Thinking of selling my G2 kit.

[mfunnell]

I'm going to Thailand in a few days for a week and I'm currently thinking of taking my M6 with 50mm, 28mm, 15mm lens. I've thought about taking the G2, but the lenses are not as fast as my leica and CV lenses.

Well, I'd want a 2nd camera body - but the M3 would work better as it takes the same lenses. The only real question, then, is are there any capabilities you'll need that the G2 gives but the Ms don't. All I can think of are: higher max shutter speed which allows higher speed film when moving indoors/outdoors, continuous autofocus and active IR autofocus in near-dark. None seem especially compelling for this trip.

Of course, a special liking for one of the G lenses might be important to you (I'm guessing not) or the more relaxed "touristy" approach that using the G2 as a big P&S may encourage (in which I'd leave the Ms home).

...Mike

 

[RObert Budding]

". . . or the more relaxed "touristy" approach that using the G2 as a big P&S may encourage . . ."

Yes, the G2 has program modes. But that does not mean that you have to use them. You can select manual mode. Besides, aperture priority is useful in changing light conditions. And isn't the goal of photography to get the shot? Is a photo crap if it was taken with a camera with a meter built in? Is it a lesser photo if, heaven forbid, it was taken with a non-Leica? Or if it was captured with a cheap p&s?

Real men don't shoot Leicas. Real men use glass plates and flash powder.

 

[mfunnell]

". . . or the more relaxed "touristy" approach that using the G2 as a big P&S may encourage . . ."

Is it a lesser photo if, heaven forbid, it was taken with a non-Leica? Or if it was captured with a cheap p&s?

Real men don't shoot Leicas. Real men use glass plates and flash powder.

Hey - I like the G2 and have some shots I love (the Black Hills in South Dakota, The Devil's Tower in Wyoming) taken with a (film) P&S camera because I deliberately left my SLR kit at home.

[EDIT]I would almost certainly have taken more keepers and perhaps better photos if I took all the lenses, two bodies, a tripod, worried about film selection etc. etc. - treated it like a photographic trip. I wouldn't have had as much fun, though, and would probably have driven others on the trip crazy.[/EDIT]

My point was that sometimes its better to relax, enjoy the trip and enjoy the scenery without obsessing too much, or trying too hard, on matters photographic. I can't think of a better system than the Gs for relaxing yet still being well equiped to take great photos. RF size (compared to a big SLR kit), a selection of really good lenses - yet easy to use well without having to work too hard. I think I saw someone refer to them as the ultimate travel cameras. Thats what I was getting at.

...Mike

 

[RObert Budding]

Sorry, but I couldn't help but have a little fun with this. Some folks (not necessarily you) feel that even a light meter is too much automation.

I agree that it's great to have the option to relax. And the Zeiss "G" lenses are stunning. I even own a Contax T2 myself, though I'm thinking of selling it as I don't use it much. But it is a great vacation camera. There's just something about using a Contax IIa that's so much fun . . .

 

[Leica Geek]

I'm taking the G2 with me after all. I decided that you guys are right about taking a relaxed approach to my trip. The G2 is a great system. I shot it this weekend and realized how fast this little camera is and how versatile the G2 can be. I wish I had wider lenses though. I'm taking my 50mm, and 28mm. I'll have to make due with what I have. I really wanted to shoot my M6, but I know the results the G2 can render and I have to say it is a great camera. The Zeiss glass is hard to beat and the G2 is a little race car.

I just needed to buy some back up batteries and I'm ready to go to Thailand.

Any film suggestions?

 

[jaap]

I will never sell my G2 set never never never.................

 

[clintock]

I'm taking the G2 with me after all. to Thailand.

Any film suggestions?

...anything with the letters 'chrome' on the box. Kodachrome in Thailand will give that 'Vietnam War' look.. except the shots will all be well-exposed using the G2..

 

[Leica Geek]

Thanks for the film suggestion, but I'm not really good with slide. I've never shot slide with my G2.

 

[Socke]

IMHO the G system is made for slides, I have never had any problems with Sensia 100 and Elitechrome 100, 200 and 400. Exposure is almost allways spot on.

 

[Leica Geek]

I'll buy some in the morning. Sensia 100 and Elitechrome 400? There's 400 slide film?

Do you use a handheld meter or the G2 meter? How the AP function with slide?

 

[Socke]

I use the built in meter, I use exp.compensation when I think about it 🙂

I use the TLA200 flash with manual exposure because then the exp.comp dial compensates the TTL flash, very handy.

This is Madrid in April last year:

http://www.hett.org/v/madrid2006/

shot with Elitechrome 100, 200 and 400.

this http://www.hett.org/v/Cuba_2004/Matanzas_in_Farbe/cuba_00192.jpg.html
is full auto with the 28/2.8

 

[Leica Geek]

Nice stuff. Good to know.

 

[Leica Geek]

So you would trust the meter on aperature priority with slides?

 

[joachim]

I would advise against trying anything new for important projects. If you are not used to slide filmes, "forget it" is my advise. What kind of films have you been using in thepast? Use those for the Thailand project. Trying whether you like or do not like slides is a good suggesion, but do it on a project which is less important after your return.

Another important aspect of choosing a film is: what do you want to do with your images? I would take it from there.

 

[Leica Geek]

Well I'm off to Thailand today, I get there on thursday. Thanks for all your good advice.

 

[icemendicant]

I mentioned earlier in this thread how much I regretted selling of my G2 kit last year.

Well - temptation was too much and I caved in. Shiny Contax G2 now winging its way across the Atlantic. Bad, bad, bad RFF...

;-)

Best regards, Dan

 

[Leica Geek]

You know, the G2 here in Bangkok is just as quiet as any Leica. There's so much noise with Tuk Tuks and the motor bikes, I can barely hear my shutter.

 

[DavidH]

You know, the G2 here in Bangkok is just as quiet as any Leica. There's so much noise with Tuk Tuks and the motor bikes, I can barely hear my shutter.

I read lots of pieces on the 'shutter noise problem' with the G2 before buying mine...and was then stunned by how quiet it is...though of course I come from an SLR background rather than Leica street shooting...

On a slightly different note, G2 prices seem to be creeping downwards slowly again...almost to the point where I can think of buying a 2nd body. 🙂

Happy shooting with yours.

 

[sepiareverb]

You're up early for Bangkok- or are you just getting in?

 

[jaap]

You know, the G2 here in Bangkok is just as quiet as any Leica. There's so much noise with Tuk Tuks and the motor bikes, I can barely hear my shutter.

In most cases camera sound is not an imporatant issue. Besides that the G2 sounds like a wonderfull little machnine