Contax IIa mod and service...

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Acquired this body as a freebie rear cap for a super nice 50/1.5 Opton Sonnar.

I didn't expect much but was surprised that all the speeds through 250 seem to be good.

The bad news is the RF patch doesn't move, although it is very contrasty.

Also, Zeiss bumps.

Any tips on getting the rangefinder to work again? I figure it can't hurt to try to get it working. Also want to disable the infinity lock.

Also has anyone removed leather from a IIa or IIIa and had success removing the corrosion that causes Zeiss bumps?
 
Congratulations 😎👍.
The Contax IIa is a very nice camera, lightweight and silent. Wish I had had mine available several weeks ago in a Paris cafe near Gare de Lyon, instead of that noisy SLR.

Watching the video at 1/25 sec. shutter speed, something seems a bit strange to me, regarding the second curtain. Unfortunately, I'm not a technics expert and can barely decribe it. Perhaps the second curtain is a bit too fast during the first third of the window...? 🧐

Did you check out if the shutter actually opens at these high speeds? It's a common problem: The curtains run but they don't open.
I usually check it out after removing lens and the body's back: I look into the light through the mount and release the shutter. It's possible to notice if the curtains actually open - and open completely. Often, they don't open completely at 1/1250 sec.

I suppose I would let the camera have a professional CLA at one of the well-known workshops. Sure, of course it's not a Leica, but a Zeiss Ikon Contax is also a precious camera, one of the most precious in photo history.
 
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Can’t speak to your first two questions but I have had success repairing the Zeiss Bumps:

I first conditioned the leather twice over the course of a week and then used a heat gun at a low setting and the leather peeled quite easily. The corrosion underneath is easily scraped off.

Be sure to keep the back on the camera while doing it so you don’t distort it when pulling the leather.
 
I inherited a Contax lla with an f:2 Sonnar from my Dad. It has great sentimental value. It was my first camera when I was young. When I inherited it the camera had been sitting for a while and the shutter had stopped working.

I wanted to get it up and running. I hate to be discouraging but I had a nightmare getting it serviced.

I put myself on Henry Scherer’s list twice, and somehow got bounced off twice. I decided to move on to Plan B and sent the camera to Mark Hanson. It came back after 6 months, which was ok, with a light leak, which wasn’t OK. I spent the next 6 months chasing Mark who had the nerve to complain to me he has to pay money for film and processing to test the camera and put paying jobs aside to do my warranty work.

It’s a beautifully made camera and the optics are amazing. But few people work on them, fewer still do a good job. A couple months back, after using the camera for maybe 5 years, my rangefinder stopped working. Rather than go through any of that again I bought an M3 and an Amadeo adapter for my Sonnar in spite of the sentimental value.
 
Less use to the US members but Oleg at OKVintageCamera
Does Contax IIa/IIIa (and II/III) in Europe and Ian at Newton Elis UK (shop now closed but the staff are still working from home and answer e-mails) did a lovely job on a IIa a few years back.

Phil
 
I have a '43 Contax II with Oleg now. It needs a good CLA and a shutter. It had been a "shelf queen" but just could not let it rest. Oleg publishes his rates on-line, pretty much flat rate for each camera and repair. Shutters are an added cost of course. His reputation and turn around time are both good.
 
boojum said:
Follow this llink and read down the page for what Oleg fixes.

repair

okvintagecamera.com okvintagecamera.com
Click to expand...
Totally agree, IIa/IIIa is on the menu! I haven't tried it but I have a II and III on the way back after a few weeks. Communication is great! I had a IIIf done a while back and it was wonderful.
 
My current project is a IIIa. I was able to carefully peel up the leather from the edge of the rear cover using 90% isopropanol dripped on the exposed glue as I slowly worked the glue free with an xacto knife. Scraped the green gunk, sanded the brass rivet, and sealed with auto touch up enamel. Glued back with pliobond on both surfaces. Was able to get the leather bumps totally flat. Sweet.

My rangefinder also wasn’t working and the slow speeds were sticking. It was simply old caked oil/grease in the works of both. Flushed free with naphtha and relubed with nyoil using watch droppers. The reason for my rangefinder sticking is because the tiny spring couldn’t pull hard enough vs the caked oil/grease.

The prism was separated/very dim, so waiting on a replacement now.
 
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WoodallP said:
Totally agree, IIa/IIIa is on the menu! I haven't tried it but I have a II and III on the way back after a few weeks. Communication is great! I had a IIIf done a while back and it was wonderful.
Click to expand...

A kind soul on the board gifted me with a "shelf queen" '43 I with CZJ 5cm /1.5 same year. She is with Oleg now getting all gussied up and shutter curtains for her windows. I expect a note from Oleg with the bill any week now. Then it is buy film and see how she does. "Rule of 16" just like when I used the camera in my meme, a Vito II. The Contax II was the camera that impressed the hell out of me in '54 and still does.
 
The CONTAX IIa/IIIa are notoriously complex cameras to service due to their intricate mechanics and the lack of readily available replacement parts. Oleg does excellent work, but the cost and risk of transatlantic shipping make it a less viable option for many in the U.S. Meanwhile, Henry Scherer’s queue is essentially a lifetime wait (50-70 years)
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, this is very helpful.

I think I will dive into the camera and try to loosen up the rangefinder. Maybe it also is just gunk and grime messing up the works.

I'm not sure I want to do anything with the shutter, I'm ok with only 1-1/250, assuming those are relatively accurate after a film test.

If I can't get the RF moving, no loss, I then will decide to send to Oleg. Postage is about $20, insurance about $2 for $200 coverage, considering the camera cost nothing, this is reasonable.

@milescl what kind of leather conditioning did you use? Anything special?
 
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