R3A versus Contax G2 .... what!?

[Matus]

Hello,

I know I am risking a forum ban from Brian (only recently the Jupiter 3 he worked on has arrived back to old continent, and now I even have a nice vented hood for it), but here I go.

I have the R3A since few months, though my only lens is the Jupiter 3. My problem is - I do not seem to be able to appreciate the camera. It is actually well done, with nice viewfinder, simple layout and there is plethora lenses to be had, should one wish so. So where is the problem?

Somehow the feel of the camera in hand , the shutter sound (not really the loudness, as it is loud, but the way it sounds). I actually do not know whether the problem is that the camera is rangefinder (missing DOF feeling a bit) - that I have to figure out.

So I am wondering, wether the camera I considered before - the Contax G2 - could be a viable replacement. It has well defined lens range (21, 28, 45, 90 would cover all I could ever need) with very nice lenses (I DO realize that lenses with particular character like the J3 are NOT available with G2. Also price wise it is rather comparable.

I know I would loose the true rangefinder focusing and get AF instead, smaller viewfinder (0.57x insted of) and the AF itself is supposed to be loud. G2 is a bit bigger and heavier. But is uses the full viewfinder with 28 - 90 lenses.

Anyhow - for the weekend I take the R3A with the J3 as my only camera to Hamburg (large harbor celebration) and see what I can do with it. But in the mean time I would like to ask you a few ...

... Questions:
- to those of you who have handled both cameras - what is your impression?
- what are for you the strong and the weak points?
- why would you change / not change?
- could you comment on the sound of these two cameras?

 

[Penceler]

I would not change from the Bessa. The G2 is a wonderful camera but for me, AF is just not what I want in a rangefinder camera. Also, lenses, parts, etc for the G2 will get harder and harder to find as the years go by.

To each his own though.

John

 

[parsec1]

I used 3 G2s and the lenses professionaly for several years and loved every moment. If only Contax had made a F/F digital R/F. Give yourself time to get to know the camera .Don't worry about the autofocus it worked every time for me and anyway I never expected it to work with any lens longer than 90. Rangefinders are for wideangles and standards at best. The lenses are also much better than anything C/V can produce particulaly the 21mm...awesome

 

[RF-Addict]

The G2 is way louder than the R3A. The Contax lenses are some of the best out there - especially if you shoot color film. The AF takes some getting used to, but once you figure it out it works really well. I have both cameras - I would not want to miss either of them. Maybe RF is just not for you. I must admit that I use my DSLRs much more often than the RFs, but I do enjoy using all of them.

 

[cidereye]

The AF is not that loud really (better than the G1 and it focusses quickly so long as you know how to use the AF and what to focus on) , I mean if you are using it say for street photography nobody is going to notice it - If you were in a church however they probably would. Viewfinder - it ain't no Leica, you get used to it though simple as. Lenses, second to none and now at peanuts prices. AF, simple to use so long as you understand how it works. i.e. Read the manual. For me no camera feels as good as the G2 in the hands with it's excellent moulded grip and solid feel.

Cannot understand though exactly why you want to change, what if you did and didn't like the G2 either? Try before you buy can be the only advice to be given really. 🙂

 

[imokruok]

The Contax lenses are some of the best out there - especially if you shoot color film.

So true. I had to shoot out the end of two rolls of film in my Nikon N90s and G2. I took them out and shot a few pics on each camera of the same thing on the same film. The colors were way more vibrant in the film from the G2.

 

[mpve]

These cameras do not compare!

The G2 is kind of a mix between an SLR and an RFC. It has a viewfinder that adapts to the lens so you will miss the extra space around the framelines. And there is the principal choice you have to make:

Do you want to see the DOF? Get an SLR!
Do want framelines and extra space around it so you can observe more then only the "picture frame"? Get a RFC!
Do you want an easy to use camera of impeccable quality with top notch lenses for a scratch? Get a G2.

FWIW:
I bought a G2 and used it for years and I liked it very much. But since I have my R4m (and later the Hexar RF) I hardly ever use it. And I even started to dislike the AF system and dim and small VF now I have the bright and wide R4m finder.

But as always:
YOU must make YOUR choice! Make a list of must and want capabilities for a camera and choose the one that is the most value for you.

Good luck! And eh...let us know the result 🙂!

 

[lic4]

I don't know if the G2 will solve the issue you are having. I don't like either camera and figured that out early on after owning both. I now shoot with an M7 and a Minolta CLE, and both work perfectly for me. Have you thought about just trying a different camera altogether? The G2 is a drastic change if all that you dislike is the shutter sound. For me, the G2 auto-focus was a real pain compared to a high end SLR, which gives you a good idea (through the viewfinder) of what you are focusing on.