Contax G
Contax G2 Body
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Released in 1996 as the successor to the Contax G1, the G2 refined Contax’s unusual idea of an autofocus 35mm rangefinder into a faster and more professional system. It introduced a completely redesigned autofocus system, a brighter and larger viewfinder, faster continuous shooting at up to 4 fps, 1/200s flash sync and a top shutter speed of 1/6000s — all while retaining the compact titanium body and exceptional Carl Zeiss G-mount lenses that defined the original system.
The result is a camera that feels remarkably modern to use despite being nearly three decades old. It is quick, discreet and beautifully balanced, with the control of a serious camera but considerably less bulk than an SLR. For editorial, portrait, street, travel or documentary work, the G2 offers a particularly compelling combination: superb Zeiss optics, fast operation and a shooting experience that still feels distinctive today.
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Type: 35mm autofocus rangefinder camera
Lens Mount: Contax G mount
Focusing: Autofocus and manual focus
Shutter: Electronic focal-plane shutter, up to 1/6000s
Exposure: Aperture Priority and Manual
Metering: TTL centre-weighted average metering
Exposure Compensation: ±2 EV in 1/3-stop increments
Film Speed: DX ISO 25–5000
Film Transport: Automatic load, advance and rewind
Continuous Shooting: Up to 4 fps
Flash Sync: Up to 1/200s
Power: 2 × CR2 lithium batteries -
Contax G2 Body
Contax Body Cap
Camera Strap
CR2 Batteries (2x)
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The Contax Hologon T* 16mm f/8 is one of the most unusual lenses ever made for the Contax G system. Developed by Carl Zeiss from the legendary Hologon ultra-wide design, it delivers an extraordinary 105° diagonal field of view with virtually no distortion — a rare combination even by modern standards. Its tiny 16mm focal length, fixed f/8 aperture and manual focusing make it a very different experience from the rest of the G range, while the dedicated GF-16mm optical finder is used for framing.
What makes the Hologon special is the perspective it creates. Architecture, interiors, environmental portraits, fashion and landscape can all take on a much more graphic, immersive quality without the exaggerated barrel distortion normally associated with extreme wide-angle lenses. It is compact, beautifully engineered and genuinely rare — the kind of lens you choose when you want the image to feel unlike anything produced by a conventional 28mm or 35mm.
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Type: Ultra-wide-angle manual focus lens
Mount: Contax G
Focal Length: 16mm
Maximum Aperture: Fixed f/8
Construction: 5 elements in 3 groups
Angle of View: 105° diagonal
Focusing: Manual, 0.3m to infinity
Viewfinder: Dedicated Contax GF-16mm optical finder
Filter: Special bayonet for Contax 4× gradation filter
Weight: Approx. 120g -
Contax Hologon T* 16mm f/8 + GF-16mm Finder
Contax Biogon T* 21mm f/2.8 + GF-21mm Finder
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The Contax Biogon T* 21mm f/2.8 was introduced as one of the wider additions to the Contax G system, sitting between the extreme 16mm Hologon and the more conventional 28mm Biogon. Built around the classic Zeiss Biogon design, it delivers an expansive 90° diagonal field of view with remarkably low distortion, strong contrast and excellent sharpness even at wider apertures. Because the G bodies cannot frame such a wide lens through their built-in finder, the lens is paired with the dedicated GF-21mm optical viewfinder.
It is a particularly compelling lens for interiors, architecture, environmental portraiture and fashion where you want a dramatic sense of space without the warped look of many ultra-wide lenses. The f/2.8 aperture also makes it much more flexible in available light than the 16mm Hologon, while retaining the compact size and distinctive rendering that makes the Contax G system so appealing.
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Type: Ultra-wide-angle autofocus lens
Mount: Contax G
Focal Length: 21mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Construction: 9 elements in 7 groups
Angle of View: 90° diagonal
Minimum Focus: 0.5m
Viewfinder: Dedicated Contax GF-21mm optical finder
Filter Size: 55mm
Weight: Approx. 180–200g -
Contax Biogon T* 28mm f/2.8
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The Contax Carl Zeiss Biogon T* 28mm f2.8 is a compact wide-angle lens known for its sharpness and exceptional color rendition. It features a robust metal construction with precise manual focus control. The T* coating minimizes flare and ghosting, ensuring high contrast and clarity in various lighting conditions. This lens is favored for landscape, street photography, and architectural subjects.
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Type: Wide-angle autofocus lens
Mount: Contax G
Focal Length: 28mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Construction: 7 elements in 5 groups
Angle of View: 74° diagonal
Minimum Focus: 0.5m
Filter Size: 46mm
Weight: Approx. 150g -
Contax Planar T* 35mm f/2
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The Contax Planar T* 35mm f/2 is one of the most versatile lenses in the G system. Based on the classic Zeiss Planar design, it combines a fast f/2 aperture with strong sharpness, contrast and controlled distortion in a very compact body. The 35mm focal length sits between wide and standard, making it particularly useful for editorial, documentary, environmental portraiture and location work.
Compared with the 45mm Planar, it gives a slightly wider, more immersive perspective without moving into an exaggerated wide-angle look. The f/2 aperture adds useful low-light flexibility and depth-of-field control, while the compact size keeps the G system discreet and easy to work with on location.
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Type: Wide-angle autofocus lens
Mount: Contax G
Focal Length: 35mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Construction: 7 elements in 5 groups
Angle of View: Approx. 64° diagonal
Minimum Focus: 0.5m
Filter Size: 46mm
Weight: Approx. 160g -
Contax Planar T* 45mm f/2
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The Contax Planar T* 45mm f/2 is often regarded as the defining lens of the G system. Its focal length sits very close to a natural field of view, while the classic Zeiss Planar design delivers exceptional sharpness, contrast and tonal detail in an extremely compact package. Fast at f/2 and beautifully balanced on the G2, it works equally well for portraits, street, travel and everyday editorial photography.
What makes the 45mm so compelling is how effortless it feels. It is neither obviously wide nor telephoto, so compositions tend to feel direct and natural, while the f/2 aperture gives useful subject separation without making the lens bulky. For many photographers, this is the lens that best captures the appeal of the Contax G system: discreet, refined and capable of outstanding image quality.
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Type: Standard autofocus lens
Mount: Contax G
Focal Length: 45mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Construction: 6 elements in 4 groups
Angle of View: Approx. 51° diagonal
Minimum Focus: 0.5m
Filter Size: 46mm
Weight: Approx. 190g -
Contax Sonnar T* 90mm f/2.8
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The Contax Sonnar T* 90mm f/2.8 is the short telephoto of the G system, designed around a compact Zeiss Sonnar optical formula. The 90mm focal length gives a noticeably compressed perspective compared with the 45mm Planar, with strong subject separation and a narrower angle of view that suits portraiture, fashion and detail work. Its T* coating helps maintain contrast and control flare, while the relatively simple optical design keeps the lens compact without compromising sharpness.
At f/2.8, the lens offers enough depth-of-field control for isolated portraits while remaining small and well balanced on the G2. Rendering is clean and controlled, with strong centre sharpness, good tonal separation and the characteristic contrast associated with the Contax Zeiss range. It is particularly useful where a tighter perspective is needed without moving to a larger SLR or medium-format system.
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Type: Short telephoto autofocus lens
Mount: Contax G
Focal Length: 90mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Construction: 5 elements in 4 groups
Angle of View: 27° diagonal
Minimum Focus: 1m
Filter Size: 46mm
Weight: Approx. 240g -
Contax TLA200 Flash
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The Contax TLA200 is a compact dedicated flash for the Contax G system, designed to match the small size and handling of the G1 and G2 bodies. It offers TTL flash metering for accurate exposure control, with a guide number of 20 at ISO 100, making it well suited to fill flash, interiors and low-light shooting without adding unnecessary bulk to the camera.
Its appeal is really in the integration: small, simple and properly matched to the Contax system, it keeps the G2 compact while adding reliable automatic flash control when needed.
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Type: Compact TTL flash
System: Contax G
Guide Number: 20 at ISO 100
Flash Control: TTL automatic exposure
Mount: Hot shoe
Use: Fill flash, interiors and low-light work
Power: 2 × CR2 lithium batteries -