Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 80-200mm f/4 lens

The Vario-Sonnar T* 80-200mm f/4 is a very fast, reasonably priced Zeiss telephoto zoom lens in the Contax/Yashica SLR mount capable of taking some nice pictures and you can be really lazy doing so. It is a great lens for isolating subject matter in architecture and landscape photography. It's a convenient portrait lens and the close-up focusing at 200mm allow for 1:3.33 macro to boot.

This isn't a sports lens. Even 200mm is a bit short for most athletics, so if I'm in the mood, I restrict myself to close quarters events like collegiate swimming and water polo, where one can be 10-20 meters from the action, and at f/4 you need all the light you can get.

Physical Characteristics

Construction is metal (brass, I assume), glass, and a very wide rubberized focusing grip. The aperture ring (f/4-f/22) has detents at full apertures (although there are half-aperture settings). The focusing scale is marked in both feet (American) and meters (the rest of the world); unlike my fixed focal length lenses, there is no infrared compensation mark nor a depth-of-field scale (however, all Contax SLRs have a depth-of-field preview button). The only plastic material is the front and rear lens caps (which I assiduously use).

With a 55mm screw-on filter size, you probably won't whine about buying an entire set of filters since the other inexpensive lenses tend to be in this diameter anyhow. (The 25/2.8, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.4, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, and Makro-Planar 60/2.8 C use the same filter size.)

Lens flare is not a problem, even though zoom lenses with a bunch of elements tend to be more susceptible to these problems. Although my shooting style rarely requires me to do so, I've tossed two Tiffen ND graduated filters (Cokin "P" mount) in front and still got excellent results. The front lens element does turn in focusing, which probably discourages me from using the Tiffen ND filters and circular polarizer (not that I am really inclined to use them on this lens).

The zoom control is an old-fashioned push-in/push-out action with the big focusing grip, unlike the more user-friendly rotating ring-style zooming of many modern AF camera lenses, but if you're using a Contax SLR, an old-fashioned UI will not discourage you. Wishful thinking will not grow a tripod collar on this lens, so don't dwell on it.

Accessories

The Vario-Sonnar 80-200mm ships with a leather drawstring pouch and the aforementioned lens caps. There is a little leather tag on the drawstring; I printed the lens length and speed to make identification easier, although with only four lenses, it's pretty obvious what is in this long lens pouch.

I purchased the optional Contax Metal Hood 5 with the optional 55/86 step-up ring and use them all the time with this lens. If figure that if I'm carrying around a 680 g. (1.5 lbs.) lens, what's a few extra ounces in flare prevention?

Apparently, the new and predictably expensive Mutar III 1.4× teleconverter will function with this lens, even if it seems pretty clear to me that the two lenses that will benefit the most from this accessory are the 180/2.8 and the 300/4.

Documentation

Like all Zeiss lenses, the Vario-Sonnar 80-200mm comes with a technical data sheet written in English, German, French, and Spanish. There are four sets of curves: two MTF diagrams (f/4 and f/8), relative illuminance at f/4 and f/8, and distortion for focal lengths of 80mm, 140mm, and 200mm (for a total of twelve curves). Specifications (number of elements and groups, exact focal length - 81.6-198.0 mm for this lens, etc.) are also mentioned. As this is a zoom lens, it only seems natural that there should be some more data.

Performance

When I was ordering the lens, I was slightly worried that the lens wouldn't be contrasty or sharp. My worries quickly dissipated after the first roll of film came back from the lab.

Even if the optical performance of my 135/2.8 is a tad better, I use my 80-200/4 unless I am shooting a roll of film for portraits.

Pricing

It is the least expensive zoom lens in the Zeiss product line (I suppose Zeiss has determined that the heavier the lens, the lighter your wallet should be). If you're building a Contax/Zeiss system, this is an affordable way to enjoy zoom laziness in the focal range that I really think zoom lenses are truly useful (i.e., medium telephoto).

"I am a slothful picture taker."

The Vario-Sonnar T* 80-200mm f/4 zoom lens is really convenient; the image quality isn't quite as good as the fixed focal length 135mm (no surprise there), but it is very close. The 1:3.33 macro function (at 200mm) is an added treat.

Since buying just two lenses from the "bargains" that are in this medium telephoto focal range (85/1.4, 135/2.8, 180/2.8) is more expensive than this zoom, it is easy to say, yeah, this will do. (I do own the 135/2.8.) The 80-200/4 has turned me into a couch potato above the 80mm focal length.

When I walk around with my SLR, I typically have my 28/2.8 and my 80-200/4. (Heck, if this lens could walk to the fridge and get me a beer, I wouldn't consider even standing up.) This lens is good enough for daily duty as my telephoto lens.