Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> For an experienced Leica user who wants a P/S with high quality >glass, what do you all recommend? Konica Hexar with 35/2 lens, >Leica Minilux with 40/2.4 lens, or Contax G2 with 45/2 lens? Which >will provide the best image quality for slides, and which offers the most >user control, like an M6? Francesco If you don't mind the size (almost exactly the size of my M6 with the Summicron 35/2 on), the Hexar has a superb lens, very good construction, stunning silence (less noise than the M6, in silent mode). It is delight to use, except for the small buttons that control the modes. Christer suggested the GR-1. I also have one and it doesn´t compare with the Summicron or the Hexar, if you want to use slides. The GR-1 (at least my sample, I have a very early one) has a different rendering with Sensia or Velvia than the Hexar or the Summicron. Strong colors but the highlights saturate very quickly (strange, isn't it? not your regular low-contrast wash-out, just burned highlights.) I always use it with a -0.5 compensation, for slides (it overexposes slightly) but it does not solve the problem: I get dense, rich slides BUT with washed-out highlights. And it is a bit prone to flare, which does not help to the above syndrome and is a pain for a P&S: you just don't want to put the thing on a tripod and carry a shade, everytime you take a picture... :) Ricoh recognized this later problem and a new version is supposed to exist, with a small, very cute shade: a scaled-down version of the high-tech, cut-out shades the reflex lenses now carry. The lack of contrast in highlights is a pity, because the lens is really, really (I mean, REALLY) sharp. For B&W, though, it is very good: it combines beutifully with the TMAX-400CN, for instance. But in my (very humble) opinion, the GR-1 is not a match for the Hexar or the Summicron. And I don't like the motor noise, sounding too "hollow" and loud, at least compared with the Hexar. I bought the GR-1 to use as a "carry always" camera for slides and it ended up being used as a "carry sometimes" B&W camera. Or a P&S for my wife, on vacations: she has a Yashica T4 but the GR-1 knocks it down easily, unless you are a freak for backlit scenes. In this case, the Tessar lens holds much better. I went back to the Hexar for slides and the M6 for B&W, when travelling light. Never used the Minilux (but I heard bad things about the viewfinder and 40 is not my preferred focal). The Contax is a fine camera, and the G1 is now offered on a very attractive kit, with the 45 (or the 35, which I prefer!), since the G2 came-out. Before this, I would not consider the G1 over the Hexar, because of the price gap. But now... (sigh): it has interchangeable lenses, the 1/250 shutter limit on the Hexar may bother you when carrying 400 ASA film and caught in the sunshine and the Zeiss glass for the Contax is SUPERB... (sigh). I am very happy with my Hexar, and now, since I switched for B&W on the GR-1, I am happy with it too. That's my 2 cents. Joao