Rangefinder with 35mm

[RobertB]

Hi,

As a canon SLR user I am looking for a rangefinder. Mainly because of the better size to take it with me when I am going out to a city without taking my full SLR kit with me. Also because a RF look like a pleasure to use.

I am on a budget (student) and found a Contax G2 with 35mm f/2 for 700 euro with 3 months garanty or a G1 with the same 35/2 for 500 euro with garanty.

I have read the threat above and saw that the G2 works better with the longer 90mm lens and has better "AF in the dark" use. Also it will be a bit faster. None of these are interesting to me. The RF will only be used for photograping city's (people, buildings, life at the city ect.) and for al the others (Macro, sports, studio ect. I have the SLR's.
The only lens I will get is a 35mm.
Is this a good choise or are there better (not that expensive) RF on the market (without the KIEV's ect.)
What does the "Green label" mean for the G1 and do I need it.
Is the "automatic" manual focus good to use?

 

[jonasv]

Not to knock the Contax rangefinders, but seeing you have AF SLR's, I would go with something manual (and cheaper). Take a look at the Bessa R + 35 mm f/2.5 Color Skopar - I picked this little kit up for € 250 and I love it.

 

[Socke]

Contrary to Jonas I think the Contax G is ideal for photographers with AF SLR experience. At least it was for me

The G2s manual focus is easier to use than the G1s, the focus lock button is worth the money alone.
At least my G2 is much quieter than my G1, but the latter is in need of a CLA.
The 35mm Planar has not as good a reputation as the 28 Biogon or 45 Planar, but this is compared to realy outstanding lenses. Compared to my Canon EF 35/2 it is awesome and compared to the Contax SLR Distagon 35/2.8 it is on parr at printsizes up to 11x17.
This may not apply for architecture since my scenery stuff usualy hasn't anything of importance in the corners which are out of focus anyways.

With a G1 or G2 a AF/AE SLR photographer is up and running in a couple of minutes, which leads to the problem that you don't read the manual and run into TTL flash problems sooner or later

Oh, TTL-flash, the G2 has 1/200th flash sync and a shutterspeed of 1/4000th in manual or 1/6000th in AE, since I use a lot of ISO400 film this saved my day more than once, even with ISO100 slide film I often use 1/2000th.

 

[RobertB]

Contrary to Jonas I think the Contax G is ideal for photographers with AF SLR experience. At least it was for me

The G2s manual focus is easier to use than the G1s, the focus lock button is worth the money alone.
At least my G2 is much quieter than my G1, but the latter is in need of a CLA.
The 35mm Planar has not as good a reputation as the 28 Biogon or 45 Planar, but this is compared to realy outstanding lenses. Compared to my Canon EF 35/2 it is awesome and compared to the Contax SLR Distagon 35/2.8 it is on parr at printsizes up to 11x17.
This may not apply for architecture since my scenery stuff usualy hasn't anything of importance in the corners which are out of focus anyways.

With a G1 or G2 a AF/AE SLR photographer is up and running in a couple of minutes, which leads to the problem that you don't read the manual and run into TTL flash problems sooner or later

Oh, TTL-flash, the G2 has 1/200th flash sync and a shutterspeed of 1/4000th in manual or 1/6000th in AE, since I use a lot of ISO400 film this saved my day more than once, even with ISO100 slide film I often use 1/2000th.

Thanks for the anwsers! The Bessa woult be to classic for me. Does it have a lightmeter?

I want a 35mm because I like the Focal lenght. The canon 35/2 is already a nice optical lens so I don't think I will suffer from bad optics with the 35mm planar
Also, I don't want to shoot architecture with it. I will use the SLR for that. The RF will be only for cityshots. All the nice parts of amsterdam

The faster shutterspeed is a good point, only have to see if its worth 200 euro.

And do you know what the green label means? Is it good to take a G1 with green label or will a normal G1 be just fine?

 

[Socke]

Oops, forgott the green label. This indicates an updated ROM for the G1 so it can be used with the 35 and 21mm lenses. So yes, you'll need a G1 with a green sticker.

The sticker is inside the film chamber.

 

[RobertB]

Oops, forgott the green label. This indicates an updated ROM for the G1 so it can be used with the 35 and 21mm lenses. So yes, you'll need a G1 with a green sticker.

The sticker is inside the film chamber.

Okey thanks, This monday I will call the shop and ask if its there. Lets hope its there

 

[Socke]

And on a third thought, welcome to this forum!