SLR camera with autofocus and zoom lens?

Bobkins · Feb 10, 2016

Hi guys

I use Contax G1 with 45mm and 90mm lenses and XA2.
Thinking to sell Contax and buy SLR (to save some money and try something new)

price -$30 -90
zoom lens -35-90mm
small, light

- which camera can you recommend? some like Canon rebel 2000? (never used, just seen pics)

- or maybe some like Olympus Zoom 80 etc?

-is IQ will be much worse than G1 with CZ lenses? develop and scan by myself

shoot street photo, abstract

samples attached

thanks!

Malinku · Feb 10, 2016

Imo: I would keep the contax g1 and two lenses. I would forget about slrs and enjoy one heck of a great camera.

as there are very few zooms that would come close to the IQ.

Bobkins · Feb 10, 2016

Malinku said:
Imo: I would keep the contax g1 and two lenses. I would forget about slrs and enjoy one heck of a great camera.

as there are very few zooms that would come close to the IQ.

1 more reason I wanted a zoom -last couple years I used a manual focus lenses only (and on digital cameras also) and little tired of changing lenses

aoresteen · Feb 10, 2016

I'd keep the G1 and look for something else. You will regret selling the Zeiss lenses.

Also it looks like you are getting a horizontal scratch in your negatives. Check the G1. Do you load your own film from bulk? If so check the bulk film loaded. Also, you have a lot of dust in the negatives. How do you dry your film?

Malinku · Feb 10, 2016

Bobkins said:
1 more reason I wanted a zoom -last couple years I used a manual focus lenses only (and on digital cameras also) and little tired of changing lenses

Understandable reason. But selling the G1 is uneeded to get a good quality SLR and zoom lens. Most bodies can be had for under $20 and a zoom lens for around $20-30 more. I got a minolta 7000 and 35-70mm F4 lens for under $30.

Yeah I agree with aoresteen on the Zeiss lenses.

macfred · Feb 10, 2016

Bobkins said:
Hi guys

I use Contax G1 with 45mm and 90mm ...
Thinking to sell Contax and buy SLR (to save some money and try something new)

The Contax G1 with the CZ 45mm + 90mm is a great kit - I would keep it.
---
If something new is essential for you : Sell your kit and go for a FUJI GA645Zi (about the size of a big 35mm SLR with a nice, little zoom lens and great IQ) -
for your saved money you can buy a lot of 120 roll film ... This would be really something new.

https://kevinthephotographer.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/first-thoughts-on-the-fujifilm-ga645zi/

http://www.thewsreviews.com/2012/01/fujifilm-ga645zi.html

RobC · Feb 10, 2016

+1 Keep the G1

what zoom range are you looking for?

A Contax Aria is a very nice camera, small and light for street work but the lenses are not so light. The Contax Zeiss vario-sonnar 3.4/35-70 zoom is a very good lens. The Contax Zeiss vario-sonnar 28-85 is not bad but not as good as the 35-70. Beware that it's the 3.4/35-70 which is the best as there were other versions with variable aperture. Also there is the vario-sonnar 3.5/40-80 but at the wide end there is a lot of distortion.
There are longer zooms too.

http://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/en_de/service/download_center/contax_yashica.html

Neal · Feb 10, 2016

Dear Bobkins,

If you are considering a point and shoot you should keep in mind that the autofocus systems on those cameras are quite slow. Further, many do not allow setting the film speed by hand if your film cartridges are not DX coded. The ones that I have seen usually default to an EI100 and you must adjust with the EI compensation.

Consider purchasing a Minolta Maxxum if all you want to do is try out an slr with autofocus. They are cheap enough to dip your toe in the water without giving up the G1.

Have fun,

Neal Wydra

RobC · Feb 10, 2016

Ahh I see you said 35-90. Then maybe the aria is not right for you although there is a vario-sonnar 3.3-4.5/35-135 but I never used one of those so not sure how good it is. MTF says distortion is not too bad wide open but again not as good as 35-70.

And of course the Aria is not auto focus if that is what you want.

I'm banging on about the Aria becasue it is a really nice smal and light camera with great metering. Ther will of course be other options that may be as good or better.

But the G1 lenses are very very good. Why not get a second and third bodies then you just grab the one you want to use.

Paul Howell · Feb 10, 2016

"Consider purchasing a Minolta Maxxum if all you want to do is try out an slr with autofocus. They are cheap enough to dip your toe in the water without giving up the G1."

I second a Maxxum, my Sigma's SA 7 and 9 both developed sever yellowing of the viewfinder so I moved on to Minolta AF, I started with a 600 and 7Si and a few zooms, the 35 to 70 3.5 is excellent as is the 70 to 200 F4, nether will brake the bank. I also got a 7000 with a lens I wanted, it is a great camera, one of the best viewfinder. At least in the US 7000 are very inexpensive as are the 35 to 70 3.5.

mweintraub · Feb 10, 2016

I have an Nikon N80 for sale. Can also sell a coveted 28-105mm.

Sirius Glass · Feb 10, 2016

Any of the Nikon cameras: N75, N80, N90, F100 are inexpensive and have autofocus and can use a zoom lens. I have the Nikon 28mm to 200mm AF zoom lens, the Tamron 28mm to 300mm AF zoom lens, and the Nikon 20mm to 35mm AF zoom lens, all three are so good that the results are indistinguishable.

pbromaghin · Feb 10, 2016

Considering the prices of autofocus slr's, there is no reason to sell such a great system to buy into them. A few years ago, after decades using manual focus slr's, I bought a Canon EOS with a zoom lens. It was not that wonderful, and after a few weeks it never got off the shelf. I ended up giving it away to somebody who was just starting with film. He still shoots film but no longer uses it much, either.

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 10, 2016

ANOTHER vote for keeping the G1. You're getting the very best optics ever made for 35mm with that system. If you really really really feel a zoom is necessary, Contax did make a 35-70 zoom for the G-series. That and the 16mm are the two lenses in that lineup I don't have.

Sirius Glass · Feb 10, 2016

Keep the G1. I never said to sell it.

Bobkins · Feb 10, 2016

aoresteen said:
I'd keep the G1 and look for something else. You will regret selling the Zeiss lenses.

Also it looks like you are getting a horizontal scratch in your negatives. Check the G1. Do you load your own film from bulk? If so check the bulk film loaded. Also, you have a lot of dust in the negatives. How do you dry your film?

no, don't use bulk
yes, dust and scratches are my problems

Bobkins · Feb 10, 2016

macfred said:
The Contax G1 with the CZ 45mm + 90mm is a great kit - I would keep it.
---
If something new is essential for you : Sell your kit and go for a FUJI GA645Zi (about the size of a big 35mm SLR with a nice, little zoom lens and great IQ) -
for your saved money you can buy a lot of 120 roll film ... This would be really something new.

https://kevinthephotographer.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/first-thoughts-on-the-fujifilm-ga645zi/

http://www.thewsreviews.com/2012/01/fujifilm-ga645zi.html

I was considering this Fuji, I think it great camera,
but just bought a scanner which scan 35mm only

RobC · Feb 10, 2016

Bobkins said:
I was considering this Fuji, I think it great camera,
but just bought a scanner which scan 35mm only

I rekon the zoom on the fuji wouldn't be long enough if you want a 90 on 35mm.

John Bragg · Feb 11, 2016

+1 for Nikon system. A decent F90X/N90X is a lot of bang for the buck and will accept manual and autofocus lenses. F100 is also a great camera.

bdial · Feb 11, 2016

Another vote for the Nikons. A lot of these can be had for what amounts to pocket change. My N75 with the kit Nikkor zoom cost me 6 USD. If you really want to sell some of your G1 kit to get one, sell the lens cap and keep the rest.

MattKing · Feb 11, 2016

Any of the recent Canon AF SLR cameras would be a good choice.

Location: Ladner Harbour, Delta, BC, Canada
Equipment Used: Canon EOS Rebel 2000; 28-90mm Canon lens
Exposure: 1/180 @ f/5.6
Film & Developer: Plus-X, HC-110 Dil E rotary processed

Bobkins · Feb 12, 2016

A how about Canon rebel 2000?

I just like the way it looks

Malinku · Feb 12, 2016

The Canon rebel 2000 is a fine body. I had one and enojyed it. For its current going price not a bad choice at all. Feature filled lighweight camera are the +s. The negative is the build quality and view finder.

thuggins · Feb 15, 2016

Look in to the Olympus IS serries "ZLR"'s. The three digit consumer models should meet your needs, but the single digit pro models were a real technology breakthrough.

Ko.Fe. · Feb 15, 2016

I still have similar if not the same film Rebel, but sold kit zoom. This SLR served my family extremely well for seven or so years.
I'm sure you could get it next to free. No reason to sell other gear.
Don't know anything about Contax. I have FSU and Leica lenses to keep.
But pictures taken with plastic Rebel and zoom lens brought me back to film.
The only disadvantage is - pricey batteries.

SLR camera with autofocus and zoom lens?

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