Pray for me I bought a G2 (and a question)

[Bruce A]

I have hemmed and hawed for months, and finally broke down and bought a G2 with the 28,45,90mm lenses. This will be HUGE change for me, as I have never used or owned anything this electronic. heck, the most modern camera I use routinely use is pentax k 100. I have always been a ludite. We shall see....
Anyhow, my question is , will my vivitar 283 flash work with this camera? The tla 200 looks cool, but has a low guide number and is very expensive for the 2 times a year I might use a flash. I would just as soon use the old vivitar for those occasions, as long as it will work without toasting anything.
Any other advice to a new Contax user will be welcomed.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I may venture a vote for your Vivitar, provided it's of a rather recent vintage (less than 5 or 6 years). I've read that older flashes may have a higher risk of frying your camera, so it's up to you.

However, to use the TTL-flash ability fully, skip the Contax TL200 and look for a TL140 instead. It's a smaller flash, and probably the guide number will be smaller but then you can use it well as a fill flash. The best: it may cost you about $70 or $80 bucks at most! I got mine from KEH for $76 and I haven't regretted one bit.

You'll love the Contax system, Bruce. Despite being this electronic, it's reliable and predictable. Just don't get your hopes too high as it's not a Leica; be ready and calculate for shutter lag, hunting AF (when the subject has no particular features), no chance at easy prefocusing (it's doable, though) and a bit of a noisy rig. However, the Biogon, Planar and Sonnar glass you got are peerless tools.

Congratulations! 🙂

 

[jdos2]

The TLA140 is better than the TLA200 in one respect, it's MUCH higher over the camera than the 200, so you don't get red-eye NEARLY as often.

Thank goodness it's not a Leica. It'd still be in the shop! (Oh, wait, it IS! BOTH of them are! GRRR!)

;-)

 

[Benfidar]

"However, to use the TTL-flash ability fully, skip the Contax TL200 and look for a TL140 instead. It's a smaller flash, and probably the guide number will be smaller but then you can use it well as a fill flash. The best: it may cost you about $70 or $80 bucks at most! I got mine from KEH for $76 and I haven't regretted one bit."

How do you fill flash? There are many conflicting 'fixes' out there.

 

[Ariya]

Most newer cameras are designed for flash units that are less than 6v. You can measure your flash with a volt meter to see if it is likely to damage the G2. You can also buy something call a Wein Safe-Sync which fits into your hotshoe and the flash then attaches to the safe sync. It's a little box that will bring down the voltage to a safe level for modern cameras. The down side is that is costs $50.

 

[nickchew]

Bruce

Good choice. The G2 was my favourite system for a long time. (until it got stolen !@#$!#@$)
My fav is actually the 21mm, absolutely stunning. To the extent that I did not use any of the other 4 lenses I had for a long time.

The 90mm is also very good for portraits. My 28mm, 35mm and 45mm were very sharp but just too boring after a while.

As for flash. I never got the TTL flash fully figured out (like u I use it once in 6 months)
There is no independent control for the flash out put, hence I manually determine the F-stop and shutter speed and hope for the best. (I actually get better result when I don't use the TTL. May be it is just me....) I also hate the fact that the TLA200 uses CR2 batteries and they burn really fast (ouch!)

If u don't need the ttl, don't waste money on the flash (and batteried)

Nick

 

[Dougg]

Hi Bruce, congratulations on a fine system! Being used to totally manual cameras, the fanciest with simple aperture-priority AE, the G2's level of motorization and automation was something I had to get used to. For someone more accustomed to current whiz-bang features, it should be easy! And with those lovely lenses, the output can be stunning. Enjoy...

 

[Socke]

As for flash. I never got the TTL flash fully figured out (like u I use it once in 6 months)
There is no independent control for the flash out put, hence I manually determine the F-stop and shutter speed and hope for the best. (I actually get better result when I don't use the TTL. May be it is just me....) I also hate the fact that the TLA200 uses CR2 batteries and they burn really fast (ouch!)

Nick, you are one the right way to controll your TTL-Flash, only one bit of information missing 🙂

The camera on manual is the best starting point IMHO, then you can use the exposure compensation dial to controll the flash output.

It works with my TLA200 and TLA30.

The TLA30 is bulky but it tilts and works with rechargeables, so I use the TLA30 when I know I need flash and the TLA200 is in my bag as a spare batterieholder and just in case I might need it.

 

[Adam Muir]

flash

flash

bloody great tip on flash compensation , I have been wondering about getting a contax flash unit but unsure if i could compensate , at present I use a very small weak sunpak via sync terminal , with a layer of extra diff I inserted , got a gizmo that allows me to point the flash any direction I chose for 10 dollars , sort of a mini tripod ball head that fits in hot shoe (insulation tape esential between hot shoe contacts and gizmo ) and from there I use guide on flash for direct flash ( dont like direct ) or allow about 2 stops for bounce flash . works very well once you get used to it .

 

[jdos2]

I'm thinking of getting back a Black G2 +21/28/45/90 I traded for a Noctilux. Something about the G's that is simply awesome. Difficult to explain. Wonderful.

 

[flipflop]

The g1 is my favorite camera...I prefer it over the g2....it must be a green lable. The lenses are awsome. I have the tla 140 flash it works well...get some ilford xp2 loaded in that camera quick! my other favorite is of course velvia but I dont shoot much slide anymore. Reala is my favorite color print film to shoot with the camera. I find the 35mm my most used lens. The 21mm is simply awsome besides having to use an external viewfinder.

The 90mm makes the most noise when focussing...its the longest...I have seen some post of people having problems with its closest focus, around 1 meter.

Till I held a leica M6 this was my favorite camera. I want this camera with the leica viewfinder!

I think the Leica M6 is going to be my grad present...you are going to enjoy the camera and lenses!

Have fun!

 

[Kevin]

Forget the Contax flashes and get yourself a used Metz. The one I often use on my G2 is the 35 CT-7, which takes 4 AA batteries.

The SCA380 and SCA382 (newer) adapters from Metz will marry your G2 to any of the Metz flashes, providing your with TTL flash synchronisation.

Choose your weapon.

 

[rami]

I want this camera with the leica viewfinder

Sounds a little like Hexar AF 🙂
But that it's sad but true: weakest point of both contaxes G are viefinder. Very small and cropping huge part of full frame (depends on lens, but with 28 I believe, that you can see only something about 80-85% of frame) 🙁

 

[Socke]

Sounds a little like Hexar AF 🙂
But that it's sad but true: weakest point of both contaxes G are viefinder. Very small and cropping huge part of full frame (depends on lens, but with 28 I believe, that you can see only something about 80-85% of frame) 🙁

Small, yes. Dimm, yes. Even a small field of view of 90% but that doesn't change with the lens. The magnification changes and if you're realy close it helps to compose with the top left corner in mind, focus and recompose. Where tight composition is required I don't use RFs anyways so I'm not too much hindered by the mask sliding to the bottom right for parallax.