Eugene
Member
I recently had the opportunity to buy a Contax 21mm from a camera store. The catch was that I had to buy the whole kit including a G2 body, 45mm, 90mm and 28mm. I now have 2 G2's at home. Can't let the wife know. But I need to sell one soon to pay for my Canon EOS 30D. This is a tough decision.
John
Well-known
I also love my G2. 
It rivals a Leica for quality, engineering, and optics. I found the features easy to learn and they help me grab shots I would miss with lesser cameras.
It rivals a Leica for quality, engineering, and optics. I found the features easy to learn and they help me grab shots I would miss with lesser cameras. 
kuvvy
Well-known
Eugene said:
Eugene, I sympathise with your predicament. I'm considering a DSLR purchase but something has to go in it's place. Might be the Contax G1 or the Canon G5 digicam or even both plus some other bits eg Metz 34CS-2 flash, Espio Mini and whatever else I can find. I'm sat here at the moment just staring at the Ebay site and hesitating about placing the ad. Frustrating to say the least.:bang:
Desmond
Newbie
As a newbie to the forum may I give my two pennorth on the G2?
I've been trialing a G2 with 90,54,35 and 28mm lenses this weekend with a view to buying it.
On the plus side the results are very good. Each of the lenses has great sharpness and contrast and would give an M lens a run for its money. The 45 is outstanding and I'd say the 35 is the weakest, it doesn't seem noticeably better than the 38 on my Contax T2. The camera is lovely to look at and to handle, easy to use and has great versatility. The flash is accurate though I only tried TTL.
On the debit side, although it is beautifully made I am quite nervous about the electronic lens mount especially in bad weather and also about getting lenses securely fixed on the body. It brings back memories of a very expensive accident some years ago while trying to fit a 35mm on an M mount with cold hands!
The other thing is that I left behind photography with interchangeable lenses some time ago when I could no longer carry a camera bag any great distance. So although I don't see film as a retrograde step I found even the relatively light outfit a bit of a trial.
Conclusion? I love the camera but ...... I won't be buying it.
I've been trialing a G2 with 90,54,35 and 28mm lenses this weekend with a view to buying it.
On the plus side the results are very good. Each of the lenses has great sharpness and contrast and would give an M lens a run for its money. The 45 is outstanding and I'd say the 35 is the weakest, it doesn't seem noticeably better than the 38 on my Contax T2. The camera is lovely to look at and to handle, easy to use and has great versatility. The flash is accurate though I only tried TTL.
On the debit side, although it is beautifully made I am quite nervous about the electronic lens mount especially in bad weather and also about getting lenses securely fixed on the body. It brings back memories of a very expensive accident some years ago while trying to fit a 35mm on an M mount with cold hands!
The other thing is that I left behind photography with interchangeable lenses some time ago when I could no longer carry a camera bag any great distance. So although I don't see film as a retrograde step I found even the relatively light outfit a bit of a trial.
Conclusion? I love the camera but ...... I won't be buying it.
S
Socke
Guest
Hm, the lens mount is as fixed as it can get short of welding the lens to the body. The electronic contacts on the camera are quite sturdy and I only managed to bend one on a lens with the help of a losely knit pullover. I bent it back into position and it's fine now.
I haven't had any problems in what I call bad weather, i.E. hours of rain where it didn't make much sense to shoot due to the heavy rain between me and my subjects.
I'd probably not use it outside in a hurican or blizzard.
I haven't had any problems in what I call bad weather, i.E. hours of rain where it didn't make much sense to shoot due to the heavy rain between me and my subjects.
I'd probably not use it outside in a hurican or blizzard.
S
Socke
Guest
Oh, and welcome to the forum!
Desmond
Newbie
Hi Socke, thanks for the welcome.I'm sure you are right about the robustness, it's probably just me being nervous as the camera isn't mine!
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
Hi - no idea if anyone is still reading this thread but I thought I should add my thoughts as a new entrant to, not just Contax G's but also, rangefinders in general.
I bought a G1 a couple of weeks back - WOW! I don't know which is better, the G1 or G2 and I don't care! All I know is that for a very small financial outlay I've got a devlishly good camera with great optics.
Its given me fresh impetus and for that alone I'm grateful to it
I bought a G1 a couple of weeks back - WOW! I don't know which is better, the G1 or G2 and I don't care! All I know is that for a very small financial outlay I've got a devlishly good camera with great optics.
Its given me fresh impetus and for that alone I'm grateful to it
DavidH
Overweight and over here
OurManInTangier said:
I share your enthusiasm! Bought a G2 a while ago and am enjoying using it to the exclusion of all my manual Nikons...the results have been excellent and I'm very satisfied with the kit. Glad you're having fun with the G1...
You're in Suffolk...and up at 02.00 in the morning? Snap.