CONTAX G1

Original G-mount autofocus camera

A review and photo example of the Contax G1 film camera.

Photo example
Review
Specification
Dedicated lenses
Options
Reference links

Photo example

The photo examples were taken by PLANAR 35mm and AGFA CT Precisa 100

Review

The Contax G1 is an autofocus (AF) 35mm film camera released by Kyocera under the Contax brand in 1994.

Perhaps because Kyocera was late in making SLR cameras AF-compatible, they chose to build a camera system without a mirror by using AF instead of a distance measuring system, which was a bit of a bold move. This choice ended with the G1 and G2, so it is hard to call it a successful system, but it has a loyal fan base, and both the camera and the lens have a presence in the used market.

As a camera, the G1 is well automated, with good shutter response and the camera showing that the AF is in focus, so I trusted that and took pictures and developed them, but I experienced a fair amount of out-of-focus.

The AF accuracy is reasonable for subjects with clear contrast, but in situations where it is difficult to shoot through bushes or fences even with a SLR, the focus was often lost. Cats, which were my main subject then and still are today, were a bit of a tough subject for the G1.

Also, the focusing accuracy of the long focal length of 90mm meant that the camera was out of focus in many scenes, making it a lens that I hesitated to use on a regular basis.

It was impossible to focus where people wanted with the AF sensor at the time, so professionals would have hesitated to use it, and it seems that there were still people who used it, but when you think about making a living, a camera with a low yield rate doesn’t seem like a wise choice, and even for amateurs, it seems inevitable to choose a reliable SLR camera considering the cost of one shot of film.

The titanium gold exterior, which is common to the G1 and G2, feels good to the touch and I was very satisfied with owning and using it. In terms of design, the G1 and G2 are similar, but I personally like the clean, minimalist style of the G1, which is equipped with the minimum functions necessary as a camera.

Four lenses for the G1 were released at the time of the camera’s release: 16mm, 28mm, 45mm, and 90mm, so there are lenses with the necessary focal lengths. The lens lineup is a little disappointing compared to SLR cameras, but this should be enough if you just want to enjoy photography.

In order to use the 21mm and 35mm lenses released with the G2 with the G1, the G1 body needs to be updated by the manufacturer; updated bodies have a green label on the film chamber.
Unfortunately, the Vario-Sonnar 35-70 zoom lens is a G2-only lens and cannot be used with the G1.

Specification and Competitor

Camera name	CONTAX G1	CONTAX G2
Finder	Real-image zoom finder	←
Viewfinder magnification (Infinity, 45mm, Diopter -1D)	x 0.57	←
Field of view (Infinity, 45mm, Diopter -1D)	90%	←
AF system	Passive Continuous not supported	Passive/Infrared Active Combination Continuous support
Continuous shooting rate	2 frames/second	4 frames/second
Shutter system	Electronically controlled, longitudinal running focal plane shutter	←
Shutter Speed	1/2000 – 16 sec (aperture priority) 1/2000 – 1 second (manual)	1/6000 – 16 sec (aperture priority) 1/4000 – 1 second (manual)
Battery	CR2-3V 2本	←
Size(mm) W x H x D	133 × 77 × 42	139 x 80 x 45
Weight(g)	460	560
Price(Yen/No-tax)	¥143,000-	¥163,000-

Dedicated lenses

Focal length	Lens name	Release date
16mm	HOLOGON 16mm	Year 1994
21mm	BIOGON 21mm	Year 1996
28mm	BIOGON 28mm	Year 1994
35mm	PLANAR 35mm	Year 1996
45mm	PLANAR 45mm	Year 1994
90mm	SONNAR 90mm	Year 1994
35-70mm	VARIO SONNAR 35-70	Year 1999