Contax Aria: Need Help Setting ISO

[bwcolor]

My Aria seems to have turned into a door stop. When I press either the ISO, or the Drive buttons for a few seconds, the Aria enters Custom Settings mode. There is no way to set ISO. It was working previously. Removing the batteries for a few days and then inserting did not resolve the problem. Well, not a complete door stop, but I really didn't buy this camera to do sunny 16.

It looks like it is set permanently to ISO 100. That is probably a default.

 

[fuwen]

Not very sure I understand your question. But Aria is a DX coded camera so will set ISO automatically. Try to test with a film inserted (think not nessary to engage the film) and after turn on the camera briefly press the iso button and the camera set ISO should show up.

 

[bwcolor]

Yes, all that doesn't happen. No ISO reporting at all. No ability to change ISO, or drive mode. My external meter indicates that the camera is set to ISO 100, but the Contax flash indicates ISO 200. I have the instruction booklet and neither button, ISO, or Drive work properly. I guess as long as it operates consistently, I could use the exposure compensation to set ISO. I'll have to put more work into determining ISO setting.

 

[ZeissFan]

Have you tried cleaning the contacts in the film chamber? Not sure if this is the problem, but might be worth a try.

 

[ZeissFan]

Thinking about this, it could be either an electrical or electronic problem -- perhaps an oxidized contact or possibly the failure of a circuit board or maybe something else.

 

[fuwen]

Just to be sure. On my aria, the LCD window next to the ISO and drive mode buttons will indicate DX if the ISO setting is in DX mode. When press and hold the ISO button, the ISO word will link and the ISO and the drive button will then be the up and down adjustment button. Press both the ISO and drive button to complete the setting, or half press the shutter release button. A Contax flash should show the ISO setting of the camera.

 

[bwcolor]

Yes, that is how it use to work.
and
All is clean.

It must be a circuit board. So, I now have a sunny 16 camera...don't need one of those. I could not get a reliable ISO from the thing when testing after the failure. In dimmish light it was ISO 64 and in bright light ISO 500. It sets the Contax flash to ISO 200. I probably put two or three rolls of film through the camera before it did this. Purchased a 45mm lens for it, which has a large piece of something on the element next to the rear one. EX KEH and I didn't look at the rear element when I received it. Just a bad series of purchases.

I don't know if the Aria is still serviced by anyone. Do any of you know?