film objektiv for testing potential purchases

[karateisland]

As time goes on, I am coming closer to admitting that the Minolta CLE just doesn't light me on fire the way I hoped it would. I'm thinking of selling it to raise funds for a Contax G series, but I'm loathe to let the CLE go before I've had a chance to test a G series. And no one near me seems to own one.

I am considering renting a G2 to give it a test run, and wondering if anyone has ever used the site. It seems like a useful idea, but I'm not sure how much I trust a rental service that has such vague rules regarding when they'll charge a repair fee.

Thought I'd throw it the crowd--any experiences with this?

 

[Steve M.]

Which site might that be?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dunno about rental, but my suspicion is that if you're not overjoyed with a CL, you may not be outstandingly keen on the G2 either. Not being able to focus manually (at least not easily) put me off. What's your objection (other than financially) to a "real" Leica (M or screw). Though admittedly not all Ms are perfect: see Five Leicas on my .eu site.

Cheers,

R.

 

[karateisland]

Which site might that be?

filmobjektive.org

Got stripped out of my post, somehow...

Dunno about rental, but my suspicion is that if you're not overjoyed with a CL, you may not be outstandingly keen on the G2 either. Not being able to focus manually (at least not easily) put me off. What's your objection (other than financially) to a "real" Leica (M or screw). Though admittedly not all Ms are perfect: see Five Leicas on my .eu site.

Cheers,

R.

Hi Roger--

It's true, I'm also not sure I'll be overjoyed, which is why I'd love to get my hands on one to try before I cough up the dollars. Oddly, what attracts me to the G2 is what turned you off, that it's designed to be used in autofocus mode.

Why autofocus? I love shooting my Rolleiflex, and feel that it just gives me more of the "manual" experience that I was looking for in a film camera. The odd effect is that the CLE started to feel like a compromise between a digital camera and my Rollei--not automatic enough to be a casual camera to use for popping off quick shots, and not quite as fun to use as a manual camera. Basically, I'd love to try a G2 because it seems like a digital camera that just happens to take 35mm film.

As for the objections to Leicas, I have none (other than finances)! I still hope to add one to my stable some day, though I'm not sure which. I've had my eye on one of the M4 variants, perhaps an M4-P.

 

[sepiareverb]

... Basically, I'd love to try a G2 because it seems like a digital camera that just happens to take 35mm film...

I would concur with this notion. You might consider the Hexar RF as another possible camera. No AF, but quite G2 like otherwise.

The G2 has been described as a point and shoot camera on steroids. Quite capable as such, but also easily adjusted in every way except focus. it is a basic autofocus camera, but with only a short period of time one gets used to the quirks of the AF. I made a great number of images with a G2, with excellent lenses, a fantastic shutter speed range and a terrific user interface. I settled on the M for the wider range of lenses, and have a Hexar for those times when I need the “digital camera that takes film”.

 

[santino]

G2 = superb lenses for far less than their Leica equivalents.
Drawback = strange manual focus.