Contax G2 image gallery

This page is filled with good stuff for the potential Contax G buyer:
http://www.novia.net/~jlw/contax/advice.html#top

You can also try the Contax G page:
http://www.contaxg.com

 

Nicole

I'll testify to mindboggling image quality from the G2 system in almost any circumstance. It's only weakness is that close up, at maximum apertures, and the 90mm lens, it is harder to get exact focus where I want it. This is a hair splitting observation, due in large part to me and my limitations as a camera operator.

Shooting in low light, close to the subject, with a 90 mm lens, I could not place the precise focus with the G2 as well as I can with a Leica.

For all other circumstances, the G2 was easier for me to use. It is a wonderful camera.

You might look at a Konica Hexar RF, as well.

cheers

.

 

Is this link any use to you;
http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/browse?id=5890

 

Nicole,

I have recently come acros a website explaining that this was due to "pilot error". The site explained that the G2's manual actually explain the use of the auto focus in detail, but apperently not a lot of peolpe read it thoroughly. I will try to find the URL again. I don't have a G2 allthough I would love to...

 

I've been looking at the G2 as well. As much as I've been trying to pull away from 35mm, I just really like the camera. As for famous photographers, I know Alex Webb uses one.

 

Here is the URL I was talking about;

http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html

 

Nicole,

I can't tell you much about the camera, but there is one for sale at rangefinderforum.com and it looks like a pretty great price.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11384

 

I think the reason there might be more Contax than Leica is that Leica is kind of a cult croud, not to mention at least double the price. I have an M7 right now and am considering selling it for a good medium format camera and might get the Contax as well. The Leica is nice, but lenses are just so expensive and right now I just dont think it's worth the price. I looked at the G2 the other day and it has a nice feel to it, and the autofocus is great (though I've never owned an autofocus camera before).

 

I think there are a couple reasons you don't have much of a record of documentary shooters using Contax G2. First, in the USA, Contax support has always, always, always been terrible. Beyond incompetent, openly abusive.

Secondly, the established shooters were using Leicas 20 years ago, so why change ?
And any new entries into a shrinking area of photography have largely been digital.

Marketing for the Contax has always been to the same folks who drive a Land Cruiser to the golf course. Of course, so too has been Leica in recent years !

But Leica delivers when you need to get of the beaten path, that's what it was designed to do. And being able to pick over 70 years of lenses to suit what you need is a great advantage. I use 2 lenses for portraits, for instance, a new 90 which can see in the dark, seems to be able cut cleanly through any muck in my vision and give me a better image than I deserve to have made. Then there is an old 85 that at 5.6 can show every nick and pore on a face, but not be overt about it. And at f/3.5 or faster, draws everything it sees with clarity and grace, but has no idea that anything out there is wrinkled or unpleasant. And better than an AF SLR, you can put the focus exactly where you want it.

cheers

.

 

Hi Nicole
both Faye and I use G2's and must say that while the Leica carries the badge the Contax, at least to us, outperforms it. One comment re the focus with the 90mm fully open, which I use often, is correct but is a very minor observation. If you have ever tried to load film into a Leica then you will appreciate the G2! We use them in the studio but recently have been undertaking a project on Glasgow which has been street photography and I must say they have performed superbly even when we have been shooting from the hip! I will post a couple of images but I would say that, and I am sure you alreay know this, you can purchase a complete G2 kit for the price of a M6 body!
Kind regards
trevor

 

With respect, Trevor, what is minor to you was a major problem to me. So, I flogged my G2 stuff and stuck with the Leica. Which, thankfully, I have never had trouble loading.

The best thing we might draw from this is that our experience is OUR experience, and the cameras are magic. The trick is to find the right one... for our self.

cheers

.

 

Late to the party...

If you like money, buy a Contax. You will have more money.

I went to see Eikoh Hosoe the other night (blog) and the people on either side of me were shooting Leicas while I hammered away KETHUNK KETHUNK with my SLR. They are quieter than the Contax, even (in one guy's case) with the spring motor. The shutter in the G2 is metal, similar (identical?) to that in the Konica Hexar RF. Still, I could hear them. And I know when they shot, and I'm happpy to say that I'm convinced my pix were better "it's not the camera..." etc.

As for people shooting with Contax G2's, Robert Frank and William Eggleston have them (Egg uses it in the recent documentary movie), as does Luc Delahaye (who shot Winterreisse with his). I occasionally see people carrying them on the news in Iraq, at the White House, and so forth. My buddies Eddie and yoshi shoot documentary with G2 in harsh conditions and it just keeps coming back for more.

Still, if you are having equipment anxiety then always buy the most-expensive, so that you can sleep at night (that's only half-joking! it's a common, common issue -- look at Diane Arbus's fretting over the Pentax 6x7)

 

I tried both. Contax G2 and Leica M7.

The Contax is OK, specially the Zeiss lenses but you can not compare with a Leica M7. The M7 is more than OK and so I decided to fill in my budget for Eur. 3300,00 with a M7, Elmarit 2,8/28mm and a Summicron 2,0/50mm. A lot of money for such a camera but I had luck to get it, even (almost) new. (Mostly a matter of time).

If you're working professional with this camera and put a real good film inside e.g. Fuji Acros 100 or Rollei PAN25 or a high resolution Copex with Nanospeed developer you can go till 40X50 cm enlargements and have shootings on low light level conditions and rather low shutter speeds (1/15 S).

I am very satisfied with this working tool. Everything is working simple but I personaly like the AE-mode very much. Also the automatic DX is working fine. Manual of course possible. I do not understand critics on those points.
The only thing which needs some adaptation of the photographer is film change. Not quick but due to the flatness for film, Leica still have the old system of filmloading.

I can only recommend a Leica M as rangefinder camera. But of course I am aware of the investment for such a camera.

Best regards,

Robert

 

.....like almost all cameras.

 

Some things in life are to simple to change your mind on

 

Not sure what you mean by bells and whistles? Maybe I have a different G2!

 

For many people, that's anything beyond manual settings for shutter speeds, aperture, and focus. For pinholers an adjustable shutter qualifies.

Since the current context is Contax G2 vs. Leica M6, we're probably talking autofocus, autoexposure, electronic focus lock, motorized film advance.... etc. In other words anything beyond a shutter dial, aperture dial, manual focusing, and TTL metering.

Lee

 

I have a G2 and love it. One practical advantage to the G2 that I don't see people mentioning is the faster shutter. I find this very useful. It alows me to use fast film, but not be limited to small f stops in bright light. Just the ticket for shooting in varying light.