Difference between revisions of "Contax G"
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Despite the advanced technological sophistication of both the Contax G1 and G2, and the truly outstanding performance of the lenses designed by Carl Zeiss, the Contax never even began to challenge the position of Leica as the tool of choice for professionals seeking an interchangeable lens rangefinder camera system. | Despite the advanced technological sophistication of both the Contax G1 and G2, and the truly outstanding performance of the lenses designed by Carl Zeiss, the Contax never even began to challenge the position of Leica as the tool of choice for professionals seeking an interchangeable lens rangefinder camera system. | ||
| − | + | In February, 2006, Kyocera announced it would cease all activity related to the manufacture of Contax cameras, effectively spelling the end of the G system. Carl Zeiss currently works in conjunction with Cosina, the producer of a line of Leica M mount clones to provide Leica M mount Zeiss lenses. With its titanium clad body, superb lenses, and high level specifications, the G system has not been excelled in the years since its introduction. | |
== Links == | == Links == | ||
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* [http://www.contaxg.com/ The Contax G Pages] | * [http://www.contaxg.com/ The Contax G Pages] | ||
* [http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html How to use Contax G Focusing] | * [http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html How to use Contax G Focusing] | ||
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[[Category: Japanese 35mm autofocus]] | [[Category: Japanese 35mm autofocus]] | ||
Revision as of 20:14, 28 January 2007
In 1994, Contax introduced an apparent oddity: a new line of interchangeable-lens rangefinder cameras that did not use the established Leica-M or Leica-screw lens mounts. The new camera, the Contax G1, used the "G"-mount, an electronic autofocus mount. Critics were quick to accuse the camera of not being a "true" (mechanical) rangefinder, since it used autofocus and electronically-linked mechanisms. But the AF mechanism in the G1, and later the G2 (introduced in 1996), does indeed use a twin-window system much like that of the older mechanical rangefinders--only in electronic form.
The lenses made by Zeiss for the G-series quickly established it as a camera of worth: the original 45mm f/2 Planar was joined by a 28mm f/2.8 Biogon and a 90mm f/2.8 Sonnar; a 21 f/2.8 Biogon and a 35mm f/2 Planar were added later. The 45mm Planar in particular gained renown as the sharpest 35mm camera lens ever tested by the Swedish test site Photodo -- outclassing even the illustrious Leica 50mm Summicron.
A successor to the G1, the Contax G2, has improved autofocus performance and a higher top-speed of 1/4000 sec. The manual focus wheel was moved from the top deck to the front, to about the same position as where the focusing wheel was located on classic Dresden and Stuttgart Contax rangefinders.
Despite the advanced technological sophistication of both the Contax G1 and G2, and the truly outstanding performance of the lenses designed by Carl Zeiss, the Contax never even began to challenge the position of Leica as the tool of choice for professionals seeking an interchangeable lens rangefinder camera system.
In February, 2006, Kyocera announced it would cease all activity related to the manufacture of Contax cameras, effectively spelling the end of the G system. Carl Zeiss currently works in conjunction with Cosina, the producer of a line of Leica M mount clones to provide Leica M mount Zeiss lenses. With its titanium clad body, superb lenses, and high level specifications, the G system has not been excelled in the years since its introduction.
