Advice needed: faulty Contax RX?

[sooner]

Hi All,

I loaded some film in my Contax RX this weekend and noticed that on some shots (but not each one), the camera is doing something weird. The viewfinder goes dark when I take the picture and doesn't return to normal. This, despite a quick shutter speed. Apparently the mirror is not returning to normal position. I can't figure out what's going on. I'm assuming the shutter is opening and closing normally. When this happens--it feels like the shutter is just hanging--I push the shutter down halfway and it sorts itself out. Is this a sticky mirror, or something else going on?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

[JeffL]

Start with the basics, which you may have done already.
1) Is the bumper foam in the top of the mirror box in good shape or is it degraded and sticky so the mirror sticks to it?
2) Is the mirror sitting properly in its frame and clearing the inside of the mirror box throughout it's travel?
3) Are the batteries fresh?

Good luck!

 

[sooner]

Hi Jeff, I'll start with number 3. Yes, the battery is new, so that's not it. As for the other questions, I don't know because I have film in the camera so haven't really checked that out lately. Guess I could burn a shot and just see what's happening in there. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on and why it doesn't happen every time. But given that the viewfinder blacks out, it must be the mirror hanging up. Guess the question is why would it do that. I'll check the insides and report what I see.

 

[Rodchenko]

A battery being new does not assure that it is not at fault. Is there another compatible battery you've been using (or can borrow off a mate)?

 

[nongfuspring]

It's possible that the mirror has slid down and is catching somewhere inside. Put it in B and hold down the shutter to keep the mirror up, then check to see if the bottom of the mirror is flush with the mirror holder. The mirrors in the RX are held in with glue and with age/temperature tend to slide downwards. If that is the issue then you can blow it gently with a hairdryer, and push the mirror back up, then add a few bits of silicon glue to where the edge of the mirror meets the metal brace to prevent it from sliding down again. You can also take the mirror off entirely, clean the mirror and brace then reglue it again, but if you do that it's easy to screw up the tolerances and wind up with inaccurate focussing.

I got an RX a few months ago and had similar symptoms to what you describe as well as capping photos. After the hairdryer and glue trick I haven't had any issues.

 

[JeffL]

The simple stuff is pretty much all covered here.
As far as the mirror bumper foam in the top front of the mirror box goes, you can touch it with your finger to see if it's disintegrating or sticky. This foam bumper, and the foam seal kits are very easy to do yourself and very inexpensive. Let us know how it goes.