Which Contax G body?

Wow, thats was something I did not know about G2, I always wanted something like this on a 35mm camera :)

Thanx a lot for the info and link Akptc.
 
Bought a new G2 body yesterday, love the form factor. Put up my 45 & 90, yet to take some pictures. However, the lens motor sound drives me crazy. Looking for a 28 in few months time.
 
Congrats, Mervyn; you'll surely get fine photos from that gear, assuning you do your part too! :)
 
I want a G1 or a G2, but what keeps me from buying is the lack of a lens distance/septh of field scale... and manual focus... what are the workarounds if any?
 
used to have both

used to have both

but i sold the G2 and only keep the G1 for sentimental reason. If i remember correctly , the G2 has the better VF, better parallax correction, better manual focusing and even AF focusing; the G1 is simpler, smaller, thinner, and lighter in design thus more elegant and more pleasing to look at; it's like comparing the Leica M3 to the latest M6: the M6 may win out on technology and features but the charm belongs to the M3, me think. Saying so I think the black G2 is darn sexy; i wouldn't mind one of those if the price is right :cool:
 
this sticky was very helpful for someone who doesnt know about the G cameras
i was wondering, how difficult is it to get a BLACK G2?
i dont ever recall seeing one in any photos
 
True, it's not too unusual to see Black G2 bodies and lenses on eBay... They do command higher prices.
 
I own both. I bought a very early G-1 and the factory replaced it in warramty. The G-2 came along later.I find that due to my vision the G-2 works a little better because it takes diopters. The G-1 has an adjustable diopter bit I can see better through the G-2. i wont give up either as I like them both and use them with the 21-28-35-45 and 90 lenses. Flip a coin if you do not need additional diopter adjustment.
 
I had a G1 and it was a pig to focus, perhaps it was a dud one, so I sold it and got a G2. its like a different camera.
Superb focusing
so my answer form my experience is,
A G2
 
Current G prices

Current G prices

Anyone notice that prices on the web for used Contax G series cameras and lenses have shot up in the past two months? Looks to me like people have been snapping everything up. I just found a beautiful 21 at Adorama but had to pay $900 for it. Saw the same lense a few months back at KEH under $700. Now I am seeing the G2 going for north of $600 and the Black one impossible to find under $1000. Is this temporary pricing due to lack of people parting ways with their kits or a sign of things to come?

(the classifieds on this forum has better prices than most sites by the way)
 
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Interesting; I haven't been tracking Contax G pricing recently, as my system is sufficiently complete and my shopping eye has been gazing other directions. :)

But when I was actively building my Contax kit 30 months ago, it did seem pricing was very reasonable. Some retailers still had NIB gear on the shelves that they were trying to move at clearance prices. For instance my 45mm was brand new from Central Camera for $189.

It was that lovely 21mm Biogon that drew me to the Contax G in the first place, as being fast, tops optically, and reasonable cost. I chose a BGN grade one from KEH for $465; it's like new except for a tiny mark on the rear element. As I recall at the time they also had an EX grade for $616.

Maybe it's people returning to film from dSLR who see the Contax G as an attractive compact quality kit with some familiar features.
 
I have both G1 & G2 and have had very little difference in perfomrance, however with the cost of about $175 to have the autofocus assembly fixed, and the good chance you will need to have this done, makes the much lower price for a G1 a better bargain. Despite the inability to see what you are doing in manual focus mode, they are both a great bargain relative to the results they give.
 
Just to confirm, you can set the G1 to manual everything yes, if you want to? I'd like to be able to pre-focus, and set the exposure myself - then snap as soon as I press the button without the thing faffing and asking questions causing a delay.

Can the G1 do this? For example, I want 250th F8 set to focus about 3 meters, can I set this and get an instant click when I press the button?

A.
 
Larky, On the Contax you see the distance setting in manual mode in the top of body window and in the viewfinder. So, yes. You can run it in full manual and the viewfinder will tell you if you misfocus or misexpose, too.
 
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It's been awhile since I used the G2, let alone manual focus, but IIRC it will fire when the camera has racked the lens out to the manually-chosen distance, so there can be a tiny delay. However, if you use the focus button on the back, you can pre-focus the lens & then fire the shutter @ your choosing w/no lag whatsoever (same goes for using autofocus).

Larky said:
And if on manual focus, will the shutter trip when I choose, or when the camera decides it's in focus?
Click to expand...
 
I had both and sold the G1; I have tried but can't bring myself to sell the G2, even though I haven't used it in a year. The main reason to buy this camera, IMHO is the amazing 45/2 lens, which is really one of my all-time favorites. The G2 gives me a lot of the advantages of an AF DSLR (like a Nikon F4) in the form factor of a range-finder. My only peeve: the VF is squinty and small. It's a smart camera, no doubt. Nothing wrong with the G!, BTW . . . but we all have our preferences.

Ben Marks
 
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