Contax G1 & G2 Review
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- In this video, Greg and I review the Contax G series, so both the Contax G1 and the Contax G2 in one video. First introduced in 1994 and sold until 2005, the G series is famous for its beautiful design, incredible lenses, and luxurious automatic features. Let's take a closer look at it.
Two images by Lizzy Hadfield from Shotfromthestreet:
/ shotfromthestreet
Films used:
Ilford Delta 400
Ilford FP4+
Agfa APX 100
Agfa Precisa 100
Gear used:
Contax G1 & G2
21mm f/2.8 Biogon
28mm f/2.8 Biogon
45mm f/2 Planar
90mm f/2.8 Sonnar
If you'd like to get in touch or see some early behind the scenes footage, find me on Instagram: / analog_insights
Great Video and images. Nice to see you again Max!
Stunning images, very accurate reviews of these wonderful cameras including their limitations. Thank you again.
Diane Swift Thank you for your kind feedback and comment.
Wonderful review of a fabulous 35mm camera. Stunning images, and a complete and accurate review.
Thank you for this in depth review. It's also awesome to see that the G1 I purchased brand new in October of 2000 is now worth more than I paid for it! Fun times!!!
hi max,so glad to see you upload new episode~warmly regards
Outstandingly thorough review. Finally a vid that does these cameras justice and answers the questions I had lingering. Maxxy you're the muhamed Ali of Analog
Raychristofer Ahaha, thanks so much for your kind and lovely comment. I really appreciate it. :)
Great and useful review! I also like the pictures you took whilst at the river, beautiful.
Your reviews are always excellent. I bought the G1green label and 3 lenses many years ago when there wasn't a really huge price difference between them. Live and learn! Having said that I've always been pleased with it and as you said the lenses are exceptional.
The wider colour images of the river are blissful
bought two G2 cameras with lenses in 90s ... excellent lenses, great camera, beautiful results
7:25 really nice picture! I like the atmosphere that it has
Lovely review! As always!!
And next you should review the Konica Hexar AF. It's a really nice bit of kit 😊
Excellent review. Well presented. Thanks
Great review. Thank you! Did you have similar autofocus experience with the G1 and G2 or did the 2 perform better for you?
Great presentation and review. No "Let's jump right in" or "Whatisup people" just informative and engaging. I want a G2 but worry about repairs and remember the camera hunter guy saying same thing
I have two G2 bodies (one with the shutter error) and I hear it's about $250 usd for a repair from Japan Exposures in NY. At this point with the price of leica film bodies, I'll stick with this platform.
Nice video, beautiful images! Being the first owner is probably the best way to own them. You mention the two most important caveats which have always kept me from getting one - repair and focus. But I remember when using one I didn’t enjoy the zoomy dark finder very much... nice Omnica bag, Gregg!
Great cameras, I've owned and used them a lot. I loved the lenses too, their bokeh is incredible. If someone has problems with them PPP Repair in England does great jobs repairing them and all Kyocera cameras, as Contax T2 and T3. Great video and wonderful photos.
By far the best Contax G system review. Thanks for your exceptional work! Thanks for using a great sound track too (lol, I’m a musician, so it’s important to me).
Arthur Sadowsky Thanks so much. I really appreciate your kind words. And I used to be a hobby musician as well. So choosing a good soundtrack for the videos is always important to me as well. :)
Analog Insights - you’re very welcome. I have figured that you probably have something to do with music: all your reportages are poetic and have a well developed music character... anyway, I hope to meet you in person if we are going to be performing in your hoods. Please, keep up your very talented work!
Very good review. I had a G2 w/ the 28 45 and 90 lenses, along with the small (TLA200?) flash. By far the most loved camera I've ever owned. I never had much issue with auto focus on mine and could count on it. I would use a spot to set exposure, again the spot to set focus, and results were very predictable. Of course this made the camera slow to shoot with and it certainly was no action camera. It was however, very gratifying to shoot with and that along with it's beauty and excellent ergonomics made photography with this camera a pleasure. I agree with his assessment of the 45, just a killer lens. I am having pangs of nostalgia after viewing the review.
Thank you for posting this. I bought a G1 and three lenses new but never liked it and put it away. The focusing is really slow and the controls are awkward. But you've given me a new appreciation for the camera so I'm going to shoot a few rolls and see how it goes.
Stunning review my man...your voice is so amazing, Max..Hello from Malaysian analogue shooter
Tôi có một cái, nhưng không biết sử dụng. Muốn bán.
Hello Max & all at Analog Insights I have been watching your videos since Spring 2018 but I have never left a comment so far. I thought it was time I let you know that I really like watching your informative layed back style videos. I like to see you out on your model shoots and I really enjoy your photo walks. I appreciate the way you always do your research well and give some great information about the cameras you use.The Contax rangefinder cameras look interesting and you both captured some interesting images. I have 3 Contax SLR cameras that I have owned from new and I love them all. I still own all of my old film cameras and have recently taken my Cannon F1 new out for a walk after being inspired by people like yourself. So thank you so much and keep up the good work ATB :D Teddy
Teddy Wanderer Thank you so much for your kind words and beautiful feedback, Teddy. I really appreciate it. Glad to hear you enjoy watching our little videos and like the slower style of them. This kind of feedback really encourages me to keep going. :)
@@AnalogInsights :D Your welcome
Best Contax G1 & G2 review ever! It’s also awesome to see the film results as well. Please review the flash (TLA140 & 200)too next time! :)
Nate Kim Photography seconding a review for the flash please. Been shooting with a g1 for years, always wanted to eventually upgrade to the g2 but prices have rose significantly over the past few years. I never gave much thought to the flashes before because I thought on camera flash was “bad” or not professional. I have never really used flash beyond a film point and shoot that I also have (Olympus xa2) and would like to try the flashes available for the Contax system.
@@photosynthesis69 hey don't forget all the press and sports photographers back then religiously used flash brackets and big bulbs for their images and images turned out for the better.
Danke schön! I am saving for a G1, hope to get it by my birthday.
The mist the day that you were shooting gave the photos a real 3D effect and in some cases a mysterious feeling.
Spot on regarding all its + and -‘s, especially the focus issue, but the images from the 45mm are second to none. It is also possible in the programming to have the rewind leave a two inch tab so you can use the roll again. i.e. stopping mid color roll to put in B&W. Thanks again for the wonderful presentation.
J P Thanks for your kind feedback. Glad to hear you liked it and thanks for your additional piece of valuable information.
Would you maybe consider a side-by-side comparison of the Olympus OM1 and the Pentax MX? They're near identical in size, viewfinder size (the Pentax's is even bigger!), but vary in a some small ways (mirror lockup, meter display, etc). Particularly in regard to a great many people interested in their first all-mechanical SLR.
Beautiful camera.
Can’t wait to get my g1
Sendean Cameras in London UK service and repair these stunning cameras. I've just taken delivery of the wooden cased G1 set with lenses and flash and can't wait for my CR2 batteries to arrive! Great review, I may get a G2 body at some point.
I had the chance to buy a good condition G2 set with three lenses about 11 years ago, and I wish I had. Now the price of the body alone is the same as the kit back then.
Very nice review and editing. You have a consistent style and high level of quality.
raksh9 Yes, indeed. Prices are skyrocketing.
Thanks a lot for your kind words. I really appreciate them.
@@AnalogInsights It has just occurred to me, do you have any plans to explore motion film shooting? I don't mean Cinestill, I mean shooting video with a Super8 or Super16 camera, and get it developed and scanned by a specialised lab. It seems right in line with what you do, and this channel.
Back in the year 2000 I decided to go all in on a new 35mm rangefinder system. I gave very serious consideration to the Contax G system at that time. I can still recall handling the G2 in my local camera store, along with the associated Zeiss lenses offered by Kyocera. The G2 provided such an incredibly unique experience and struck me as a wonderful camera. The lenses were of course incredibly well regarded. Though I did not end up choosing the Contax G system, I feel your review does a great job of conveying how unique this camera was (is) along with the shortcomings that were of concern to me back in 2000.
I bought two G2s and the whole array of lenses in around 2002. Last year both my G2s stopped working, almost within a month. They both had less than 4000 shutter actuations each. After a bit of research I thought that I had found out what the problem was. It was serious, stupid and a design flaw. Contax had in their infinite wisdom had decided to use plastic gears in the shutter acuation mechanism. These plastic gears in time will fail without warning. No one in the UK can repair these. I have found someone in Holland who has confirmed my findings and confirmed that these fails were quite common. The cost of repair is approximately EUR 500.00 per camera plus postage and packing and insurance. The repair once undertaken can take up to 10 weeks. Not all that glitters is gold. Fancy putting plastic gears in the most crucial mechanism in a super expensive flagship camera, where it can not even be reached without taking the camera to its absolute basic frame. Consider yourself lucky. Thank god I have my M6.
Great review and nice rain mac coat.
Excellent review.
A tip for those having focusing problems, I experienced that problem when I was hiking in the Rockey Mountains.
When I returned home I contacted the Contax representative and he told me that the focusing system worked best in horizontal compositions, and was not reliable in vertical (portrait) orientations.
Contax G series is very famous for its quality. Good video!
Kevin Xu Thanks for your kind comment.
Nice review! But there is one thing I need to mention. Even a full mechanical Leica M Kamera has an automatic Parallax correction. The frame lines move a little bit if you change the focus distance. But a Leica Rangefinder is also very limited in the minimum focusing distance of just 0,7 m, which is not much.
Just bought a G1 with a 45mm F2 yesterday. Let the fun and creative times begin.
any honest updates on the camera?
how do you like the system with the 45mm lens?
When I lived on Maui from 2000-2002, I had the G1 with 45mm. Shot a lot of Kodachrome with it, especially on Oahu at Pearl Harbor. Upon coming back to Texas, I purchased the 28mm & 90mm, and put my Nikons away. Recently, I was shooting with my Nikon F5, and the G1 simultaneously, and was a bit disappointed in the performance of the G1. Even with the 200 flash, shooting HP5+ @ 400ISO, there was more grain than I ever had with this film before.
I have it loaded with Kodak 5222 at the moment, and plan to do some shots at a local museum with it, but seems as though I’d better bring along the F5 just in case. Lots of interior shots, and the Contax flash just doesn’t seem to be able to handle it.
If you’ve never before, I think it would be interesting to get your take on the Nikon F5. Thanks for the hard work you do, and I look forward to your next intallment.
Joe in Texas
Nikon F5 is one of the best things here in terms of metering...but too big! I have never badly exposed photo from it, matrix does the job.
Hey Joe to me the beauty of the G1 is its grain in color especially with a Portra 400
Ian Tulud I’ve never shot portra with it. Usually Ektachrome 100 VS, or Kodak 100UC. May try a roll. I’m more a b&w guy.
Great video thanks i enjoy the G2 bodies are a little slippery being all metal skinned.
Very nice review. Thanks. Just one correction though. The M Leica rangefinder system does include a parallax automatic correction. If you pay attention, you will see the frame lines moving according to the focus distance. Basically, when focusing closer, the lines will move down and toward the right. The only situation you won’t get this correction, is when using a wide angle lens, because there are no guide lines showing. And this is when the G cameras shine. You always get this nice full window finder. Tiny but great to look through when you find it. 😊
I own and use two Contax G1 cameras with the following lenses:
21mm f/2.8 Biogon
28mm f/2.8 Biogon
45mm f/2 Planar
90mm f/2.8 Sonnar
Originally, one of the main reasons I purchased the Contax was for shooting classical music concerts, golf, audio recording studios, ballet, funerals, chess matches, live theatrical performances, and other places where an SLR would be too noisy. However, the operational noise of Contax was also too loud. I solved the problem with a Leica M6.
Another outstanding video Max. I have yet another camera on my "wish list" lol. Is the "green label" (as advertised on Ebay and elsewhere) the modified G1? You and Greg certainly produced some extremely stunning images with these cameras. What films were used on your photo walks? Keep the fantastic videos coming.
Hello Timothy,
we used Ilford Delta 400, Ilford FP4, Agfa APX 100 and Agfa Precisa, which is simply Fuji Sensia 100.
Best regards, Greg
@@ianthomas465 Thanks Greg. As I watched the video a 2nd time, I was trying to imagine which stock went with which shot lol. Sometimes I can tell, most often not. We can't get our hands on any Agfa products (even those that are really Fuji) here in the U.S., as the last "so-called" Agfa I shot was some Vista 200, which I later found out was simply re-badged Fuji-color 200. I was truly amazed at both camera's ability to get correct exposure perfect under very difficult lighting conditions. Keep up the great work.
Very nice job. Fantastic images - what film stocks did you shoot?
Richard G Thanks so much. The used films are listed in the description and at the end of the video. :)
Hi. Does the focus point always stay central when focusing on close objects. It seems parallax correction only works on the top left side (leaving the focus point off centre) on 2 contax g2’s I have tried. Thanks
If you can find the cameras can you do a review of the Zeiss Ikon Contax iia or iiia or the original pre -war versions ii and iii?
Hi!!! Do you know if the previous lenses Carl zeiss or yashica are compatible with contax G1??? Thank you. I loved this cam but in the momento cannot afford tha lenses for G!!!!
Love the review and love this camera (i bought a G2 system in about 1999). It's the best camera (past or present) i've ever owned. But I just wanted to suggest why you may have experienced some difficulty with the viewfinder when shooting vertically - the issue probably isn't specific to the Contax and i'm surprised you haven't noticed it on other range finder cameras. I suspect it happens because you are turning the camera anticlockwise to shoot vertical shots (which i do too - it's just instinct). The majority of people seem to turn the camera clockwise (like your colleague Greg) in which case the viewfinder doesn't get blocked by the left hand. I thought it happened because i'm left handed - but i'm also left-eye dominant which I notice you are (whilst Greg is right-eye dominant) and maybe that influences usage.
How do you activate the camera’s auto focus? Do you have to half-press the shutter button? And how to activate the light meter? Does it also work when you half press the shutter button like most film cameras with light meters? Thanks
I’ve never had any noticeable issues with the AF on my G1 and 45. The one thing I don’t like is the tiny viewfinder. The one on the little T2 is nicer.
The G2 is easily my favourite camera. Highly recommend anyone who is interested to pick one up soon, the prices seem to just be rising
The price is up , g1 is.cheper , what do you think about g1 vs g2 ?
I do remember these days quite well, when the G1 and G2 came to life, was being released. Besides the exceptional Zeiss Glass, there have been two concers for myself, which there are still up2date: 1) the pricepoint, the black G2 is simply with 2-3 Lenses out of my reach, and 2) it's a AF (Autofocus) Rangefinder. For my needs, Film does need to be, feeling "analog", which means - i can't work without an Filmadvance Lever, which cocks the Shutter. Therefore, i do only use a few Film Contax, which that feature. Besides this, i also like much my Minolta and Yashica SLRs, Yashica, for being more simply, cheaper than Contax, but not worse in general.
Shoot Film, #onlyfilmisreal. It's extraordinary expensive, as a hobby, but makes so much more Fun, than a simple digital file onto your Memorycard, and then onto the HDD/SSD nowadays. Thanks for this great Video Review, as always.
... I still have my G2... and love it (with 3 lenses)!
But the Konica Hexar for me provided better results... but has just a fixed 35mm...!
And what about the titanium MINOLTA TC-1...? Just wondering.... It's a lovely little jewell...
Hi!!! Do you know if the previous lenses Carl zeiss or yashica are compatible with contax G1??? Thank you. I loved this cam but in the momento cannot afford tha lenses for G!!!! @analog insights
Did you notice if the G1 hunted on focus even after you were half pressed? Im trying to figure out if its a problem with mine or if its like this across the board.
I know I have commented in the past, but I have to do it again. First, keep up the incredible work! Second, if you were not such a talented photographer your videos would be only 80% ( .) ) as good
Hi, I've really enjoyed your Contax videos. You've great presentation skills and the voice for commentating/talking in general. Quick question, will the Contax G lenses fit on Contax SLR cameras?
Glenn McKee Thanks a lot for your kind words. I really appreciate it. The contax G lenses won’t fit an SLR as the distance between lens and film plane is fundamentally shorter in a rangefinder design than in a SLR design. Hope this makes sense.
@@AnalogInsights Yeah, it does thanks. It's kind of what I was thinking only I've no experience of rangefinders.
Finally see my G1 review.pls review Hexar RF if possible.thx!
Hello..
Have you done a review on The Brick Argus C3 Range Finder..?
Beautiful review! The light was just phenomenal in your morning photo walk. And looked like such a beautiful, serene place. What city is it?
Thanks so much. Really appreciate it. This is Würzburg, the city where Greg lives. :)
0:28 that's fine mechanical gem! Oh the camera is nice too. IWC daVinci
Hey, anyone have thought about what material was used to made the G2 black? Black chrome or they just paint it. Is it titanium like the other g2
wieder mal ein überragendes Video, danke dir :) was treibt euch so oft nach Würzburg?
Franz, ich wohne in Würzburg😀. Cheers, Greg
Always with the Princess Diana-ing at the camera.
My G2 has broken the telemeter. Where i can find one ?
Please, tell me which music did you use for this video?
Until when was the Contax RTS III manufactured?
Film is magic.
I had the chance to get this camera when I was first starting but so sad I didnt
great video G2 is definitely more impressive
Можно ли в будущем посмотреть видео о более старом . Contax?
I had a G1 with the 45mm lens, sharpest lens I've ever used, amazing. The camera was so obnoxious I sold it, that focus hunting and terrible viewfinder made the experience of photography so bad I had enough and sent it packing.
That's the thing. These Contax cameras have this sexyness to them. But, I think a cheaper Nikon FE2 or F100 would do a better job and listen to the user more.
WUNDERBAR!
Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC still does service the G1 & G2 as well as the T2 & T3, however it is often cheaper to buy a replacement G1 than service a broken unit.
nipponphotoclinic.com
ps. Love these cameras!
It is too bad that Kyocera-Contax and Zeiss dropped this camera line just as digital photography was taking over the market. I would have loved to see these beautiful lenses make the transition into the 21st century with a 20-40 megapixel digital body. At one time I had a G2 with the 21mm, 35mm, 45, and 90, but traded that equipment in on digital.
I just sold this camera. It’s very beautiful and the lens is very sharp. I just don’t want this camera to die on my hand and be an expensive paper weight.
not sure if I missed it but how is the metering?
mithrastemplar The cameras come with incredibly accurate through the lens (TTL) metering. So it’s no problem at all to accurately expose slide film for instance. Shooting the camera, I hardly ever felt a need to compensate for the meter. When necessary, there is a beautiful exposure compensation dial on the top of the camera.
If Sony / Zeiss were to keep this line alive with modern AF and Battery and improved EVF they would sell like crazy.
Greg has the most stylish waxed jackets. Please post links to Greg's jackets. Thank you.
And hat. Name of the hat please :)
Enjoyed the music, who are the artists and track names?
Same question here
I've got the G2 and its a great camera, when it does what you want it to do the images come out looking like they could be medium format. However, the autofocus is a huge problem - especially when taking portraits. It's a shame seeing as when it does what you want it to do the images are outstanding, but ultimately it's unreliable as half the time the autofocus is inaccurate.
What film camera do you tend to use most?
Can you tell lease tell me what the brown bag your friend is using is?
Sure, this is a Walther Benser bag.
@@AnalogInsights thank you :)
Excellent review. I learned a lot of stuff I didn't know. The quality of the scans could have been better, but still a thumbs up.
Is there a difference in how clear and/or big the viewfinder is, between the G1 and G2?
Also do you think the autofocus any better on the G2?
I had the G1 but sold it because of the dim viewfinder/strange autofocusing. Mine was maybe faulty, I really don't know because I never compared it to another G1. In theory I want a G2, but I'm afraid to be let down again.
Hello Niklas,
there is no difference in the brightness between the two viewfinders, but what we forgot to mention is that you can adjust the dioptry for those who usualy are wearing glasses.
The autofocus of the G2 is significantly faster and definitely more precisely as the one in the G1.
Best regards, Greg
I have both and the viewfinder in the G2 is bigger.
what about hasselblad xpan
Will come at some point. :)
If the shutter breaks on the g2 there is no repairing it, this is a common problem. This issue will 'brick' your camera. So now I have an expensive paper weight.
Loud AF motor? Really? Well, you should try out oldest Minolta auto - focussing film cameras, like Minolta 7000, which was the first modern auto - focus SLR camera ever. A review about that camera wouldn't be the craziest thing in the world 😊
Gruß...
Do the G1 or the G2 have a loud shutter? Or are they quite silent? I suppose with the film advance they are loud.......
Yes, the cameras are generally a bit noisy. The shutter sound is rather quiet, but the automatic film advance and auto focus motors can be heard quite clearly. Hope this helps.
The analog equivalent of mirrorless cameras
I'm confused.....in the intro you say the autofocus is relatively fast. At the end you say the autofocus is slow. You also say the autofocus of the G2 was greatly improved. Your comments seemed to be about both cameras but was the slow autofocus comment about the G1 and the relatively fast about the G2?
Мммми... Zeiss... после него мне уже не нужно ни чего другого.
pleas do vido bout camara
Really fun and informative review :) Just a tip, it would help you sound more authoritative, clear, and professional if you focus on not saying "Uhm" as a crutch word. We all do it, but the more you train yourself not to do it, the better off you are!
I loved the ums. It humanized the review and passion for sharing his photo experience. Nowadays there's too much automation around.
These cameras are not cheap buying them second hand and you need over £1.500 to buy one of them
nice man, not objectionable like many other camera youtubers.
Ben Sutton Thanks for your kind feedback. I really appreciate it.
Chair brutality!
Excellent review of these cameras. However, I can’t help myself with this reply. All I think of is how the douche bags that think it’s cool to be seen with this just raise the costs. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for the review but I wish it focused more on portraiture and use of color film. I think this is where the series shines. I found the photos bland and uninspiring as well. Am I alone on this?
Usually when I get a comment like that on my channel I encourage the person to shoot and edit their own version of the review. No one has the guts to
I'm sorry to say and I do not want to insult but why do you always make reviews of these super expensive cameras, as if others less expensive or "cheap" cameras do not exist!! Cameras such as Canon Prima ZOOM 85N AiAF, or Canon Prima AF-9s or Fuji DL series cameras, cameras in that range? Or God forbid reviews of cheaper plastic cameras (ok,they are all plastic but u know what i mean)!
You can say that there is not much to say about them but believe me you can if u want to!
What's interesting about the Canon Primas? (genuinely curious, I'm not familiar with them).
This channel has plenty of reviews of inexpensive cameras, like the Pentax KX, Minolta MC lenses, Olympus OMs.
Thanks for your comment. I know what you mean but this channel is really not about "super expensive cameras". Instead the main criteria is whether gear is interesting because it was considered a breakthrough at the time, had a first-of-its-kind feature or comes with notable ergonomics, design or quality. Just recently, I talked about the Agfa Optima Sensor 1035 (which cost me about 20 Euros or less on eBay) for 23 minutes primarily because I was attracted to its design, wanted to learn more and then share what I found out. As mentioned by other commentators, there are plenty of reviews of less expensive gear on the channel such as the Olympus OM-1, Pentax MX/ME series, Minolta lenses, Mamiya M645, Olympus 35RD and so on. And yet, you will never find reviews of plasticky zoom point and shoot cameras on this channel as I'm simply not interested in them. Neither photographically or technically nor aesthetically. So if you're into that, check out other channels. Hope this helps. :)
@@AnalogInsights Thanks for your response, I actually love your channel and i watch every new video you share!
Seems like a nice camera.
BUT, I absolutely HATE Auto-focus.
To me; "Auto-focus is for morons!"
In my experience, these things NEVER focus on what I WANT TO FOCUS ON! Making them unusable to the serious Photographer.