page_title: Contax
section_title: Lenses for SLR models
hierarchical_section_title: Contax / Contax interchangeable lenses / Lenses for Yashica/Kyocera-built SLR models / Lenses for SLR models
caption_attribution_description: English: Carl Zeiss 2.8, 28mm for Contax
context_page_description: Contax began as a camera model in the Zeiss Ikon line in 1932, and later became a brand name. The early cameras were among the finest in the world, typically featuring high quality Zeiss interchangeable lenses. The final products under the Contax name were a line of 35 mm, medium format, and digital cameras engineered and manufactured by Japanese multinational Kyocera, and featuring modern Zeiss optics. In 2005, Kyocera announced that it would no longer produce Contax cameras. The rights to the brand are currently part of Carl Zeiss AG, but no Contax cameras are currently in production, and the brand is considered dormant.
context_section_description: These cameras used the "C/Y" lens mount, short for "Contax/Yashica": Yashica being the lower-end consumer brand SLR system made by Yashica/Kyocera that shared its lens mount with Contax SLRs. Zeiss lenses in the C/Y mount came in either AE or MM varieties. MM lenses were more recent, with a setting that allowed the camera to select the aperture as part of its autoexposure system, while the older AE lenses did not. There was often no difference between an older AE and a newer MM lens apart from this feature. Sometimes, the older AE lens may be worth more on the used market because it may be a Germany-made example, while the newer lens may be Japan-made, despite their optical formula and build quality being identical.
  In addition, with the use of an optional adaptor (special ordered from Kyocera), Hasselblad V-series lenses including C, CF, CFE, CFI, F and FE can also be used on Contax C/Y mount cameras.
  Distagon T* 15/3.5 – Superwide lenses. This model had also been ordered by both Leitz and Nikon and was adapted to be used on their own SLR cameras.
  F-Distagon T* 16/2.8 – Fisheye lens.
  Distagon T* 18/4
  Distagon T* 21/2.8 – Noted for its unusual design and sharpness.
  PC-ApoDistagon T* 25/1.4 – Prototype only.
  Distagon T* 25/2.8 – The initial production was a failure due to image softness, not just wide open, and Zeiss discreetly and successfully re-engineered the lens and it remains highly sought after.
  Distagon T* 28/2 – Noted for its lack of distortion. Nicknamed the "Hollywood" due to popularity for adaptation to movie cameras.
  Distagon T* 28/2.8 
  Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70/3.5-4.5
  Vario-Sonnar T* 28-85/3.3-4
  Distagon T* 35/1.4
  Distagon T* 35/2.8
  PC-Distagon T* 35/2.8 – Noted for its shift capabilities.
  Vario-Sonnar T* 35-70/3.4
  Vario-Sonnar T* 35-135/3.3-4.5
  Vario-Sonnar T* 40-80/3.5 – One of the two Germany-made zoom lens in the C/Y history.
  Tessar T* 45/2.8 – Noted for its unusual "pancake" design, being very thin and lightweight. 
  Tessar T* 45/2.8 – 100 years of Tessar design Anniversary version. Finished with titanium gold barrel similar to G-series lenses.
  Planar T* 50/1.7 – Noted for its sharpness.
  Planar T* 50/1.4
  Planar T* 50/1.4 gold plated version, included with the limited "Golden" Contax RTS camera
  Planar T* 55/1.2 – 100 years of Planar design Anniversary lens. A total of 1,000 were produced (Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik III, Carl Zeiss Oberkochen).
  Makro-Planar T* 60/2.8 – Offers a higher magnification ratio (1:1) than the other MM macro lenses.
  Makro-Planar T* 60/2.8 C – Having the same optical design of M-P T* 60/2.8, but packed in a smaller barrel which offers magnification ratio 1:2.
  S-Planar T* 60/2.8 – The former type of Makro-Planar T* 60 mm f/2.8 which having the same lens design each other.
  Planar T* 85/1.2 – Contax 50 years Anniversary lens (AE type). A total of 1,500 were produced (Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik III, Carl Zeiss Oberkochen).
  Planar T* 85/1.2 – Contax 60 years Anniversary lens (MM type). A total of 1,503 were produced (Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik III, Carl Zeiss Oberkochen).
  Planar T* 85/1.4
  Sonnar T* 85/2.8
  Planar T* 100/2
  Makro-Planar T* 100/2.8
  S-Planar T* 100/4 – Macro lens for using with bellows.
  Sonnar T* 100/3.5
  Sonnar T* 135/2.8
  Planar T* 135/2 – Standard AE type lenses.
  Planar T* 135/2 – Contax 60 years anniversary version (MM type).
  Sonnar T* 180/2.8
  Apo-Sonnar T* 200/2 – Noted for its unusually high speed and an iris with extra blades for smoother bokeh and rounder highlights, designed for portrait and fashion work. It came with a set of drop-in filters.
  Tele-Tessar T* 200/3.5
  Tele-Tessar T* 200/4.0
  N-Mirotar T* 210/5.6 A smaller catadioptric lens with a built-in image intensifier, giving it an effective speed of 0.00012. According to some open sources, there were only 43 made.
  Vario-Sonnar T* 70-210/3.5 – One of the two Germany-made zoom lens in the C/Y history.
  Vario-Sonnar T* 80-200/4
  Tele-Apotessar T* 300/2.8 – Noted for its sharpness and stratospheric price.
  Tele-Tessar T* 300/4.0
  Vario-Sonnar T* 100-300/4.5-5.6
  Mirotar T* 500/4.5 – Mirror lens developed in the Contarex era
caption: Carl Zeiss T* Distagon F 2.8, 28mm
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