[Leica] Contax G1 and Leica (off-topic?)

[BBAIN@imnet.com (BBAIN)]

               If this is off-topic, I beg the list's indulgence.  Over the 
               holiday, my dad and I were comparing notes and photos.  He 
               still uses a Retina IIIc (small) sometimes, and a Canon SLR 
               (T50) but his eyesight isn't what it used to be and he has 
               trouble focusing.  He's got a couple of the AF P&S types but 
               hasn't been real thrilled with them either.  He fooled 
               around with my M3 and it was better but still more effort 
               for him to focus than he would have liked.  Question: given 
               the standard of reference as an M3, would anybody care to 
               take a stab as to how the Contax G1 compares in usability 
               and "feel"?  My understanding is that the glass is supposed 
               to be good, but that the G2 is a large improvement in the VF 
               and AF areas.  I doubt my dad would go "wider" than 28mm 
               anad the G1 seems to be somewhat discounted right now.  Any 
               thoughts would be greatly appreciated.  I'd like to help him 
               out (after all, he gave me the Canon RFs that got me 
               started!)  He lives in a small town where simply going to 
               the local pro shop isn't an option, so if the G1 isn't a 
               great idea, I can save him the effort of a wild goose chase.
               
               Bill