Lens mount
Contax/Yashica mount
Contax/Yashica (C/Y) is the 1975 bayonet with a 45.5mm register shared by Carl Zeiss T* lenses and Yashica ML lenses until 2005.
- Type
- bayonet
- Flange distance
- 45.5 mm
- Introduced
- 1975, Contax RTS and Yashica FX-1
- Status
- Discontinued. Kyocera ended Contax and Yashica camera production in 2005.
About the Contax/Yashica mount
The Contax/Yashica mount, usually written C/Y, was launched in 1975 with the Porsche Design styled Contax RTS and the Yashica FX-1. Yashica built the bodies under licence from Zeiss, and the mount served both the Carl Zeiss T* lenses and Yashica's own ML and DSB lines. It is a bayonet with a 45.5mm flange distance. Zeiss C/Y lenses were made in two places: AEG-marked lenses were assembled in West Germany at Oberkochen, and MMJ-marked lenses in Japan by Yashica, later Kyocera, to Zeiss designs and quality control. Both carry the T* multi-coating.
Kyocera acquired Yashica in 1983 and ran the Contax line through the RX, Aria, and RTS III until leaving the camera business in 2005, which ended the mount. With no autofocus successor sharing the bayonet (the Contax N system of 2000 used a new mount), C/Y lenses are adapted almost exclusively today. The 45.5mm register clears every mirrorless system with a plain ring adapter and full infinity focus, and the mount's popularity means adapters are cheap and widely available.
Aperture control
Automatic diaphragm. C/Y lenses sit at the set aperture when off the body, so the ring works directly on an adapter.
Adapting it
Plain adapter ring, no mechanism required. Zeiss and Yashica ML lenses share the mount and use the same adapter.
Contax/Yashica lenses in the catalog
| Lens | Focal length | Aperture | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm f/2.8 (C/Y) | 28mm | f/2.8 | 1975-2005 | $180 to $550 |
| Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 (C/Y) | 50mm | f/1.4 | 1975-2005 | $120 to $420 |
| Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 (C/Y) | 85mm | f/1.4 | 1975-2005 | $500 to $1,400 |
Adapting Contax/Yashica to a modern body
Frequently asked
Can Contax/Yashica lenses be adapted to mirrorless cameras?
Yes. Contax/Yashica has a 45.5mm register, longer than any mirrorless mount, so a plain mechanical adapter reaches infinity on Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount. Plain adapter ring, no mechanism required. Zeiss and Yashica ML lenses share the mount and use the same adapter.
What is the flange distance of the Contax/Yashica mount?
The Contax/Yashica flange distance is 45.5mm. It is a bayonet introduced in 1975 on the Contax RTS and Yashica FX-1. Discontinued. Kyocera ended Contax and Yashica camera production in 2005.
How much do Contax/Yashica lenses cost used?
The 3 Contax/Yashica lenses in the LensVault catalog range from $120 to $1,400 used. The least expensive is the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 (C/Y) at a typical $220. Values are estimates from recent sold listings and dealer pricing, not appraisals.