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Your experience with Canon G1/G2 (film) camera?


david_l._dupuy1

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I'm interested in a small, high quality rangefinder camera for

traveling, hiking, etc., and the Canon G1 looks very appealing. The

quality is obvious. Can anyone tell me the basic differences between

the G1 and the G2 in a couple of sentences? I gather the autofocus

can be easily disabled to permit manual focus (and exposure)?

 

I presently have an excellent Rollei 35S, but am looking for

something newer and better. I appreciate any comments, both pro and

con. thanks, David

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I've been reading the reviews on the G1 on www.camerareview.com, and the major complaints seem to be (a) the small viewfinder, and (b) autofocus problems. I don't really plan to use AF, so that should not be an issue. Most of the reviews were highly complementary. I'm really looking for a small 35mm for travel, with ultimate lens quality, and not too many gizmos. I would prefer to do without auto-wind. Wasn't there a camera introduced 4-5 years ago called a Bessar, or something like that? All manual, Zeiss lenses? David
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The "focus problem" with the G1 was corrected in the G2. The G1 had problems focusing accurately with the 90mm f2.8 lens wide open and in close. Contax built a better AF system into the G2. If you only use the 21mm f2.8, 35mm f2, 45mm f2 and/or 28mm f2.8 the G1 will be as good a camera for less money. The system uses a unique (for today) mounting system for it's lenses that resembles what Canon used back in the 1970's and you have to get used to the fact the G series lenses always "park" their distance focusing rings back to infinity so you hear a lot of whiring and buzzing in using the system. Not really too loud, but as the user you do hear it.

 

Don't buy into the system hoping Contax will introduce any new, longer lenses. I think the system development is pretty much at an end. I'm kind of surprised it's still even being built the way the current marketing trends are.

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I just noticed the part about you not planning to use the AF. The Contax system isn't the best for manual focusing as you have no visual indication that you've focussed correctly other than a focus confirmation light. It's not really a rangefinder system. It's a compact non-SLR AF camera with interchangeable lenses. If you haven't had a chance to try one out I definitely would do so before sinking the dollars you have to in order to buy a complete setup. It isn't a system for everyone.

 

The BESSA is still current. They are in the process of updating to a new body. It is a true rangefinder like a Leica, but at a very much reduced price. Go to Cameraquest.com and check that system out. While cheaper than a Leica, it's still not inexpensive.

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Greg, very interesting. I appreciate your comments. I had no idea that the manual focussing worked like that! That doesn't sound very appealing to me. For manual focussing, one turns the focus ring until the "focus confirmation" light comes on??

 

I will indeed have a look at the Bessa. David

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Yep, that's what happens when you manually focus. I have never considered the G series to be a "rangefinder" class camera. It's kinda in a class all its own. No one else really builds anything like it. The one true rangefinder camera that has all the same type features WAS the Konica Hexar RF, which I owned for a short while. It has a superb rangefinder/viewfinder with all the automation you get with the G series and some superb lenses. The 50 f2, 28 f2.8 and 90 f2.8 Hexanons are fully in the class of Leica glass and build quality, but much cheaper.

 

Problem is, it's now discontinued.

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Actually, the manual focus system on the G series works differently than has been described. The focus confirmation light would be accurate for the little Contax T3 but not for the G2.

 

When you set the G2 to manual focus mode, two lines of pixels appear in the viewfinder. The top line is the focal point of what you're aiming at. The bottom line of pixels shows where the focus distance of the lens. By turning the focus wheel, you bring the top and bottom points together and...you are in focus. You can see whether you are focusing in front of or behind the subject. The system works.

 

On the manual rangefinders, you are not 'focusing' the lens either because the image never is out of focus (as it is in an SLR viewfinder). You are bringing two images into alignment in exactly the same way as you bring two pixels into alignment on the G2.

 

A similar system is used on the Contax RX SLR in their Digital Focus Indicator system.

 

Because the G2 determines focus by calculating the distance to the subject rather than by phase, it fulfills all the requirements of a rangefinder just like the optical rangefinders.

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