What's new
DPR Forum

Welcome to the Friendly Aisles!
DPRF is a photography forum with people from all over the world freely sharing their knowledge and love of photography. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to the experienced professional. Whether it is Medium Format, fullframe, APS-C, MFT or smaller formats. Digital or film. DPRF is a forum for everybody and for every format.
Enjoy this modern, easy to use software. Look also at our Reviews & Gallery!

Contax G vs Leica M lenses

Hi Philip,

> The Zuiko optics are superb...

Thank you very much for the Olympus info...I will check into getting a OM w/ a 50/55 1.2...I love fast lenses ;-)

> satisfied in > the knowledge that people dont buy a Contax to show off a red dot, > but to take first-class photographs.

Not everyone who buys a Leica wants to show off a red dot, but for the same reason you state, to take first-class photographs. The Leica is NOT the same as a Rolex, which keeps time no better than a $10 electronic watch. The Leica IS unquestionably a superb photographic instrument. Don't disrespect/dismiss Leica users/owner because they have/use a Leica, it is simply unfair, and unwarranted. Respect someone for their images, not what they took them with.

Regards,

Austin
 
Comparing Contax Gs to Leica rangefinders,=20 what would it take to have someone market a lens holder that fastens to a G2 baseplate like the one available for the M series? =

I have a few ideas as to how you could make your own lens attachment system. Using just the lens base cap and a 1/4 X 20 cap screw, making sure the cap screw head does not touch the lens. Install a measured for length cap screw (there are many different heads that are available) through the lens cap (which will require some careful drilling and perhaps tapping, your choice). Attach the lens base cap to the tripod socket using the cap screw, and then attach the lens.

You could also use a quality flash bracket attached to the tripod socket using a thumbscrew and attach the base cap to the bracket. There are several ways you could attach the cap to the bracket other than using a screw, industrial strength Velcro tape. Using Velcro tape and a flash bracket would be a non-destructive method (saving a hole in your lens base cap).

Other methods would require machining a lens mount to a bracket etc. and expense.

Regards

Gilbert
 
such a device (lens holder) exist... someone sells them regularly on ebay deutschland... it's a contax specialist, but I don't remember his name...
 
Not that it's all that important, but those photodo ratings don't even take into account the newest of the Leica optics. The new 35mm Summicron-ASPH is lightyears sharper than the 35/2 tested there. Personally, i once compared a bunch of 50mm lenses: 50mm Canon EF 1.4, Contax N 1.4, Leica-M Summilux 1.4, and Zeiss Jena 50mm 1.5... and added the 35mm 2-ASPH-M.... All of the 50s were so close, sharpness-wise that there was little to nothing in practical use to separate them. The bokehs were different, though. But, the Leica 35mm-ASPH was so significantly sharper at EVERY aperture, that i was stunned. And, in fact, an 11x14 print shot with that lens was every bit the equal of the same shot by a Mamiya 6mf 6x6 rangefinder with its equivalent lens - and the Mamiya lens is supposed to be as good or better than the Hassy....

And, with regard to the 90, there is also a newer 90mm-M APO, which is superiour to the lens photodo tested....

Further, and this seems to be consistently overlooked - the Zeiss, as a 2.8 lens, is incapable of shooting a f2, and there is no 1.4 short tele as there is for the Leica. The 45mm G cannot reach f1 or 1.4.... When speaking of "superiority," only a Contax bias allows you to ignore the limitations. Try being objective for just a moment. You might find it refreshing.

And, no, Austin has been nothing but objective.
 
>>> Respect someone for their images, not what they took them with.

I absolutely agree, Austin. Can you please point us towards some Web address in order to see some photographs taken by you?

Cheers, Luis Argüelles (both Leica and Contax G user)
 
I'm not sure whether it is completely appropriate to discuss alternatives to the G2 in this thread, but I'll try and see where it gets me. This may be more appropriate as another thread, "Systems complementary to a G2". Here goes. I really would like a faster lens than the G2 has. If I do not want to spend several thousand dollars for a single leica lens and another couple thousand for its body, then am I limited to a choice between SLRs with their corresponding mirror and louder operation (than a rangefinder)?
 
Scott,
If you want a rangefinder with faster lenses than G2 and less expensive than Leica, my guess is your best option is a Bessa R or R2. I have never used it, but the lenses are said to be excellent and you have 28 1.9, 35 1.2, 35 1.7 and 50 1.5.
 
Scott,
There are alternatives in the rangefinder world.

There is the Voigtlander Bessa range. The R2 is a very nice camera, and accepts Leica lenses (some via adapter). Or, what is called the M7 Killer, the Konica Hexar RF. The Konica is an automated rangefinder. Integrated film advance, aperture priority exposure (with manual, of course), and shutter speeds up to 1/4000, i think. It has a Leica-M compatible mount, as well as working with Konica's own lenses, which are outstanding in their own right.

Either way, with a Leica M, Bessa, or Konica, you can use Leica glass, Voigtlander glass, or Konica. And, the Voigtlander glass is an amazing bargain. Not only do they offer the fastest 35mm lens, but they offer a range of glass at extremely reasonable prices. You should read more at cameraquest.com and on the Leica forum at photo.net.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top