set-up good system below 3000 similar to contax g2

<p>hey,<br>

i have been using the rangefinder Contax G2 with Carl Zeiss 50 mm lens so far.<br>

for an upcoming project I am looking to find a good, similar (if of course not 1:1) set-up (camera and lens) which is comparable to it.<br>

This is the list of facts I have for further research on it:<br>

-purpose: inside portraiture using window-light<br>

-price: below 3000 Euros<br>

-every camera except other contax or leica<br>

-possibly relatively small overall<br>

-possibly auto-exposure or auto-focus but not necessary<br>

i hope you can think of something which corresponds roughly to the criteria mentioned above.<br>

i am doing a project as part of my studies-program and really wish to come forward with the right choice to make. i hope i have made the circumstances and my criteria clear and that you could help me with it. please avoid opionating about other lens- or camera-formats (digital etc.), models named by other forum-members or if a camera choice is even at all important. it would help me very much if you would mention your own choices. Don't be bothered that I say this but it will make everything so much easier to go ahead and hopefully present pictures to you soon.<br>

cheers, philip</p>

<p>Essentially the exact same question was asked yesterday in 2 different forums, except now the budget has apparently tripled to €3000:<br>

http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00bzTf<br>

http://www.photo.net/pentax-camera-forum/00bzTy</p>

<p>Why don't you just use the Contax G2. It fits your requirements. I'm sorry, english is not my native language, but did I understand you right, that you don't want tips for digital cameras?</p>

<p>i should have indicated this as well:</p>

<p>i am looking for an analog camera, not digital.</p>

<p>(thanks stephan)<br>

yes, exactly, I have raised my budget to 3000, which hopefully gives me new opportunities.</p>

<p>Here's an offer that fits your bill. Just as an example. Maybe you get the camera and lenses for even less.</p>

<p>http://www.ebay.de/itm/CONTAX-G2-PLANAR-2-45-SONNAR-2-8-90-BIOGON-2-8-28-CONTAX-FLASH-KOFFER-/111162719866?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Analogkameras&hash=item19e1d07e7a</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Here's an offer that fits your bill</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Or not - since one criterion is: every camera except other contax or leica<br /> What exactly was not sufficient with the recommendations that you received yesterday?</p>

<blockquote>

<p>camera choice is even at all important</p>

</blockquote>

<p>It is only in so far as it would allow you to use a particular 50mm lens that you are fond of. That doesn't seem to be the case though. So my suggestion would be to go to your local camera store (if they happen to have a section with used film cameras and lenses and then pick one that speaks to you.<br>

<br /> 3000 Euro is a lot of money to spend on a film camera and a 50mm lens; you could get something that gets the job done for 1/10 of that or even less. </p>

<p>Since I obviously fail to grasp what you expect from the camera and lens and why the G2 with the 50mm that you own is unsuitable for the job at hand, I guess I better shut up now. </p>

<p>@dieter, you have been helpful already. i have used contax g2 so far, which has a very high quality. of course body and lens do have to work together very well. unfortunately the carl zeiss 50 mm lenses usually only work with the companies mentioned.<br>

the question is now, which set-up, except leica and contax would be very good to use and is certainly better than the usual choices as Nikon OM etc (which are all good, too)?</p>

<p>Bessa R3A with Voigtlander Nokton 1.1 </p>

<p>just checking on it...</p>

<p>I was wandering from the start on which 50mm lens you used on the G2. AFAIK the standard lens was the 45mm Planar?</p>

<p>I don't know why you think that any number of SLR alternatives wouldn't be at least as good. If you are looking to do head and shoulders portraits then a lens in the 45-50 range would be too short. For the moment I will assume that you may be doing some head and shoulder portraits and some environmental portraits. Set #1 - Nikkormat FT3 w/50/1.8 AI Nikkor (1st version if available) and 105/2.5 AI Nikkor. You can expect to pay about US$125 for a competent overhaul of the FT3 body. You will have a lot of money left over from your budget. If you can't get good results with these lenses then it's not because some test report showed a different lens is better but because your technique needs improvement. Set #2 - Canon FTbN w/50/1.8 Canon FD SC and 100/2 Canon New FD. The camera body will also take about US$125 to overhaul. The Nikkormat's meter will work with an MS-76 battery. The Canon FTbN's meter will run nicely on a 675 Zinc-Air hearing aid battery or with an MR-9 adapter with a 386 or MS-76 battery. Again, you will have a lot of money left over from your budget. Set #3 - Minolta X-700 w/50/1.7 MC Rokkor-X and 100/2.5 MC Rokkor-X or MD. Some X-700 bodies need new capacitors and this is part of an overhaul. If your set-up is a static one and you want better quality than you can get out of any Zeiss lens in the 35mm format, consider using a medium format camera. A Bronica SQ-A or SQ-AM (built in motor winder) w/80/2.8 PS and 150/4 PS would be a good start. </p>

<p>You can get a Minolta Maxxum 7 or Maxxum 9 and get the Carl Zeiss Planar T*1.4/50 ZA lens so you have autofocus with a Carl Zeiss lens and not a Contax.</p>

 

If you are looking for something that feels good to use then I like my old Canon F1 (first model). Since I also shoot Contax G and Leica M

(film and digital) I can compare it. In terms of IQ with good lenses there is little to choose between the film model. canon makes some

very good lenses and the 85 F1.2 is a great portrait lens but perhaps longer than you like to use. Of course the Canon F1 is a totally

manual camera - the later (new F1 has more metering options and slightly more automation). I am sure that the old Nikon film bodies F,

F2, F3 will also give a similar feel. By the way the Contax G standard lens is 45mm not 50mm. You may also want to consider the G1

while not as good for focusing as the G2 and lacking the separate back button I still like this body and it is a lot cheaper than the G2 used.