I'm consider a G2 - what should I know?

[lencap]

I've found a G2 that appears very clean and well cared for. The seller is looking for $800, which seems a bit high, but my main interest is in knowing more about the camera.

I've heard that the 28 and 45 lenses are very sharp and work well, and that the 35 is a bit soft but still very good. I've also heard that the 90 is hard to autofocus and challenging to use.

I'm looking at this camera as an alternative to Leica - which has reached price levels that are challenging for my budget. On the other hand saving some money is important, but having a camera that doesn't perform well or provide quality that will keep me enjoying it for many years isn't a bargain either.

What is your experience - and have you compared the G2 to a Leica, or other camera?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[splitimageview]

There are lots of Leica vs G2 threads here. Do a search. 🙂

The 35 being soft is internet myth...it's a great lens.

 

[kdemas]

If it's a black body that price isn't great but not bad. If Champagne colored you could do better.

 

[wlewisiii]

If you really want a Leica, then save yourself the grief and the endless buying and selling and just save up for a Leica. $800 can get you most of the way there. Right now on KEH.com there is:

IIIF BLACK DIAL BGN $199.00
50 F3.5 ELMAR BGN $235.00

EDIT: Heck there's a nice III & Summar in the RFF classifieds for that matter. No connection, etc.

No, it's not a new M7 or M9. But it is a Leica, it's half the cost of that Contax G, and will do anything that is needed of a camera. Use the rest of the money for film.

There are BGN condition M's there, too, and still cheaper than that G though glass might be an issue.

Good luck!

William

 

[splitimageview]

Bought right, Contax G hold their value just as well as Leicas do. Lenses are actually going up in value due to adapters for micro 4/3 and NEX.

For the money, nothing beats Zeiss G lenses. You'd need to buy the latest ASPH Leica glass (for thousands) or ZM glass for 2-3x to match it.

 

[larmarv916]

Zeiss lenses are true performers and deliver a better tonal range than modern Leica lenses. So upside you get a more printable negative. As I guy who owns both Leica's and Contax G's you will be surprised at all of the advantages that the camera and lenses have. The manual is a must, and your best friend.

I have all but the 16mm lens and they are all stunning. Just remember to turn the camera "off" or it will eat batteries. But you may find that you will discover that you now have a entirely different way of seeing and shooting.

Go for it.

 

[AusDLK]

I agree, go for it.

While arranging to buy a G1 and 45mm for a college kid friend of mine, I ended up with another G1, flash, 45mm, 28mm, and 90mm (long story...).

While I'll probably end up (re)selling a lot of this stuff, I have been enjoying using the G1 mostly with the 28mm (oddly a focal length I rarely use with a Leica), the 45mm, and the flash (again something I VERY rarely use).

The first two rolls of XP2 looked great, the flash pictures surprisingly not so flash-like for some reason.

The G1 isn't as "refined" as the G2 but has still has been a lot of fun to use. It's beautiful, handles wonderfully.

Tricky to focus but I'm sure that like almost anything else it just takes practice.

 

[filmfan]

Blah... get an M4-P and a Skopar 35mm for $900 total.

 

[sniki]

Contax G system is great and G2 is a revealed religion: take it.

 

[elmer3.5]

AF accuracy

AF accuracy

Hi, great camera and great lenses!!!

Try to test it first for AF accuracy, its said and mine suffered from it, the AF sensors maybe out of alignment.
So the AF will not focus on the view finder marks, it will do it on other part of the frame.

Good Luck!

 

[anthony_semone]

I sold my G2 and 28mm couple months ago and regretted it. I sold it because I had difficulty with the AF. Bad on me. I found the attached article after having gotten another G2 body in mint condition for 555 shipped Paypal'd and a 45mm f2 for $325 also shipped and PayPal'd. What a difference this technique makes in terms of autofocus.

http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html

hth,

tony

 

[Peter_S]

That it can deliver absolutely stunning images. As others mentioned, you must understand how the AF works, and know its limitations. Then the AF can be snappy and accurate. The lenses, as also mentioned before, are brillant. My favs are the 21mm and 45mm, both yielded some of the best photos I took so far. The 90mm is a bit tricky, but if it locks, the rendering is beautiful.

I currently shoot Ikon ZM and M8 with a Contax T3 as my only AF camera in use . ZI and Leica M are hard to compare to the G2. The G2 has some advantages over the ZI - ISO 6400, multiple shots/second, self-timer. I currently prefer the reliable manuel focus of the ZI (which I prefer over the M8, faster to focus).

At the end of the day, they are too different to compare. Get it, try it for a substantial time. Resale values are high enough to do that. I still have mine. It sparked my love for photography and I am not sure I can ever part with it.

 

[nikku]

I sold my G2 and 28mm couple months ago and regretted it. I sold it because I had difficulty with the AF. Bad on me. I found the attached article after having gotten another G2 body in mint condition for 555 shipped Paypal'd and a 45mm f2 for $325 also shipped and PayPal'd. What a difference this technique makes in terms of autofocus.

http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html

hth,

tony

Slightly off topic, but can you lock focus with the G1?

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

Leica (before m8) = manual everything
Contax G2 = auto everything (with manual option)

Both co-exist, and many do. It pairs up quite nicely in situations like a Wedding shoot. imo.

raytoei

 

[Bob Michaels]

The 35 being soft is internet myth...it's a great lens.

Yep, one could make a valid case for the 35mm Planar being in the top 100 lenses of all time while the 21mm & 28mm Biogons and the 45mm Planar would be in the top 10. I own them all and the 35mm gets the most use.

 

[mpjmp]

I used the G1 before going to Leica M. I had an entire G outfit with all lenses (21, 28, 35, 45 & 90) and flash. They are great cameras and the lenses are superb. However, using a G is a totally different experience than using a Leica M. The look through the viewfinder is different. Doing everything manually makes you think a lot more about what you want the shot to look like. They are much faster in actual use and can grab shots that you might miss with an M rangefinder, but also a lot noisier with motor drives and winders, etc.

I never owned the G2, but $800 for a body seems a little steep for 2011.

 

[theprophe]

I just picked up a mint condition G2 from a dealer in UK for 300pounds, about 450US or so, they should be a little cheaper in the states i would think also