Contax I Repair Options

[armadsen]

I have a Contax I in need of repair. It's a "1F" in good overall condition, but the shutter is inoperative, possibly due to broken curtain ribbons (haven't disassembled it to say for sure). I'm looking for others' experiences with getting theirs repaired. So far, I've found 3 options:

- Henry Scherer - He seems the best in the world, but has an 11 year backlog, which is not tenable for me.
- Radu Lesaru at 3RCamera - I've found some praise of his work, but he seems to have disappeared -- emails bounce, phone goes to full voicemail box.
- Oleg Khalyavin at OKVintageCamera - He says he can repair a Contax I, but I can find no one online talking about his work on them. I know he's well regarded for Soviet RFs, including Kievs.

Curious if anyone has had Oleg work on a Contax I for them. Also wondering if anyone knows what's going on with Radu at 3RCamera. Finally, are there any other options for competent Contax I repair?

(I realize that the Contax I is a finicky thing, less reliable than the II(a) and III(a), etc. I'm a collector who likes to use my cameras, not someone looking for a "good" user camera to shoot with every day, where I own plenty of much more modern options.)

 

[Miles.]

Radu has done a I (e) for me, Oleg a II, and Henry a IIa. I think Radu charged about $500 and the camera still works great (work was done 3 years ago and I’ve probably put 20 rolls through it)

Can’t say I have anyone I could add to your list of considerations.

 

[armadsen]

My first choice was Radu, since he's got good recommendations for Contax I work, is in the US (as am I) and seems to have a reasonable waitlist, but alas, he seems to have dropped off the face of the earth (I hope he's OK!).

 

[Erik van Straten]

It is fun to have a working Contax l - I have one, a v4 - but as it is to use the Contax l Zeiss lenses you can better use them - via a Fotofox RF-L39 adapter - on a Leica or without an adapter on a Nikon S2.

The camera scratches the film when in use. However, if it did not scratch the film I think I wouldn't use it more often. To operate a Contax I is not a pleasure. When I want to use the Zeiss lenses, I put them on my Nikon S2.

This one is with the Contax l.

gelatin silver print (prewar sonnar 50mm f1.5) contax l v4

Linnaeusstraat Amsterdam, 2023

Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I think it's those two metal lips on the inside of the film chamber that could be scratching the film, Erik.

I've repaired a couple of them over the years, but I do not repair them for others.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I think it's those two metal lips on the inside of the film chamber that could be scratching the film, Erik.

I've repaired a couple of them over the years, but I do not repair them for others.

I'll take a look at it, thanks!

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I'll take a look at it, thanks!

Erik.

Rick, I see the lips in the film chamber, but I do not see how they can damage the film.

The pressure plate is also fine.

Thanks again,

Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Hmmm. I suspected it was the lip on the side of the take-up spool. This is where the film is pulled inward as it winds up, emulsion side out.
Otherwise it might be due to the film chafing on itself as it is wound up onto the take-up spool.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hmmm. I suspected it was the lip on the side of the take-up spool. This is where the film is pulled inward as it winds up, emulsion side out.
Otherwise it might be due to the film chafing on itself as it is wound up onto the take-up spool.

Thanks Rick!

Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

To the OP, pause and give it some thought:

a) The Contax I is a beautiful camera capable of excellent results.
b) The Contax I has a reputation for unreliability
c) Specialists decline to repair the Contax I because however good they are they know the camera will surely return again for further fettling
d) If you like your kit to be in good shape do you really want a camera where, for example, one group of shutter speeds cannot be relied upon?
e) The Contax I looks great on a shelf
f) Don't mention the money

After starting the 'Contax I shutter ribbons' thread (wherever that has gone) and ending up with grey hair and a more or less useable camera I sold the the lot and happily returned to simple Leicas.

Just saying...

 

[Freakscene]

After starting the 'Contax I shutter ribbons' thread (wherever that has gone)

It’s here Contax I ribbons

 

[Erik van Straten]

One of my better shots with the Contax l No. V 37084

gelatin silver print (sonnar 50mm f1.5 nickel/black) contax 1

Jan Vroegopsingel Amsterdam 2022

Erik.

 

[armadsen]

To the OP, pause and give it some thought:

a) The Contax I is a beautiful camera capable of excellent results.
b) The Contax I has a reputation for unreliability
c) Specialists decline to repair the Contax I because however good they are they know the camera will surely return again for further fettling
d) If you like your kit to be in good shape do you really want a camera where, for example, one group of shutter speeds cannot be relied upon?
e) The Contax I looks great on a shelf
f) Don't mention the money

After starting the 'Contax I shutter ribbons' thread (wherever that has gone) and ending up with grey hair and a more or less useable camera I sold the the lot and happily returned to simple Leicas.

Just saying...

Thanks, that was an insightful thread.
It’s beautiful indeed. That’s why I have it. As I said, I have no illusions that it’ll become my primary camera. My Leica MP fills that role very well, and I have plenty of other film and digital cameras too. It will spend most of its time on the shelf, and if I get it fixed and it later breaks, oh well. The money required to fix it isn’t really a major concern for me.

Anyway, I’ve made arrangements to send it to Oleg who does indeed repair them (and for a reasonable price) and will report back with my experience.

(Best I can tell, Radu is no longer working. I’m not the only one unable to get ahold of him, and he was nearing retirement anyway.)

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Oleg will take good care of it.

The Contax I(f) is the last iteration of the line, and a lot of problems had been resolved by the time it came around.
Don't worry too much about reliability. Any camera is likely to have issues after 90 years without a group of dedicated service men around.

 

[Dan Chang]

- Henry Scherer - He seems the best in the world, but has an 11 year backlog, which is not tenable for me.

Arhhhh, longer than 11 for sure when I put mine into the list it was ……11 years ago, I checked the list, still have few hundreds in front of me, so the waiting list estimated 20-30 years, whenever you reach the #1 position, most likely you are no longer have the camera or the camera rotted on your shelf beyond economic repair or the price is so high that exceeded your social security pay check or your bank account balance. Oleg maybe a good option since he moved to Slovenia, but ship from USA cost $50-110, Slovenia also charge import tax, all add up.

 

[dexdog]

11 years! Wow, glad I had Henry overhaul 5 of my cameras in 2005. They still work.

 

[Freakscene]

Arhhhh, longer than 11 for sure when I put mine into the list it was ……11 years ago, I checked the list, still have few hundreds in front of me, so the waiting list estimated 20-30 years, whenever you reach the #1 position, most likely you are no longer have the camera or the camera rotted on your shelf beyond economic repair or the price is so high that exceeded your social security pay check or your bank account balance. Oleg maybe a good option since he moved to Slovenia, but ship from USA cost $50-110, Slovenia also charge import tax, all add up.

Oleg is in Slovakia, not Slovenia. There may be import duties depending on where you are sending from but when I sent him "for repair and return" items he was not charged import duties. Oleg is vastly less expensive than Henry Scherer and you'll actually get your camera back this decade.

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (nikkor 50mm f2) contax l V36086 (only partly working)

Amsterdam, 2012

Erik.

 

[Duofold RF]

Oleg is in Slovakia, not Slovenia.

He is in Slovakia. I hope he can move to USA someday

 

[armadsen]

Arhhhh, longer than 11 for sure when I put mine into the list it was ……11 years ago, I checked the list, still have few hundreds in front of me, so the waiting list estimated 20-30 years, whenever you reach the #1 position, most likely you are no longer have the camera or the camera rotted on your shelf beyond economic repair or the price is so high that exceeded your social security pay check or your bank account balance. Oleg maybe a good option since he moved to Slovenia, but ship from USA cost $50-110, Slovenia also charge import tax, all add up.

I’m going to be in Europe in two weeks and am going to send it to him from there so import duties shouldn’t be a problem (he mentioned that they’re problematic from the US).

As for Henry’s waiting list, I have no confidence that he’ll still be working by the time he gets through it. In my mind he’s no longer available to new customers, unfortunately.