Contax G2 a viable back-up system?

[agoglanian]

I shoot digitally ( i know. boo hiss hiss. ) but i do still shoot film. I was looking to get a good ( vey not too expensive) RF system to backup my 35mm stuff. mostly for wideangle.

that 21mm is catching my eye for sure.

how do you guys like the G2 system?

 

[jrong]

I love the G2. I bought it not quite knowing how I felt about an AF rangefinder camera, but I found it was awesome for fast working on the street, and the lenses, well... they are Zeiss lenses, enough said! The G2 is compact, reassuringly heavy and unobtrusive. In fact I think it may well be a perfect travel camera, and certainly a more-than-adequate backup for your system.

Jin

 

[sircarl]

I have the G2 along with (among others) the 21mm lens that you're considering. It's a superb lens -- though you do have to use it with a separate viewfinder, which may be an issue for you. The G2 does have some quirks you may not like, such as a small viewfinder, but if you wouldn't mind them, I recommend it highly.

 

[Socke]

It's my main system!

With the 21 and the external finder the small internal finder is a non issue and the AF is still working, put a 90 on it and the small viewfinder shows the frame bigger than a .85 Leica.

The viewfinder adjusts to the focus, so you don't have to guess if what the framelines show is the lenses coverage at short or far distances.

The G2 is made for quick shots, get it to your eye and shoot, either zone focused or with AF.
While the Leica user is checking his meter and then tries to focus with his flared out rangefinder patch you have four or five well exposed and focused slides with the G2 🙂

 

[jano]

Come to our next photo club meeting and I'll let you test out my G2 🙂 I don't have the 21mm (only the 28mm, hopefully I'll get one within the year), but I really like the camera. It's a bit "noisy" thanks to the auto-advance and autofocus, but in the situations I like to shoot, doesn't make a difference. Small viewfinder doesn't really matter.

The lenses are superb.

 

[Joe Vitessa]

I've got the lowly G1 and it's what I use primarily for travel photo assignments. The lenses cannot be beat. If you can deal with the sometimes quirky autofocus and small viewfinder, go for it.

 

[JonasYip]

Come to our next photo club meeting and I'll let you test out my G2 🙂 I don't have the 21mm (only the 28mm, hopefully I'll get one within the year), but I really like the camera. It's a bit "noisy" thanks to the auto-advance and autofocus, but in the situations I like to shoot, doesn't make a difference. Small viewfinder doesn't really matter.

The lenses are superb.

Which photo club is this? I'm always interested in meeting local enthusiasts. I see you're in Southern California somewhere... I'm in LA, South Bay...

Uh, to get back on topic: The G2 is a great small backup camera (or even primary camera). I still have one G2 body along with the 21 and 45 which I no longer use, but keep around because... they're nice.

I suppose if there's someone who wanted to actually use it I could be convinced to sell them though...

j

 

[Issy]

The G2 is awesome. If price is an issue, and wides are your favor, I would also look at a Bessa with the CV 21 (and or the 24, and the 15, and the 12) 🙂

The CV 21 also gets high reviews.

 

[Kevin]

Luigi makes a case for the G2 and it is a bit quieter with the case on.

 

[agoglanian]

is it really? a case can make a camera quieter?


So IF i were to go this route, with say.. a G2 body, 21/28/45 lenses. what would you guys say to that? this really would be the ideal travel camera for me, and FTR i dont mind external viewfinders one bit. i rather like them actually :-D

 

[jano]

A case may make the rewind and advance a little more quiet, but in outdoor photography it won't make much of a difference. The sounds are similar to a softer stereotypical camera noise. The focus noise is most irksome, but then, that too, isn't *that* bad. Just like any tamron, sigma, or cheapo canon lense.

You may also want to consider just the G1.. it's ever so smaller, and a couple hundred cheaper (according to KEH, if you buy used). My dad has the G1, that's what I used for a couple years until I picked up the G2 last year.

 

[agoglanian]

realistically though, i am torn between this and getting a Hexar RF setup because i can get the 28/35/50, and there are lots more lens options for an M mount camera.

 

[JonasYip]

realistically though, i am torn between this and getting a Hexar RF setup because i can get the 28/35/50, and there are lots more lens options for an M mount camera.

I went thru a similar thought process, I guess, and ended up with a Hexar RF as my main travel camera (with the M6TTL playing backup!). The Hexar RF seemed to be a perfect blend of G2 handling (in terms of film loading, autoexposure, 1/4000 shutter, autowind) with M lenses, although a little less robust overall.

And, uh, not to sound like a broken record, but I also have a Hexar RF body that I no longer use, but keep around just because.... but probably could be persuaded to sell if someone wants to put it to good use.

j