Great lenses. Easy to use. Excellent quality.

Autofocus just a little too slow (autofocus will always be that...). Viewfinder a little small.

Great camera! I have 28 and 90 mm lenses together with one G1. I carry it always. i rather go naked then without my G1. Picture quality is great. I use it together with Fuji Neopan 1600 and I feel ready whatever situation comes before me. My other camera is Nikon F5 and my Contax G1 and it´s lenses is a good complement to that camera. Buy it!

Customer Service

I tried Fotoflod in Stockholm and they needed almost a month to repair my 28, thats too slow....

Similar Products Used:

Leica M5.

*Zeiss lenses.
*Compact especially the lenses.
*Auto and manual everything.
*TTL metering and flash
*Quality & finish.
*Lenses bargain priced compared to Leica.
*Did I mention Zeiss lenses?

*Slow manual focusing.
*Slow X-sync.
*Totally battery dependent.
*No depth of field markings.
*Titanium finish just screams out to thieves & Leica users!

A body, four lenses (21, 28, 45, & 90mm) plus TLA200 flash, filters & film will fit in a very small bag (e.g. Lowepro Nova 1). You can just about carry them anywhere. Try that with todays SLRs. I don't think it is noisy or the autofocusing a problem. I wish it was finished in a less obvious color (like black).
The lenses are superb in particular the lack of distortion. Whilst they are not up to medium format despite what some people say, they do blow away any 35mm SLR zooms.
Manual operations are a little slow but just like the autofocusing you must understand the limitations. I like the fact that you can easily present the focus without using the viewfinder or LCD screen but it is not the same as having the focusing ring.
I plan to buy the external power pack and adapter so the battery issue in trivial
My only real gripes are the slow x-sync and lack of d-o-f information on the lens. Considering the current price it is really hard to fault.

I have handled both G1 & G2 and don't think the G2 is worth the extra cost. The only benefit to me would be the x-sync of 1/200. The G1 focuses fine after you learn

Customer Service

Never needed it

Similar Products Used:

Canon SLRs
Contax SLRs
Bronica ETRsi

High Quality Lenses! Easy to use, beautiful results.

No DOF info on the lenses.

I like this camera very much. I normally use a Pentax 67 and always will, but find that I enjoy using the Contax more than many of the SLR's I've used of late. The results are excellent. Being a rangefinder, it has most of the usual rangefinder limitations. I paid 800 bucks for this camera body with a 35 lens and a dedicated flash! I picked up a 90 lens from an Ebay auction a little later. Couldn't be more pleased with this camera. The lenses are fantastic performers too. USE LENS HOODS WITH THIS AND ALL OTHER SYSTEMs! You'll get better pictures!

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

Lieca M3

Light, compact solid construction. Cheap for the quality level.

Hard to focus in extreme low lighting.

The quality of the images has to be seen to be believed. Friends always ooo and ahhh when they see my slides. The pictures look so good that I get credit when it's just the Carl Zeiss lens. Don't hesitate to get one of these gems.

Customer Service

None necessary

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE1

*Build Quality
*Zeiss Optics
*Size
*Auto and Manual Control
*Price
*Results!

*Manual Focus
*(only) 2 problems using AF on first roll of film

Having used only SLR cameras beforehand, I have not found the AF difficult to use on the G1. I have noticed it's AF to be uncertain on occasion, however adjusting to this quirk has not been a problem (this may not be true for everyone).

My first roll of film turned out beautifully...literally some of the best shots I've taken. While two photos were out-of-focus because I rushed the shot, I find focusing on an object and then reframing the picture an absolutely seemless and natural process.

This is truly a wonderful camera for those who want photographic control with AF. I can't recommend it enough at this price (the G2 is nice with its IR AF + manual focus + faster shutter speed, but not nearly worth the price/size difference).

Customer Service

*Contax inquires were helpful
*Adorama support was poor considering my overnight package didn't arrive until a week after I ordered the camera (my shipping fee was returned)

Similar Products Used:

Contax G2

Body built like a tank
Zeiss optics
Small enough to keep readily to hand

None yet
With layout, potential to inadvertently switch exposure lock on, or move exposure compensation dial, although I have not had this problem personally. Also no autofocus problems that many seem to moan about - care is needed when using autofocus MUST be exactly on point of interest;lock then recompose-no problems.

This camera has greatly impressed me. I currently have just the 45mm lens. However this is a fantastic lens and I'm sure I will be tempted to buy others. The optics really are as good as people say. The 'as good as medium format' hyperbole is clearly nonsense - it is a physical impossibility for obvious reasons. BUT as far as 35mm lenses go, the results (especially in b+w), have to be seen to be believed. Yes, there are some limitations inherent in the AF RF concept but accept these and acknowledge the fact that the system is smaller than SLR systems, but equals or outperforms optically the best of these.

Similar Products Used:

1st rangefinder I have bought

Great lenses, well built, good price.

Small view finder, battery dependent, autofocus requires some learning. Ocassional difficulty seating the 90mm lens.

I got the G1 and 35, 45 and 90 lenses for a great price. I picked the contax as my first auto focus 35mm, rather then a Nikon F-100. It is a great travel camera, small and light.
I carry it with a Hasselblad as a travel system. Color in the Contax and B&W with the Hassie.

The first thing I did was to shoot the three lenses on my lense charts. I was amazed by the resolution results, particuarly the 35mm. (90 lp/mm at f2.0 on Tech Pan). I also tested the focus accuracy and repeatiblity and found all of the negatives were the same (great). 16x20 prints from the 35mm on tech pan were as good as my 55mm f2.8 Micro Nikkor. I now use my nikon system a lot less. I use the 35 and 90 and usually leave the 45 at home.

The batteries are a bit expensive and seen to give out at the worst times. I usually carry at least 4 spare CR2's that have already been checked out in the camera.( I've been spoiled by the 1-2 years of service I get from 8 AA's in my F-3/MD-4).

I would not recommend it for a beginner, but if you lust after an M6, It's a great compromise.

Customer Service

None needed to date

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad, Pentax 67, Rollie's, motorized MF Nikons,
2x3 view, Mamiya C, etc.

Compact, extremely high quality materials and construction, great optics.

Manual focusing, although have had few occasions to need it.

A wonderful little camera that takes great pictures and is a joy to use.

Customer Service

No problems with camera

Similar Products Used:

Leica M3 and CL
Konica Hexar
Canon 7s
Contax T

Great ergonomics, tough, lenses are wonderful, reasonably priced, viewfinder zoomx

The whole battery compartment tends to turn along with the cover when I change juice. Five minutes after I bought 2 new G1s, Contax changed the chips to handle the 21mm and 35mm lenses, and I couldn't be bothered to send mine in for upgrading. Really &*(^ed me off, and I will never buy another Contax just on principle.

The G1 is a nice camera, and I love the 28, 45 and 90 lenses, but I wouldn't buy it again: I prefer my Leica M6, which has lenses at least as good, a wider variety of optics, and more rugged build. OK, it's more expensive, but at least Leica doesn't change the electronics and leave you holding a camera that can't handle all the lenses intended for it, which is what happened to me with my early-run G1s.

Customer Service

Never called them

Similar Products Used:

Leica M6, fuji MF rangefinders, various point & shoots (which is what the G1 really is, only with interchangeable lenses).

Lenses give sharp, clear and high contrast images.
Compact and lightweight.
Quiet

Batteries go fast. Use brands that the camera store recommends.

I have used a variety of camera brands and formats (Nikon F3HP, 6006, F2, FM, N90, Bronica ETRSi and Hassleblad 500 CM) as a medical/research/public relations photographer.
Since a back injury in 1995, however, I have had a very difficult time trying to find a lightweight, quality camera system which would allow me to successfully complete an assignment without causing severe back pain. I finally found the G1 system. Yes, it took some time for me to learn how to use the new rangefinder, but in the end, it has been worth it. I can carry the camera, 3 lenses, flash, battery pack and accessories around for hours and not end up being miserable with back pain for days following. Simply put, the lightweight,compact system with such sharp lenses for such a reasonable price cannot be beat.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

Argus rangefinder