Contax G making streetphotography

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Cron

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Hi all!

I think some of you make classic streetphotography with a Contax G, don't you?
My question to you is: when using 2,8/28 or 2/35, also stopped down to 5,6 or 8, do you use autofocus mode (if yes, which one and why) or manual focus?

thanks and regards
 
i use autofocus all the time.. otherwise why buy the G? you'd be better off with a leica or voigtlander. With that squinty viewfinder you hardly have the patience and time for anything other than autofocus in my opinion. but i have read of some people using manual focus.
 
When I owned a G1 I tried setting it manually (I find 10ft at 5.6 often works well for when shooting street) however the focussing wheel is far too easily knocked, thus sending it out of focus.
The G2 may be better as the wheel is in a different position but I've never tried one.

The G is a great autofocus camera and the lenses are awesome. Use it at it's strengths.

I eventually changed to a Hexar RF so I could work hyperfocally (it that's a word ;) ).
 
I've used my G2 and 28 in the street, autofocus only, usually f8. It's very fast and I've had some good results. It's also pretty easy to shoot from the hip this way, just takes some practice.
 
On the G2 - if I want to keep focus at infinity for landscapes, I just set infinity in manual once and whenever I start the camera up in manual, the little focus lock button (pressed) will tell me :inf. You can do that with 3m = about 10 feet for street as well. Just never mess with the focus wheel if you know where precisely you want to focus beforehand, then verify quickly by pressing the focus lock button and view in finder, expose. Done.

Of course it is great fun to play with auto focus and think where the focus ought to be for close ups etc for which I want fuzzy infinity things ...
 
I think I understand what your talking about. Sometimes with street photography, I might shoot from the hip. I find it effective to manually focus the camera if it's not against your eye. This is why I think the G1's design is more efficient and better. The focusing wheel is on top, with distances that are easy to read and quick to set. The G2's front focusing wheel and tiny lcd is a bit of a hassle, because who really uses manual focus so often that they'd remember, under high pressure, quick thinking circumstances, where its going to focus when you move the unmarked wheel clockwise or counter clockwise. I have both cameras and I have to say, the G1 is King, especially for wider lenses using manual focusing.

Cheers

Michael
www.michaelbrandt.net
 
I used to have Contax G2 years ago and shot with the 28mm. Unlike most comments here, I often used manual focus. Working close within a 2 ~ 3 meter distance of subjects, I found/find manual focus not difficult to estimate distances making it faster in terms of not having to focus then recompose or even having to look through the viewfinder at all.
 
I must say that when I think "manual focus" my G2 is far from the first option that springs to mind. No doubt it can be done and I think I may have even done it once or twice, but its hardly the camera's strongest suit. With the G2 I like to play to its strengths: those lenses plus autofocus. For manual focus I'll use something else by preference. Of course if all I have with me is the G2 and somehow I need manual focus, then needs must. But I can't say I'd be likely to use it if an alternative were available.

...Mike
 
I also use manual focus when I shoot from the hip. Actually I find it easy with Contax G1. Not that different from shooting with scale-focus cameras.

I also own a G2, but with it I'd rather just use its AF, which is faster than G1's.

If you find G1's focusing wheel loose, see if you can have some pro to adjust it. Local repairman did it free for me in 5 minutes.
 
serial_lain said:
i use autofocus all the time.. otherwise why buy the G? you'd be better off with a leica or voigtlander. With that squinty viewfinder you hardly have the patience and time for anything other than autofocus in my opinion. but i have read of some people using manual focus.
Click to expand...

I have never had the opporunity to peer through the Gs viewfinder. Yet precisely the viewfinder was the reason why one of the most cherished photographers of RFF adviced me against buying this camera. He uses an Hexar lens interchangeable.

Latter, in search for second opinions, I opened a thread about the Gs viewfinders and if my memory doesn't default me I can remember most of the posters were outspokenly positive.

So I guess the issue will remain controversial and my own opinion pending using a G for a whole month at least :bang: day and night.

BTW, perhaps it goes with aging, but night illuminated street subjects are MUCH more difficult to focus than by daylight, both by natural glass wearing without any camera, and of course through any viewfinder.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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It may be also worth pointing out that whilst the view of a 35/45mm lens may seem a little pokey. A Contax G with a 90mm lens on is far superior (to most rangefinders) through the viewfinder due to the fact it automatically adjusts and magnifies for the lens.

IMHO of course.
 
Hi again,

The finder in the Contax G system is definitely mediocre at best. But the great thing about this camera is that since its primarily autofocus, you can use an external viewfinder on it easily without having to focus first then recompose. I picked up the voigtlander 28, 35, and 50. They are bright and clear. It really makes shooting with this camera fun. Imagine working on an old 15" lcd for years and then switching to a 30" display! Its worth it.

I'm sure anyone who has shot with the 21mm or 16mm has already thought of this.

cheers

Michael
 
ruben said:
BTW, perhaps it goes with aging, but night illuminated street subjects are MUCH more difficult to focus than by daylight, both by natural glass wearing without any camera, and of course through any viewfinder.
Click to expand...
Well, while the G viewfinder is a bit 'squinty' the AF system works very well in low light. However, I must say I prefer the autofocus Hexar for low light as I find its viewfinder much nicer. My G2 is a more flexible system, however, with multiple lenses and decent shutter speeds for daylight. I especially like the G2 for fast-moving events such as the anit-APEC demo I shot last year.

...Mike
 
When I still had my G1, used manual focus with both my 28 and 45. It worked out great for me! I really had trouble with autofocus for some reason, and working with the manual focus just flowed really well with me.

Wish I hadn't sold that camera.
 
Hi and many thanks for your answers!

I stayed in Croatia the last weeks and didn't look inside this forum. No internet.
Took no street photos there but if you're interested in landscape shots taken with the Contax G wait about one week from now and take a look on my flickr-photos

cheers
 
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