What's new
DPR Forum

Welcome to the Friendly Aisles!
DPRF is a spin-off of dpreview. We are a photography forum with people from all over the world freely sharing their knowledge and love of photography. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to the experienced professional. From smartphone to Medium Format.

DPRF is a community for everybody, every brand and every sensor format. Digital and film.
Enjoy this modern, easy to use software. Look also at our Reviews & Gallery!

Bogus Carl Zeiss lens

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Last week I ordered from KEH.com a Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/28 MM for my Contax Aria. What arrived, however, is a quite different animal: a Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 MM (made in West Germany). Does anyone out there know anything about this lens? Is it actually a Zeiss lens or a knockoff? I can't find any information on it anywhere on the net or otherwise, and I suspect if it is an authentic CZ optic, it's not an item officially imported for the North American market. Moreover, if anyone know something of this lens, can you speak to its optical quality? The 2,8/28 I should have been sent has a reputation as the finest 28mm for 35mm photography. Although this 2/28 is a full stop faster at 1:2 max aperture, I am concerned about it's performance. If its a match for the 2,8/28, I'm more than satisfied to keep it and consider myself lucky to have received it. However, if its optical quality can't be quantified, I may send it back for the slower lens which at least is a known quantity.

In advance I'd like to thank you all for any info you may be able to provide.
 
They sent you the Zeiss 2/28 that normally sells for about $650 instead of the 2,8/28 which sells for about $300!! You got a great deal!!
 
KEH (a scrupulously honest retailer) would quickly rectify an error favoring themselves. As a "professional", you can appreciate such things.
 
Garland,

first of all I would avoid a dealer, who is not able to see the difference between a 2.0/28 and a 2.8/28. This smells.

Secondly, if you want to keep that lens let it check by Contax/Zeiss, just to be sure that they did not sell you a malfunctioning lens.

Thirdly the 2.0/28 is the first 28mm lens for the C/Y mount and was replaced with the newer designed 2.8/28, which is also old by now (around 1982-1986. I do not have exact dates)

If you want to read some userexperiences abour both look at the appropriate threads, especially this one:

http://www.contaxinfo.com/discus/board-auth.cgi?lm=1035821013&file=/14022/10274.html

And of course the MTF data in the scan section of both lenses.

As you see, I am very cautious with this, but I just find it very unlikely that a dealer is doing such a mistake. Both lenses are so different in size and weight. One is with MM, the one without. And adealer normally is looking at a lens before it is send out - it just sounds strange. Remember this is his day to day job...

Dirk
 
Dirk,

There are so-called photo businesses in the US which should be lined against the wall and shot: Abe's of Maine, and the notorious Broadway Photo. The latter gets reamed at this consumer feedback site:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1995.html

KEH is the exact opposite: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1336.html

KEH has mountains of positive reviews on the Web, for ex&le at http://dpreview.com. I bought a Contax D21 and received it well-packed and in superior condition.
If they make a mistake, they fix it. KEH is not the cheapest, they are not perfect, but they are the best. Over here, anyways.

Garland should return the optic. If his photo customers overpay by mistake, does he silently keep the money? How is KEH different? A lack of ethics in America is how we arrive at Enron, Anderson and Worldcom -- criminals. The honorable mensch takes what he pays for, nothing more.
 
Rico, would you email me privately? I'd like to know more about KEH, they sound quite good. Do they have a full line of new contax equipment? (full line of 35mm anyway). What is their web site? I don't want to bother the list with this discussion, but if you would email me at Lynnsemail@ameritech.net I'd appreciate it
happy.gif
Thanks, Lynn
 
Rico and others,

please respect the rules on this board. We do not want tohave specific dealer discussions in this forum, since nobody can control the reliability of this information. Therfore I have to be very strict in this matter. All dealer recommendations will be deleted.

You can however easily send a private e-mail via Contaxinfo.com to the other member with your dealer recommendations.

Please understand that I have to be that harsh. Otherwise all dealers are spamming this forum with so called user experiences.

Dirk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top