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Contax G lens problem?

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Mike Fewster

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Just received teo Contax G lenses, 40mm and 90mm. On both, the aperture dial setting doesn't match the actual aperture that has been set. On the 40mm lens for example, when the lens is at f2, it is showing F8 on the aperture scale. When I rotate the aperture ring to close the lens down, it goes off the scale by the time I have got to F16. Both lenese seem to cgange apertures OK, just that the scale doesn't line up. Is it me not understanding something or something wrong with the lens? Both do much the same, although purchased from different sellers. Still waiting for adapter, so can't try them on Nex as yet.
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Mike Fewster
Adelaide Australia
 
Don't worry, when they're mounted on the adapter, they will show the correct aperture.
This is gotcha number one with Contax G lenses.

I'll let you know gotcha number 2 as well. There's a ring you need to turn to mount the lens on the adapter. It looks like it's part of the lens and appears as if it doesn't turn. If you don't know about this (as I didn't), then you need to spend a lot of time fiddling with the lens to get it on. Once you know about this ring, it's straightforward.

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A rose by any other name is still a chicken.
 
It's simple to determine which is the "turn as you mount" ring. It's the one that has "Lens made in Japan"! Most of us fumble at first because we tried turning the inner-most ring (with the black plastic base)
 
Having just reied (carefully) to turn the Made in Japan ring, I have to say that it doesn't seem to want to turn independently og the back ring with the plastic thingy on it on either lens.
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Mike Fewster
Adelaide Australia
 
Don't worry. Once you get the adapter, things will be more clear.

Which adapter did you buy? The Metabones or the Kipon? Hope you didn't go for the cheapo noname one, they are rubbish imho.
 
Fotodiox. I gather that they have an improved model, that they guarantee infinity focus on the new model and that the spring clips now incorporated have improved its performance. Comments?
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Mike Fewster
Adelaide Australia
 
Mike,

The ring is 'locked' and will only turn independently from the black ring when you try to mount it.. You may notice tiny notches on the rear/mount that can be depressed.. Those tiny things unlock the rings when the mount docks onto the adapter. Don't worry, just keep these pointers in mind, it will all come clear once you receive the adapter!
Mike Fewster said:
Having just reied (carefully) to turn the Made in Japan ring, I have to say that it doesn't seem to want to turn independently og the back ring with the plastic thingy on it on either lens.
Click to expand...
 
The Fotodiox is probaly okay. As long as you keep clear of the cheap Kipon copies. I tried one and it was awful, slipping, grinding and sticking in the gears.

I have the Metabones, and it works great. Focusing past infinity though, but I think all Contax G lenses do that regardless of which adapter you use. The Contax G lenses are designed that way. Correct me if I am wrong.
 
Although I have a m43 set up I would like recommendations for the better Contax G adapters i.e. Kipon vs Metabones - both make an adapter for m43 mount as well. I would assume that they are essentially the same design except for the mount (Sony vs m43).

What would users recommend? Interested to hear from someone who possibly has both?

PS - I am not interested in any of the cheaper adapters. Thanks.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/21702997@N03/
 
Hi, there's some old threads on this forum.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&message=36995415&q=kipon+metabones+contax&qf=m

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&message=36913725&q=kipon+metabones+contax&qf=m

From memory, both are fine. The metabones is better made with a wider focus ring, but is heavier. I have the Kipon, and it works just fine for me, but if I were buying now I might defect to the metabones.

I think the focus ring is even closer to the camera body on m4/3, and if true you might want to factor that into your decision.
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A rose by any other name is still a chicken.
 
I just got two cheapish Kipon-type Contax G adapters. Both $60-something. One ordered directly from HK took 4 weeks to arrive so, being impatient, I got another from Rainbow Imaging, which took less than a week to arrive. Both got here the same day, naturally.

I suspect most of these come from the same one or two factories, with slightly different labeling. (Unsupported theory, but that's why I didn't want to pay up for the real Kipon-brand). In my case the two adapters had different photos in the sales description, but in reality appear absolutely identical. The one from Rainbow Imaging has a somewhat less difficult focus wheel, though.

I didn't get the Metabones partly due to it's greater size, but it turns out the Kipon-type adapters are big enough that the NEX-5 won't lie flat anyway. Close, but not flat.
 
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