DavidH
Overweight and over here
Looking at rangefinders. a year or so ago I researched views on the Contax G cameras - trying to get a feel for real world experiences of using them. "Noisy...terrible focus problems...lenses difficult to change...hard to use...what's the point of an auto rangefinder - may as well buy an SLR..." and so on. Pity I never came across RFF in my trawls...would have provided some balance.
Photography is a part of my work - I have to take publicity photos when on location - so I lug a Nikon system around for the purpose. Travelling to some amazing places is also a golden opportunity to take some shots for fun. Trouble is, the Nikon digital with massive VR lenses is such a pain to drag around, it tends to get left with the rest of the camera gear when I'm not filming. So I wanted a really good quality but small camera system for the spontaneous stuff...on a budget.
I tried, and soon binned, a 'top quality' digital P&S - I have no animosity to digital in principle but the image quality was awful and so was the handling. Then I picked up a Contax T3 just before setting out on a 4 month trip, bought a bunch of Delta 100 and decided to give it a try. Beautiful camera, carry everywhere and superb results. But limited with a fixed lens.
Back in the UK for a few days, I started looking at rangefinders again. Leica was out of the question because of price (be nice to buy some lenses as well as the body) so I was left with an R2/R3 or a G.
Everyone's favourite auction site solved the problem for me - a G2 with 28 and 45mm lenses for less than 380. Bit of a gamble, I'd never even seen one before, but at that price I figured I could resell it if I didn't like it.
What a great camera! It makes for a tiny system - smaller than my old Nikon manuals with their larger prime lenses. Handling is superb - I've had usable handheld shots down to 1/15 and all the necessary controls and feedback are in the right place. What focus issues? Noisy? I was surprised at how quiet it is - I don't do discreet street shooting so don't have an issue with a bit of focus motor noise. 'Lenses are fiddly and difficult to change'. Really? Try fitting a 1000mm high def lens on a TV camera in a canoe on the Amazon...seriously, the G lenses are a joy to handle. I'm more than happy with the shots I've taken...enough to warrant picking up a 90mm for it as well.
The G2 has its faults but to me they're minor. As a compromise of size, handling, lens quality and cost...the G2 is a good fit for me. I'm not saying that it's better than camera x or y...just that there seems to be an imbalance of negativity about it that may be unfair.
Oh, and Hello! - first post here.
David
Photography is a part of my work - I have to take publicity photos when on location - so I lug a Nikon system around for the purpose. Travelling to some amazing places is also a golden opportunity to take some shots for fun. Trouble is, the Nikon digital with massive VR lenses is such a pain to drag around, it tends to get left with the rest of the camera gear when I'm not filming. So I wanted a really good quality but small camera system for the spontaneous stuff...on a budget.
I tried, and soon binned, a 'top quality' digital P&S - I have no animosity to digital in principle but the image quality was awful and so was the handling. Then I picked up a Contax T3 just before setting out on a 4 month trip, bought a bunch of Delta 100 and decided to give it a try. Beautiful camera, carry everywhere and superb results. But limited with a fixed lens.
Back in the UK for a few days, I started looking at rangefinders again. Leica was out of the question because of price (be nice to buy some lenses as well as the body) so I was left with an R2/R3 or a G.
Everyone's favourite auction site solved the problem for me - a G2 with 28 and 45mm lenses for less than 380. Bit of a gamble, I'd never even seen one before, but at that price I figured I could resell it if I didn't like it.
What a great camera! It makes for a tiny system - smaller than my old Nikon manuals with their larger prime lenses. Handling is superb - I've had usable handheld shots down to 1/15 and all the necessary controls and feedback are in the right place. What focus issues? Noisy? I was surprised at how quiet it is - I don't do discreet street shooting so don't have an issue with a bit of focus motor noise. 'Lenses are fiddly and difficult to change'. Really? Try fitting a 1000mm high def lens on a TV camera in a canoe on the Amazon...seriously, the G lenses are a joy to handle. I'm more than happy with the shots I've taken...enough to warrant picking up a 90mm for it as well.
The G2 has its faults but to me they're minor. As a compromise of size, handling, lens quality and cost...the G2 is a good fit for me. I'm not saying that it's better than camera x or y...just that there seems to be an imbalance of negativity about it that may be unfair.
Oh, and Hello! - first post here.
David
FrankS
Registered User
Hello and welcome David. Happy to hear that you found a camera that "does it" for you. That's what we're all about here at RFF.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Welcome to the forum David, if rangefinder camera photography is one of your interests, then you came to the right place.
JoeFriday
Agent Provacateur
howdy David.. I've often looked at the G system myself.. having a Contax T, as well as a IIa, I know that the CZ lenses blow away those silly little Leica versions.. just don't ask me why my summicrons get used more :shrug:
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
David: welcome. The Contax G cameras are great machines. The only trouble I have had with mine has been that, if forced onto the camera, the metal contacts at the back of the lenses can catch on the lensmount and rip off - disabling lens until repaired. But the quality of the glass is great! Enjoy yours.
Ben
Ben
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Joseph S
Member
Hi David - glad you like the G2. I had a similar experience in that I had read the "complaints" on the web about the G system, which I have found for the most part to be ludicrous - and lump them in the bin of the usual internet garbage. I think people get so bogged in theoretical technical issues that they lose perspective on reality. A small, motor driven, autofocus camera with interchangeable Zeiss lenses, amazing electronics and metering in a package smaller than or equal to the size of a Leica? And folks expect it to be as quiet as a little Yashica GSN or anything else without the equivalent technology? Gotta laugh!
I've lugged so much gear around on jobs for so many years, I wanted a small, light travel system for personal work. After returning from a long trip with a 5D system, I grabbed a black G2 system for sale locally in mint condition. The guy selling it had used it on PR trips where he traveled extensively and needed a fast shooting system. What a great system indeed! The noise issue is so overrated - the photographer hears it because his head is against the camera, but no one else seems to. I've shot with it in some very quiet and intimate settings - expecting heads to turn and glares - with no acknowledgement of my shooting.
The system is small, light, fast, very ergonomic and easy to shoot with... the lenses are screamingly sharp and to top it off, the prices are fantastic right now.
I carry one or two bodies, and three or four lenses in a very small bag that weighs very little and is so convenient that it is usually with me - unlike my SLR systems.
Enjoy the G2 - I'm having a blast with mine! Oh, the downside is that they are very addicting... and seem to breed in the safe... somehow I have two or three now
I've lugged so much gear around on jobs for so many years, I wanted a small, light travel system for personal work. After returning from a long trip with a 5D system, I grabbed a black G2 system for sale locally in mint condition. The guy selling it had used it on PR trips where he traveled extensively and needed a fast shooting system. What a great system indeed! The noise issue is so overrated - the photographer hears it because his head is against the camera, but no one else seems to. I've shot with it in some very quiet and intimate settings - expecting heads to turn and glares - with no acknowledgement of my shooting.
The system is small, light, fast, very ergonomic and easy to shoot with... the lenses are screamingly sharp and to top it off, the prices are fantastic right now.
I carry one or two bodies, and three or four lenses in a very small bag that weighs very little and is so convenient that it is usually with me - unlike my SLR systems.
Enjoy the G2 - I'm having a blast with mine! Oh, the downside is that they are very addicting... and seem to breed in the safe... somehow I have two or three now
uhligfd
Well-known
Well, I started photographing about 50 years ago, when I was around 10.
I have had about 7 cameras in my life. The best was the OM2 with a couple of lenses, but its shutter gave out after 26 years. I then got into Nikon, love the F100 and all the lenses from 20 to 500mm etc. Heavy gear for a 60 year old, though. I reduced the zooms back to fast primes recently, but still too heavy to carry all day.
Handled a Contax T and G1 in Europe last summer, bought a G2 + 4 lenses 21, 28, 45, 90, and am learning the system. I think it will take around 5 films for me to switch and enjoy the sorrily abandoned system.
The G2 is great with sufficient eye relief for my glasses, works perfectly and lies well in the hand. Just - as everything new and different - the camera has a steep learning curve. But once learned it becomes a charm already for me on my 4th film!
Happy discovery and another few decades of taking pics for me.
I have had about 7 cameras in my life. The best was the OM2 with a couple of lenses, but its shutter gave out after 26 years. I then got into Nikon, love the F100 and all the lenses from 20 to 500mm etc. Heavy gear for a 60 year old, though. I reduced the zooms back to fast primes recently, but still too heavy to carry all day.
Handled a Contax T and G1 in Europe last summer, bought a G2 + 4 lenses 21, 28, 45, 90, and am learning the system. I think it will take around 5 films for me to switch and enjoy the sorrily abandoned system.
The G2 is great with sufficient eye relief for my glasses, works perfectly and lies well in the hand. Just - as everything new and different - the camera has a steep learning curve. But once learned it becomes a charm already for me on my 4th film!
Happy discovery and another few decades of taking pics for me.
DavidH
Overweight and over here
Thanks for the warm welcome.
I've been reading RFF for a while, gleaning information, and have been impressed by the enthusiasm for photography shown here...
The G2 fits a niche in my camera needs - small and light system for personal photography rather than the heavy duty digital stuff. I'm pretty much brand agnostic - if I like it I'll use it, regardless of label...and anyway, gear is almost as subjective as the resulting photo - we all have different needs, one camera doesn't fit all.
Irony is, I'm shooting more film than digital now - concentrating on black and white - and really enjoying the alchemy side of things.
I blame Roger Hicks - and Frances Schultz - for all those inspirational books and articles and their ever evolving subscriber website. And RFF as well of course...
cheers
David
I've been reading RFF for a while, gleaning information, and have been impressed by the enthusiasm for photography shown here...
The G2 fits a niche in my camera needs - small and light system for personal photography rather than the heavy duty digital stuff. I'm pretty much brand agnostic - if I like it I'll use it, regardless of label...and anyway, gear is almost as subjective as the resulting photo - we all have different needs, one camera doesn't fit all.
Irony is, I'm shooting more film than digital now - concentrating on black and white - and really enjoying the alchemy side of things.
I blame Roger Hicks - and Frances Schultz - for all those inspirational books and articles and their ever evolving subscriber website. And RFF as well of course...
cheers
David
REVIVECONTAX
Newbie
Congrats
Congrats
The g2 definitely is a great camera....most of my shots have been stunning. Congrats on a great purchase..
Congrats
The g2 definitely is a great camera....most of my shots have been stunning. Congrats on a great purchase..
keoj
Established
I'll admit a bias right up front. The G2 is one of the most underrated cameras ever. I have owned Leica in the past nad just couldn't afford to keep it fed with a variety of lenses. Not so with the G2 and I really feel that I wasn't giving up on anything that significant (to me). I bought a 28mm in eBay two years ago (unused) for $145. Ahem,,,,this is an incredibly sharp lens. As noted in an earlier post, it has a lot of features to learn.
An outstanding camera.
keoj
An outstanding camera.
keoj
sooner
Well-known
I too love my G2, although I probably don't deserve such a nice camera. Just last night, I took a picture of a friend in front of his Richard Burton antiquities and wondered why pushing the shutter button didn't take the shot. Then I heard the click--I had forgotten to change back from self-timer! And so it goes; all the "camera's" flaws are really mine. --sooner
S
Socke
Guest
Welcome toe the madhouse David
Everybody and his dog has a Leica, only sophisticated people use a Contax G, so the Leica masses have to put down this little gem of a camera to justify the purchase of a IIc in need of a CLA with a hazy summitar for more money than a G2 with a 28 and 45 in mint condition
While we're out taking pictures they brag how good the viewfinder is and how fast one can shoot more or less well exposed and more or less focused B/W at hyperfocal distance
Everybody and his dog has a Leica, only sophisticated people use a Contax G, so the Leica masses have to put down this little gem of a camera to justify the purchase of a IIc in need of a CLA with a hazy summitar for more money than a G2 with a 28 and 45 in mint condition
While we're out taking pictures they brag how good the viewfinder is and how fast one can shoot more or less well exposed and more or less focused B/W at hyperfocal distance
DavidH
Overweight and over here
Socke said:Welcome toe the madhouse David
Everybody and his dog has a Leica, only sophisticated people use a Contax G, so the Leica masses have to put down this little gem of a camera to justify the purchase of a IIc in need of a CLA with a hazy summitar for more money than a G2 with a 28 and 45 in mint condition
While we're out taking pictures they brag how good the viewfinder is and how fast one can shoot more or less well exposed and more or less focused B/W at hyperfocal distance
Ha ha! That's great!
"Incoming"...
There's no way I can justify the cost of a Leica with lenses right now...so I took the chance on the G2 and am more than happy to have done so.
Madhouse? I'll be right at home...
cheers
David
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Wait a sec, Socke. I own Leicas but I was a Contax devotee for a long time before that.
In any event, all this gushing about the little bodies is making me regret that I sold my small system because it simply wasn't getting any use. Mine was a Contax G1, and I had both Planars, the 35 and 45. Sure, the camera has its limitations, but so does everything... even Leicas . In any case, I'm really glad you found the perfect match in the G2. I never had one, but, as I said, having owned a G1 (and I took mine places; they're really resilient little gadgets) gives me the authority to say it: the Contax G are great cameras!
In any event, all this gushing about the little bodies is making me regret that I sold my small system because it simply wasn't getting any use. Mine was a Contax G1, and I had both Planars, the 35 and 45. Sure, the camera has its limitations, but so does everything... even Leicas
. In any case, I'm really glad you found the perfect match in the G2. I never had one, but, as I said, having owned a G1 (and I took mine places; they're really resilient little gadgets) gives me the authority to say it: the Contax G are great cameras!Ted Witcher
Established
I had a G2 system and sold it. My only beef was the autofcus, which seemed to miss more than it hit. Anybody else have this problem -- and what are your solutions/hints/tips? Otherwise a great camera, incredible ergonomics. And good lenses. I loved the 45mmm and the 21mm was excellent as well.
keoj
Established
The only tip that I have on using the AF is that I never use the shutter to check for focus. I always frame, push the MF/CAF/SAF (I forget the function names) button for focus, and then push the shutter button. The only time I don't do that is for action shots. Either I've been fortunate (or mys camera knows what I want) but I get an out of focus shot maybe 1 out of 50 shots.
keoj
keoj
Ted Witcher
Established
Interesting. I'm not sure what that does, though...
rhogg
Member
Using the auto focus
Using the auto focus
On both the G1 and the G2 a half press of the shutter button focuses the camera. On the G2 there is a button on the back of the camera that also does this. Using prefocus and single shot mode pretty much guarantees accurate focusing. In continuous shooting mode ensuring accuracy is more difficult. Some say you can "ride" the prefocus button on the G2 - but I haven't figured that out yet. I have no problems with focusing accuracy in S mode, but user error shows up in C mode.
On the G2 twisting the back button also allows you to select MF Manual Focus; CAF Continuous Auto Focus; or SAF Single Auto Focus.
One neat trick is to press the pre focus button when it is set to SAF or CAF and then holding the button twist the ring to MF. This parks the manually focused distance to the reading selected in Autofocus. This can be usefull if you are settting focus at a specific point and recomposing to catch a moving subject (think of a runner coming along a path). Normally if you first move the ring to MF and then press the button the lens is simply parked at INFinity.
I do indeed love both my G1 and 2 and the lenses the share.
Using the auto focus
On both the G1 and the G2 a half press of the shutter button focuses the camera. On the G2 there is a button on the back of the camera that also does this. Using prefocus and single shot mode pretty much guarantees accurate focusing. In continuous shooting mode ensuring accuracy is more difficult. Some say you can "ride" the prefocus button on the G2 - but I haven't figured that out yet. I have no problems with focusing accuracy in S mode, but user error shows up in C mode.
On the G2 twisting the back button also allows you to select MF Manual Focus; CAF Continuous Auto Focus; or SAF Single Auto Focus.
One neat trick is to press the pre focus button when it is set to SAF or CAF and then holding the button twist the ring to MF. This parks the manually focused distance to the reading selected in Autofocus. This can be usefull if you are settting focus at a specific point and recomposing to catch a moving subject (think of a runner coming along a path). Normally if you first move the ring to MF and then press the button the lens is simply parked at INFinity.
I do indeed love both my G1 and 2 and the lenses the share.
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sircarl
Well-known
I can only add to the chorus here in praise of the G2. I also own the 21, 28, 35, 45 and 90 mm G series lenses -- all of them super. I have long been mystified, as David H. is, about the "bad press" the G2 has gotten. It's one of those cameras you need to grow into, and when you do, things like the small viewfinder and the awkward manual focus just don't seem like big issues any more.
As for the AF mechanism, I don't find it any more unreliable than the ones I've used on Canon SLRs, and it certainly works just fine over 95% of the time. Recently I shot three rolls at an auto race, mostly quick grab shots, and got back just one frame that was out of focus. The focusing tip from rhogg is right on target. I use the AF lock button all the time to prefocus, and it cuts down on focus "hunting" hugely and makes the shutter lag negligible. For a handy guide to this, see http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html.
Great to hear from all of you who weren't bamboozled by "what everyone knows" about the G2.
As for the AF mechanism, I don't find it any more unreliable than the ones I've used on Canon SLRs, and it certainly works just fine over 95% of the time. Recently I shot three rolls at an auto race, mostly quick grab shots, and got back just one frame that was out of focus. The focusing tip from rhogg is right on target. I use the AF lock button all the time to prefocus, and it cuts down on focus "hunting" hugely and makes the shutter lag negligible. For a handy guide to this, see http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html.
Great to hear from all of you who weren't bamboozled by "what everyone knows" about the G2.
DavidH
Overweight and over here
sircarl said:
Thanks for the tips - and for the link - very useful...and I really need to read that manual again. Maybe it's just the subjects I choose but I haven't had any focus problems...in fact the only serious problem I've had...is the amount of money I'm now spending on film
David