Is there a better camera for me than the G1?

[Bobfrance]

Hi Guys,

Your opinions please...

I love my G1. It has great lenses feels and looks fantastic and I think it's the bargain of the century at the moment.

However.
Recently I've been using my Ricoh GR1 quite a bit, a digital SLR (I know - sorry!) and a Fuji GS645 MF rangefinder. Usually all together in the same bag - it's a great combo.

Upon returning to the G1 I've found that it now sounds off-puttingly noisy when focussing and the viewfinder is frankly too small. I wear glasses most of the time and that combined with the small finder can often make it quite a chore to use. Conversely the viewfinder on the Fuji is an absolute joy.

I'm begining to wonder if I need to look at a different camera for 35mm rangefindering.

What does the collective RFF wisdom have to say on this matter?
Is a G2 that much improved (I would love to be able to kepp my Contax lenses) or are there other cameras that fit my needs better? I have been looking at Hexars and even R-D1's. However I would really be stretching my budget for those.

All help appreciated.

Bob.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Talk to OurManInTangier (a member here) who I understand used a Contax G and is transitioning to Leica M. His photos are stunning and he speaks clearly.

 

[sircarl]

Bob,

I've had a similar experience to yours. I owned a G2 (plus nearly all its lenses) for about five years, and always was pleased with the results. But after getting my Bronica RF645 about a year ago, I became less and less happy with it. The autofocus feature was less important for the type of photography I do. And like you, I found the shortcomings of the G2's viewfinder became much more apparent after I got used to the Bronica's lovely finder. So recently I sold the entire G2 outfit. Frankly, if the G1 no longer inspires you, I don't think getting a G2 will solve your problem. I myself have opted for a Minolta CLE with three lenses. If I were you, I would try out a compact LTM or M mount rangefinder to see if that "change of pace" is what you're searching for.

 

[Socke]

IMHO the G2 is less noisy than the G1, at least with my samples, and the G2 viewfinder may be a bit brighter but not bigger. I like the G2 control layout better than that of the G1.

But switching from another camera to the Gs is mostly a problem viewfinderwise. As long as it was not a cropped dSLR with a slow lens, that is 🙂

So I still like my Gs as my travel setup, small, speedy and accurate, but I'm tempted by a ZI with 35.

 

[clintock]

I bought a G1 sort of recently and like it so much I bought another! You are right that they are the 35mm deal of the century now. Those lenses!

If you are used to the metal shutter with fast speeds and no solar burning problems, the bessas are nice, and oh what a viewfinder. I have an R3a with the 1:1 finder and use a 50, 75 or 90 on it. Great finder for those lengths. It has lines for 40mm but I don't wear glasses and I still have a tough time seeing them.

The only gripe with the bessa finder is the numbers for the shutter speed are backlit LED and can be tough to see in certain lighting unless you eye is in exactly the right place, but compared to the zero-tolerance of the contax G finder, it's quite easy.

At least with the bessa you can see the subject through the finder with the camera anywhere reasonably close to your face, unlike the Contax, which is black unless perfectly aligned with your pupil.

I'd hold on to the contax kit though, no matter what, as it's likely at a low tide of value now, but has got to rise again.. and you'll miss it.

The dream replacement for the contax G, for me anyway may be the Zeiss Ikon..
The ZI body isn't too costly, only twice as much as the Bessa..

 

[xavi]

Sorry for my english
I'm a deep user of G2 camera and still i don't know better 35mm RF camera.
I've got too a lovely Leica M4, great camera, great viewfinder... but not "better" than Contax G2. Different, not better. The Carl Zeiss lens are fabulouses, as nice as leica lens. Maybe you must move to G2. Now are really cheap.
I use to shot color slides in street pictures and for that, my Contax is great.
good luck

 

[uhligfd]

You complain about hearing your G1 focus and expose. Photography is about visual exitement, not audio per se. If the audio of your craft (or art) bothers you (as the smell of oil paint has bothered many a painter ... ), maybe you need a Minox which is the quiestest, smallest of them all.

Just compare the size, weight, focal lengths available on the B 645 and picture you carrying that load .. always, for long times and miles. Of course for superb resolution the mid format is a step up from any 35 mm gear. Do you need that resolution, want it?

You may be strong now, and I think that the Gs might come in handy when your spine grows old.

 

[sooner]

I never used the G1 but sold my G2 fairly recently because of the autofocus and viewfinder issues, but these were personal tastes and not a fundamental criticism of the camera. Like you, I loved the camera and took my best pictures ever with it, I just got to where I wanted something else. I've thought about getting the G1 at some point in the future, but we'll see. Don't hesitate to trade in and out of systems, that's the advantage of these days of waning film where good systems retain their value pretty well.

 

[Bobfrance]

You complain about hearing your G1 focus and expose. Photography is about visual exitement, not audio per se. If the audio of your craft (or art) bothers you (as the smell of oil paint has bothered many a painter ... ), maybe you need a Minox which is the quiestest, smallest of them all.

Just compare the size, weight, focal lengths available on the B 645 and picture you carrying that load .. always, for long times and miles. Of course for superb resolution the mid format is a step up from any 35 mm gear. Do you need that resolution, want it?

You may be strong now, and I think that the Gs might come in handy when your spine grows old.

Thanks for all the info everybody. It's given me a great deal to think about.

I don't think I'm the only one who finds the G1 a noisy camera and when doing street shooting (or even worse shooting indoors) it can be a seroius hinderance.

I think suggesting a Minox is a bit silly. I use a Ricoh GR1 for my small point and shoot and i can't rate it highly enough - it's fabulous.

I would use the Fuji GS645 all the time if I could afford the film. I think I could still carry it in my 80's. Where as I doubt I could see the G1's viewfinder.

A Bessa might be good - plus it would give me a chance to build up some Leica mount lenses for the future.
But like a few have suggested I may have to keep the Contax. It is nice in so many ways.

Bob.

 

[foto_fool]

Keep the Contax. You won't make enough from selling it to put much of a dent in the budget for M-lenses, and someday you will come back to it and appreciate it for its strengths. Meanwhile, buy a Bessa or (IMHO much) better yet, a ZI.
- John

 

[sepiareverb]

If it's noise as your main problem the G2 is much quieter- I had the G1 and disliked two things about it- the noise and the Focus wheel. The G2 is a much quieter and better handling camera IMHO.

 

[Bobfrance]

If it's noise as your main problem the G2 is much quieter- I had the G1 and disliked two things about it- the noise and the Focus wheel. The G2 is a much quieter and better handling camera IMHO.

I'll have to track down a G2 body to try. It would be great if I did like it though. I could then keep the G1 and load one with colour and other other with B&W

 

[Joe Vitessa]

I use my Bessa R2 and Leica M2 but always find myself returning to the G1 for the glass. I haven't found anything better in 35mm. Plus, I think it's still faster in certain situations. You should pick up a Bessa R and a 35mm 2.5 and see how you like it. But keep the G1!

 

[Bobfrance]

I guess it's horses for courses.

I hoped the Contax would do everything but I suppose that's not realistic. On a noisy street or for architecture and landscape it's ace just not much good for sneaking up on people.

I'm reaching the conclusion I need to get my broken Canon QL going (nice & simple with an ace viewfinder and cheap enough not to have to worry about it) and perhaps try a G2 (be good to get rid of that pesky red AF light).

Also I'm thinking about a nice wide angle contax lens with a seperate viewfinder. I think that might just keep the love affair alive. 🙂

Bob.

 

[foto_fool]

Also I'm thinking about a nice wide angle contax lens with a seperate viewfinder. I think that might just keep the love affair alive. 🙂

Oooohh yeahhh! Got the 21/2.8 Biogon a while back and it's been on the G1 since I got it back from ToCAD for the necessary ROM upgrade.

H/U - Just saw this on evil-Bay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=110127671667&rd=1&rd=1
Ends in 2 days and is currently reasonable - probably will go for closer to $600+ is my guess.

 

[Bobfrance]

Aaaaagh temptation!

Just added it to my watched items. 😉

 

[sepiareverb]

I'll have to track down a G2 body to try. It would be great if I did like it though. I could then keep the G1 and load one with colour and other other with B&W

I'm a 2-body shooter almost all the time. Makes it easier for me to concentrate on the shooting not the gear.

 

[sepiareverb]

The ZM 28 is even better than the G 28. Shocking as that may seem.

 

[keoj]

I've never had a Contax G1, just the G2. It's a marvel. The lenses are so fantastic that I consider to invest into the new Zeiss Ikon, even though the new lenses require deep pockets. But whatever will happen - I'll keep my G2 an all lenses.

P.S.: Yes, the viewfinder is a bit quirky, but hell, the results are second to none.

I couldn't agree more with the last sentence. The value/$$$ on my G2 setup is second to none. I keep on waiting for my G2 to expire (I beat it up pretty well) and it jsut keeps clicking. Ah....if only someone would do a 10Mp digital that would take the G glass.....

keoj

 

[sepiareverb]

Was thinking today that by the time I'm 70 there will probably be some wafer thin sensor that we can stick into any old 35mm camera to capture digitally- a film can with a firewire port to hold em. Maybe even a 120 version too.