Contax/Yashica

35mm SLR system • Discontinued

Overview

Created through the combination of Porsche design skills, Yashica electronics technology and Carl Zeiss precision optics, the Contax Real Time System (RTS) was the result of a rare combination of talents. Real Time photography was a concept created to meet the needs of the working professional and advanced amateur as well. For overview of various models of Contax cameras, please refer to the History of Contax.

The Zeiss interchangeable lenses with Contax/Yashica mount covered the focal length range from 15 to 1000mm, all providing extra-high speed for most convenient application even in adverse light situations. All these lenses offered to the photographer the traditional Zeiss quality and performance standards. The latest developments were incorporated, including the Zeiss T* multi-layer anti-reflection coating, the use of aspherics and floating lens elements. Zeiss T* lenses were striking examples of the complete balancing of optical factors such as resolution and contrast, uniform illumination across the entire image field, high light transmission, freedom from distortion and optimum color correction. Image quality was also superb at all apertures.

Yashica lenses featured advanced design devised through application of the most up-to-date know-how in the field of optics combined with the most sophisticated computer programming. Coupled with their original superb performance, all excepting the reflex and DSB* lenses featured multi-layer anti-reflection coating.

YUS* (stands for Yashica US) was a budget line of single-coated Yashica lenses that was sold only in the North American market and consisted of only three models: 28/2.8 (⌀52, ⌀55 and ⌀58), 135/2.8 (⌀55 I, ⌀55 II and ⌀58) and 75-150/3.9.

All Yashica DSB and YUS lenses were third-party optical and mechanical designs and in this sense were not true Yashica lenses.

Yashica MC* was a line of meter-coupled lenses compatible with Yashica Multi Program series cameras. Most, if not all, were made in Hong Kong by Universal Optical Industries, a Kyocera subsidiary.

* Not recorded in the database because we do not have basic data about these lenses.

Camera list

Model	Shutter	Metering	Modes	Year
35mm film SLR cameras with the Contax/Yashica mount (30)
Contax RTS	E, 1/2000	TTL • OA	AM	1974
Yashica FX-1	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	AM	1974
Yashica FR	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	M	1976
Yashica FX-2	M, 1/1000	TTL • OA	M	1976
Yashica FR I	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	AM	1977
Yashica FR II	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	A	1977
Contax 139 Quartz	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	AM	1979
Yashica FX-3 aka Yashica FX-7	M, 1/1000	TTL • OA	M	1979
Contax 137 MD Quartz	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	AM	1980
Yashica FX-D Quartz	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	AM	1980
Contax Preview	M, 1/1000	--	M	1982
Contax 137 MA Quartz	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	AM	1982
Contax RTS II Quartz	E, 1/2000	TTL • OA	AM	1982
Yashica FX-70 Quartz	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	AM	1983
Contax 159 MM	E, 1/4000	TTL • OA	PAM	1984
Yashica FX-3 Super aka Yashica FX-7 Super	M, 1/1000	TTL • OA	M	1984
Yashica FX-103 Program	E, 1/1000	TTL • OA	PAM	1985
Contax 167 MT	E, 1/4000	TTL • OA	PASM	1986
Yashica FX-3 Super 2000	M, 1/2000	TTL • OA	M	1986
Yashica 107 Multi Program aka Yashica TR7000 Multi Program	E, 1/2000	TTL • OA	PM	1988
Yashica 108 Multi Program	E, 1/2000	TTL • OA	PAM	1989
Contax RTS III	E, 1/8000	TTL • OA	ASM	1990
Contax ST	E, 1/6000	TTL • OA	PASM	1992
Contax S2	M, 1/4000	TTL • OA	M	1992
Contax RX	E, 1/4000	TTL • OA	PASM	1994
Contax S2b	M, 1/4000	TTL • OA	M	1994
Yashica 109 Multi Program	E, 1/2000	TTL • OA	PAM	1995
Contax AX	E, 1/6000	TTL • OA	PASM	1996
Contax Aria	E, 1/4000	TTL • OA	PASM	1998
Contax RX II	E, 1/4000	TTL • OA	PASM	2002

Contax/Yashica mount lens list

■Fisheye lenses
Yashica ML 15mm F/2.8 Fisheye		1976 ●
Carl Zeiss F-Distagon T* 16mm F/2.8 [AE]		1974 ●

■Ultra-wide angle prime lenses
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 15mm F/3.5 [AE]	Pro	1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 18mm F/4 [AE, MM] • A70	Pro	1974 ●
Yashica ML 21mm F/3.5 • ⌀72	Pro	1976 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 21mm F/2.8 [MM] • E82	Pro	1992 ●

■Wide-angle prime lenses
Yashica ML 24mm F/2.8 • ⌀62		1976 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 25mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Yashica ML 28mm F/2.8 [II] • ⌀52		●
Yashica ML 28mm F/2.8 c • ⌀49		●
Yashica ML 28mm F/2.8 [I] • ⌀52		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm F/2 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Yashica ML 35mm F/2.8 [II] • ⌀52		●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Yashica ML 35mm F/2.8 [I] • ⌀52		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F/1.4 [AE, MM] • E67		1974 ●

■Standard prime lenses
Carl Zeiss Tessar T* 45mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E49 • Pancake lens		1982 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/2 • ⌀52		1981 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.9 • ⌀52		1985 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.9 c • ⌀49		1988 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.7 • ⌀52		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.7 [AE, MM] • E55		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.4 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.4 • ⌀52		1974 ●
Yashica ML 55mm F/1.2 • ⌀55		1976 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 55mm F/1.2 "Planar 100 Jahre" [MM] (1000 units) • E77		1996 ●

■Short telephoto prime lenses
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 85mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.4 [AE, MM] • E67		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.2 "CONTAX 50 Years" [AE] (1000 units) • E77		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.2 "CONTAX 60 Years" [MM] • E77		1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 100mm F/3.5 [AE, MM] • E55		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 100mm F/2 [AE, MM] • E67		1980 ●

■Medium telephoto prime lenses
Yashica ML 135mm F/2.8 C • ⌀52		●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Yashica ML 135mm F/2.8 • ⌀55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 135mm F/2 [AE, MM] • E72		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 180mm F/2.8 [I] [AE] • E72		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 180mm F/2.8 [II] [AE, MM] • E72		1982 ●
Yashica ML 200mm F/4 C • ⌀58		●
Yashica ML 200mm F/4 • ⌀55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 200mm F/4 [AE, MM] • E55		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 200mm F/3.5 [AE] • E67		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Aposonnar T* 200mm F/2 [MM] • E111	Pro	1992 ●

■Super telephoto prime lenses
Yashica ML 300mm F/5.6 C • ⌀58	Pro	●
Yashica ML 300mm F/5.6 • ⌀58	Pro	1976 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [I] [AE] • E82	Pro	1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [II] [AE, MM] • E82	Pro	1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 300mm F/2.8 [AE]	Pro	1982 ●
Yashica Reflex 500mm F/8		1974 ●
Yashica ML Reflex 500mm F/8		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Mirotar T* 500mm F/8 • E82		1997 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 500mm F/5.6 [AE]	Pro	1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Mirotar 500mm F/4.5		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 800mm F/8 [AE]	Pro	1984 ●
Yashica Reflex 1000mm F/11		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Mirotar 1000mm F/5.6	Pro	1974 ●

■Macro lenses
Yashica ML 55mm F/4 Macro • ⌀52 • 1:2 @ 0.25m		1976 ●
Yashica ML 55mm F/2.8 Macro • ⌀52 • 1:2 @ 0.25m		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss S-Planar / Makro-Planar T* 60mm F/2.8 [AE] • E67 • 1:1 @ 0.24m		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 60mm F/2.8 C [MM] • E55 • 1:2 @ 0.27m		1992 ●
Yashica ML Bellows 100mm F/4 • ⌀52	Pro	1976 ●
Carl Zeiss Bellows S-Planar T* 100mm F/4 [AE] • E55	Pro	1978 ●
Yashica ML 100mm F/3.5 Macro • ⌀55 • 1:2 @ 0.44m	Pro	1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm F/2.8 [AE] • E67 • 1:1 @ 0.45m	Pro	1984 ●

■Shift lenses
Carl Zeiss PC-Distagon T* 35mm F/2.8 • A70	Pro	1981 ●

■Standard zoom lenses
Yashica ML 28-50mm F/3.5 • ⌀72		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F/3.5-4.5 [MM] • E67		1998 ●
Yashica ML 28-85mm F/3.5-4.5 • ⌀67 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-85mm F/3.3-4 [MM] • E82 • Push/pull		1988 ●
Yashica ML 35-70mm F/4 • ⌀55		1982 ●
Yashica ML 35-70mm F/3.5-4.8 • ⌀52		1986 ●
Yashica ML 35-70mm F/3.5 • ⌀62 • Push/pull		1980 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 35-70mm F/3.4 [MM] • E67 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Yashica ML 35-105mm F/3.5-4.5 • ⌀55 • Push/pull		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 35-135mm F/3.3-4.5 [MM] • E82 • Push/pull		1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 40-80mm F/3.5 [AE] • E55 • Push/pull		1974 ●
Yashica ML 42-75mm F/3.5-4.5 • ⌀55 • Push/pull		1980 ●

■Telephoto zoom lenses
Yashica ML 70-210mm F/4.5-5.6 Macro • ⌀52 • Push/pull		●
Yashica ML 70-210mm F/4.5 • ⌀55 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 70-210mm F/3.5 [AE] • E67 • Push/pull		1980 ●
Yashica ML 75-150mm F/4 • ⌀52 • Push/pull		1983 ●
Yashica ML 80-200mm F/4 [I] • ⌀62 • Push/pull		●
Yashica ML 80-200mm F/4 [II] • ⌀55 • Push/pull		●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 80-200mm F/4 [MM] • E55 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Yashica ML 100-300mm F/5.6 • ⌀58 • Push/pull		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 100-300mm F/4.5-5.6 [MM] • E67 • Push/pull		1994 ●

■Superzoom lenses
Yashica ML 28-210mm F/3.5-5.6 Macro • ⌀72 • Push/pull		●

■Carl Zeiss lenses
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 15mm F/3.5 [AE]	Pro	1974 ●
Carl Zeiss F-Distagon T* 16mm F/2.8 [AE]		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 18mm F/4 [AE, MM] • A70	Pro	1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 21mm F/2.8 [MM] • E82	Pro	1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 25mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm F/2 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F/3.5-4.5 [MM] • E67		1998 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-85mm F/3.3-4 [MM] • E82 • Push/pull		1988 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss PC-Distagon T* 35mm F/2.8 • A70	Pro	1981 ●
Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F/1.4 [AE, MM] • E67		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 35-70mm F/3.4 [MM] • E67 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 35-135mm F/3.3-4.5 [MM] • E82 • Push/pull		1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 40-80mm F/3.5 [AE] • E55 • Push/pull		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Tessar T* 45mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E49 • Pancake lens		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.7 [AE, MM] • E55		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.4 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 55mm F/1.2 "Planar 100 Jahre" [MM] (1000 units) • E77		1996 ●
Carl Zeiss S-Planar / Makro-Planar T* 60mm F/2.8 [AE] • E67 • 1:1 @ 0.24m		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 60mm F/2.8 C [MM] • E55 • 1:2 @ 0.27m		1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 70-210mm F/3.5 [AE] • E67 • Push/pull		1980 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 80-200mm F/4 [MM] • E55 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 85mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.4 [AE, MM] • E67		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.2 "CONTAX 50 Years" [AE] (1000 units) • E77		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.2 "CONTAX 60 Years" [MM] • E77		1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Bellows S-Planar T* 100mm F/4 [AE] • E55	Pro	1978 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 100mm F/3.5 [AE, MM] • E55		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm F/2.8 [AE] • E67 • 1:1 @ 0.45m	Pro	1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 100mm F/2 [AE, MM] • E67		1980 ●
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 100-300mm F/4.5-5.6 [MM] • E67 • Push/pull		1994 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F/2.8 [AE, MM] • E55		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 135mm F/2 [AE, MM] • E72		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 180mm F/2.8 [I] [AE] • E72		1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 180mm F/2.8 [II] [AE, MM] • E72		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 200mm F/4 [AE, MM] • E55		1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 200mm F/3.5 [AE] • E67		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Aposonnar T* 200mm F/2 [MM] • E111	Pro	1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [I] [AE] • E82	Pro	1979 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Tessar T* 300mm F/4 [II] [AE, MM] • E82	Pro	1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 300mm F/2.8 [AE]	Pro	1982 ●
Carl Zeiss Mirotar T* 500mm F/8 • E82		1997 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 500mm F/5.6 [AE]	Pro	1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Mirotar 500mm F/4.5		1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Tele-Apotessar T* 800mm F/8 [AE]	Pro	1984 ●
Carl Zeiss Mirotar 1000mm F/5.6	Pro	1974 ●

■Yashica ML series
Yashica ML 15mm F/2.8 Fisheye		1976 ●
Yashica ML 21mm F/3.5 • ⌀72	Pro	1976 ●
Yashica ML 24mm F/2.8 • ⌀62		1976 ●
Yashica ML 28mm F/2.8 [II] • ⌀52		●
Yashica ML 28mm F/2.8 c • ⌀49		●
Yashica ML 28mm F/2.8 [I] • ⌀52		1974 ●
Yashica ML 28-50mm F/3.5 • ⌀72		1979 ●
Yashica ML 28-85mm F/3.5-4.5 • ⌀67 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Yashica ML 28-210mm F/3.5-5.6 Macro • ⌀72 • Push/pull		●
Yashica ML 35mm F/2.8 [II] • ⌀52		●
Yashica ML 35mm F/2.8 [I] • ⌀52		1974 ●
Yashica ML 35-70mm F/4 • ⌀55		1982 ●
Yashica ML 35-70mm F/3.5-4.8 • ⌀52		1986 ●
Yashica ML 35-70mm F/3.5 • ⌀62 • Push/pull		1980 ●
Yashica ML 35-105mm F/3.5-4.5 • ⌀55 • Push/pull		1982 ●
Yashica ML 42-75mm F/3.5-4.5 • ⌀55 • Push/pull		1980 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/2 • ⌀52		1981 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.9 • ⌀52		1985 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.9 c • ⌀49		1988 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.7 • ⌀52		1974 ●
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.4 • ⌀52		1974 ●
Yashica ML 55mm F/4 Macro • ⌀52 • 1:2 @ 0.25m		1976 ●
Yashica ML 55mm F/2.8 Macro • ⌀52 • 1:2 @ 0.25m		1979 ●
Yashica ML 55mm F/1.2 • ⌀55		1976 ●
Yashica ML 70-210mm F/4.5-5.6 Macro • ⌀52 • Push/pull		●
Yashica ML 70-210mm F/4.5 • ⌀55 • Push/pull		1984 ●
Yashica ML 75-150mm F/4 • ⌀52 • Push/pull		1983 ●
Yashica ML 80-200mm F/4 [I] • ⌀62 • Push/pull		●
Yashica ML 80-200mm F/4 [II] • ⌀55 • Push/pull		●
Yashica ML Bellows 100mm F/4 • ⌀52	Pro	1976 ●
Yashica ML 100mm F/3.5 Macro • ⌀55 • 1:2 @ 0.44m	Pro	1979 ●
Yashica ML 100-300mm F/5.6 • ⌀58 • Push/pull		1982 ●
Yashica ML 135mm F/2.8 C • ⌀52		●
Yashica ML 135mm F/2.8 • ⌀55		1974 ●
Yashica ML 200mm F/4 C • ⌀58		●
Yashica ML 200mm F/4 • ⌀55		1974 ●
Yashica ML 300mm F/5.6 C • ⌀58	Pro	●
Yashica ML 300mm F/5.6 • ⌀58	Pro	1976 ●
Yashica Reflex 500mm F/8		1974 ●
Yashica ML Reflex 500mm F/8		1982 ●
Yashica Reflex 1000mm F/11		1974 ●

Teleconverter list

Carl Zeiss Mutar T* 1.4X III (AE) - 1997
Carl Zeiss Mutar T* 2X I (AE) - 1984
Carl Zeiss Mutar T* 2X II (AE) - 1984

Accessories list

Completeness of lens lineup

Enthusiast photography

100%

Professional photography

100%

Contax/Yashica

35mm SLR system • Discontinued

Overview

Camera list

Contax/Yashica mount lens list

Teleconverter list

Accessories list

Table of contents
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Completeness of lens lineup

Popular lenses
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Popular cameras
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Similar systems
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Contax/Yashica

35mm SLR system • Discontinued

Overview

Camera list

Contax/Yashica mount lens list

Teleconverter list

Accessories list

Table of contentsClickable

Completeness of lens lineup

Popular lensesClickable

Popular camerasClickable

Similar systemsClickable

Table of contents
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Popular lenses
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Popular cameras
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Similar systems
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