G2-Yes or No.

W

wilsonpeter@mac

Peter
Local time
9:15 PM
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
11
I have decided to buy my first Rangefinder for many years.Have I chosen the right system to start with?Thinking maybe G2 body and either 35 or 45.​
 
The G2 is a sound body. I'd consider the 35 first, a good general purpose semi wide angle,. The Zeiss lenses are a peach as well.
 
A capital YES!

You can use it as a P&S for the quick grab shot and if you want to achieve something else you can put it in full manual and be as creative as you want.
The lenses are superb and the limited choice is not that bad as they cover the most used ranges.

Some people complain about the shutter lag, but I don't know how they focus faster than the G2 does it.

With continous AF you can fill a 36 exposure roll with properly focused pictures in nine seconds :)

I just fetched four rolls from a lab and returned only three prints which were blurry.
 
And Fred is right, try to get the 35mm as a first lens! I started with the 45 and added the 28 a few weeks later.

I just added the 35 as I found the 28 often a bit too wide and the 45 a bit too narrow, now I don't change lenses so much anymore.

Attached you'll find some samples on nonane ISO200 film.
 
I haven't seen many 35mm for sale anywhere.Most seem to be 45mm or kits of 28/45/90.
Will take you advice.By the way I checked out your Gallery as you suggested.Very impressive.Do you use a G2?
 
OT

Socke, your last shot is brilliant, 'catching the last of the sunset rays', well done! Think I'll have a beer later.
 
Socke said:
And Fred is right, try to get the 35mm as a first lens! I started with the 45 and added the 28 a few weeks later.

I just added the 35 as I found the 28 often a bit too wide and the 45 a bit too narrow, now I don't change lenses so much anymore.

Attached you'll find some samples on nonane ISO200 film.
Click to expand...
Thank you.Viewed both sets of pictures,very impressive.Do you have the full kit?If I can afford it I will probably go for 35mm and 90mm.
 
wilsonpeter@mac said:
Thank you.Viewed both sets of pictures,very impressive.Do you have the full kit?If I can afford it I will probably go for 35mm and 90mm.
Click to expand...

I have 28, 35, 45 and 90mm, the TLA 200 flash and the external battery kit.

When I need flash, I mostly use a TLA 30 because it's not as prone to red eye and takes AA cells. I take the TLA 200 when I'm mostly sure I don't need a flash and don't want to carry a bigger one.

It took me three years to assemble this kit and now I wan't a second body :)
 
Fred said:
OT

Socke, your last shot is brilliant, 'catching the last of the sunset rays', well done! Think I'll have a beer later.
Click to expand...


Thanks Fred, I'm just scrolling through four CD's I fetched from the lab today and try to decide what I want to rescan.
 
I don't use a Contax G2 although I came very close to going for one. I use a manual focus beast that does me OK although the speed of the G2 would come in handy from time to time.

I've got a few prime lenses, Cosina Voigtlander 15 (best 230 quid spent complete with viewfinder) although it's far from my main user lens. (Manolo may disagree here having seen his results on this site).

Main users are the 35 and 90. Next is the 50.

Hope this helps.
 
Peter, I think you'll at least appreciate the very excellent quality of the Contax camera and especially its lenses. I was attracted by the fast f/2.8 21mm Biogon, then had to buy a body to put it on! Inevitably other lenses came along as well, also with delightful optics and mechanical quality. I wasn't too sure I could live happily with auto-focus, but after a bit of re-learning I've come to terms with it. As to whether the Contax will suit you and your way of working, I couldn't say, but it's excellent gear!
 
Thank you Doug,I have decided to go for the Contax system.Now I need to find the right equipment.Will probably go with advice and buy a body and at least a 35mm.
Regards
Peter
 
Fortunately, prices on used Contax gear is very reasonable now, and some new product is still available off the shelf too. Indeed it was the modest cost (combined with the extremely high quality) that made it attractive for me to buy into this system.

The 35mm Biogon was I think the most recently intruduced lens in the lineup, so this might explain there being fewer of them around. The zoom and the 21mm were introduced about the same time as the G2, but it seems the 35 came along later, and it sells at wildly differing prices... I think this reflects uncertainty whether or not this lens has the same incredible optical quality as the 28 and 45mm.

Also recently introduced is the black laquer finish option, and this carries a significant price premium for all components.

Have fun shopping! Be patient, but be prepared to move quickly when the right item(s) appear for sale!
 
The G2 is a very well made camera beautifully finished and prcise. However, the focus drove me nuts as sometimes it would not allow me to make a photo. I'd recommend the 35mm also; it's now my favorite lens.

Zoltan
 
Adding one slight reservation to the chorus of postives

Adding one slight reservation to the chorus of postives

I'll second everything said above, especially the praise for the Zeiss lenses - they are extremely sharp, especially the 45mm and the 28mm. But I've got to add that I sold my Contax G2 kit (28/45/90 and TLA 200) a year ago after having a horrible time getting it repaired by Contax. The slow repair wasn't the main problem, the breakdown - during the first week of a month-long trip around Australia - was caused by electronic failure in the body mount contacts and the shutter release. Sadly, none of the shops/repair centers I visited in Cairns, and then in Darwin, could fix the G2. A good friend with the same set up had a similar break down and repair headache with his G2 (Kyocera is not tops on customer service).

The autofocus is fast, and even in manual mode, the passive focusing system makes a bit of buzzing noise I came to dislike, but I do miss those Zeiss lenses. They rival anything out there, even the fantastic leitz glass (I'm not a leica owner and I don't want to start any feuds... both lens manufacturers make great glass). I just felt I should add my two cents re: the repair hassles and this one glitch (seeing as no one else has mentioned it, maybe my camera and my friend's are the exception).

For the money, the G2 and those beautiful Zeiss lenses are very hard to beat.
 
zpuskas said:
The G2 is a very well made camera beautifully finished and prcise. However, the focus drove me nuts as sometimes it would not allow me to make a photo. I'd recommend the 35mm also; it's now my favorite lens.

Zoltan
Click to expand...


I have to side with Zoltan. I sold mine after three months as the focusing and its accompanying noise drove me up the wall especially with the 90mm on it, want out of focus….no problemo :bang: On manual I hated it even more! Loved the build the look the feel, saved up to buy it, just could stand using it.
There are those that will disagree of course but then it’s always a subjective thing. What works for one doesn’t always work for another; lets all just be glad that we have the choice. Try before you buy if you can.

All the best

B.
 
I owned two G1s, and a G2. Bought it, hated it, sold it, tried to convince myself it was good enough, bought it back, hated it, and eventually gave up on it.

It's a great system. Beautiful cameras, wonderful lenses -- but an annoyingly small viewfinder. That was the deal breaker for me. I just couldn't see what I was focusing at.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom