Should I sell my Contax G system for A K10d?

[flipflop]

hmm...sounds like more ppl are saying keep the G system than sell it and buy the pentax..

 

[ChrisN]

Does it matter what we say? Go with what you think, and feel. Either system can produce decent prints, and they both offer excellent lenses. I thought the issue was time and workflow?

 

[flipflop]

Chris,
It is about time and workflow...
Do you have any pics you could send me at max resolution. I would like to get something printed to see how it looks.

Also, can you tell me about the lenses you own for the camera?
And what about mounting old K mount lenses on the camera do you loose any metering modes? Is the camera handicapped when using older lenses?

 

[Kim Coxon]

Any of the A series will gve you all the modes etc. (except autofocus 🙄 ) All the AF lens will give full functionality including powerzoom etc with those that are fitted. M42 lens can be used but with simple stop down metering and stop down exposure. The earliest SMC bayonet lenses (K series) and the M series will need stop down metering but the auto stop down on exposure will work.

Kim

Also, can you tell me about the lenses you own for the camera?
And what about mounting old K mount lenses on the camera do you loose any metering modes? Is the camera handicapped when using older lenses?

 

[jky]

flipflop, I've been following this thread because I too was tempted by the k10d. Any way you could save up for the k10d as it's not that expensive compared to the other well-spec'd DSLR's? Hopefully it wouldn't take too long to do so... You get the best of both worlds this way - keep the G + a new tool!
Here in my local shop (in Canada), the k10d+16-45mm f/4 zoom (a well regarded zoom) = $1400.00 CAD. Body only = $1020.00 CAD.
As a caveat: Having both is easier said than done...
Cheers & good luck!
j

 

[kevin m]

hmm...sounds like more ppl are saying keep the G system than sell it and buy the pentax..

Yeah, but they're 'voting' with your money, which means they can be as idealistic, nostalgic and starry-eyed as they like, as it doesn't cost them anything. 😀

If you're thinking about it, just do it. At the very least, you'll get it out of your system.

 

[ampguy]

If you don't need the 10Mp or SR or weatherproofing, the *ist DL works well and would be a great DSLR for RF users, it's actually smaller than and lighter than an M body, and uses the same sensor as the R-D1, and many other 6Mp cameras. Check out dpreview or other dslr forums for reviews from folks who own both.

 

[anandi]

Flipflop,
What about a middle-ground solution? Perhaps selling your 90mm G1 lens and just buying the k10d body for now (your 50mm becomes a nice portrait lens) and then adding as time goes? I'm in a similar boat watching the k10d closely and have decided as soon as I have the funds that I'll take the leap. My slowness in adopting DSLR tech, besides funds is that I have a reasonably good, but slow digicam (Canon G2) that has really nice optics, RAW output and very clean 4 MP JPEG output. if it was just more responsive (i.e. no shutter lag) it would to me be a really good digital alternative to an RF film camera.

In any case, I would think that it would be easier to get back one or two of your G lenses in the future rather than the whole kit. Don't forget the M42 pentax lenses that are on par with the best that you can get for a song these days.

Cheers,
-Amit

p.s. still enjoying using your F3

 

[flipflop]

Anandi,
Thanks for the reply. I am thinking it over and it also depends on how soon I get a job as I just graduated from college. I have an interview in early january.

Glad to hear the F3 is working out for you...nice camera just the meter wasnt for me.
Happy Holidays

 

[keoj]

The G series is a dead-ended camera. I'm never going to part with it. It gives me all the quality of a Leica (yes, I've owned a couple) without the hesitancy of using it (I can but a 45mm lens oin ebay for ~$150). You can't touch the quality/cost ratio with any other camera right now IMO. The workflow of a film camera is a pain in the rear (I scan my own with a FS4000 Canon) but the quality is (in my eye) is around a 12-14 MP camera. I use a digital to take pictures and film to take photgraphs.

keoj

 

[Robert]

I was going to sell my G2 but I'm glad I didn't.

I also have a DSLR, an Olympus E1 which gives faultless images and I have prints of 20x16 with no problem, the Pentax K10 would probably be as good or better.

I would say you would regret selling the G system.

If possible I would advise you to keep the G system and wait for a DSLR.

Digital SLR cameras are excellent------so too is the G but in a different way.

 

[Popum]

I was reading on a different forum that a K10 owner was playing with using Leica M lenses on his K10. Do any of you know how this might be done.... what adaptor?

 

[GeneW]

Following up on some of the suggestions, you could buy some time by investigating having C41 film developed & scanned to CD. Try it for awhile and see if it satisfies your workflow/time issues. If not, you can pick up the K10D. The longer you hold out, the cheaper it will be.

Gene

 

[akptc]

The scanning to CD method works for me too. Walgrees develops my C41 film and gives me a CD with scans for just over $3 a pop. If I see a good frame, I then scan it myself or have it scanned at a higher res.

 

[grizzz]

Well since I did basically what you are thinking of I guess I'll chime in. I sold off My G2 with 3 lenses (28, 45 & 90) along with a flash to by canon glass for my DSLR. I am also going to sell my M3 and leica R kit to fill out the lenses and a new body. I am doing this for many reasons to include the workflow time constraints you mentioned. I won't miss the R at all since it has much value and I don't use it enough to justify keeping it. I'll miss the G2 a bit and the M3 alot but will still have a Bessa R for RF film and an EOS3 slr body to match the DSLR. For me it was consolidating on one sytem and becoming more proficiant with it then trying to play with a bunch of stuff. Of course the G2 glass you will miss so if you could hold off and build the dslr over time and get scans from your G2 for a while that may be the way to go....Griz.

 

[ampguy]

those are good prices

those are good prices

Lately I've been finding Longs at a tad over $4/roll, and Walgreens, if they will do at all out here, at a tad over $5/roll, so with 800 photos from the R-D1 in a couple of weeks, I think digital is paying off very well, and no scratched negatives.

The scanning to CD method works for me too. Walgrees develops my C41 film and gives me a CD with scans for just over $3 a pop. If I see a good frame, I then scan it myself or have it scanned at a higher res.

 

[Dougg]

I was reading on a different forum that a K10 owner was playing with using Leica M lenses on his K10. Do any of you know how this might be done.... what adaptor?

Might be feasible with those longer Leica lenses made with a removable focusing module to allow them to fit the Visoflex reflex housing. Otherwise the problem is that Leica has a film-to-lensmount flange distance of only 28.8mm, and that would foul the mirror of any SLR. Even the Olympus Pen F which has a flange distance of only 28.95mm. Of course, mounting the Leica lens on a bellows for macro work is quite do-able, just don't expect anywhere near infinity focus. I have a simple 42mm to 39mm thread adapter that allows my Leica-thread enlarging lens to mount to my screw-mount Pentax bellows unit, good for extreme closeups.

The reverse -- mounting an SLR lens on the M body -- is feasible but does not couple to the rangefinder, leaving focus-by-guess.

 

[ChrisN]

If you don't need the 10Mp or SR or weatherproofing, the *ist DL works well and would be a great DSLR for RF users, it's actually smaller than and lighter than an M body, and uses the same sensor as the R-D1, and many other 6Mp cameras. Check out dpreview or other dslr forums for reviews from folks who own both.

I'm a bit late in coming back to this thread, but here's some pics I took a while ago to compare the *istDS with an M.

http://static.flickr.com/87/219065523_4135251c6b_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/73/219065567_d8ffe814cb_o.jpg

The DL and the DS are pretty much exactly the same size. The DL/DS is still somewhat bigger than an M, but with a pancake lens fitted it's a very compact package.

 

[Issy]

One other "+" for the G2... with everyone (and I mean a lot of people) now buying the entry level DSLRs (big, hunkering bodies, kit zooms, and big hoods), the G2 (or any RF, for that matter), is a nice, unobtrusive camera in a public setting (a lesson highlighted this past week with my wife's very large Portuguese extended family at the holidays)

That being said, the Pentax is probably the lowest profile of the DSLRs...