Want to Buy Contax G1 or G2

[sgm]

I'm looking to buy a Contax G setup preferably with a 35mm lens and a TLA 200 flash

or even the point and shoots TVS or T2

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

T2 is fantastic. My sharpest point and shoot. I have two I like it so much for the day my first dies. I've had a G2 for many years, awesome camera. The 35mm lens is the only one in the line up I've sold off. A decent lens, just nothing special compared to the 21/28/45/90 of the G line up which are blow-away amazing. G1 is ok but G2 autofocus quite a bit better. If you can afford get the G2. If you do go the G1 route be sure it's one that has been upgraded to handle the 35mm if you insist on that lens (green sticker inside).

Good info here:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/contax/g-system.htm

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Oh and I much recommend the TLA 140 or TLA 20 or 30 over the 200.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

What Rich said. The G2 is a fantastic camera, and the 21/28/45/90 lenses are AMAZING. I have the 35 also in my kit, but I usually leave it at home with my G1 so I have a fall-back if for some reason the camera were to get stolen/damaged. I'd probably like the 35mm lens better if I didn't have the others to compare with. If you have the burning need for the 35mm focal length more than any other characteristic of the system, then go with a T2, which is an amazing camera for the format.

 

[sgm]

Has anyone had any problems with the 35mm lens, that's the one I'm looking to get. I have shot with the 28, 45, and the 90 I must say the 45 and 28 are really great lenses the 90 is good also I just didn't use it very often. I have shot with the TVS 2 which was a great camera I did like having the zoom and the images quality is great for a point and shoot. I have never shot with a T2. Also any draw back between the G1 and G2 I have have shot with the G2 and it was great but the G1 is so cheap now I want to get it.

 

[sgm]

Did you notice a difference in sharpness between the G1 and G2, I believe the way they focus are completely different

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

There's no difference in sharpness- the lens is what determines that. The difference is in the speed and accuracy of the auto-focus, especially in lower light. The G2 has faster autofocus, and is able to focus better in dim light than the G1. There are no 'problems' with the 35mm focal length for the G1/G2, but it's just the least excellent lens in a world-leading bunch. The bokeh isn't quite as nice, especially at wide-open/near-wide-open apertures.

 

[eclarke]

The G2 with the 45 Planar is just spectacular...

 

[zsas]

I just joined the Contax G family myself. I, like you did a ton of research and was helped by many of the posters here, these folks are great!
I went the G2 route because I love black, I have always wanted a black RF with interchangeable lenses and had to splurge on the G2 (I believe they only made the G2 in black):
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
I also liked that the G2 has faster shutter speeds, the G1 is max 1/2000 and G2 can get 1/6000 when in Auto mode and 1/4000 in manual. I sometimes keep a roll of 400 at 800 and shoot indoor, but if I happen to be outdoor in sun, it can still handle it with a 1/6000 and wide open (f2.8). Third, I wanted the G2 because it was newer and for a battery dependent modern camera, I read a few postings of sellers talking about LCD bleed in their G’s. I figured the G2 being from >1996 and <2006 would have this occur less than the G1 which is <=1996.
Re flashes, I don’t use them much and ended up just using my larger one, but there is some great info re Contax G’s and flashes here:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the G lenses (well the 16mm is a bit of unique lens that is quite expensive). The focal length is a personal preference, so the 28mm is what I got, due to the subject matter I wanted to use it with. However, I believe in all my research, I read that the 90mm is not the best with the G1 due to the G1 not having a two tiered focusing methodology. As anyone will say, get good glass and upgrade later as you can afford, especially since these lenses are being bought up a lot for non-analog cameras as of late; however as Rich says, there are different breeds of G1’s if you take that route since they are so inexpensive, there are two: one that can take only some lenses and then the expanded one (green sticker). I am not sure off the top of my head which lenses the one without the green sticker will take, but think Rockewell’s site breaks it down nice.

Note, any of my conclusions I made in my research could be wrong, make your own determination. Be careful buying a used expensive camera/lens, make sure you can evaluate it and return if it is not as described.

Last, I found this guy a great G owner, he really broke down the nuances:
http://youtu.be/VHCP-UL-rOg
Another resource for G2:
http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html


I have never used the T camera's, but I have always wanted one of those Fuji Klausse W cameras, which Fuji just decided to cease production of (more food for thought)....

 

[zsas]

If you are wondering what LCD bleed is, check this out....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONTAX-G1-Carl-zeiss-planarT-45mm-F2-lens-kit-Green-label-/140824418176?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item20c9ca1780

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The non-green sticker G1 will only take the 28, 45 and 90 lenses. More precisely, the non-stickered G1 will only adjust the viewfinder for the 28, 45 and 90. The 16 works on either G1, because it never used the internal finder. The green sticker G1 will take the 21 and 35. I don't know if it will take the zoom (which is the other "why did they ever make this" lens, after the 16 - it duplicates focal lengths already covered by the other lenses, is slower, and although quite good for a zoom, isn't as good as the primes).