Solid mechanical construction, well dampened zooming,tack sharp at Focal Lenghts

Has a tendency to flare on backlighting, hood is inadequate

One of the best zooms I've ever owned in these ranges.

Customer Service

questionable expertise of some tech reps in NJ

Similar Products Used:

Zeiss28-70;Nikkor's 25-50f4,24-120,and 24-50

Reputed to be the best zoom in the world and with good reason. It is incredibly sharp at all focal lengths and is a perfect fit for the zoom range of my TLA360 flash.

Heavy for a single lens but lighter in my bag than the fixed focal length lenses it replaces.

Can't do better than this. Skip the third party compromises and go with the real thing.

Customer Service

Never a problem with the product.

Similar Products Used:

Zeiss VS 80-200/f4
Tamron 28-200 (till I got my first shots back)

Very sharp.
When shooting it spends 80% of it's time on the RTS III. Wonderful lens. One of my best purchases.

Front element rotates when focusing. Makes it harder with polarizers and graduated filters. Constant aperture would be nice.
Sometimes takes time to focus- have to rake it back and forth looking for a defined edge or specular highlight.
Mine get considerable use and is showing some mechanical wear (looseness) when fully extended (28mm) Doesn't appear to affect image quality though logic would suggest otherwise if the element moves even slightly.
But I'm very, very happy with this lens, I'd have another in a second.

Bottm line is I love this lens. Absolutely one of the best and most useful in my bag. I listed a few weaknesses but keep in mind sometimes the lens goes through hell a number of time and for a while now. I'd buy another in a second. I found filter selection made quite a difference to the amount of flare in back lit shots. Stick with Contax brand or top quaulity with multicoating. My B+W flared less than the Heliopan. Who knows why.

Customer Service

Always great and honest. Thankyou Contax Canada.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-70 f2.8

As sharp as my Zeiss prime lenses;
Superb colors;
Excellant build quality

Rather heavy;
Still looking for the perfect lens hood.

This has to be the best zoom lens made. It even auto-focuses with the Contax AX, what more can I ask?

Customer Service

None required, but Kyocera has been excellant with my camera bodies.

Similar Products Used:

Other Contax lenses
Tamron 90/f2.5 macro