Highway 61
Revisited
This is all true, that's why having a very nice II or III with lots of early (i.e., well made) Kiev spare parts for the future servicing needs is an interesting way to go. Even the III lightmeter can still be fixed by adapting a spare selenium cell and rejuvenating the circuitry.
About the Contax I, things are different and the hard to solve problems caused by broken springs in the first shutter curtain drum roller are frankly a no-go.
There aren't many people going for the Leica Standard instead of a good rangefinder coupled screwmount Leica for instance.
Deklari
Well-known
Deklari
Well-known
I start my rangefinder experience with Leica IIIc. I really love this camera. But something happens,.. after I got a Contax III and later I.... I begin to notice emotional distance between us...
I so much stops asking her to go out and do special things together. Highway 61
Revisited
The late versions of the Contax I shutter aren't really worse than the Contax II shutter indeed. But, yes, the lack of compatible parts is a problem now.
This is why there is nothing bad at using Kiev spare parts to fix a beautiful Contax II - III. For instance, my mint 1938 Contax II had a beamsplitter prism with heavy balsam separation and a perfect Kiev prism was more than welcome there. This ability for salvaging a beautiful prewar camera thanks to identical parts made up to the 1980s is a real piece of luck for us vintage RF camera nuts.
I wish you luck at fixing your faulty Contax I shutter bottom roller springs drum. I'm sure you'll be successful sooner or later.
Deklari
Well-known
Tanks for support. I definitely will.. thank to Kiev
I happy with my Contax III (1937) and collapsible Sonnar. My only concern is a size it little big for my pocket. Contax II much better but I already get Contax I ..
Pioneer
Veteran
While you are right about this, I think that people are really missing out on a fine camera. I can't think of a reasonably available vintage camera that is any more pocket friendly than the Standard, complete with the collapsible Elmar 50mm lens. The build quality of these cameras is just as wonderful as every other LTM rangefinder built by Leica.
I do love using my Contax and Kiev cameras, but the compactness of the original Leica LTM is very hard to beat.
Keep up the good work with this Contax 1. This has turned into a very interesting thread to follow.
Dralowid
Michael
I had hoped to avoid a Leitz vs Zeiss discussion, these have been going on since the early 1930s.
The original purpose of this thread was specifically to attempt to resurrect Contax Is in need of help. I guess at this point Deklari and I are about to employ different approaches. As I understand it he is going to rebuild a bottom roller with Kiev springs. Something I don't think I have the dexterity to do. I am hoping to take the easy option and find a complete original replacement roller. This may take a while...
Michael
The original purpose of this thread was specifically to attempt to resurrect Contax Is in need of help. I guess at this point Deklari and I are about to employ different approaches. As I understand it he is going to rebuild a bottom roller with Kiev springs. Something I don't think I have the dexterity to do. I am hoping to take the easy option and find a complete original replacement roller. This may take a while...
Michael
Deklari
Well-known
I still thinking what to rebuild roller or holder for roller....
Deklari
Well-known
So far... pros and cons to re-pair roller:
pros: will keep shutter holder unmodified, everything will fit as "original"
cons: difficult to install a new spring, high risk unsuccessful installation
modify shutter holder:
pros: avoid spring installation, lower risk of destroying roller, easy for future repair
cons: lost "originality" of Contax I shutter, newer will rebuild back, risk of bad assembling. Do I forgot something?
pros: will keep shutter holder unmodified, everything will fit as "original"
cons: difficult to install a new spring, high risk unsuccessful installation
modify shutter holder:
pros: avoid spring installation, lower risk of destroying roller, easy for future repair
cons: lost "originality" of Contax I shutter, newer will rebuild back, risk of bad assembling. Do I forgot something?
Deklari
Well-known
Two other option.. As Michael said .. Try find a complete original replacement roller. This may take a while...
Or try to modify Contax I holder for Kiev roller without destroying
Or try to modify Contax I holder for Kiev roller without destroying
Deklari
Well-known
Off topic ..About Contax I lens..
http://rangefinder.ru/manual/instructions/lens/the_ten_contax_lenses.pdf
repair manual for Kiev 4 (unfortunately only in russian) but some pictures maybe help http://rangefinder.ru/manual/repair/kiev4_4a_repair.pdf
http://rangefinder.ru/manual/instructions/lens/the_ten_contax_lenses.pdf
repair manual for Kiev 4 (unfortunately only in russian) but some pictures maybe help http://rangefinder.ru/manual/repair/kiev4_4a_repair.pdf
Dralowid
Michael
Deklari,
I don't think a loss of internal originality is a problem if it is the only solution. Apart from the very early ones these cameras are not rare and it would be great to have something that works again.
If I cannot find a replacement roller (which is quite possible!), modifying the camera to take a complete Kiev roller sounds the best route.
I have realised that in my cupboard I have a Super Nettel. This is said to have the same shutter but from a quick look it doesn't look the same (I haven't dismantled it).
Doesn't the Nettax have a similar shutter?
Michael
I don't think a loss of internal originality is a problem if it is the only solution. Apart from the very early ones these cameras are not rare and it would be great to have something that works again.
If I cannot find a replacement roller (which is quite possible!), modifying the camera to take a complete Kiev roller sounds the best route.
I have realised that in my cupboard I have a Super Nettel. This is said to have the same shutter but from a quick look it doesn't look the same (I haven't dismantled it).
Doesn't the Nettax have a similar shutter?
Michael
Highway 61
Revisited
There is no Leitz vs Zeiss discussion in that thread. There are examples given to illustrate some interesting thoughts about how to appreciate a camera being the first model of a line, and thus, having some quirks which weren't to be found on the following models, while being an interesting camera nonetheless.
Rebuilding the bottom roller from Kiev parts is a good way to go. I have seen enough Contax II / III shutters with broken bottom roller springs, and which wouldn't have been salvaged without Kiev parts, to say that finding a Contax I bottom roller with intact springs will be even more difficult than finding a Contax II / III shutter with good bottom roller springs.
Anyway, good luck to you both.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
In the article in Zeiss Historica I've read that the shutter of the Super Nettel is the same, but the Contax has four shutter groups and the Super Nettel three. I guess the rollers and curtains are the same. If the shutter is good, it must be a fine shooter. Its disadvantage is that the lens is not exchangable.
Erik.
Deklari
Well-known
good point Michael,
I spent half an hour searching in vain for a copy of the Super Nettel repair manual, online, in the hope it might offer some clues or diagrams to assist you Contax I owners. Sevo has said one exists (in another thread some years ago), but no trace I could find of it online. Still, keep your eyes peeled. As no official repair book exists for the Contax I that I know of, the Super Nettel one may be as good as you're ever likely to get if you can find one.
Cheers
Brett
Cheers
Brett
Dralowid
Michael
Brett,
I remember the Super Nettel repair guide, but have long since lost the link. I cannot remember who posted either so I'm not much help!
Michael
I remember the Super Nettel repair guide, but have long since lost the link. I cannot remember who posted either so I'm not much help!
Michael
Deklari
Well-known
My plane...
