New to Contax

[wraye]

Can somebody out there help me?
I'm looking at 'upgrading' to a G1 (currently have a Canonet QL17 GIII) but I notice a lot of talk about "unmodified", "silver sticker" and "green sticker" when it comes to the G1. Can anybody tell me exactly what this all means?

Thanks muchly,
W 🙂

 

[flipflop]

Silver stickers means the camera does not focus as fast or as accurate, but also means you cannot use the 35mm and 21mm lenses.

The green sticker has been modified and can use all of the lenses except for 35-70 zoom, which only the g2 can use..

best of luck its a great camera and I prefer it to the G2

 

[KoNickon]

I've not used the G2 myself, but with my "green sticker" G1 I have no problems. It's a little smaller than the G2. It's worth contacting Kyocera to see if they still will do the modification. I believe the U.S. service center is in New Jersey; when I sent mine in they were excellent to deal with. So maybe find out whether they are still in operation before you take the plunge; you may find a good deal on an unmodified one.

 

[Huck Finn]

It's worth contacting Kyocera to see if they still will do the modification. I believe the U.S. service center is in New Jersey; when I sent mine in they were excellent to deal with. So maybe find out whether they are still in operation before you take the plunge; you may find a good deal on an unmodified one.

Kyocera is no longer providing service for this camera. It's now being done by ToCAD (www.tocad.com), which is also in New Jersey. I've been there & they seemed reasonable to deal with, although I've read reports that they are backed up & that there are delays for service. None of this is recent, so you'd really have to check with them to find out.

If you haven't already done so, you can find out more at www.contaxg.com/contaxuser about the Contax G series & modifications that were available for "unmodified" G1's to make some of the G2 features available for them.

Huck

 

[Socke]

Kyocera in Hamburg promised me the conversion for free since I already own a 35. One day I'll have no film in my G1 and it goes to Hamburg, then 🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

A very nice, handy camera... that's the G1. I got a great deal on one with the green sticker and the 45mm Planar, and didn't stop using it until I bit the dust and bought my Leicas.

Otherwise, I would have added a couple of lenses and probably another body. But then I also would have won a nice Nikon AF 80-200 this evening... 🙂

 

[wraye]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks all for the info you've provided, it's been a great help! 🙂 I've actually found a silver sticker G1 with 45mm Planar for AUD$550. I may get the ROM upgraded depending upon if I can find a Kyocera outlet here in Melbourne (Australia).

Thanks again,
W

 

[rich815]

Thanks all for the info you've provided, it's been a great help! 🙂 I've actually found a silver sticker G1 with 45mm Planar for AUD$550. I may get the ROM upgraded depending upon if I can find a Kyocera outlet here in Melbourne (Australia).

Thanks again,
W

Run a few rolls through and try it first. Unless you plan to get the 35 lens (which I own but have never thought was a great performed, especially if compared to the 45 and 28) then you should be fine.

This thread is the first I've ever heard that the "upgrade" to the green sticker improved the focus ability.