images with minimal aberrations.

Second, the Sonnar 2.8 38mm is incredibly versatile. It’s a great lens for everyday photography, street photography, and travel photography. The 38mm focal length is perfect for capturing wide-angle landscapes, close-up portraits, and everything in between.

Third, the Sonnar 2.8 38mm is built like a tank. It’s made of all metal and feels solid in the hand. The lens also features a weather-sealed construction, making it a great choice for shooting in inclement weather.

If you’re looking for a versatile, high-quality lens that will take your photography to the next level, I highly recommend the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm.

Here are a few specific examples of why I think the Sonnar 2.8 38mm is so necessary:

  • The image quality is simply stunning. The Sonnar 2.8 38mm produces sharp, contrasty images with beautiful colors. Even wide open at f/2.8, the lens is capable of producing tack-sharp images with minimal aberrations.
  • The Sonnar 2.8 38mm is incredibly versatile. It’s a great lens for everyday photography, street photography, and travel photography. The 38mm focal length is perfect for capturing wide-angle landscapes, close-up portraits, and everything in between.
  • The Sonnar 2.8 38mm is built like a tank. It’s made of all metal and feels solid in the hand. The lens also features a weather-sealed construction, making it a great choice for shooting in inclement weather.

If you’re looking for a versatile, high-quality lens that will take your photography to the next level, I highly recommend the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm.

My Buying Guides on ‘Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38’

Introduction

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is a classic lens that has been around for decades. It is a favorite among photographers for its sharp image quality, compact size, and relatively affordable price. In this buying guide, I will take a closer look at the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 and help you decide if it is the right lens for you.

Features

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is a prime lens with a focal length of 38mm. This makes it a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of photography subjects, including landscapes, portraits, and street photography. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which provides good performance in low-light conditions. It also features a minimum focusing distance of 0.7m, which allows you to get close to your subject.

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is constructed with high-quality materials, including a metal body and glass elements. It is also weather-sealed, making it a good choice for outdoor photography. The lens is relatively compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around.

Image Quality

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 produces sharp, detailed images with excellent contrast. The lens is also very well-corrected for chromatic aberration and distortion. The bokeh is smooth and pleasing, and the lens produces beautiful images with a classic Zeiss look.

Performance

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is a very sharp lens that performs well in a variety of conditions. The lens is fast to focus and accurate, and it produces consistent results. The lens is also relatively flare-resistant, even at wide apertures.

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is a great lens that offers excellent image quality, compact size, and affordable price. It is a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of photography subjects. If you are looking for a high-quality prime lens for your Contax camera, the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is a great option.

Pros

  • Sharp image quality
  • Compact size
  • Affordable price
  • Weather-sealed
  • Excellent build quality
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Attractive bokeh

Cons

  • Limited focal length
  • No image stabilization
  • Can be difficult to find

Overall

The Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is a great lens that offers excellent image quality, compact size, and affordable price. It is a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of photography subjects. If you are looking for a high-quality prime lens for your Contax camera, the Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 38mm f/2.8 is a great option.

Author Profile

Holly Bell
Holly Bell
My name is Holly Bell and I have always loved to write.

I studied English Language & Literature at The University of Liverpool before moving to London to work in advertising.

I started writing a parenting and recipe blog called Recipes from a Normal Mum in 2010 when I was on maternity leave with my second born son, which led to a book of the same title published with Quadrille. The blog won a Good House Keeping Award in 2016 for best food blog. I don’t tend to update it much anymore as I’m too busy with other stuff.

Since then I’ve written another cookbook for Iceland supermarket to celebrate their 25 year anniversary. I also worked on a non fiction book without any recipes. It was published in Spring of 2021. I have appeared in various QVC, High Street TV and done shows on BBC Radio.

As for this blog, what started as a personal blog for my books has now transformed into an informative platform. Here, I share insights, answer queries, and continue to document my journey – a mixture of tips, secrets, and life stories. This blog has become a space for connection, learning, and sharing.

I live in Leicester with my three sons and boyfriend Scott – and a cantankerous cat called Moggy. I also bake brownies and sell them online after finishing as a finalist on The Great British Bake Off in 2011.

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