G2-Yes or No.

I'm not sure what your needs are, or what subjects you shoot... of if you're familiar with rangefinders. But one good place to start is with a Voigtlander Bessa R3a, or R2a. These take a number of lenses and the viewfinders are incredibly bright and a real joy to use.
 
Hi Peter,

I have a G2 with 3 lenses but I shoot mostly with the 28mm. The TLA140 flash is a bit further from the lens axis than a mounted TLA200 and I only experience red-eye when shooting faces from more than 3 meters.

This camera is great for shooting candids, especially with flash. Half of the time I don't even look through the viewfinder but shoot as if it were a pistol. Prefocusing is easy, you can see the distance to subject by looking at the little display on the top. In low light, however, this display is hard to see because it is not illuminated.

With a wide angle lens stopped down to f/8 or smaller, this tool is much faster in low light situations (using flash, of course) than any other of my manual rangefinder cameras. If I decide to shoot at a party, club or other place where a lot of people are standing close to me, this is the camera I take along.

If you shoot a lot of film with this camera, and use the flash frequently, I recommend you buy a lot of those expensive lithium batteries in bulk through *bay. This has saved me a lot of money over the years.

Like Socke, I too am considering a second body, just because I love this camera so much. It may be loud, but where I use it, I cannot hear the noise.

Best,
Kevin
 
I suppose it could come down to what you can afford. I hope this helps outline a few alternatives for consideration if you decide not to go for the Contax G route.

The cheapest way to enter the fun wourld of RF photography would be to hunt down a used FSU camera (FED Zorki etc) from ebay but as always you'd be taking a bit of a chance and restricting the use to the 39mm Leica thread mout (LTM). Some very good results can be achived with this for a small outlay, just look at some of the galleries. Other members may be able to help here.

For new kit the Voigtlander Bessa R would do the job but as above is a screw mount only. From a personal perspective the Bessa R2A (framelines for 35/50/75/90) the Bessa R3A (framelines for 40/50/75/90) are a better choice. Both of the 'A' cameras are leica M bayonet mount and have aperture priority auto and manual and are much better built than the original R.

Other used RF cameras worth a look arte the Kinica Hexar RF (very nice) and the Leica Minolta CL and CLE.

If you can wait a while look about for the new Zeiss Ikon RF, certainly I'd like to see one. The advantage here over the Voigtlander kit is RF base length (better focussing on longer fast lenses and arguably the build should be better. Interestingly this will be made along side the Voigtlander bodies by Cosina.

The most expensive new 35mm RF kit is the Leica M7 (aperture auto and manual ) and MP (mechanical manual). These cost much more but are allegedly the best built. The long RF base length helps a lot too. The shutters are very quiet.

A word of note. The M bayonet mount cameras can accept the LTM lenses via an easily available adapter. These adapters will automatically change the view finder frame lines on the Ikon and Leica. Different adapters for different lenses. Also noteworthy is the plethora of used glass out there including Zeiss.

Sorry for the waffle.

I'm sure everyone on this forum will be willing to give more advice. Have fun with the hunt.
 
Morning,

I am just reading review of Bessa R3A in last Black and White magazine.
I have also seen some pictures and details of the new Zeiss Ikon,on the Robert White site.
There really is so much choice.It would be good to be able to handle a selection but not many outlets in this area.I will probably try a camera fair where with some luck I might be able to do so.
Regards
Peter.
 
Hi Peter,

Looking at your location I think the nearest place to you for the Voigtlander cameras may be Dale Photographic in Leeds. A bit of a trek but you could at least see and handle the differences between the R2a and 3A viewfinders.

Hope this helps.
 
Today I think I'd buy a Voigtländer R2a with a 35 pancake and 75.
The M-Mount is the system with the biggest choice of bodies and lenses and the features of the G2, i.e. 1/6000th shutter in AE, AF, 4 fps, aren't so desireable for the typical rangefinder aficcionado.

So I think Zeiss decision to go M-Mount was a wise one although I'd sell my in-law for a digital Conatx G, if I weren't single :)
 
A few things I have noted on the G series. It seems smaller with many of it's lenses than many of it's competitors. The lenses (35 and shorter) are partly in the camera. The 21 is almost completely in the camera, and the 16 is in it. Very nice. They make a little noise, but, the slides come out awesome (if my darn slide scanners worked, I would show some off).

And lastly, as the series is dead, they are very cheap. I will buy another body, and then move on... but I will keep my G series around.
 
As someone who is use to modern Nikon SLR's/DSLR's I have to say the short time spent with my new (used) G2 has been a thrill. It's solid as a rock and I've had no problems with the AF which I think is pretty quick, very accurate and not nearly as noisy as some say it is. I just picked up a 28 to go along with the 45 I purchased originally. I still like to shoot digital for some subjects the G2 can't cover but my poor little Nikon D70 feels like a fat piece of plastic after time spent with the G2. I'll never be the same again. :)
 
Socke said:
So I think Zeiss decision to go M-Mount was a wise one although I'd sell my in-law for a digital Conatx G, if I weren't single :)
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Yes, too bad the Contax-G mount is essentially dead along with future production. But there is at least one advantage with a proprietary mount like this... compatibility, as the maker has control of both body and lens. Hmmm, do we have to exclude here the silver-sticker G1 with 21, 35, and zoom? :rolleyes:

I suspect a digital version of the G series would interest a lot of customers. But truly, I'm as pleased with the film, more pleased actually, and see no great reason to abandon it. And as most everyone else runs after digital, look at the wonderful prices these days on G-gear! Hmmm, can I justify having more than one G lens of the same focal length?
 
I once had two G2 bodies and all of the lenses (incl the 16 and the zoom), and loved the system. Now I have M-mount cameras and love them too. If I were to choose one 35mm rangefinder system I'd have to go with something M-mount, mostly because there's so much selection in all price ranges, used and new. Which is a mixed blessing, of course... with the G system I could at least reach a point where I could stop acquiring!

Camerawise I personally like the Hexar RF ... I've always thought of it as a perfect cross between the G2 and my M6TTL (for me, anyway).
 
JonasYip said:
I once had two G2 bodies and all of the lenses (incl the 16 and the zoom), and loved the system. Now I have M-mount cameras and love them too. If I were to choose one 35mm rangefinder system I'd have to go with something M-mount, mostly because there's so much selection in all price ranges, used and new. Which is a mixed blessing, of course... with the G system I could at least reach a point where I could stop acquiring!
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Now that last is a good point for limiting the effects of GAS. :D But, why exercise restraint; why not the G2 system AND the M-bayonet system? The G is so inexpensive now, the quality cries out for acquisition, and there are very economical ways into the M system.

I got into the M in 1967 with a used M2 and new 35 'cron, later got a new CLE, and more recently a Bessa-T. Just this year I dived into the Contax G2 with a few lenses. I can't seem to bring myself to part with my older gear, so I just let it accumulate. :)
 
Doug said:
why exercise restraint; why not the G2 system AND the M-bayonet system?
... I can't seem to bring myself to part with my older gear, so I just let it accumulate. :)
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Actually, I still have one G2 with the 21 Biogon and 45 Planar... they're just too nice to part with. I too have a tendency to let gear accumulate (Gear Accumulation Syndrome?)

j
 
I had a G2 outfit on loan for several months from the importers and I'd CERTAINLY prefer a Leica M or a Bessa. The Contax lenses are gorgeous but I really didn't like the camera very much. I much preferred the 35mm Contax SLR outfit I borrowed but I couldn't afford to keep it even with a press discount (35/1.4, 35/2.8PC and 100/2,8 Makro didn't help...)

Cheers,

Roger
 
JonasYip said:
Actually, I still have one G2 with the 21 Biogon and 45 Planar... they're just too nice to part with.
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I found the 90 to be an incredible portrait lens. The 35 an awesome street lens. The 28 is nice... but it ussually sits, the 35 and 21 seem easier for me to fit in... and often end up my carry kit.

I want the zoom and 16... but want a G2 as well. I currently have a G1 (also an awesome camera).
 
Funny, this conversation helped lead me out to buy a G2 today to go with my G1. Kinda funny:)
 
Congratulations, NoTx! That kind of influence is one of the things RFF is best at! :D

I had a G1 first as well, with only the 21mm lens. And it was that lens that pulled me into the G system. It accumulated from there!
 
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