Contax G3

[Full Lumen]

Just before Kyocera decided to stop manufacturing Contax cameras and lenses back in 2005, there persisted rumours of a G3 model which might even possibly have been digital.:eek:

I for one would have welcomed an improved G2 with quieter AF, lenses up to 135mm, a lens preview function in the viewfinder, titanium black finish (as on some Contax T3's), spot metering, and an optional digital back to allow interchangeable dual medium (film & digital) photography.:D

Dream on!

Having said all that the G2 was, back in 1996, and still is, 13 years on, close to perfection IMO. I guess that is why I am still thoroughly enjoying using mine.:proud:

So a question. If there had been a G3, what improvements over the G2 would you like to have seen in it?

[wilson.c]

The G3 would look something like this ;-)

[Peter_S]

I am also waiting for a proper digital equivalent. What I would love it to have:
- digital Foveon or Fuji Super CCD sensor (these sensor replace film well for b/w, IMHO) for high DR
- improved AF
- full acceptance (w/ AF) of Contax G-Lenses
- approx same size
- usable viewfinder for MF, preferably OVF
- made by Contax (I am aware that this will not happen due to the Kyocera deal) or Sigma

I dream on - and wait for Sigmas interchangable lens offer in the far future or that the rumored Fuji m4/3 thing comes out. If it does not happen soon I may buy an analog G2.
To be honest, I think the proper digital equivalent will come from Sigma, question is when.

[Brian]

The other way to go, and it is expensive, is to have the Contax lenses remounted into RF mounts and get an M8 or M9. The U4/3 mount is enticing, just wish it has a lesser crop factor. Still may get one "for my wife", she has asked for a nice digital to use. Then I can play with the manual focus adapters.

Get the G2 and shoot film! No AA filter, monochrome available, and no IR problem. Think of it as thin film technology sensor with slow readout.

[Full Lumen]

Get the G2 and shoot film! No AA filter, monochrome available, and no IR problem. Think of it as thin film technology sensor with slow readout.

That is exactly what I did; assembled an outfit from the second hand market, and have not looked back since. :D

Film is fun, too. :cool:

Not convinced I need a digital G3 anymore.:rolleyes:

[Peter_S]

Edit - see post below

[Peter_S]

Get the G2 and shoot film! No AA filter, monochrome available, and no IR problem. Think of it as thin film technology sensor with slow readout.

Thats also what I ended up doing and what a joy to use! The feel, the quality, the lenses, the look of film (I somehow forgot in the digital hysteria how good film looks). I like the ability to pick my own "sensor" as I like - e.g. I like the XP2 I just shot a roll of.

I put some first test shots out of a rather uninspiring environment and developed and scanned cheaply in the drug market into an album (http://ziforums.com/album.php?u=846) - but I cannot wait to take it where I really like to shot, into the mountains. But the wish to have Foveon sensor in there sometimes remains. I will just use Contax G2 + Sigma DP2 together in the meanwhile and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Cheers!
Peter

[robgrune]

a DG3? The essential challenge is the imager, followed by the viewfinder. To use the superb Zeiss G lenses, the imager must be able to capture the light from the lens at an extreme angle. So far, only film can accomplish this. The Kodak imager for the Leica M9 goes a long way to solve this problem, via the use of micro lenses, but the raw result is yet not as good as film. With no alternative, the G3 would need to license the tech from Kodak, which may be objectionable to Leica. Next is the optical viewfinder, which is nigh impossible to adapt the zooming G2 one to a digital imager. The fix is to license the EVF from Panasonic (which is pretty slik BTW). So at best, a DG3 would be a hybrid camera. It would be possible to create one for say lenses of f35mm and up, but very difficult for f28mm and lower.

I'm curious: would anyone have an estimate for how many G2 owners exist in the world?