I'd like to buy a Contax G2, help !

L

luneray

Guest
Hello everyone !

I'm a french photography fan and until recently, I had only used SLR's (Nikon). My girlfriend owns a Zeiss Ikon Contessamat (60's) and I love using it now, except that the optical quality is average I think. When I see the quality you get with modern RF Cameras, I have to buy one. But I don't have enough money for a Leica therefore, I 'd like to but a G2 (mostly for optical quality).

However, some say manual focus is a bit tricky on this model...
Can anyone tell me more about it as I 'll use manual a lot 'cause I love taking street photos !

Thanks a lot for your help !;)
 
The G2 is nice but will take some getting used to. It just works differently from other cameras. The manual focus doesn't work well for me, as I have developing cataracts that make it difficult to see the little lines. If you have good eyes, you can handle it with a little practice. The autofocus is something of a disappointment, as it needs straight lines to focus, and sometimes makes mistakes or refuses to fire the shutter if it's not certain of the focus. Again, you could overcome these shortcomings with a little practice. I'm on the verge of selling mine, so contact me if you're interested. richam@mac.com
 
Luneray, what other options have you considered? For example:

Leica used
Voigtlander Bessa series
Konica Hexar RF (discontinued a year ago but still available new & used)
Zeiss Ikon (scheduled to be released in 2005)

These cameras are all available at different price points. Unlike Contax G, all are manual focus. All have fine lens selections. Lenses from all systems are interchangeable with cameras from all 4 manufacturers.
 
Thanks !

Thanks !

Sorry I had to change name 'cause I couldn't post replies !

Thanks for your kind answers ! Actually, I had made up my mind on a G2 but I had also thought about a Bessa R3a or an Hexar RF and of course a used Leica but I'd rather buy new equipment... even if a Leica is "immortal" so to speak:D

I think I prefer the G2 because of its excellent lenses (I don't know whether Voightländer or Hexanon lenses can compete as I have not read any serious review yet) but I 'll just have to go to a shop and try to take a few pictures. At least I'll test the viewfinders and the "feel" and the sound of theses cameras.

Can you tell me if there is a big difference between Hexar and Bessa ? I want - first and foremost - sharp lenses and a clear viewfinder. My old Zeiss-Ikon's is far from clear !
 
I like my G2. It simply takes nice pictures- you can't go wrong (though any used camera should be sent back to Kyocera for work, of course). You are right, all the lenses are great.
Manual focusing can be a pain, but with some practice... Well, everything gets easier with this one.

What I found so fun about the G2 is simply how easy it is to burn film, and get LOTS more "successful" pictures than any other 135 sized camera. The operation, once one gets used to it (couple rolls of film) is quite smooth and workflow is consistant.

I've had a Hexar, and though it's a nice camera, it had enough annoyances that I eventually sold it to someone that really wanted it. I'd probably be willing to give it a try again, as i got it in an effort to get similar pictures that I got to the ones from the G2, and now that I have a G2...

Again, I'm thinking long-ish term, and of buying a leica or a Leica like camera (Zeiss is an idea) but that's not until next year.

I've used a Bessa, and liked it. Again, it wasn't a G2, and that's what I really wanted.
 
Lunerai, there is a huge difference between Bessa & Hexar RF & Bessa. Hexar RF is motorized film advance & film rewind. It has a longer baseline than Bessa but lower magnification (0.6 vs 0.68 for R2A & 1.0 for R3A) so it can accomodate 28mm framelines in the viewfinder. It also has 135mm framelines in the viewfinder. The Bessa viewfinder is considered to be brighter. The Hexar RF has a wider range of shutter speeds (16 - 1/4000 vs 1 - 1/2000). Both systems have excellent lenses & both can use any M-mount lenses, including those from Leica, Zeiss, & Rollei as well as their own & each other's. You can find a more detailed comparison of the two at the following:

www.cameraquest.com

www.photoethnography.com/equipment.html

At the latter site, look doen the long list of My Favorite Classic Cameras for each camera. The page for the Konica Hexar RF also has a grid comparing the specs of Bessa R3A, Leica M7, Konica Hexar RF, & the new Zeiss Ikon.
 
Thanks for the sites and the help 'cause I really didn't know how different these cameras were.

Well, JD, like Huck, I'd like to know what you didn't like in the Hexar and the Bessa. I have doubts about Voightländer lenses (after reading some reviews in magazines);
But then, the body is Leica compatible plus I'm not sure I could be able to spot any difference between a Voigt and a Contax lense qualitywise (except contrast maybe)...

Huck, do you know whether the Bessa is compatible with Contax G lenses ? After your post, I'm beginning to like the Bessa hihi !

Furthermore there's one thing about the Contax lenses : nothing is written on them except the aperture. With the Zeiss-Ikon, when I go f16, I know the subject will be "focused". Maybe with a little practise, you can manage that with the G2. Do you have some experience about that ?
 
Luneray, Contax G lenses are not compatible with Bessa. Nor are they compatible with any other camera body except the Contax bodies themselves. The G lenses are autofocus lenses, designed to work within the Contax system. All of the other modern lenses are interchangeable with each other's bodies because they are all M-mount. The only Zeiss lenses currently available for M-mount are the 2 lenses (40 & 80) made by Rollei under Zeiss license. However, 4 more (50, 35, 28, & 25) - part of the Zeiss Ikon system - become available next month & another 3 (85, 21, & 15) will become available next year.
 
As a contax G2 owner (with the 28, 45, and 90mm lenses), I'll give you my 2 cents as well. If you want to regularly use Manual focus, do not buy this camera. The main issue I have with the camera (though I do use it a lot) is that you have no optical indication that you are in focus. This is especially important if you are shooting with shallow dofs. I might suggest getting a Rf that takes M mount lenses and go buy the new zeiss lenses. That's the route I would go if I wanted another film camera.

Most of the rest of the camera is designed very well, and yes, the lenses are top notch.
 
thanks a lot for the info ! I' m gonna try them in a shop now
 
I would just add that the Hexar RF is a much better built and more functional camera than the Bessas. That may cause some disagreement from some people here, but I believe it is true. I have nothing against voigtlander at all, I have their 15, 21 and 28mm lenses -- they are built very well. The bodies, however, feel much tinnier than the Hexar RF. The hexar is a much more solid camera. It has a longer rangefinder baselength, higher shutter speed, more framelines, automatically selected framelines, AE and AE lock, self timer, shutter speeds in the finder and a motor drive. It is simply a better camera than the Bessas...this is reflected in the price. There is nothing wrong with its finder -- it is brighter than my M3's (which is very clean), but not as bright as my MP's.

If you are keen on getting Zeiss lenses, just wait and pick up the M-mount ones. They will be more versatile, since you will be able to use them on any other M mount camera if you decide to change bodies.

I don't know what annoyances people have had with it, but I use it along side with my Leicas and notice no great difference in performance. I would only ask for a higher magnification finder...
 
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The Hexar came to me with bad Karma. I had ordered a new one from Tri-State camera. 1 week later, I called back to find out why I didn't have it and they told me that they didn't have one in stock and were "looking for me." Another week went by and with my credit card company on the phone told me they had a "like new" one that the Kyocera rep had used as a demo. They would send that to me, at a reduced price.

When the Hexar came, I had to have the rangefinder adjusted. It had a paint chip in it, and I was already non-plussed by the idea. I wasn't happy.

BUT the camera took nice pictures. It reminded me of my beloved G2 so much, the great lenses, the nice operation, &c.
that the feelings that I lost money for a camera I'd never be happy with combined with the desire to own a G2, or perhaps "the best of the best" (Red-Dotted Devil), lead me to sell it to a fellow Forumite. By the time the camera left my hands it was perfect, but there were such growing pains. I still remember the sinking feeling when I pulled it out of the box and saw how mis-alligned the rangefinder was. And this was sold to me "as new."

Of course I avoid Tri-State.

The only thing I eventually didn't like in operation of the camera was the finder. It's a big chunk of glass back there, and though it would seem to be a "high eyepoint" type device, it's really not. I could change focus from one side of the finder to the other by simply moving my eye. My G2 gives me better confirmation than that! I never thought I'd be able to focus a 'Lux or 'Ton with any reliability, and my personal goal is to eventually, someday (sigh) own one of those lenses, or even the Konica f/1.2.

I look back at the images the camera took with fondness, they were very pretty. I look forward to getting a ZJ... Pity that Kyocera can't ever seem to commit to a system.
 
The G2 is awesome. You might also want to look into a G1 (a lot cheaper, just not as fast). The lenses are competitive or beter that current Leicas (APO incl). The lenses are also dirt cheap comparativly. You can buy a NEW G2, with 28/2.8, 45/2 and 90/2.8 with a flash, for a couple grand. For this quality it is unbeatable. You can save hundreds used as well.

My travel kit lately has been simply a Contax G1 with 21mm. Awesome. I currently have the 21/2.8, 28/2.8, 35/2, 45/2, and 90/2.8. Very little you cannot do with that:)

Now I think I will be picking up a G2 in Feb or March (paying for a wedding first).

Good luck!
 
I just returned from two weeks in Matanzas/Cuba. I had a Canon D60 with 24-85 and 70-300, a Contax G2 with 28, 45 and 90 and a Contax TVS with me.
I shot 18 rolls of film with the G2 and two with the TVS!.
The G2 with three lenses and a TLA30 flash plus TVS fit in a very small bag and where much more suitable to cuban busses than the bulky SLR.
The whole Contax Kit is cheaper than a M7 body and the lenses are not worse than Leicas and I will keep and use it when I switch to Leica M Mount to get a digital Rangefinder in the next years.

In short words, I like my G2 :)
 
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