Contax G1

I believe that it is not the camera alone that produces the images but the lenses, and in this particular case the lenses are truly wonderful and a joy to use. The 90mm is great for portraits as well as landscapes, the 45mm is a workhorse and the 28mm a natural for interiors and travel photography. While the G-1 is far from a perfect camera, for the money it represents a solid system and a high value. Try comparing it to a Leica M6 system and you will see what I mean, optically the Zeiss lenses perform just as well IMHO, and the Contax system is a mere fraction of the cost.

Bottom line is it is a real gem and in the hands of a photographer (who does not have money to burn) can capture the once in a life time expressions of a child, smile of young woman, temples in Japan, people on the streets of San Francisco, wind swept plans of the midwest, to perfect sunsets in Hawaii.

Very small and lightweight, easy to use camera with great excellent optics. You can wear this on your neck all day without any trouble. It is a pure and simple camera which allows the photographer enough basic manual overrides to mitigate the common situations that we come across on a daily basis. The camera and lens does not say mug me on the streets for my camera or steal me in seven languages when you travel, like an Leica.

As with any film based rangefinder camera system the optical range is somewhat limited. It will not compare to a 30X mega zoom digital cameras. Nor will it offer a image stabilized sensor or optical stabilized system. It does not shoot at 10 fps or provide predictive autofocus to track fast moving objects. It does not produce HD 1060p movies. Worse part is it uses film, and is all analog, but if you like film that will not matter. Servicing and replacement parts could be hard since the camera is out of production and good camera service centers are getting harder to find. Resell value is no where as high as a Leica system, but then again it has bottomed out and is a steal on ebay these days, expect for the 21mm and 16mm lenses they are still holding their value.

Leica M6, Minolta rangefinder, Fujica GSW690, Fujica GW690 III, and various digital rangefinders.

None needed

I got this camera 1 month ago.I heard so much about thru forums and so I decided to take a hand on it when I saw an add in the internet.I have the M2.M3 and the Leicaflex SL and a whole range of Nikons collected all these years plus medium format leike the Hasselblad and the Kiev.

Though most of my AF cameras were from Nikon series like the F4 and the aperture pririty were the F3 and the FA;all my gear were basically mechanica.

The first impression of the the G1 was it was small light but felt solid.I must admit that I tried to buy this same camera camera a month before I bought it and the first time I looked at it and held it and looked looked at the viewfinder I was sort of disappointed.Told the seller I was going to think about it..Then I started reading on it and saw the sharpness of the images made by others in the G1 websites.It had all sort of issues but the fact remains that these photos were taken from this camera. So luckily the guy hasnt sold it and I bought for $150 in mint condition.

I immidiately shot 3 rolls from it and I was to totally disappointed at first.I knew I had to adjust my mindset regarding shooting with this kind of camera.The contrast were extreme and it was not reading the situation with the meter well.The learning curve would have to be more rolls and it had definitely something to do with light compensation,and the kind of film to be used including the development of the negatives for various brands.So the forums helped shorten that curve.

Now I will first use the G1 with 28mm lens before I take my Leica M series from my bag.The pictures are outstanding, sharp and it had an element that only this camera can take which is vital to me.

I have since got another G1 with 90mm and am looking further for the 45mm lens and aim to get the G2 in not so distant future.

Ironically with this fully electronic camera it teaches you more photography than the manual mechanical.I dont know why but it kept me aware of all the variables.
lastly I like the spirit of the G1.It communicates with the holder.

the lens,the lens the lens and ergonomics

none that I can think of

m2,.m3,hasselblad 500cm, leicaflexSL Nikon f3,fa,f4,nikkormat ftn

I recently acquired this camera second hand from a shop with a one year warranty for 333€ including the 45mm lens. Alternatively a G2 + lens could was 467€. I chose the former due to its smaller size (mostly) and the price as well as the way to focus manually although the G2 was tempting too (it is still in the shop window…). Being an old hand with AF (my first SLR was the Minolta 7000 back in 1987) I did not expect any problems using it but the first film contained two out of focus shots. The trick is of course to thoroughly check the distance scale in the viewfinder before tripping the shutter. The AF system is not bad, it is fairly fast and usually precise with the above mentioned caveat. The metering system is surprisingly good and it is very easy to dial in any correction to exposure. The film loading is easy and fast and it uses a standard threaded cable release which can be had for next to nothing. The shutter button is very nice in use as is the on/of button. The AE lock mechanism takes a little getting used to but is actually quite smart since it frees the fingers fully after being engaged. All in all the ergonomics are very nice.

As a bespectacled guy I was positively surprised by the eye relief in the viewfinder. It is as least on par with most DSLRs these days. What is above par is of course the lens. I never thought I would shoot with anything better than my Xpan lenses but this surpasses anything I have ever tried. Due to the rangefinderish design incredible long shutter times can be used handheld. The G1s and to some extent G2s are available at various auctions for even less than I paid so if you feel to indulge yourself a little go ahead!

Ergonomics – in particular AE lock, AE compensation and general body construction
Eye relief for glass wearers
Lens
Price level (now)
Standard threaded cable release
Feeling good factor using it
Do not need user manual to use it

AF system needs a probation officer around
Out of production – servicing locally may be difficult
Paint easily wears off (but nothing like on the Xpan)

Hasselblad Xpan

Not used - does not really exist any longer

After 11 years working as a pro photographer I decided to buy my first rangefinder camera. I have to say that I just have it for 1 day and I only shot 1 slide film roll to test it a bit in street photography, but I can see what I like best and what not that much.

I have to recognize that I wold have liked a Leica M, basically because it is more mechanical and as such, easier to repair and so.

The best thing I see from this camera is its titanium body, it feels strong in the hands, it is also has other better features compared to the Leica M series, like a higher shutter and syncro speed, something that wold be quite apriciated. The autofocus is not bad at all, I've heard many coments of slowliness of the focus or problems with focusing with the 90mm. lens, but I can't agree that much with neather both of these subjecs, at least not for the moment. But the focusing system of the G1 also has some conts. I don't like not having something that can indicate me in the viewfinder if the subject I am making photos of is realy in focus or not. On the other hand, though I understand that they decided to put the manual focusing ring in the comands of the camera for ease of use, I sincierly believe I wold prefere a focusing ring on the lenses (I hope the motor of the focus doesen't burn down some day, otherwise it is imposible to make a photo unless you can get to establish it at hiperfocal distance. )
With the viewfinder I also have some good and some bad things to say about it. I like that the viewfinder corrects the paralax problems and so, but it isn't near as clear as the Leica M ones, and as the same may happen with the focusing motor, what wold happen fi the motor of the viewfinder wold burn.

I see this camera as a highly modern car, it has many advantages while everything works fine thanks to electronics. But what happens when things start to work wrong? I wold have prefered a bit more manual camera, for automatic ones I already have enough with all my Nikon gear. (personal opinion)

In genearal I like all. Great camera, while things work well

Viewfinder and manual focus.

none

haven't used

I bought this camera after much consultation with this site, based upon other readers comments over the years, and advice from Classic Camera Exchange, who were most helpful. I had considered buying a 35mm lens for my Nikon, but had read that the AFD version though optically good was frought with mechanical problems. As my Nikon F50 24-120 combination had been stolen, and not having the space to always carry my F5 and prime lenses, I elected to buy a second hand G1 to access Contax lenses. In the last two years, I have taken the camera with me in my webbing to many places including operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The camera has delivered very very good results with both B&W and colour reversal film relying solely on the cameras built in meter. The camera is unobtusive in most situations, the user being more conscious of the noise of operation than the subject. Though battery dependent, the camera does not appear to run through batteries quickly, nor does it seem vulnerable to extremes of temperature or dusty/sandy conditions. To my mind the price makes this camera very attractive, were I to have been buying new, I would probably erred towards an X-pan (which is a superlative piece of engineering and handles butifully) or an M7 or New Zeiss Ikon If a reader has one of these please post a review), as my one bug-bear with the G1 is the lack of sensible manual focusing.

Optical performance, size ruggedness and reliability.

Poor manual focusing.

Whilst I have played with various rangefinders in shops, my only real experience with rangefinder ownership was in the 1970's with a Russian Fed 3, my first camera and a wonderful introduction to the joy os photogrphy.

Contax customer service is, thankfully, untested, however customer support from Classic Camera Exchange was very good with an enthusiastic and helful owner.