Contax g1, should I ?

[lawnpotter]

I am suprised to be here,I was close to becomming part of the Bessa fraternity but today I saw a used g1 for a good price. My plan was 100% to buy a voigtlander Bessa and I still want to buy one but I have the oportunity to buy a g1 with a 45mm lense for a little more than half the price of a new Bessa body. I went on flickr and the images from the g1 look mind blowing. I can still buy a Bessa but while I am saving I could have a G1 to play with. However, I am very concerned about buying this camera cause if its a lemon or if it breaks how can I fix it? I live in Vancouver Canada. Also, are batteries common for this camera? Is a G1 a risky thing to buy these days? Thanks

 

[Larky]

The G1 is a gem, I love mine and am looking for another, or a G2 to go with it.

Give it a couple of rolls to get used to, after that you'll be in love.

You'll hear lots of negative feedback about it being slow to focus, not working in low light, being noisier than Black Sabbath etc. It's all made up. Also, the viewfinder is not as dull as everyone says.

I work fully manual most of the time, set the focus to 2 meters on F8. I pre-focus by partially holding down the trigger, see the shot, raise and take the shot, then let go. With practice you'll be super fast and super accurate.

 

[pizzahut88]

Worse comes to worse, you can still fix your Contax by sending it to Tokyo/Kyocera.
However, the Zeiss 45mm is lovely. I am sure you will be pleased with the results.

But do not forget, money you spend on the Bessa will be more worthwhile.
Lenses that you buy can be later used for a Leica M or Zeiss Ikon.
You won't have to sell everything.

I am sure the Contax won't last forever, remember to check for LCD leak.
I miss my Contax G2.

Another point . . . I confirm G2 focusing is indeed noisy.

 

[lawnpotter]

Thanks for the replies

Thanks for the replies

Pizza hut88 where is your g2?

 

[kuzano]

I don't think of the G1 as having focus problem

I don't think of the G1 as having focus problem

I do know that the complaints were significant enough that Contax started issuing a supplemental manual for focusing the G1. The essence of the problem is that the focus rectangle is pretty small, so you have to focus on the subject with a reasonable contrast difference within the focus mark, lock the focus and recompose. I suppose it is not a problem for me because that's pretty much the way I have used autofocusing cameras all along.

And since I was able to pick up a G1 with all three of those fantastic lenses for just a bit over $600, I was ecstatic. It seems that while I've heard the preference for the G2, I've seen just as many post about people happy with their G1's. Particularly considering the price advantage.

 

[Larky]

pizzahut, want to sell that G2?

 

[pizzahut88]

Pizza hut88 where is your g2?

I sold it, don't have it no more.
If Contax didn't die, I would not have sold it.
Sold it as soon as the news started to leak . . . got a pretty good price for it.


Looking back, my set was in perfect perfect mint condition when I sold it.
I reinvest all funds into a Leica body and some ZM lenses.

 

[fbf]

It's electronic gear and it won't last forever (not like leica at least). Buy it, enjoy it, and don't let it collect dust on the shelf. The price right now for a set of contax is more than reasonable. I almost sold my set a month ago but I just couldn't. Despite all the common complaints out there (VF, AF, slow lenses...), the pictures I got from contax are just unbelievable.

 

[lawnpotter]

Thanks for the replies

Thanks for the replies

Can the g lenses be used on other cameras like the Ziess Ikon? Thanks

 

[fbf]

nope. Two totally different systems.

 

[lawnpotter]

Are the the Zeiss Ikon lenses

Are the the Zeiss Ikon lenses

as stunning as the contax G lenses?

 

[sirius]

You know, my thoughts on the camera are that it is rather under-valued right now, but stable. They are great picture-making machines and you can get a whole kit for a small price. It depends on the way you want to work. I've heard they are great cameras if you want to use automatic focusing.

I wouldn't worry about repairs. You will make due and will likely have a camera that lasts you well and gives great results for a very long time, at least as long as film is common. Has anyone here ever had to send their Contax for repair (excluding catastrophic events)? They seem to be built like tanks!

Some days I think we're all anachronistic with using film cameras and rangefinders...but it is enjoyable, so I keep using these lovely machines. Contax makes lovely machines too!

 

[Joe Vitessa]

KEH does repairs on both the G1 and G2. (They worked on my G1). Yes, it is one of the best cameras for the money, in my opinion. But so is the Bessa R!

There is a similarity between Zeiss lenses for the G system and ZI. Of course, not in price.

 

[Doug]

There may exist direct comparison tests between the G lenses and the corresponding ZM lenses, but I have not seen it. It does make some sense that the newer ZM series benefits from previous experience and changes in technology.

 

[REVIVECONTAX]

I have the G2 and it's an awesome machine. If you have concerns about the G1...just go out and get the G2......You won't be disappointed.....Trust me!

 

[Larky]

The other thing about these cameras is that they feel like you are holding a Bentley. This thing has been crafted by Leonardo out of Platinum plated Moon rock, blessed by Moses and Jesus, then delivered by Audrey Hepburn wearing her birthday suit.

Really, I don't see how anything can compare.

Oh, it takes great shots too! 🙂

 

[foto_fool]

I have been wrestling with whether or not to sell my G1 kit, and just can't do it. I love this setup. Given what they are selling for these days I would rate them as the best value out there in an interchangeable lens system, bar none. The internet kvetching about the 'shortcomings' of these little gems is way overblown.

The Zeiss lenses are spectacular. If you are looking at a G1 (which I prefer to the G2 for its smaller size and slightly less weight) and want to use the 21mm or the 35mm lenses, make sure the body you buy has a green sticker in the film compartment.

 

[myoptic3]

These CAN be great cameras, but they have known issues. 1-occasional LCD bleed. 2-small viewfinder. 3-occasional focus problems (this is on a camera by camera basis. Get a good one, no problems. Get a bad one and there will be shutter lag, some out of focus pictures, and sometimes the camera will refuse to fire. I have owned 6 or 7 of these cameras, and I assure you the knowm problems are not made up). 4-sometimes, on some cameras, the shutter button will not fire the camera. Pressing it down hard a lot of times will usually cure this, at least for a while. The Konica Hexar AF cameras have the same known problem. 5-many of these have trouble reliably focusing the 90 lens, which is a favorite of mine. The great thing about the 90 is that it is 1 to 1 in the viewfinder. Excellent portrait lens.

Using these G cameras takes some practice, but when they work correctly they are a lot of fun to shoot w/, and the lenses are great. I would definately recommend buying from KEH as they offer a 14 day return, a 60 day warranty, and are wonderful to deal w/. I have lost too much money buying old electronic cameras on ebay that quickly broke. You will find that these cameras can get the grab shots a lot faster than a manual focus camera, and the exposure lock is a joy to use. Wish they still made them new.

 

[farce]

oh man, you guys are going to push the price up for the G ;-)

 

[Bob Michaels]

New ZI vs. ContaxG lenses

New ZI vs. ContaxG lenses

There may exist direct comparison tests between the G lenses and the corresponding ZM lenses, but I have not seen it. It does make some sense that the newer ZM series benefits from previous experience and changes in technology.

I use the new ZM 35mm Biogon and the new ZM 50mm Planar as well as the ContaxG 21mm & 28 mm Biogons and the 35mm and 45 mm Planars. I find them each of them to be excellent optically. I cannot tell a real difference between the new 50mm Planar and the ContaxG 45mm Planar. I can tell there is some difference between the new ZM 35mm Biogon and the ContaxG 35mm Planar but I can't say that one if better, they are just slightly different.

Years ago I thought that if I could just have the ContaxG glass in manual focus lenses that they would be the ultimate. Now I have them but find there are tradeoffs. I'm glad I don't have to choose just one of those systems.