I finally got a Contax G1!!!

[LeicaFoReVer]

After adoring this camera a year, finally I got a white sticker one with 45mm...

My first impressions: this camera is so elegant! I know this is not a technical adjective but I really liked its shape and features compared to my M6...The grip makes you feel the body and the weight is just enough. I was imagining it a plastic feel camera because of its color but not, it feels sturdy! This is also the first zeiss glass I own...

I wish they continued to make those cameras today (as every contax user would say...)

I have some questions. what is the lever under the shutter speed dial? when I select it towards left, left digit of counter blinks and a plus sign appears on the green screen...

how about the square kind of symbol when you switch in drive button?

I had also some difficulty in mounting the lens as the red dot is inside and hard to align and see...what is the right procedure of mounting and unmounting it?

Thanks!

 

[nonot]

congrats, it's a great camera!

"The lever under the the shutter speed button" Do you mean under the dial? if so that's for exposure compensation, you should see the +- increments there?

I'm not sure what you mean about the other function.

As for mounting, it's a bit fiddly, you'll get the hang of it, just make sure to turn the knurled metal part, and not the plastic part.

have fun with it.

 

[kdemas]

You're going to be amazed with that 45mm. Razor sharp.

Enjoy!

 

[nonot]

oh also you can find the manual at butkus.org, it will help you with some of the more "mysterious" functions of the camera.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

oh now I see the exposure +- letters hidden 🙂

The other one appears on the led when you switch using the drive button, First S, then C then timer and the next one that I dont know...I will check the manual. Thank you very much!!!

 

[splitimageview]

Excellent. 🙂

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

As for mounting, it's a bit fiddly, you'll get the hang of it, just make sure to turn the knurled metal part, and not the plastic part.

have fun with it.

I was trying to turn the plastic part 🙂

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

oh that is the multiple exposure symbol 🙂

 

[nonot]

Yeah, keep fingers away from the plastic.

Right, the multiple exp, it's a bit different on the g2 which is what I use now.

post some pics when you have 'em.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Definetely I will post images!!!!

I did not know that there is an adaptor for SLR lenses! that might be interesting. Any experiences?

 

[ReeRay]

On the large dial +- is ex. Comp. The lever underneath is bracketing (1/2 or 1 stop) S = single shot, C= continuous and self timer (10 secs) AEL = exposure lock. bracket you mention is multi-exposure Hope this helps

 

[cidereye]

Congrats on your new G1! 🙂

As nonot indicated make sure you read the manual thoroughly to get the most out of using the camera especially the sections on auto-focus. Many, many people have tried these cameras in the past and could not get on with them complaining they got too many out of focus pictures. Understand how the AF works and you will not be one of them I assure you. 😉

Have fun with it, they truly are fantastic cameras with great (and cheap!) glass too.

 

[whitecat]

Good choice. Great camera.

 

[Cron]

great choice!
great camera with exellent lenses!

 

[nonot]

I bought my kit with the slr adapter included - it's only good with Contax lenses and it works perfectly fine if you don't mind measuring out all your shots (it's not coupled with the rangefinder obviously, and they aren't supported by the autofocus) - it's not useful for the type of shots I use the camera for though, so it collects dust. It's a cool oddity that you might find useful if you do studio work or a lot of landscapes I think.

More useful would be one of the adapters being made for the micro 4/3 cameras - pity you can't use them with the wides as of yet though.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

The manual helped a lot. It is so thorough,,, I understand the focusing and hopefully I will get nice shots. I will post them in here...thanks for helping everybody...

 

[ianstamatic]

I also just got a G1 +45 +90 = $440 incl shipping on fleabay

I cant wait to get a 28mm !!

this camera looks and feels just brilliant.

 

[whitecat]

You won't be able to sleep at night if you don't get the 21mm and the finder.

 

[Steve M.]

The next time you have the lens off look and see if there's some blue deposits on the camera's lens mount, the electrical contacts, and the lens's mount as well. If there is, clean it off w/ some alcohol. The camera relies on a good contact there to get accurate focus information, and the blue stuff will give you hit or miss focusing and possible shutter lag unless it's wiped clean.

Great little camera, and you should try the 90 2.8 on it. Probably one of the best, and cheapest, portrait lenses in 35mm.

 

[nonot]

You won't be able to sleep at night if you don't get the 21mm and the finder.

It's a nice lens indeed.