i love my g2

[trev2401]

Hi guys...

just thought i'd share my feelings after shooting my first few rolls of RVP with the G2.

i simply LOVE the camera... small, solid, fast, silent (for a motorized camera) unobtrusive (after being gaffered up), and most of all, fast and easy to use.

As for the pics, i stood at the counter of looking glass (local photo store) peering at my slides for over an HOUR admiring the colour and quality delivered by a simple 150$ 45 F2.

The G2 now follows me whereever i go, together with Ray's GA645. 😀

 

[Dougg]

Those are BOTH great cameras, and I think have a good deal in common, including that they have wonderful lenses. I go back and forth about the AF feature, whether I'm in a mood to like it or dislike it. 🙂 Let's see some of your G2 photos! Here's one of my favorite Main Street manikin with the 21 Biogon...

 

[sircarl]

Hmmm, I too use the G2 and a 645 rangefinder (the Bronica) as my main cameras. They're both fantastic, despite their faults (which I think are exaggerated). Maybe we should start a club.

 

[kuvvy]

"i simply LOVE the camera... small, solid, fast, silent (for a motorized camera) unobtrusive (after being gaffered up), and most of all, fast and easy to use. "

Have you got any pix of your 'gaffered' G2? I tried once to gaffer my G1 but eventually gave up as there were just too many bits involved and it just looked awful. I left the name taped over but that's it. Bought a G2 recently but would have prefered the black version.

 

[sooner]

I agree. Got my first slides and b&w prints back from my G2 (purchased here from a fellow RFFer) and loved it. The lenses are fantastic. However, I have had issues with all the usual gripes: lack of focus with the 90 and finicky focus in general. Also, I don't find it as small as people say; it's certainly not pocketable, so frankly the marginally smaller size doesn't matter much, unless you're comparing it to a huge dSLR with L lens or something. And sometimes the AF is just searching so much I go manual. BUT, not to rain on this parade too much, the sharp lenses are incredible, and the exposure always spot on. I'm very happy with it and now can only blame myself for not taking incredible photos. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for a great camera.

 

[RangerRay]

A black G2 with black Carl Zeiss lenses, in a black case, preferably a Luigi's half case in black leather (so as to cover the Contax logo on the camera's lower right, and be in compliance with Joel Meyerowitz invisibility protocols). If you have good dexterity with your right thumb and index fingers, can compose a good shot, and are one with your picture taking machine, I don't think you'll find a better combo for your buck. How could you not love your G2

 

[Socke]

I never have problems with the AF, although I have my share of missfocused shots. the camera focuses where I point it and not where I want it to 🙂

I had it hunting for focus only once and that was in a theatre where I was to far away for the active infrared and it was to dark for the phase detection to lock on anything.
Actualy, from my three AF cameras the G2 is best with the G1 a close second and the Canon D60 worst by far. Where both the G1 and G2 focus reasonably fast the Canon can't do it at all without the help from the AF assist in the flash.
oops, I forgot I have four AF cameras, the Contax TVS is on parr with the Canon D60 regarding unability to focus in bad light.

 

[Bob Michaels]

If you love the G2, just wait until you try a G1. I've shot both for about five years and prefer the G1.

Funny thing, after using them about six months, all my auto focus issues went away.

 

[jky]

Hello, just saw this thread...
A few years ago, I decided to get into rangefinders through a G2 (used M6's - which I now have - were out of reach at that time). My wife purchased the G2 from a private seller in a popular photo forum as a gift, but it turned out to be a scam... and we lost $1300.00 🙁
Anyways, your thread just reminded me of the above.

Enjoy the G2 - it's quite the camera. I loved the solid, quality feel & it felt like a Nikon F100 in a rangefinder body, but much quieter and more fun to fondle.
Cheers, j

 

[flipflop]

I too prefer the G1 over the G2 due to size. It has to be a green lable G1 though.

The only thing I miss from the G2 is the larger viewfinder, but the G1 finder is perfectly usable.

 

[jan normandale]

they are nice cameras. I use a G1 and I find the focus issue is a "battery eater" I've now gone to manual focus and after a while it seems faster. The comments about the camera's lenses being sharp are true but so are other camera's lenses. I've not really been that affected by the comments that the G2 is larger than the G1 for me it's not really significant.

I think there is a G1, G2 group here at RFF somewhere

 

[wlewisiii]

For those of you that use the G2, is the manual focus wheel actually usable? I keep getting temped by this model line but having used a number of Keiv & classic Contax cameras, the wheel keeps making me look at the G2. But would a G1 suit me better? I'm most likely to use the classic triplet of lenses with it (28/45/90) so green label isn't so much of an issue for me.

Thanks!

William

 

[Socke]

William, I prefer the G2 for the thumb button on the rear for focus lock and find the manual focus wheel more usefull than the wheel on the G1.

The G2 layout with shutter dial and ExpComp dial is better for me than the G1s focus dial shutter/Expcomp dial layout.

 

[Dougg]

When I briefly had a G1 I found its manual focus wheel to be very easy to accidentally mis-set. I think the relocation of the manual focus wheel to the front of the camera for the G2 was acknowledgement of that by Contax.

 

[wlewisiii]

Thanks folks, I appreciate the information.

William

 

[Issy]

Despite the larger size, I prefer the G2 over the G1 (but have both)-- for the focus button on the back (seperating the AF from the shutter), and for one that folks haven't mentioned: the AF assist on the G2 is invisible (infrared)

 

[Joseph S]

Add me to the lovefest! I have been using the G2 and G1 and find each very worthy in it's own way. I end up carrying both half the time, one with BW and one with Velvia. It would be difficult to just pick one, but I guess it would probably be the G2 if I had to... or maybe the G1... 🙂

 

[trev2401]

WHOAAA!!!!!

i posted my lil lovenote last week, and voala.. it's really evolved to a love fest!!!

😀


Nonetheless, thanks guys, for contributing to the thread, greatly appreciated!!!

Kvvy, i'll try to take a pic or 2 of my gaffered g2 but need to get my hand on a digicam first. (i still hate digital as u can tell).

As for the pics done with my g2, i'm in the process of looking for a scanner after selling away my older Minolta IV.

As for the thing of the G1 vs the G2, hmmm is the g1 really much smaller than the g2? i've heard many a funny thing with the g1's AF, regarding the "delay" between depressing the shutter, and the g1 focusing and shooting thereafter.

As i head to school in about 10 mins, i've put down the GA645 for today, and have loaded both G2s up for the day's program: one with techpan, and the other with RVP.


Oh gosh..... anyone knows how to cure Contax lust?

😀

 

[jaap]

WHOAAA!!!!!

Oh gosh..... anyone knows how to cure Contax lust?

😀

No 😉

 

[steamer]

It is ugly stuff, I needed another camera like a hole in the head, but first I bought a gold T2 from a shop in Tokyo, then I paid a ridiculous amount for a black T on za bay, while still waiting for that one I bought a G2 with 28, 45, and 90 for 1200 and change. This in addition to my real contax II, IIa and IIIa.
Surrender, the contax bug cannot be resisted.
Steamer