Pricing for a pre-owned G1 kit

[taffy]

Hi! Someone is selling me a Contax G1 kit for $975. I just need to ask if that's a fair price. The lenses are in very good condition and the body seem to work fine.

Kit includes:
90mm/2.8
45mm/2
28mm/2.8
G1 body
TLA 280 flash

Is this a good price? I'm also considering the new Voigtlander system and probably a Leica lens 50/2.

This will be my first RF system. I'm giving up my slr system and taking the plunge into RF's.

 

[Doug]

Welcome, Taffy! That looks like a very useful kit. I rather appreciate the smaller neater G1, though I don't have either model... just an admirer! So I don't have an opinion about the price, but would suggest some research at KEH.com and on completed sales on eBay.

If financially feasible, it might be a good idea to hang onto at least parts of your SLR gear to take advantage of uniquely SLR talents. You'd probably later regret selling. What would you snap shots of your "new" G1 with, to impress us here? 😀

Leica-M or Voigtlander Bessa bodies are a very different ballgame than the G1/G2, and scarcely comparable in the same breath. You'll want to assess what kind of operation and interface you prefer.

From comments here and elsewhere it seems the Contax is not well-suited to manual use in any respect. But if you are comfortable with its AE, AF, etc, then it can be very satisfying. And the lenses are exquisite, from all reports.

It seems the Contaxes and the lenses may be out of production now, with no replacement on the way. Zeiss has now partnered with Cosina to produce Carl Zeiss lenses in Leica-M mount, making two new ones (15 & 85mm) themselves in Germany. A new Zeiss-Ikon rangefinder camera is on the way next Spring, with M-bayonet mount, manual focusing with long RF baseline, no motor, with AE. Looks exciting! There are a few threads about this stuff here in RFF.

 

[kuvvy]

I sold my G1 kit ages ago but it was one of the best cameras I have owned. Some people say that it doesn't focus as well as the G2. I used mine for about 5 years and had only 1 shot out of focus in that time.
Before buying I compared both models at a photo show then went and bought used from http://www.jonathanharris.co.uk/

I am in the UK but this guy has sold me some excellent quality gear. Thouh you may find that shipping charges etc may not make it worth your while. He only deals in mint or near mint stuff. More often than not you would be unable to distinguish from new.

I am unsure about current prices but I sold my kit for the same as I paid for it.

Paul

 

[jdos2]

It's an appropriate price for a used G1, a used G2 with those lenses and flash go for more ($1,200-$1,400) and in black, a bit more than that.


Great cameras, great lenses!

 

[NoTx]

From comments here and elsewhere it seems the Contax is not well-suited to manual use in any respect. But if you are comfortable with its AE, AF, etc, then it can be very satisfying. And the lenses are exquisite, from all reports.

😕 Huh? I use mine in a variety of modes. In point of fact: AF is NOT used on my G1 probably 50-60% of the time. AE? Sometimes, yes, sometimes no. Both are effective, but sometimes you just want to be creative.

The only requirment for MF use is that you need to be able to A) picture the DoF in your head (a help with all rangefinders), B) be able to gues distances with accuracy. If you are pretty good at either, good to go.

As for the kit, it is pretty much the best basic kit you could start with. If the camera is upgraded (check sticker color), then, it is very reasonable. The 28/2.8 is VERY nice, and worth every penny. As for the lenses? They are pretty close to the best you will find for anything in their class. If not the best. My thought is they are the best🙂

Good luck!