Help please: G2 with Vario Sonnar or?

[uluaman]

I have finally decided to go back to film, and have narrowed down to the G2 (was using G1 a few years back and loved it)

Questio: Should I get the G2 with the Vario-Sonnar, or G2 with separate 28, 45 and 90mm lenses? Assume similar price.

Purpose: Street and casual photography.

Also, with the current "dumping" of analog cameras, what would be a good price for a G2 set above in good condition?

Thanks!

 

[furcafe]

I don't have the Vario-Sonnar, but it certainly has a good reputation, optically-speaking. However, it is a zoom, & is slower than any of the primes, so I would think that you need to ask yourself whether you typically need or anticipate needing to shoot @ apertures greater than f/3.5. Also, since the Vario-Sonnar wasn't made in great quantities, it's also quite possible that it will cost more than all the equivalent primes added together (it also doesn't cover as wide of a range in focal lengths).

I have finally decided to go back to film, and have narrowed down to the G2 (was using G1 a few years back and loved it)

Questio: Should I get the G2 with the Vario-Sonnar, or G2 with separate 28, 45 and 90mm lenses? Assume similar price.

Purpose: Street and casual photography.

Also, with the current "dumping" of analog cameras, what would be a good price for a G2 set above in good condition?

Thanks!

 

[Berliner]

I've had the G2 & 28,35,45,90 since it was introduced. A fine piece of kit...I have no personal experience with the vario-sonnar, but I do remember it was the 'weakest link' in the G lense line-up according to all the research I did at the time--never actually attached it to the body though, so take that for what it's worth...

 

[kuvvy]

Berliner is right in that the vario-sonnar was considered the poorest in the line-up but is much better performer than many others out there. Yes it slower and for me it didn't go wide enough but would be ideal for travel. There are a few threads here regarding the Vario if you search.
The G2 is excellent of course. Having said that mine has been feeling neglected recently and is shortly going for sale along with my 28 & 90mm. I haven't shot a roll of film for months. Shame on me!

 

[akptc]

I have the G2 with 28, 35, 45, 90 and the Vario-Sonnar. Slides shot with the zoom lens have been coming out very nicely for me. I use the 28mm mainy with B&W film and it's a killer of a lens. Love the 90mm for head shots. For practical purposes, I like this kit very much:

G2 + 28mm + Vario Sonnar + 90mm

 

[DavidH]

Questio: Should I get the G2 with the Vario-Sonnar, or G2 with separate 28, 45 and 90mm lenses? Assume similar price.

Purpose: Street and casual photography.

Also, with the current "dumping" of analog cameras, what would be a good price for a G2 set above in good condition?

Well - I don't know where you are but you could check some of the traders for prices with warranty and use them as a yardstick for somewhere like ebay...
www.ffordes.co.uk are a good guide here in the UK (keh.com in the US?).

G2 prices have been fairly static for a while, the G1 has dropped a tad over last few months - as far as I can tell from my general checking for bargains
Prices of gear on ebay seem stupidly high at times and I've given up buying much there now because prices are often higher than from a dealer! But the odd one slips thru...as long as you can wait for a time when idiots aren't bidding thru the roof then there's the odd bargain.

As for lenses - the 45 is glorious - my second favorite lens of all time - on any system I've used...so I am biased to the primes. The 28 is nice but I'm trying the 21 tomorrow with a view to selling the 28 if it works...the 90 is also a great lens. The zoom has excellent reviews everywhere i've seen it - so the only downside seems to be speed...and that's a call only you can make...personally I like to shoot open for shallow dof but don't know for 'street' shots because I don't do any...

Happy hunting.

 

[Gray Fox]

I am part way through my first roll with the 35-70 on my G2 so I don't know how the shots will compare with my primes, but the focal range does suit much of what I shoot. I'm not a street photographer so I only shoot wide open for shallow depth of field. I think I'll shoot the remainder of the roll with the lens set to its widest aperture to see how much depth of field, or lack of it, is present. I got the lens from KEH in Ex+ condition for $499US and it looked like new and zooms smoothly.

 

[awilder]

It might make more sense to get the Contax TVS III as opposed to the VS 35-70 lens. The price will be about the same for a much more compact outfit of similar capability and optical quality. The VS 30-60 zoom on the TVS III has the best reputation in the TVS family and it's in a package easily concealed for candid shots. Add to that if you really want, a G2 with a 90/2.8 and 45/2 for low light and you're set.

 

[uluaman]

Many thanks for the valuable input and opinions.

I have decided to go for the G2 with 3 separate lenses. I saw the condition yesterday, and it looks awesome. They can pass for new! Simply could not resist them.

Have a good one people,
uluaman

 

[Doug]

Welcome to RFF, uluaman! I have considered the Vario-Sonnar but each time it comes out expensive and slow. Even for street or travel, etc, it would need fast film unless you stay in good light... and I don't. I have the same opinion on the reasonably popular Fuji GA645Z with its slow 55-90 zoom.

The 28, 45, and 90mm combination is extremely flexible and outstanding in quality, so I expect you'll not be able to complain of their performance, only of your own. And best wishes with that!

 

[sircarl]

I have most of the G2's prime lenses plus the zoom, which I use exclusively for travel (take it along with the 21mm). The other posters have pretty much covered its pluses and minuses, but I have found the slides I've shot with the zoom to be excellent. And of course you don't have the hassle of changing lenses when you have the "wrong" lens mounted, which can cause you to miss key shots now and then.