So I,m laid up in bed with a spot of back trouble at the moment and my eyes keep looking at Contax G2 kits on ebay at reasonable prices. Beautiful looking compact cameras with interchangable lenses. I know that the last thing I need is another camera but I can't help wondering, what are the G2s like to use and own? Have you any sample photographs to show produced with a G2 using B&W film? Thanks in advance.
Point taken about the importance of quality glass, the feel,size and weight of a camera is also important to me, as well as the placement of the controls. Some camera bodies fit well into your hands and pick up to the eye better than others. Some bodies have brighter viewfinders, sharper focusing and a host of electronics to aid the photographer. If a camera body also looks asthetically pleasing to the eye, credit to the designer. I disgree that the body just holds the film flat and keeps the dark in, have you only ever used a box camera?Not to be a complete idiot or anything like that again, but what does the camera body have to do with the images captured? The lenses do most of the important work, all the body does is keep the dark in and hold the film flat.
More seriously, if you have a twin or doppelgaenger that has one, ask it about the camera's ergonomics. And the twin or doppelgaenger has to look through the viewfinder window with the eye (left or right) that you use. No one whose hands and face aren't much like yours can give you an answer that will be useful for you.
Not to be a complete idiot or anything like that again, but what does the camera body have to do with the images captured? The lenses do most of the important work, all the body does is keep the dark in and hold the film flat.[/QUOTE
I mostly disagree. Yes, in a very simple camera, you'd be right, but the G1 and G2 are not simple and they are rather unique. Their focusing and exposure systems are unique, as are their viewfinders.
I thought a lot about buying one, deciding that of the two, I'd prefer the G2 for it's slightly more accurate focusing with a portrait lens and slightly faster advance. Eventually I decided that I'd probably prefer an M6. I'll go that way eventually. In the meantime, I am using an old IIIf as my briefcase camera.
Neal
I once held one, and I wasn't too impressed. The focus seemed slow, and the manual focus is fly-by-wire. There is no rangefinder or ground glass to confirm your focus.
Yes I have. I have a Yashica Electro 35 GSN. I love the camera. Focus conformation is seeing the superimposed image line up with the rest of the viewfinder.Hi Reub,
Do you use a RF? It's a better at AF than MF, I think that's what it was truly meant to do
The G2 is a very well balanced, handling camera, very smooth. Manual focus takes a little getting used to, I vaguely recall that it had a focus confirmation in the VF. Comparing the two is a little like apples 'n those orange things. The G1 is a little less sophisticated, but a great pocket camera.
"I held one once" shouldn't be the metric by which to judge, jeez.I once held one, and I wasn't too impressed. The focus seemed slow, and the manual focus is fly-by-wire. There is no rangefinder or ground glass to confirm your focus.
Of course I've used a box camera. My first camera was a Brownie Hawkeye. It held the film flat and kept the dark in, did both very well. Its self-cocking shutter was a menace, fired on the down stroke and again on the up. Got some surprisingly nice double exposures before I learned how it worked.<snip> I disgree that the body just holds the film flat and keeps the dark in, have you only ever used a box camera?
So I,m laid up in bed with a spot of back trouble at the moment and my eyes keep looking at Contax G2 kits on ebay at reasonable prices. Beautiful looking compact cameras with interchangable lenses. I know that the last thing I need is another camera but I can't help wondering, what are the G2s like to use and own? Have you any sample photographs to show produced with a G2 using B&W film? Thanks in advance.
Sorry, just posting my impression of the camera. Not a complete review."I held one once" shouldn't be the metric by which to judge, jeez.
Using G2 Focus Correctly
I sat in a Ferrari once. It was too low and you had to shift manually. I wasn't too impressed.
So I,m laid up in bed with a spot of back trouble at the moment and my eyes keep looking at Contax G2 kits on ebay at reasonable prices. Beautiful looking compact cameras with interchangable lenses. I know that the last thing I need is another camera but I can't help wondering, what are the G2s like to use and own? Have you any sample photographs to show produced with a G2 using B&W film? Thanks in advance.
The lenses are second to none, but I'd far rather have Leicas. I had a G2 for a year, with 35 and 90 lenses. Like all autofocus, the focus was not totally reliable (hunting, not focusing on occasion) but the thing I found worst was that in humid/sweaty conditions (including carrying the thing under my coat on a cold day) the eyepiece would steam us, as it does with a Leica, but because it was so deep-set, it was a swine to clean.
Looking at my 'rangefinder' book (details on www.rogerandfrances.com) I note that there isn't a single pic in there taken with the G2, and there aren't many in other books of mine or on the web-site.
Cheers,
R.
Shhh! some camera bodies DONT EVEN NEED FILM IN THEM and you can even make phone calls on 'em honest, no kidding.Of course I've used a box camera. My first camera was a Brownie Hawkeye. It held the film flat and kept the dark in, did both very well. Its self-cocking shutter was a menace, fired on the down stroke and again on the up. Got some surprisingly nice double exposures before I learned how it worked.
These days I shoot advanced box cameras. On 35 mm still, mainly Nikon SLRs. On 2x3, Graphics. They all keep the dark in. The Nikons hold the film flat enough. The Graphics themselves don't even hold the film, with them roll holders and sheet film holders are attachments.
Cheers,
Dan
Roger which Leica with a 28mm, 45mm and 90mm lens could I buy for less than a grand (£1000)The lenses are second to none, but I'd far rather have Leicas. I had a G2 for a year, with 35 and 90 lenses. Like all autofocus, the focus was not totally reliable (hunting, not focusing on occasion) but the thing I found worst was that in humid/sweaty conditions (including carrying the thing under my coat on a cold day) the eyepiece would steam us, as it does with a Leica, but because it was so deep-set, it was a swine to clean.
Looking at my 'rangefinder' book (details on www.rogerandfrances.com) I note that there isn't a single pic in there taken with the G2, and there aren't many in other books of mine or on the web-site.
Cheers,
R.
Dear Tom,Roger, looks like you need to go back to bjorke's post in this thread and review:
Using G2 Focus Correctly
Roger, you are too passionate.<snip> Besides, the finder will still steam up.
Cheers,
R.
Roger which Leica with a 28mm, 45mm and 90mm lens could I buy for less than a grand (£1000)
Now that you are living the La Dolce Vita in France I thought you may have an old leica or two you would let go really cheap, you know, just to give you some more cupboard space.None. Maybe this tells you which system is worth more, to more people. And I don't believe it's just snob value.
I'd far rather have a Voigtlander Bessa than a Contax G2.
Of course everyone's opinions vary. But you did ask...
Cheers,
R.
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