View Full Version : Contax G1: First Roll
I used the Contax G1 with the 45mm Planar and the 28mm Biogon. One image is clearly OOF. Else, it was so easy to use this camera.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/th_167412-R1-07-7A.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/?action=view¤t=167412-R1-07-7A.jpg)
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http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/th_167412-R1-32-32A.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/?action=view¤t=167412-R1-32-32A.jpg)
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http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/th_167412-R1-00-0A.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/?action=view¤t=167412-R1-00-0A.jpg)
digitalintrigue
05-16-2009, 18:11
Nice Raid, what film?
I'm a big G1 fan, coming back to it after 10 years...lured by the great, yet inexpensive glass. :)
I have used the G1 and the G2. It is very easy to use, but I found I needed to develop a habit of checking the distance indication now and again to make sure the camera was close to where I thought it should be focusing.
Could not fault the optics, and generally the speed at which you could pull the camera up and shoot.
I did lose some shots to poor focus, but when I shoot a manual focus camera I sometimes do as well.
Generally found the G2 to be easier, but the G1 is a perfectly usable camera.
Regards, John
Nice Raid, what film?
I'm a big G1 fan, coming back to it after 10 years...lured by the great, yet inexpensive glass. :)
Thanks. It was Fuji Reala 100. The glass is way above average.
I have used the G1 and the G2. It is very easy to use, but I found I needed to develop a habit of checking the distance indication now and again to make sure the camera was close to where I thought it should be focusing.
Could not fault the optics, and generally the speed at which you could pull the camera up and shoot.
I did lose some shots to poor focus, but when I shoot a manual focus camera I sometimes do as well.
Generally found the G2 to be easier, but the G1 is a perfectly usable camera.
Regards, John
Hi John,
The photos of the boats were taken on a very cold day. It was so cold that we ran back to the car to get some warmth. In such a weather, it was nice to have to fiddle with focusing or anything else. It was just pointing the lens and taking photos.
The G1 lenses are my only modern lenses besides the CV 25/4.
This is a crop of Robin:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/167412-R1-16-16Acrop.jpg
A crop of Lina's image:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/167412-R1-06-6Acrop.jpg
A crop of the fishing boat:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/contaxG1/167412-R1-10-10Acrop.jpg
I may keep the G1 system and enjoy it while kit works.
Nice set Raid. I have the G2 and love it! The glass is phenomenal.
Thanks, Keith. I bought the G1 set for the Zeiss lenses that otherwise I may not have been able to purchase as ZM models or similar.
I may keep the G1 system and enjoy it while kit works.
Raid,
I had to send one in to Yashica, manual focus was not working, and I would have used it like that, but it also sets the ISO, it came back within the week, no charge, but even though they are no longer around, there are enough of the bodies to keep you with kit as long as you want. Bodies without lenses are give away prices.
I found enough lenses for a system for my friend Zuzana and me. I got the 45mm because Zu wanted the 35mm, but found it to be excellent, though I normally carried the 28 and 90mm.
Using it is kind of a guilty pleasure, I thought I should be working harder, but the images were what shifted me from MF to 35mm.
I think it would have been a terrific base for a digital RF, but I probably could have driven several companies bankrupt with my ideas on new products.
Igor has the 16mm and told me there were some people converting them to Leica M mount.
Regards, John
John,
Contax was going to come out with a digital G body. At least that was the rumor years ago.
Igor has the 16mm and told me there were some people converting them to Leica M mount.
Regards, John
Hi John,
Is the 16mm lens a Zeiss lens? Is it the Hologon? It must cost a fortune.
I find the $500 lens conversion fee [if you provide the lens] to be too high if you consider what $500 can get you if you patiently search for certain cameras and/or lenses.
Raid,
I have the 16mm and it is a Zeiss Hologon. It wasn't a fortune at the time! For the money I highly recommend the Zeiss 18/4 Distagon.
John TF (above) comments that G bodies without lenses are at "give away prices". Look again, John.
KEH has three G2 bodies listed, and no G1's. The three 2's are in the $750-$900 category.
Give-away? I hardly think so.
dc3
The G1 bodies are much lower priced.
I know of someone who bought the G1 + 28mm+45mm+90mm for $450. I paid $650 at RFF.
Raid,
I have the 16mm and it is a Zeiss Hologon. It wasn't a fortune at the time! For the money I highly recommend the Zeiss 18/4 Distagon.
Keith,
It seems that the premium Zeiss lenses are the very wide ones.
I will see what I can do.
Thanks.
Try looking for G system stuff on ebay rather than KEH. I did buy some of my kit from KEH, but found (unlike other items on KEH) that you really could get better prices through ebay.
A good g2 body should run $500-$600 I believe.
Save money and get a G1 instead. Use the savings for two lenses!
digitalintrigue
05-18-2009, 13:54
John TF (above) comments that G bodies without lenses are at "give away prices". Look again, John.
KEH has three G2 bodies listed, and no G1's. The three 2's are in the $750-$900 category.
Give-away? I hardly think so.
dc3
The black ones go for more, they had a BGN G2 for $399 the other day, now an EX for $499.
That said, the G1 is plenty good. A G1 and four mint lenses can cost lot less than a beat up 35/2 'cron or about the same as a nice 50 'cron. :)
jmilkins
05-18-2009, 14:14
I agree with you Raid that the Contax G system is now an extraordinarily inexpensive way to access some wonderful optics at a fraction of the price of the ZM option. It is a very modern RF experience that differs significantly from the earlier manual way of doing things. Not neccessarily better or worse, but different. I wold find it hard to give up my G system.
Hi John,
The photos of the boats were taken on a very cold day. It was so cold that we ran back to the car to get some warmth. In such a weather, it was nice to have to fiddle with focusing or anything else. It was just pointing the lens and taking photos.
The G1 lenses are my only modern lenses besides the CV 25/4.
Wait a minute, you're in Fla. We have freeze and frost warnings, no more complaining about the cold please, unless you are on a road trip. ;-)
Jamie Pillers
05-18-2009, 14:32
Raid,
I've also just discovered the amazing 'deal' of the G1 and Zeiss glass. Images are superb. The autofocus aspect doesn't bother me... I used to have the Konica Hexar AF camera (one of the best image producers I've ever owned!), and this system betters that by having interchangeable lenses. I have the 28 and 45 now and I'll likely add the 90 soon. In my opinion, there is simply no other way you can get this kind of quality for these prices!
Jamie
John TF (above) comments that G bodies without lenses are at "give away prices". Look again, John.
KEH has three G2 bodies listed, and no G1's. The three 2's are in the $750-$900 category.
Give-away? I hardly think so.
dc3
Good thing the KEH buyer at the last show here did not know that. ;-)
I saw a guy trying his luck (after KEH made a very low offer) at other tables, they were offering $150 wholesale for a G1 and 45mm, they basically wanted the lens. I have seen some crazy prices offered, same show on the next table had a couple of IIIfs with a fresh CLA, in very nice shape for $200.
It is good news though, maybe I can sell mine if I make up my mind, I probably paid close to that when I bought mine. ;-)
Regards, John
djonesii
05-18-2009, 15:07
I really like my G1! Nice first roll thread.
I've started developing my own B&W, and all the (2) rolls so far have been with the G1. I just love that 45mm ...
Dave
Wait a minute, you're in Fla. We have freeze and frost warnings, no more complaining about the cold please, unless you are on a road trip. ;-)
John,
You are right about the cold front here in Florida. We had 61F~68F throughout the day, which was refreshing after the mid 80's yesterday. I had to wear coat and tie today, so what a relief!
Raid,
I've also just discovered the amazing 'deal' of the G1 and Zeiss glass. Images are superb. The autofocus aspect doesn't bother me... I used to have the Konica Hexar AF camera (one of the best image producers I've ever owned!), and this system betters that by having interchangeable lenses. I have the 28 and 45 now and I'll likely add the 90 soon. In my opinion, there is simply no other way you can get this kind of quality for these prices!
Jamie
Exactly. Need I say more?
I am very happy with the G1 so far. Nothing wrong with this camera. I now have vintage glass for my M3/M6 combo and modern glass with the G1. I have more options. I have more felxibility for different applications too.
Raid, when I was traveling in Mexico, I carried a shoulder bag with two G2's and an M6 or M7.
There were times when I wanted to manually focus, and there were times I was trying to work quicker and used the Contax.
I generally like the look equally of the Contax glass and Leitz, so it was a question of how the situation worked.
Those three bodies in a small shoulder bag was not difficult to carry around, one G2 body had normally a 28 and the second a 90mm.
I may end up back doing more film, I tore up my left leg, and it has kept me out of the darkroom, so when I shoot film, I use XP2 and rely on the kindness of strange darkrooms. Have not been happy, and there is the M8, which I have not used enough to really know yet.
The G series Contaxes are a very quick read, and I am very confident of my framing.
Regards, John
John,
I am a very active photographer myself, and I often see possibilities for different types of photo equipment to better suit the application on hand. Three camera bodies are the limit for me when I travel. They are three cameras if one camera is somehow different from the other two cameras.
The G1/G2 cameras are fool proof for excellent AF shots with AE.
John,
I am a very active photographer myself, and I often see possibilities for different types of photo equipment to better suit the application on hand. Three camera bodies are the limit for me when I travel. They are three cameras if one camera is somehow different from the other two cameras.
The G1/G2 cameras are fool proof for excellent AF shots with AE.
I generally used the two Contaxes, and occasionally would find a reason to use the Leica. If going for a shorter trip, it might be just one G2 with the 28mm in my pocket.
Regards, John
Raid - you got a good deal on your camera when you did. I have noticed that auction prices on both the G1 and G2 have risen about $150-$200 in the last month or so. It is not an improving economy :( so perhaps it has something to do with all the chatter about how great the Zeiss glass is.
I generally used the two Contaxes, and occasionally would find a reason to use the Leica. If going for a shorter trip, it might be just one G2 with the 28mm in my pocket.
Regards, John
John,
So you would have the Planar and the 28mm lens? I bought my G1 set for the Planar. It may be the "best" 40mm-50mm out there.
Raid - you got a good deal on your camera when you did. I have noticed that auction prices on both the G1 and G2 have risen about $150-$200 in the last month or so. It is not an improving economy :( so perhaps it has something to do with all the chatter about how great the Zeiss glass is.
I would not be surprised, John, if you were right on this.
I waited and waited unsure to buy such a set or not, but then I decided that better now [then] than never.
I have no regrets. The seller allowed me three months to pay off the amount gradually. :D I wish that more RFF members would do this practice. It would assist many people here to buy into equipment without getting into "trouble" at home.
a nice set!
I got the G2 due to very low prices nowadays ;-)
and the lenses are superb
a nice set!
I got the G2 due to very low prices nowadays ;-)
and the lenses are superb
Thanks.
I bought the G1 for the lower cost. I wanted the lenses and not the camera but I need the camera to use the lenses!
If Amedeo manages to create an adapter, I will be in heaven.
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