Traduction de Manuel M

In 1994, Kyocera - which takeovered Yashica 10 years early – make to reappear a prestigious name of the telemetric world, and launch on the market its Contax G1. The will is clearly displayed to compete with Leica, while offering to the amateur informed a powerful and modern system, which gums the old-fashioned side of the cameras manufactured in Solms.

It is about a semi-automatic camera at aperture priority, with interchangeable lenses, having of an autofocus system and a motorized advance of film.

Kyocera made develop by Carl Zeiss a specific bayonet for optics T*, mount which will be neither Leica M, nor the 39mm screwmount. Thus is born the “G mount” which will remain dedicated to this camera.
The titanium body champagne color is massive and brings out a true impression of quality. It is also a concentrate of technology: shutter with 1/2000 second, memorizing of exposure, bracketing with +/- 2IL, AF specific or continuous, gusts with 2 images/sec, flash synchronized until the 1/100s…

Unfortunately, the first models suffer from a capricious autofocus system, which will require sometimes several revisions to function correctly.
The autofocus system is often critizised by the aficionados of the telemetric one; however the measure of distance is carried out well through 2 windows of centring, but the analysis of the superposition of the images is entrusted to the electronics and not to the eye of the photographer. For the irreducible ones, or the difficult situations, the autofocus system can be disconnected, and a serrated roller allows the adjustment of distance, with the assistance of diodes in the viewfinder. Although this system is very precise, ergonomics is debatable. The followers of Leica M also reproach this autofocus system for being noisy, feeling worsened by the noise of the motor of cocking. G1 remains however more discrete than a reflex camera.

The automatism of exposure is also disengageable, the user then choosing speed and opening according to the indications of embarked cell.

G1 is initially presented with a 45mm F: 2 of Planar formula, which acquires the reputation quickly to be better than the illustrious 50mm Summicron ! The optical range packs then lenses covering the focal distances of the 16 with the 90mm. All of comparable optical quality with their equivalents Leica of the same aperture.

To note; the viewfinder adapts automatically to the focal of lens mountes on the camera.

A TTL flash comes to complete the system (“TLA 140”, NG 14), as well as a dating back, and various metal lens-hoods and their caps. The flashes of the range Contax “reflex camera” are also compatible.
Kyocera thus wins its technical bet, and manages to seduce customers of photo-reporters or fortunate trekkers. Because G1 is sold all the same at a price comparable with that of its “model”; one needs outgo approximately 12,000 Frs of the time for the body, and to add 6,000 Frs for the 45mm F: 2!

Optical range, in chronological order of appearance:

45mm f/2 Planar
28mm f/2,8 Biogon
90mm f/2,8 Sonnar
16mm f/8 Hologon, with external viewfinder and fixed diaphragm

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