The Fastest Vintage 85mm Lenses Ever Made | Canon FD vs Contax Zeiss

Today we are talking about the only two f1.2 vintage 85mm lenses ever made. The Canon FD 85mm f1.2 L and the incredibly rare Contax Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.2. Loved making this video!
LENSES AND ADAPTERS
CANON FD L - ebay.to/3w95E6J
CONTAX ZEISS - ebay.to/3g8XdTv
FD TO RF - amzn.to/2SpQWK7
CY TO RF - amzn.to/3iwHcIK
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MY WEBSITE
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MUSIC FROM
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THE GEAR I USE
Canon EOS R6 - amzn.to/36qXJaa
Canon 24mm f1.4 L II - amzn.to/3tcLTtW
Canon 85mm f1.4 IS - amzn.to/3pAlsft
Canon 16-35mm f2.8 III - amzn.to/3cr5Qrc
Rode Videmic Pro + - amzn.to/2YqsTtQ
LowePro Pro Tactic - amzn.to/3aiKvNN
Canon EF-RF Drop In Filter - amzn.to/2NPd1PE
Prograde UHS II V90 Cards - amzn.to/3j0Po21
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:55 History
01:47 Camera Mounts
02:05 Build Quality
03:08 Price and Availability
05:06 Image Quality
06:11 Flares
06:45 Modding for Cinema
08:45 Final Thoughts and Closing

[@arrangearrange]

I would love to have a Zeiss 85 1.2. It’s a shame it’s a collectors item. Same with Zeiss 85 f2 for Leica M. The canon FD has good character but is pretty soft wide open. Not that the Zeiss is Leica sharp.

[@williamsnyder4361]

What a coincidence that I also released a video comparing two vintage 85mm lenses and posted it in the same subreddit! Good shit my dude.

[@calebbrunkow]

That is a coincidence! Thanks bro! Same to you

[@jumbee9]

Great video! Liked & subscribed.

[@carlb837]

Great Video! I would love to try one of these! (owning would be a step to much, dropping it on accident must be life threatening not only for the lens ;) )

[@calebbrunkow]

True that! I’m like terrified sometimes using the Zeiss lens

[@jamesdavis9987]

Nice video. The Canon FD 85mm f1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical ASPH Lens (the pre “L” version goes for like $12,000 us.

[@calebbrunkow]

Yeah they’re insanely priced! I saw one as high as 20k

[@VWLivin]

Good video! I own the Canon and have toyed with the idea of converting it to EF, but the issue is dealing with its floating rear element. That's why there are no affordable ways to mod this lens. Ed Mika found an elegant solution to this issue but they've gone under so. I think I'll just keep it original and just use it for shooting film (as it should be I suppose) on my Canon A-1.

[@calebbrunkow]

Ed Mika partnered with Simmod Lens and the conversion mounts are through them now. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@VWLivin]

@@calebbrunkow had no idea! I appreciate the info. Cheers!

[@alanbesedin]

Great video! 👍

[@calebbrunkow]

Thank you!!

[@yeunganakin]

you forgot to mention the Contax 85/1.2 you tested is a 50 jarche AEG version(limited to 1000 edition), that's why it has Nija-star bokeh. The 60 jarche MMG version does not has Nija-star bokeh and limited to approx. 1200 edition.

[@calebbrunkow]

True that! It’s basically the same lens though, I meant different lenses from different manufacturers from that era

[@josuastangl7140]

*jahre ("years" in German)

[@TheNewArtSchool]

Great video!

[@calebbrunkow]

Thanks!!

[@deeh2817]

Well done! 📸👏👏👏

[@calebbrunkow]

Thanks!

[@thebluebooklife]

There’s also the Rokinon 85mm 1.2 I own the Manual version. Very nice lens as well!

[@calebbrunkow]

Awesome!

[@coach_yo]

That canon 85 L is gorgeous. I agree the prices are steep you could get a EF for less or around the same price. But man is it nice

[@calebbrunkow]

It’s such nice lens for sure, the FD L’s are all gorgeous

[@StarSwarm.]

I think I preferred the rendering of the Zeiss more. Feels like it has more warmth and depth or something.

[@dangoldbach6570]

Was back and forth on a 55mm ssc aspherical for 850.00 a year ago... Then media division did their FD lens video (epic vid btw) and now they are 5,000.00 🙄. Damn you media division!!! 😂

[@calebbrunkow]

Yeahhhhh that’s how it goes, love their videos but yeah I wanted a set of Contax Zeiss and now they’re 3 times what they used to be, thankfully I was still able to get one together

[@djmarzek]

good vid! we need more b roll of the lenses. show us the good stuff!! :D

[@calebbrunkow]

Thanks! Can never have too much b roll!

[@jd5787]

Nice lenses... Getting a f/1.4 for ~$450. Hopefully it will be as mint as the seller says it is 😉.

[@calebbrunkow]

That’d be a great price if it is!

[@andrew_nayes]

Is the Canon radioactive? Does it have thorium coating?

[@calebbrunkow]

The canon is not radioactive. I believe only the 55mm aspherical has thoriated glass out of the ashperical and L lenses

[@andrew_nayes]

@@calebbrunkow Oh, I didn't catch that it was an L version. Well, good to know! Thanks!

[@calebbrunkow]

You’re welcome! Glad I could help

[@ingowalkerling5141]

Best known Thorium lens was the first FD 2,0 35mm s.s.c. with concave front lens. Serial no. are under 10000.

[@kamikaze1213]

I have few thousand into Contax Zeiss and it’s really easy to do. They’re only getting more expensive.

[@calebbrunkow]

It’s so easy to do! I built my set last year and now working on cine modding them

[@kamikaze1213]

@@calebbrunkow can’t wait to see your work! Keep up the good work!

[@calebbrunkow]

Thank you so much! Will do, I just haven’t had any time to make any videos lately

[@qingyunwang3802]

I’m seriously considering a Planar 85/1.2. Here it sells at ~2,250$ and it’s cheaper than an Otus 85.

[@calebbrunkow]

It’s an absolutely amazing lens, if you want something rare and have the money it’s worth it. The 1.4 version will get you like 95% of the same look though for like a third of the cost

[@ingowalkerling5141]

The Canon FD 1,2 85mm L shines under bad light conditions. And that's the game it was designed for. Night situations with light spots on the edge... there you can SEE the difference, which origins from the aspherical element.

[@calebbrunkow]

Awesome insight! I haven’t tested these at night yet but I’ll definitely have to try it out

[@ingowalkerling5141]

@@calebbrunkow You will not be disapointed. Light bulbs and open lights are rendered without coma and other aberations. The color rendering with film is superb. These lenses were designed for film. Colorfilm is manufactured in different layers. So you get a three dimensional structure and the focus point of each layer is different regarding the wave length. With a digital sensor you will get fringing. The other point are the reflection properties of the sensor or film. Sensors are more prone for flares without additional measures to prevent them. Film has special filter layers to get a clear image. You have to consider this, when you are using these film lenses with one dimensional sensors. That's the reason, that you get color fringing even with these high corrected systems. And night / low light situations were the primary usage for this. I have used most of the Canon system and never was disapointed with the results.

[@zappa0609]

No 85mm lens beats the Zeiss Planar85mm/1.4

[@calebbrunkow]

Love the 85 1.4

[@Pablolarte]

Deberías investigar más y tener más y mejores imágenes de muestra, parece una publicidad del Zeiss

[@julesfisher3551]

buy the standard 85mm F1.4 Zeiss (none 60 yr) circa $650

[@calebbrunkow]

Yeah that ones a much better value for money, just wanted to compare the two 1.2 lenses for this video

[@isaacbedford3644]

5:32: canon looks softer

[@oceansidesounddesign8770]

It looks like the focus is off to me.

[@AugmentedGravity]

Thats missed focus.

[@AugmentedGravity]

Give me the 50 F1.0 L

[@calebbrunkow]

Cool lens