Contax G1 query

[Oly_Man]

Hi there...

I've been offered a Contax G1 green label + 35mm Carl Zeiss F2 Planar & lenshood for £300. The lens is fine but the body has some cosmetic scratches on it, such as on the base and on the back where I'm guessing it's rubbed against someones jacket-zip etc. Mechanically the camera seems fine, and the seller tells me he's only put two-dozen films through it.

Is this a good price?
PS the sale includes all boxes and instructions

(got to clear it with the Missis yet...your responses will be my evidence )

[TimF]

It seems a reasonable price to me - compare used prices for Contax G kit at Aperture here.

That said, I recall seeing somewhere that the metering in the G1 is rather slapdash compared with the G2, so see if you can run a test roll or two through it to get an idea.

[Oly_Man]

Yeah I'd heard a few noises about potentially-dodgy metering, but even so £300 seemed too good an offer to miss so I just wanted the opinion of a few more-experienced eyes

I can't put a film through it cos the seller is States-based, hence the good price...he's actually asking $535 including postage to the UK, so it's only the exchange-rate which is making it such a good price

I'll be eBaying an Olympus OM4Ti to help fund this...I hope the photos I get from the G1 + 35mm Planar are of the same calibre

[TimF]

Ah. If it were me I'd buy in the UK rather than from a foreign seller. At least there'd be some come-back if the camera went pear-shaped.

Your choice of course.

[Oly_Man]

Thankfully he's a trusted seller...someone I've 'known' on another forum for a while, so it wouldn't be hard for me to tarnish his image (pardon the pun) if he sold me a dog, or didn't post the item off. There's always the risk it could get damaged in transit, but that risk exists even with local mail. In 2005 you really should be able to post a box of eggs to Australia knowing they will arrive intact, but we all know that's not the case

[TimF]

he's a trusted seller...someone I've 'known' on another forum for a while

OK, that does make a difference.

[AJUK]

OM4-Ti That camera is still worth serious money, maybe you could get a G2.