Contax G? Help!

[Domenico]

Hi guys!

I have a good SRL Pentax equipment that I use for colour photograhy and a wonderful Rolleicord Vb that I use only for b/w.

My problem is I want more quality for my colour pics and I thought about Medium Format, of course. As I mainly take pictures when I travel I have to think about the weight of my equipment, so I was thinking about a 6X4,5 camera (Pentax 645 or Mam 645),
Eveything perfect? No way, because people say you cannot see much differences between a good 35mm shot and a 6X4,5 one unless you enlarge your print a lot. The differences are evident only on big prints or on high iso pics.

I cannot think about a 6X7 camera because for travelling photography it wouldn't be the right choise.
I thought about a Mam 7, but it's too expensive for me, so I thought about a Contax G2.

I have read a lot of things on the net about this camera and everybody says this is able to give you outstanding pictures that show very little differences between a 645 MF (unless you enlarge a lot or you shoot at high iso).

This camera is not so expensive and it is not so big. I tried one for a few minutes in a shop and I can say it isn't so noisy as told by someone (of course a Leica is another thing, but a Leica is very expensive). Last but not least the autofocus is fast enough for my needs.

As I am going to buy one, can you give me your opinion on this?

It is true Zeiss prime lenses for G cameras can give me (more or less) the same quality of a 645 MF if I do not enlarge too much the print?

It is true Zeiss prime lenses for G cameras can give me much more quality than a Jap 35mm prime lense for SRL?

Am I doing the right thing?

Thank you a lot for everybody's opinion on this.

Domenico

p.s.
Sorry for my English, it is far from perfect, but I'm trying to improve it. 😉

 

[sniki]

I just want to tell you what a professional photographer once entrusted to me. He often handles with still life subjects in studio using a first class MF and relative optics and - as a back-up for any event - he shoots also with a G2 and Zeiss optics. Well, more than one time, the customer has made his final selection choosing G2 photo shoots, instead of MF's ones.
He thinks that the most probably reason of this stay in the very esclusive coating treatment of Zeiss lens; according to his informations this treatment was developed by a joint research project made by Contax and Pentax.

sniki

 

[Kevin]

Hi !

Even though I have tons of other systems, I love shooting with my G2. My favorite lens is the 45mm Planar and this combo can be found rather cheap nowadays.

If you want MF and travel portability you could also think about a folder, however. If you take interesting, breath-taking photographs you may want to make big prints from them one day, no?

 

[Quinn Porter]

My G2s are great and the optics are some of the finest in 35mm, but they can't compete with MF. Simply put, MF and 35mm have a different look and you can't get the look of MF with any 35mm system.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I love the ContaxG system. It's my standard 35mm setup. And the optics are superb.

But Medium Format quality it is not. Nothing in 35mm is. The difference is subtle but is there. You just can't beat square inches on the neg.

Only you can decide if the difference is worth it to you.

 

[Skeletor]

You write that you have good Pentax Gear. So you won`t be blown away by the G-Lenses. They may be a little bit better, but...
If you want a real increasement of Quality you have to leave the 35mm World.

 

[sepiareverb]

You write that you have good Pentax Gear. So you won`t be blown away by the G-Lenses. They may be a little bit better, but...
If you want a real increasement of Quality you have to leave the 35mm World.

I have to say that I disagree here. The very best SLR lenses are pretty equivalent to mediocre RF lenses, and the G glass is darn close to top notch. I see a very substansial difference between a Nikon 50/1.8 Ais and a Contax G 45/2 image, even at 8x10. At 11x14 that difference is more apparent and at 16x20 there is no comparison. I shot Pentax and Nikon SLR's and then Contax G & Leica RF, The RF glass wins every time.

 

[mfunnell]

Certainly the lenses for RF cameras are very, very good in comparison to the general run of SLR lenses (although the best SLR lenses are also very good). The 45/2 Planar for the G system is a very good lens even by RF standards.

But, good as the lenses are, the results (especially at good-sized enlargments) from even from my 645 MF gear is very different. Not, necessarily, "better" mind you, just different. If you want "the MF look" you're going to have to go with MF or else look at expensive digital options. (I'm told, but don't know for myself, that cameras like the Leica M8, Canon 5D and 1Ds series and, I imagine, the new full-frame Nikon can produce "MF-like" results).

...Mike

 

[Domenico]

Thanks to everybody.

So I must choose MF. Well... which one? For travel photography the best choise would be Mam 7, but it's very expensive, even in digital era.

Maybe Fuji Ga series could be a good choise.

Well, I have to think about it.

Thanks again.
Domenico

 

[Domenico]

I'm told, but don't know for myself, that cameras like the Leica M8, Canon 5D and 1Ds series and, I imagine, the new full-frame Nikon can produce "MF-like" results.

...Mike

I would never spend so much money on a digital body. Photography is only an hobby for me.

I will look for a MF equipment that could be suitable for travel photography.

Bye,
Domenico

 

[mfunnell]

I would never spend so much money on a digital body.

Too rich for my blood as well! (That's why "I don't know for myself".)

...Mike

 

[Domenico]

And what about Bronica RF? It could be a good choise.

There are so much things I would like to buy... :bang:

 

[Gray Fox]

I've had a Yashica 124 Mat G and recently got a refurbed Moskva 5, but I would like to get a fuji GA645Zi as a big brother to my G2. It would travel lightly, function smoothly and probably cover most of the shots I don't take with a Nikon SLR. The 6x4.5 cm neg should also yield all the quality I would need if I pay more attention to framing my shots.

 

[uhligfd]

You are wondering about the price of a Mamiya 7II system? And you want to use it for stunning pictures of your travels, right?

How much do your travels cost you: air fare, visas, gas, car rental, hotels, food, souvenirs, theatre tickets, opera, circus, beach wear, ...

Now go one time less abraod next year and buy the Mamiya 7 with at least 3 lenses and enjoy!

Of course the film cost in MF will be larger than with 35mm film ... But so you travel even less and have better pics in the 16 x 20 inch and above range, when you have saved up enough again for those large format print prices. ...

Your quandry is all about balance; in my mind. Simply find your break even point and then you are set ...

I have switched to a G2 set and I am set for now ... You may have bigger aspirations. Ansel Adams carried 8 x 12 inch LF gear into Yosemite ... maybe that is where I should go and how about you ??

 

[rich815]

The G lenses are truly amazing. I think there is no other lens better than the 28 and 45 G-lenses for sharpness, contrast, color saturation and an almost 3-D look. I love mine and for 35mm and the desired goals I just mentioned it's perhaps one of the best.

That said even Epson flatbed scans of my negs from my Rolleiflexes and Hasselblad blow the G negs out of the water. Scans with my Nikon LS-9000? Even more so.