DISTAGON 55 for CONTAX645

Review and Photo example of the DISTAGON 55mm for CONTAX 645.

Gallery

Sample photo taken with the LEICA S typ007.

Review

The Distagon 55mm is a standard lens with a focal length of 55mm released by Kyocera for the medium format camera Contax 645. At one time, the used price was about twice the regular price, probably due to the small number of units manufactured, but as of 2024, it seems that it has returned to the regular price, probably because fewer people are using it.
The DISTAGON 45mm with the same 645 lens can be found for less than 1/3 of the list price, so the DISTAGON 55mm is still trading at a higher price than the 45mm.

The CONTAX 645 lens was released in the later period and has a serial number of 1.5 million units.
When used with the LEICA S TYP007, the focal length of 55mm is multiplied by 0.8 from the sensor size, making it 44mm in 35mm format, making it almost a standard lens. Although it has the same focal length as the ridiculously large Vario Sonnar 45-90mm, its compact size and light weight of 500g are major advantages.

The snowy photos in the gallery were taken at Risshakuji Temple in Yamagata Prefecture in winter, and I took the LEICA S Typ007 and this lens with me when I walked up and down the 1,000 snow-covered stairs. I feel like I was able to make the round trip safely thanks to the weight of this combination. The Vario Sonnar would have been heavier and more tedious.

The filter diameter is 72mm, and the dedicated hood uses the GB-72, which is the same as the Planar 80mm F2.2. Of course, it is also possible to use 72mm compatible hoods (GB-71, GB-B1) such as those for DISTAGON 45mm.

Thanks to the comfortable focal length of 55mm and the lens barrel’s large diameter, you won’t notice any disturbance or distortion in peripheral images when using a 44*33mm sensor.
AF speed is slow, and focusing accuracy isn’t very good, but it’s not completely useless. When the time comes, I shoot with manual focus.

I found this lens at a bargain price when I was running low on money and bought it, and I have no regrets about purchasing this lens. This is the best companion for the LEICA S, which tends to have larger lenses, among the lenses I own.

Specification

Lens name	DISTAGON 45	DISTAGON 55
Focal length(mm)	45	55
Max aperture	2.8	3.5
Min aperture	32	32
Lens Construction	9elements in 7groups	7elements in 7groups
Min distance(m)	0.45	0.45
Lens length(mm)	99	75
Max diameter(mm)	80	81
Filter Size(mm)	72	72
Weight(g)	821	500
Release date	1999	2001
Price(Yen/No-tax)	288,000-	150,000-