This unknown camera, (not many have heard of the Contax name even), has some of the best optics in the world in its stable, as verified by independent lens testing.
The 16mm Hologon
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGHologon168-124.shtml
The 21mm Biogon
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGBiogon2128-122.shtml
35mm ... Read review
Advantages: Has the sharpest optics in the world Disadvantages: unavailable in the high street, small lens range
...many have heard of the Contax name even), has some of the best optics in the world in its stable, as verified by independent lens testing.
The 16mm Hologon
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGHologon16_8-124.shtml
The 21mm Biogon
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGBiogon21_28-122.shtml
35mm Planar
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGPlanar35_20-125.shtml
... ...non compromises. Everything about the Contax G1 and its lenses are about excellence. No company accountant pulling the purse strings here.
The camera is a rangefinder camera (like most compact cameras) where the light from the lens goes directly onto the film on exposure with separate provision for the viewfinder, this format allows the lens designers to optimise the lens optics. In SLR cameras the lens designs are a compromise as ... more
This unknown camera, (not many have heard of the Contax name even), has some of the best optics in the world in its stable, as verified by independent lens testing.
The 16mm Hologon http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGHologon16_8-124.shtml
The 21mm Biogon http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGBiogon21_28-122.shtml
and the new zoom 35-70 Vario Sonnar http://www.contaxcameras.com/gseries/lenses/variosonnar35_70.html
All hewn it seems from solid Titanium, as this is the durable material which clothes these exquisitely crafted optics. Precision engineering with legendary Carl Zeiss lenses, extreme sharpness and supreme contrast. These lenses not only outperform almost every SLR lens on the market but win the award of the most beautiful lenses too.
A camera is only as good as its optics ;)
The body itself is also clad in titanium, which looks absolutely and feels stunning. One almost feels how can a manufacturer make such a product borne out of passion and non compromises. Everything about the Contax G1 and its lenses are about excellence. No company accountant pulling the purse strings here.
The camera is a rangefinder camera (like most compact cameras) where the light from the lens goes directly onto the film on exposure with separate provision for the viewfinder, this format allows the lens designers to optimise the lens optics. In SLR cameras the lens designs are a compromise as the designers have to design around a pentaprism mirror.
The controls are almost 'classical' no star wars style LCD and beeping buttons. This camera was designed with greek type proportions and to stand the test of time with its timeless qualities. But its not just a pretty toy, all controls fall to hand easily and the results produced from it's lenses are absolutely stunning.
You may have noticed a lack of zoom lenses in the range, this is due to the fact that a zoom lens in itelf is a compromise design trying to cater for various focal lengths and master of none. A fixed prime lens produces superior results and rips out the detail in explicit detail in photos.
This camera is very much for the purist and revolves around a superb set of lenses, it's the lenses that make the camera. This wouldn't suit somebody who likes their zoom lenses (I prefer to zoom with my feet) and is more suited to landscape and general photography. It has the most awesome wideangle lenses which an SLR cannot compete with as SLR wide angles are particularly difficult to design around an SLR.
An SLR is better for the sports and action photographer with longer focal length lenses and faster auto focus mechanisms
This camera is relatively expensive around £500 without lens, add maybe around £200-300 for each lens and it's not cheap compared to a mainstream SLR, but is a bargain compared to a Leica M with near the same performance.
