is it worth it to buy a g1?

[seamonkeyman]

hello, i don't want to sound like a troll or posting flamebait here, but here goes.

i have been heavily considering a rangefinder as my primary film camera (need digital for parties lah). choosing between a leica or a contax, but leaning towards the contax. main considerations: AF and AE (slr user...). i guess i was spoilt by them.

however, one thing always drove me mad about the g1. i was wondering if it was a valid point, or i should just keep it off my mind.

if it breaks down, where do i go? what do i do? leica has support. if my leica breaks down, i know exactly where to have it fixed. since kyocera no longer supports the contax g series, what about the parts, especially for the electronic ones?

 

[dovi]

Great camera but

Great camera but

1) I like to shoot in rain and it is an electronic camera.
2) I flip flop but I find autofocus a bit annoying for quick shooting. I am really liking manual focusing because the focus is where I expect it to be most of the time. Having said that I love the g1's autofocusing with the 90mm lens.

The g1 is a very nice compact system.


What lenses are you looking for with it?

 

[seamonkeyman]

thanks for the reply. i was hoping to score the "standard" kit, with the 28/45/90. 🙂

so what do i do if/when it breaks down? i don't want to be caught with a brick.

 

[jan normandale]

I've got a Contax G1. The only reason is for the glass and price point. I'd suggest reading other's comments regarding the issues with the AF feature of this camera. I find it tolerable but some people are very frustrated by it. It all depends on your subject matter.

The lenses are some of the sharpest I've used. They're Zeiss which explains everything.

Regarding repairs; I have no experience there, however buying a G1 body at KEH sets you back about $250 +/- so it's easier to buy another body than mail one in for repair, wait and pay postage two directions plus labour and parts...

 

[lewis44]

ToCad America is It.
They have all of the Parts and do a really good job of Service.

http://www.tocad.com/service.html

I've used them as have other RFF members and I was happy with their work.

At this point you will not have a brick

 

[dovi]

repairs

repairs

I have not had a need yet but this looks promising
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34687

thanks for the reply. i was hoping to score the "standard" kit, with the 28/45/90. 🙂

so what do i do if/when it breaks down? i don't want to be caught with a brick.

 

[splitimageview]

I've got a Contax G1. The only reason is for the glass and price point. I'd suggest reading other's comments regarding the issues with the AF feature of this camera. I find it tolerable but some people are very frustrated by it. It all depends on your subject matter.

It really depends on the proper usage of the tool. Once one knows how the camera works and what it is looking for, it's pretty easy to focus accurately nearly all the time.

 

[sevo]

since kyocera no longer supports the contax g series, what about the parts, especially for the electronic ones?

Kyocera still services them in Japan, and seems to have never serviced them themselves elsewhere - their service was/is sourced out. And at least the independent service companies they contracted in Germany and the US still are in business (no wonder as they have many other clients), and still seem to have many, if not all, G parts.

 

[nonot]

is it worth it to buy a g1?

I think so. All around I prefer my Leica though.

 

[Doug]

It was the lenses for me, and the G1 was just a box to put them on. Now that there's a newer ZM line of M-mount Zeiss lenses, the decision-making is a bit different. The G system is still incredibly economical for the quality you get.

 

[Ronald M]

I refuse to buy a camera where the lens shoots in and out on its own. A deal breaker right there.

AF on a RF is no go

No reflex housing support.

Repairs?

 

[splitimageview]

Thank goodness it doesn't do that. 🙂

 

[imokruok]

Get the kit if it's financially a good idea. I loved my G2 kit, but needed the money for lenses for other gear.

Service is not a problem right now. See the ToCad link above. You can always buy another body. More importantly, even if the camera dies - or you want to stop shooting 35mm - the lenses are great and there are plenty of aftermarket adapters for them.

Let me correct myself. The lenses are AMAZING.

 

[andredossantos]

It's worth it simply for that 45mm Planar. If I were a rich man and could afford to buy equipment without selling off stuff I already own, I would still have my G1 with that Planar plastered to the front.

 

[jan normandale]

It really depends on the proper usage of the tool. Once one knows how the camera works and what it is looking for, it's pretty easy to focus accurately nearly all the time.

totally... but moving things and some situations give the AF issues. It's all about the glass. People justifiably rave about the 45mm but that 28mm is right up there with it. I'm keeping mine.

 

[Tim Gray]

If and when it breaks down, either get it repaired or buy another one.

 

[serial_lain]

Are you based in Singapore? The 'lah' gave it away if so. I've had experience in this issue. My g2 stopped autofocusing. Your best bet is to get a local camera tech, I use decamera consultant if in sg, to take a look at which parts are malfunctioning, then order in the parts from tocad America or kyocera japan. From experience tocad replies emails, kyocera doesn't. Tocad doesn't ship international so you have to use a rerouting service

 

[seamonkeyman]

good to hear a generally positive response.

yes, finances are an somewhat an issue. from a practicality standpoint, spending around $1k on a body and three lenses of legendary quality seems to make a lot of sense.

i guess then it'd be best to just buy one now and pray it works well. 🙂

 

[kuzano]

Be sure to get the supplementary focus Manual

Be sure to get the supplementary focus Manual

The backlash feedback on the Contax about the small focus patch, and difficulty with focusing caused, Contax to publish and issue a supplementary focus manual with the G1 sometime shortly after it's introduction.

The essence of the extra manual encouraged people to focus with the intended focus subject in the patch, lock focus, and recompose. That was never an issue for me, having used that process on SLR's with split image focus screens for a number of years before buying a rangefinder OR my Contax G1.

I enjoyed my G1, but ultimately sold it (not for cause, but for money). I can echo comments about the superb glass.

Now that there is an adaptor to use the Contax lenses on the Olympus/Panasonic micro 4/3rds cameras, I am very tempted to get a couple of Contax G lenses.... probably the 21 and 35. The 90 would be a small package for the 2X crop factor to give 180mm.