page_title: Contax G
section_title: Lenses
hierarchical_section_title: Contax G / Lenses
caption_attribution_description: Contax G2 rangefinder camera with Carl Zeiss Biogon 21mm/2.8
context_page_description: The Contax G camera line consists of two cameras, the G1 and G2, interchangeable-lens cameras sold by Kyocera under the Contax brand in competition with the Leica M7, Cosina Voigtländer Bessa-R, and Konica Hexar RF. The G1 was introduced in 1994 with the G2 joining it in 1996. In 2005, Kyocera retreated from the camera business and announced it would cease all activity related to the manufacture of Contax cameras at the end of the year, effectively spelling the end of the G system.
context_section_description: The lenses designed by Carl Zeiss for the G-series quickly established it as a camera of worth: the original trio of lenses released with the G1 included the 45 mm f/2 Planar, 28 mm f/2.8 Biogon, and 90 mm f/2.8 Sonnar; the 16 mm f/8 Hologon was announced at the system launch but was not immediately available. The G2 was released in 1996 alongside the 21 mm f/2.8 Biogon and 35 mm f/2 Planar. The 35–70 mm f/3.5–5.6 Vario-Sonnar, the first zoom lens for a rangefinder camera, was the last lens to be released, in 2000. All lenses were autofocus with the exception of the Hologon 8/16mm.
  The flange distance between the front surface of the lens mount and the film plane is only 29 millimetres (1.1 in), and Contax released the GA-1 adaptor which allowed the use of Contax/Yashica mount lenses. Unlike most bayonet-mount lenses, the Contax G mount uses a breech-lock mechanism similar to the manual-focus Canon FD and FL mount.
  The very high optical quality of the G-series lenses makes them excellent candidates for use with high-resolution digital sensors. Adapters are available for the Sony E-mount and Micro Four Thirds digital camera.
  Early versions of the G1 could only accept the four original lenses (16 mm, 28 mm, 45 mm, and 90 mm). A modified ROM was required to use autofocus with the 21 mm and 35 mm lenses; modified G1 cameras are marked with a green sticker inside the film door, and are known as "green label" G1s to distinguish them from unmodified "silver label" G1s. No G1 could accept the 35–70 mm, as it was a seven contact electrical connection and the G1 only features five contacts.
  Because the viewfinder was limited to the angle of view corresponding to the 28 mm Biogon, the 16 mm Hologon and 21 mm Biogon lenses were each bundled with a separate accessory viewfinder that mounted in the hotshoe.
  Notes
  Horizontal field of view, i.e., along the 36 mm side of the frame
  Vertical field of view, i.e., along the 24 mm side of the frame
  Diagonal field of view, i.e., along the diagonal of the film frame
  Number of lens elements
  Number of cemented groups
  Maximum diameter
  Length, measured as projection from mount.
  Requires external viewfinder.
  Supplied with radially-graduated neutral density filter to ensure even exposure across the frame.
  Zeiss states the focal length of this lens is 16.5 mm.
  Zeiss states the focal length of this lens is 21.5 mm.
  Zeiss states the focal length of this lens is 28.5 mm.
  Zeiss states the focal length of this lens is 35.1 mm.
  Zeiss states the focal length of this lens is 46.9 mm.
  Zeiss states the focal length range is between 36.5 mm and 68.2 mm.
caption: Contax G2 with Biogon T* 2.8/21mm and accessory viewfinder
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