Contax G1

[dyncoed]

Fed up of waiting for a clean M5 to come my way I have just bought a clean G1(non Green label), 45mm planar, databack, plain back, hard case and remote for a nice price off ebay.

Have handled a G2 in the past and found it an easy camera to use but too expensive for my liking, which led me to get a G1 instead as a compromise if ever one came along at the right price for me.

I could never get on with Contax SlR's, but is there anything I need to watch out for with G1's?
Can they still be converted to work with the 35 and 21 lenses?

Mark

[nimbus]

These are, in my opinion a nice little camera. The 45mm lens is absolutely superb. I have a G2, as well as the G1 and in truth I prefer the G1. The autofocusing is not the best, using only a centre spot, but once you are used to this it is not really a problem. When using manual focus the dial is easily knocked out of position.

I do not know whether conversion for the later lenses is possible, my G1 is a green label version.

[LargeFormat]

Such an elegant camera.

[dyncoed]

Very elegant camera, noisy af but a very quiet shutter compared to my bessa rangefinder.

Thanks a o lot for taking the time to reply guy's, there doesnt to be many users around anymore!

Mark

[Lazza]

Very elegant camera, noisy af but a very quiet shutter compared to my bessa rangefinder.

Thanks a o lot for taking the time to reply guy's, there doesnt to be many users around anymore!

Mark

How are you getting on with the G1 now you've had a chance to get used to it?

I'm thinking of getting one myself, seem to be a few cheap ones around atm especially when compared to current G2 prices. I've heard a few bad things about the focusing accuracy on the G1 from some who couldn't get on with one but others say it's fine once you get used to it especially manual focus which can be tricky. Interested in your thoughts so far.

[dyncoed]

How are you getting on with the G1 now you've had a chance to get used to it?

I love it to bits, even banged a few slide films through it to see how well it coped, no problems whatsoever.

Noisy focusing and viewfinder is the only thing i dislike, and shame on them for not giving a rangefinder patch when it would have made the manual focusing easier than the electronic viewfinder scales. Other than that good walkabout camera to own.

Dont know if I'd buy a g2 over a g1, the g1 seems to do what i need quickly enough.

Mark

[Lazza]

Thanks for that!

The lenses alone are to die for I know and when compared to Leica M mount prices are a giveaway right now so that really tempts me. (I've seen the 90mm as low as £90 in the last week!)

Interesting what you say comparing it to a G2 as well because I've read in print a number of G1 owners on forums who own both but say they prefer the G1 despite it's foibles.

Green or Silver label doesn't really bother me too much either as I'd buy the 28mm over the 35mm lens every time especially with the standard lens being 45mm so this means I can save money on the body too. Just have to sneak it past the wife once I get it now, better leave it a few weeks after recently buying a bit of gear.

[dyncoed]

Enjoy anyway and good luck sneaking it in past the wife!

Mark

[Lazza]

Enjoy anyway and good luck sneaking it in past the wife!

Mark

Finally sourced the right one, boxed green label G1 from a reputable dealer, *12* months warantee for ...... £96.

Just need to source a 45mm Planar though now which is proving far more difficult than I thought. Trawled every online dealer I can think ofand not spotted one single 45mm at all. If anybody does see one at a decent price, please, please post a linky.

[parisian]

You called?

Just typed '45mm planar for contax' into google

[Lazza]

Thanks for that Peter but the lens pictured (although a Zeiss) is not a G mount lens despite them saying so, also in black as opposed to the usual titanium too (ugghh. lol). But ta anyway, appreciate it!

I've not tried looking too much at USA dealers yet, found a couple of UK options at reasonable prices so waiting to hear back. Prices seem to vary so much on Contax G gear it is crazy.

[dyncoed]

The only place that might have one in stock is Nicholas Camera Company at the moment, Google them and you'll find them online, but you will have to phone them to check if they have any in stock. There's a few 28's floating around, but prices are probably higher than the 45 by a long way.

That's the problem in sourcing just bodies of a camera like this, you end up paying more in the end than you do if you bought a camera/lens combo to start with, hence why i waited for one to come along!

You could always try ebay too.

Hope this helps.

Mark

[Lazza]

I'm OK for a 28mm, bought a mint boxed one for a mere £120 today so well chuffed.

I know the guys @ Nicholas and they are on the list to phone should my other 2 candidates fall through (If they can find it that is! LOL - For anyone who has never visited Nicholas @ Camden Town and loves camera gear you really do not know what you are missing out on I assure you. It is the finest camera museum on earth and it has no entry fee either, in fact be nice and they will make you a cup of coffee as well. You name it, these guy's have probably got it and even if not in shop it will be at their storage facility a few miles away. They can be a little on the expensive side though at times would be the only criticism I could ever make.) - many thanks for the shout though, very much appreciated Mark!

[parisian]

Nicholas are advertising the 45mm at between £140 and £199
HERE
Which would indicate that they have more than one.

[dyncoed]

Peter, the problem with that website is that they dont edit it frequently, if you go to the home page you'll find they last edited it 21/6/2006!

Best to ring up.

Mark

[parisian]

Ah, well then, they should realise that elderly gits like me might get quite excited but then have the disappointment of failure thrust upon them.
On the basis that they are therefore ageist I will not venture there again

[Lazza]

All sorted out now for a 45mm thanks, many thanks for all help!

Got my G1 yesterday and it's a beaut for the money, soon realised how important it was to study the manual though .... page 66 atm ...phew!

And considering how the AF works on these rangefinders surely the G1 is far better with it's method of focus lock using the shutter release as opposed to the G2's separate button on the back of the camera? I think so anyway.

[huwevans]

surely the G1 is far better with it's method of focus lock using the shutter release as opposed to the G2's separate button on the back of the camera? I think so anyway.

It's an additional option - you can still lock focus with a half-press of the shutter release on the G2 if you prefer. But that locks both focus and AE - it's been a while since I sold my G2, but IIRC the focus-lock button only locks focus, leaving the AE still unlocked.

[Barney]

And considering how the AF works on these rangefinders surely the G1 is far better with it's method of focus lock using the shutter release as opposed to the G2's separate button on the back of the camera? I think so anyway.

Forgive my ignorance, but how does the AF work? Is there any chance of being able to maintain AF with an adaptor on an MFT camera? (I'm doubful but hopeful)

[Lazza]

surely the G1 is far better with it's method of focus lock using the shutter release as opposed to the G2's separate button on the back of the camera? I think so anyway.

It's an additional option - you can still lock focus with a half-press of the shutter release on the G2 if you prefer. But that locks both focus and AE - it's been a while since I sold my G2, but IIRC the focus-lock button only locks focus, leaving the AE still unlocked.

Aha, now that would explain much - thanks Huw. Thought it didn't make any sense at all if the shutter/focus lock aspect had been removed especially as the G2 was supposed to put right many of the things users did not like in the G1.