Loose 45mm Planar (G-system)

[Semushkin]

Greetings Forum Comrades!

I recently betrayed my Soviet Rangefinder past and obtained a Contax G2 with 45mm and 90mm lenses. I love the autofocus and find it very fast, not compared to my FEDs and Zorkis, but to my Nikon D40 DSLR (yes, I am even more of a traitor...)

Anyway, the 45mm Planar has looseness... the front part (the one that moves in and out during autofocus) moves a little when I touch the front edge of the lens, as if it is spring loaded. The looseness is less when the lens is extended. When I shake the camera I can hear the lens moving. In contrast the 90mm is rock-solid.

Is this normal, or should I be worried? Has anybody encountered this before?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[uhligfd]

Dear Seshmuskin,

I am sorry no one has beat me to be the first to answer: I just checked my G2; it had the 45mm on front. I focused and locked it, then tried to push the lens extension back in: no give, not even a mm at all. Solid resistance to my fingers. If I had used a hammer, it probably would have moved ...

But with these lens issues, the real question is: can you see a fault with focus or anything in the pics? (If you do not push back, that is) But in all earnest, you might have a faulty or broken lens somewhere internally. Sorry.

 

[DeeCee3]

G System

G System

There is still an active G list but, for the life of me, I can't remember its URL. Google Contax G forum and it'll probably turn up.

I'd suggest joining it and asking your questions. Some of the really astute G-shooters are still active on it.

dc3

 

[Semushkin]

...I focused and locked it, then tried to push the lens extension back in: no give, not even a mm at all...

It is less wobbly (more solid) when focus-locked than unlocked

... the real question is: can you see a fault with focus or anything in the pics? ...

No I can't, they seem in perfect focus, but I cannot really tell if there is any loss of sharpness because of this, since this is my first experience with G lenses.

Thanks for the answers. DeeCee3, I will look into the G-forum.

I quite like the G2 so far. I even like the shutter sound and the film advance noise a lot. The autofocus I find excellent; why all the negative fuss? Film loading is the easiest imaginable. I cannot hear the rewind sometimes. Autofocus motor sounds very loud to the shooter only, but not to others, who can hardly hear it.

Anybody here use the Vario-Sonnar? Opinions?

 

[uhligfd]

May I ask you about the problem again: the 45 mm lens is pushable when the lens in on the camera? Yes or no?

If yes:
In what state can the lens be pushed back when on the camera: just in general, with camera turned off? Or (also ?) with camera turned on?

If with camera on: when extended by pressing the release half-way? and or when focus lock button is pressed (you said No to this last one, am I right?)

My lens moves nowhere when on camera in any of the modes. Period.

Or are you pulling, pushing the lens when it is off camera? I read somewhere that that is a sure way to wear the gears out. Stop it, please! And enjoy the toy without misusing it. Cheers!

 

[Semushkin]

May I ask you about the problem again: the 45 mm lens is pushable when the lens in on the camera? Yes or no?

If yes:
In what state can the lens be pushed back when on the camera: just in general, with camera turned off? Or (also ?) with camera turned on?

If with camera on: when extended by pressing the release half-way? and or when focus lock button is pressed (you said No to this last one, am I right?)

My lens moves nowhere when on camera in any of the modes. Period.

Or are you pulling, pushing the lens when it is off camera? I read somewhere that that is a sure way to wear the gears out. Stop it, please! And enjoy the toy without misusing it. Cheers!

Yes the lens is pushable when on camera, with the latter either on or off. One can push it inwards by about 1mm and it springs right back when the (gentle) force is removed. This occurs less (half a mm or less) when the lens is extended either by focusing using half-way release or focus lock. I have not tried it off camera.


Thanks