Can Contax G rangefinder lenses be mounted on the G1?

Just a quick question, would appreciate it if someone could let me know.

Best Regards,
Tony

I can't answer your question but I had a G1 with three really nice lenses. That 45mm was killer - it was 45mm right? I think I had a 90 & 28.

Really nice camera but dealing with film - oy vey.

When all the film cameras I had lusted after as a youth started getting really cheap I bought them. Leica CL, Contax, Bessa etc etc Must have shot five rolls of film tops and said "this is lame" what with the processing and scanning etc etc

Digital is the only way for me now. Shame I sold all those Leica M & thread lenses though as I would have bought a G1.

Les

...and my recollection is that the lenses--wonderful as they are-did not have focus rings. You manually focused using a dial on the camera.

I'm still dreaming of a digital G2...

--Darin

--
Darin Boville
http://www.makingphotographs.com (photography)
http://www.montarafog.com (citizen journalism--San Mateo Coast)

Yes and yes, to both.

That said, an enterprising widget designer could possibly create a Contax G lens mount that would engage the little focus drive connector via a thumbwheel (sort of like the original Contax rangefinders) presuming a compatible flange-to-sensor distance could be achieved. I don't know, in the case of the Biogons and the zoom, whether the protruding rear element would clear the shutter, etc. But the two Planars and the Sonnar would present no such problems. The 45/2.0 Planar would probably be spectacular, and a killer portrait lens.

Sigh.

Matsushita, sorry, Panasonic should send somebody over to Kyocera and buy their G and N system plans and specs. There no question in my mind they had a digital G planned, awaiting compatible chip technology. What an awsome system that was, er, is.

--Rick

darinb said:

...and my recollection is that the lenses--wonderful as they are-did
not have focus rings. You manually focused using a dial on the camera.

I'm still dreaming of a digital G2...

--Darin

--
Darin Boville
http://www.makingphotographs.com (photography)
http://www.montarafog.com (citizen journalism--San Mateo Coast)

Click to expand...

No, not directly.

But there is a company in Japan that can remount the glass into a custom machined barrel with focusing helical, with a Leica thread mount. You could then use it on a G1.

I didn't know there's no focus ring on Contax G rangerfinder lenses.. and yes I also wish they could make a digital version of it. I heard the Contax brand was only licensed to Kyocera for a limited period of time and it's always owned by Zeiss. I don't know when the contract ends but I think after then Zeiss will make Contax cameras again some day.

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

Best Regards,
Tony

OH yeah forgot there was no focussing ring - minor detail eh?

It's a shame as Contax/Kyocera were about eight years too soon with the whole G idea. I loved the results I would get - some folks reckon the 45mm was the best 35mm lens ever - or rather the sharpest I believe they used to say.

After going digital I could never go back to film again - not even for the nostalgia.

Those RED cameras are going to be interesting when they come out.

Les

--

I still have my G1 with 28, 45 and 90mm lenses and it is an AF camera. I also dream about the possibility of a digital version of the Contax G-model camera so I could use those wondderful lenses I have.