G system questions

[froyd]

I'm new to the G system and I have a few questions for you lot:

- What are other active Contax G communities on the net beside this forum?
The Contax G User Pages seem like a ghost town

- Other than dropping more money on a Luigi case than I did for my camera body, is there any cheap (i.e under $50) leather half case that would fit a G1? KEH has an official Contax full case for $84, but that's more than I want to spend and I do not need the top part.

- Other than fantastically useful DOF chart somebody was crafty enough to create so it can be taped to the lenses, are there any other "gotta have" tools that make working with a G easier and faster?

 

[chilohm]

Congrats on getting a G. They're fantastic cameras. I recently sold my Leica kit and kept the G2. It's really great.

The only thing I would say about a case is that these cameras are AMAZINGLY resistant to scratching, and are built like tanks. I've never kept mine in a case and it's still not got a scratch on it...

Just a thought. Post some pics when you get them please - what did you get?

Jack.

 

[larmarv916]

I would start be suggesting you read the manual.. if you got one. There is ...way down on the left side of the RFF subject listing, under "Cool Links" is the Contax G pages. A very good site and is very active. The G bodies are very user friendly and so good that after a few test rolls, just to find your balance. You will almost never need to think twice about what your doing.

Make sure you have a spare set of hot batteries and shoot a test roll with each lens.... like 3 or 4 frames per lens just to give you a feel for each. try some exposure compensation exposures with the system controls also. keep a written log for after development. the meter in both the G1 & G2 works so well it makes the leica's M6 or M7 look lame. I have both Leica and Contax G and the feel of the images from the ZEISS lenses on the Contax G is much smoother. I have also switched to the Zeiss IKON lenses on my Leica's.

You will find you shoot with more confidence and I think the shutter release is much better at slower speeds. Just play with your new toy..it is easy. a more intuitive creative process, and yes the Contax pages are quite as there is less drama among users. I find the 28 mm lens a really great "wide normal" that just works everywhere. I find the auto focus is so good even in low light it's crazy.

 

[chilohm]

I'll second the need for a couple of spare sets of batteries. Once they start to go, it's over pretty quickly!

 

[imokruok]

Congrats on your G-series. It's a wonderful camera.

The G forums are pretty dead, but there is a lot of information already out there. This site is pretty good, photo.net, and APUG all have various threads, and also join the Flickr Contax groups. There's not much in the way of messaging that goes on at Flickr, but people post shots very regularly and you can always chime in with a question in the comments.

If you have the G1, I believe that it needs a modification if you ever want to shoot wider than the 28mm, but the G1 users might want to confirm that. Service is still available for these cameras through ToCAD and another place - the name escapes me at the moment. Manuals are all online if you didn't get one.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/contax.htm

I don't think you'll do much better on price for a half case. I shoot with the bottom of the full case on my G2 and it does add a lot of body protection but significantly increases the size of the camera. If size is a big issue, I would definitely save up for one of the custom tighter-fitting leather ones or see if you can find one used on eBay or KEH. Bargain-grade might be a good deal at KEH, since it could be the top half that's heavily worn, not the bottom half.

 

[kuzano]

Did you get BOTH the blue manuals w/camera.

Did you get BOTH the blue manuals w/camera.

First the G1 was limited to three lenses originally. If yours has the modification to use the extended range of lenses, it would have a green label in the film compartment. These are known as "green label G series".... Yeah, really.

Secondly, there are two user manuals and the second one did not come with first issue G bodies. Users complained of perceived focus issues with the first camera, which I recall was attributable to the need to have the focus marks dead on the subject to be in focus. Basically a "focus and recompose" situation, which is common in focusing parlance. However a lot of whiners resulted in the issuance of a secondary manual on "properly focusing" the G1.

Seasoned, or knowledgable, photographers often tossed this supplemental manual.

If you don't have it, and you wonder about this, just remember that if it seems like your camera is hard to focus, it is because you must make sure the focus marks are on actual subject you want to focus, hold the shutter button halfway down to lock focus, recompose in the viewfinder and push the shutter the rest of the way to shoot.

 

[Paddy C]

This is all fairly obvious to some, but I found it a good resource when starting with the G1/G2:

http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html

 

[mervynyan]

G system is good system. I used to own a set of G2, 28 and 45 lenses work fine but I had focus issue with 90mm, a very common compliant. Then it can't use MF when AF has a problem finally forced me to sell the set. But Zeiss lenses are very good, I wish I can fit them on other systems.

 

[imokruok]

Seasoned, or knowledgable, photographers often tossed this supplemental manual.

That second manual is at the site above...had never seen it before today.

 

[froyd]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. Too bad there are no longer many active resources for the G system online. However, as some of you pointed out, there's a treasure trove of info in archives.

I will head the battery advice and go buy a fresh set so I can start playing with the new toy as soon as it arrives.

In terms of the advice about focus, one of my other cameras is a Nikon F4, which featured a single horizontal focus point and is now 20 years old. I can focus the F4 easily and without frustration... the half-press focus lock is second nature to me, so I expect the transition to the G to be relatively painless.

My biggest fear is not getting used to the viewfinder. I've been spoiled rotten by my lovely R2a (now sadly stolen) and I remember that when I first handled a G2 at BH several years ago, I found the viewfinder a real disappointment. However, this time I'm going to invest a full month getting used to this system, and then make a decision after giving it the good freshman try.


Chilohm- since you asked... in the mail is a G1 (green label) pus the usual trifecta of 28, 45, and 90. It was a good find on the bay (under $700 for the lot) so I thought it would be a good way to experience first hand not only the magic of the Zeiss lenses, but also the handling of the unique G system. Given that 98% of my subject matter are my small kids, I was oping that the AF of the G1 would help me grab more fleeting moments than I was able to get by prefocusing on the R2a (I cannot even begin to imagine adding manual metering to the need to manual focus when chasing kids between sun and shadows outdoors!) If I like the system, I might consider upgrading the body to a G2, but from the g1 vs g2 thread on RFF, it seems like there's a good chance I'll never want to upgrade.

 

[Haigh]

I have recently obtained a G1 with 28, 45, and 90mm lenses. Seems fine, if dotty camera.

 

[cidereye]

This is all fairly obvious to some, but I found it a good resource when starting with the G1/G2:

http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html

The best advice any new user of the G2 can get IMHO apart from the obvious make sure you read the manual.

You say you are used to using the AF on a Nikon F4 and half press focus lock, now the G2 does this of course but don't use it. Follow the technique used in the link Paddy posted and use the "rear" AF lock button and I guarantee you will get much better results once it is second nature to you, keep that thumb hovering on that button and you won't go wrong with the G2 - I feel that those who never master the focus on the G2 and complain about getting out of focus pictures too often are those that don't use the rear AF lock button.

JM2C 🙂

 

[chilohm]

Chilohm- since you asked... in the mail is a G1 (green label) pus the usual trifecta of 28, 45, and 90. It was a good find on the bay (under $700 for the lot) so I thought it would be a good way to experience first hand not only the magic of the Zeiss lenses, but also the handling of the unique G system. Given that 98% of my subject matter are my small kids, I was oping that the AF of the G1 would help me grab more fleeting moments than I was able to get by prefocusing on the R2a (I cannot even begin to imagine adding manual metering to the need to manual focus when chasing kids between sun and shadows outdoors!) If I like the system, I might consider upgrading the body to a G2, but from the g1 vs g2 thread on RFF, it seems like there's a good chance I'll never want to upgrade.

That's exactly how I use my G2. It's so much smaller and more discreet than a DSLR or MF camera that you can get really natural portraiture easily. It's plenty quiet enough too (whatever anyone says) and I've never had any issues with focussing on any lens (including the 90). It is super quick to focus and as long as you use the trick mentioned above, you should have no problems.

If you're interested, you can see some of the shots I've taken with this camera here. If you have problems with permissions, let me know.
Jack.

 

[froyd]

@cidereye: I have (or will have!) a G1 so no dedicated AF lock button as there is on the G2 and on the F4. But my point is that being so used to the half-press ttechnique I don't anticipate as may issues with focusing as much as with getting used to the finder. Time will tell, and there are always G2 bodies going for little money on the bay, so the opportunity to upgrade is there.

 

[zleica]

The best advice any new user of the G2 can get IMHO apart from the obvious make sure you read the manual.

You say you are used to using the AF on a Nikon F4 and half press focus lock, now the G2 does this of course but don't use it. Follow the technique used in the link Paddy posted and use the "rear" AF lock button and I guarantee you will get much better results once it is second nature to you, keep that thumb hovering on that button and you won't go wrong with the G2 - I feel that those who never master the focus on the G2 and complain about getting out of focus pictures too often are those that don't use the rear AF lock button.

JM2C 🙂

I totally agree. I have learned to use the rear AF lock only to pre-focus and I never had any focus issues with my G2.

 

[imokruok]

I don't anticipate as may issues with focusing as much as with getting used to the finder.

Agreed - it is not the best finder in the world. But it does this really cool thing to adjust the field of view, and the display is very readable for distance and shutter speed. I probably wouldn't use the camera if I had to focus through the finder, but with the AF, it's not a problem at all.

 

[sepiareverb]

My G1 had a loose AF/MF wheel, it would often get spun into MF by the strap I guess, and before I figured out the VF readout (and when I didn't pay attention to it) I ended up with lots of lost frames to focus being way off. That's why I went for a G2. The 90 is among the very best 90s for 35mm out there.

 

[Doug]

My G1 had a loose AF/MF wheel, it would often get spun into MF by the strap I guess...

I had the same experience with a nice G1 that had another problem so it fortunately went back to KEH pretty quick, and I opted for a G2 to replace it. That G1 manual focus wheel is unfortunately placed... But I liked the camera otherwise, and my intent for it was simply as a platform for the exquisite 21mm Biogon.

 

[Bob Michaels]

My G1 had a loose AF/MF wheel, it would often get spun into MF by the strap I guess, and before I figured out the VF readout (and when I didn't pay attention to it) I ended up with lots of lost frames to focus being way off. That's why I went for a G2. The 90 is among the very best 90s for 35mm out there.

That tension on a G1 is controlled by two screws into plastic which can strip out making it very loose. My local camera repair guru just filled the stripped out sections with JB Weld and retreaded. My G1 still has nice tension on the AF / manual focus knob many years later.

 

[arthur sadowsky]

...if you're interested, you can see some of the shots I've taken with this camera here. If you have problems with permissions, let me know.
Jack.

Hey Jack,

I just wanna say thank you for your wonderful set of the pics on your Flickr - great work man (I especially liked your color pics),

keep-up your talented work and all the best!