Contax G1 Rangefinder Camera

This camera sits at a crossroads and as a result can do so so much. On one hand it has the ease of use as a point and shoot. The autofocus works relyably (though i do wish the manual focus was a bit easier to use) which means you can shoot from the hip on a subway, lens wide open with the aperature priority automatic metering on and be sure you've gotten the shot (at least with focus and exposure). On the other hand you have all the manual contols that allow you to specifically craft your images.
It is small and virtually invisible to those around you even close up. At the same time it's just as pretty little a gem as your likely to have hanging from you on a strap. The controls all come quickly to hand. It is simple and not overpacked with features as are some of those super SLRs, and with the exception of the autofocus it is a straight up, old school, hard core streetshooter.
And if you don't know about those lenses... well, you will never shoot with finer.
Inevitably not as strong or arguably not as romantic as a Leica M, but when you look at the money you'll save, that consideration flys out the window with quickness.

a great little thing on any street shooting... colorful film output and excellent
features. you can't go wrong with this tiny RF.

This camera is a GREAT buy! I was in the market for a 35mm, something that was easy to carry around, but also produced great quality images for 35mm. Though it's NOT pocket sized, I carry it on my shoulder with easy and it never seems to get in the way. It has a nice weight to it, esspecially that I carry it with the TLA200 flash, but is not too heavy either. It runs fully auomatic and manual, and the lenses are Carl Zeiss. To top it off, everywhere I go, people stop me and say, "wow, that camera looks great!" We all know Leica is the ferarri of 35mm, but if you can't quite afford that , I say get this Porsche of a camera and rip through the streets with ease ; )

I sold my Contax G1 a year ago and ever since then I have had this void in my camera gear. So, I bought one off of Ebay and boy am I glad I did!

I have owned most everything out there, including a Leica M6 which I ended up selling within 6 months! I went back to the Contax G1 and 45mm f2.0 because for me this just may be the perfect camera and lens. I love sharp, crisp images with a lot of color saturation and contrast and this camera delivers. Some may say it is too sharp and to that I say NEVER can it be too sharp!

This G1, more so than the G2, is very compact and discrete. It has a bit of noise sure but nothing like the honking D-SLR's out there or even a Nikon F100 or Canon 1V. The auto focus is crisp, plenty fast enough and accurate. The auto film advance is a great thing if you ask me, especially when it comes to street photography.

I know it is only 35mm and medium format negative have more detail, I get that. But street photography with a Pentax 6x7 is a bit, well, obvious! Trust me I have one and it is. The Contax G1 fits perfectly in that gap between 35mm and medium format. What I means is that because of the Zeiss lenses and todays scanning technology I have zero issue scanning negatives and 300 lpi (3200-4800 dpi) and printing 12"x18" or larger.

The overall effect this camera has had on my photography is immeasurable. I know there are cameras that do some things better than others but to be honest the Contax G1 is NOT my choice for studio portrait work or landscapes. This is why I have other camera outfits. But if you want a world class camera, and I do mean world class, to throw over your shoulder (and not break your shoulder) to do wonderful street, general and candid photography in all kinds of lighting conditions then you have to seriously look at this little gem. I paid $299.00 for the G1 body AND the 45mm f2.0, both of which are in EX++ condition.

Before you sell out and go all digital I implore you to try this camera first. I can say for the money this just may be the best camera deal we will see in our lifetime. BUY ONE TODAY you will not regret it.. Regret only comes when you sell the G1!

The Contax G-1 is a perfect range finder camera for the serious amateur phototog. I shoot with the G-1 and a G-2 the G-2 focuses faster but the G-1 is smaller and easlier to handle. Both use the Zeiss lenses which are the sharpest I have ever used! The G-1 gets negative press which I feel is undeserved unless you are a pro shooting lots of film in low light. The best thing is that the G-1 allows you to use the Zeiss Glass without paying the higher price for a G-2. Personally I like the push button controls on the G-1 better than the roll switches on the G-2. Both are super cameras and I leave my M-3 at home on the shelf went I go on the street to shoot.

I decide to buy a Contax G because I love the quality of 28/45/90mm G lens at relative low prices and I like the quality of the body manufactured by Kiocera (in my opinion it is better than Cosina Bessas). I have taked perfect pictures with Contax AF, but I am not sure that it is really a rangefinder because the manual control is also electronic.

The image quality coming from the G1 is incredible! This is by far the best value in film cameras out there! The body and lenses are very inexpensive and the quality is just incredible - I've decided to sell my Leica rangefinder setup in favor of the Contax... it's that good (and way more economical).