ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Friend has just found a Contax II and wants advice.
Lens and viewfinder are clouded. Controls and shutter seem to work. Judging from the leather, it's not been badly stored. I'm not familiar with this camera.
Question 1: Can one use standard 35mm cartridges in this camera? Or must one transfer film to and from a special cartridge? Are the cartridges available?
Question 2: Overhaul it? By whom?
Thanks for any inputs!
Lens and viewfinder are clouded. Controls and shutter seem to work. Judging from the leather, it's not been badly stored. I'm not familiar with this camera.
Question 1: Can one use standard 35mm cartridges in this camera? Or must one transfer film to and from a special cartridge? Are the cartridges available?
Question 2: Overhaul it? By whom?
Thanks for any inputs!
Mudman
Well-known
1. Yes it can be used with standard 35mm cartridges.
2. Overhaul the lens can be done by any competent repairman, and as long as the shutter ribbons aren't wanky, the same for the camera body itself. Generally Henry Scherer is regarded as the best, but I think as long as you get a repairman that is familiar with the camera, you should be fine. The Contax II can be a finicky camera to work on, so some tech's won't take on the job because they won't make enough off of the repair work to justify it.
2. Overhaul the lens can be done by any competent repairman, and as long as the shutter ribbons aren't wanky, the same for the camera body itself. Generally Henry Scherer is regarded as the best, but I think as long as you get a repairman that is familiar with the camera, you should be fine. The Contax II can be a finicky camera to work on, so some tech's won't take on the job because they won't make enough off of the repair work to justify it.
Pioneer
Veteran
There are special cassettes available that can be used but the camera will also take standard 35mm cassettes.
A full overhaul can be done by Henry Scherer but his wait time is probably around two years. It is easy to check by contacting him. Considering the current state of the camera it may not be worth paying Henry since he is quite expensive.
There may be others who can do a clean up if the major parts are working. Others may have some ideas.
A full overhaul can be done by Henry Scherer but his wait time is probably around two years. It is easy to check by contacting him. Considering the current state of the camera it may not be worth paying Henry since he is quite expensive.
There may be others who can do a clean up if the major parts are working. Others may have some ideas.
oftheherd
Veteran
Maybe I misunderstood, but for take-up wouldn't either a special Contax take-up spool or modern cassette modified spool be required? Easy to do as I understand. But if the question is simply will modern cassettes work, then as above, yes.
Do you know which lens your friend has?
Do you know which lens your friend has?
mcfingon
Western Australia
This website shows Contax film cassettes (Zeiss number 540/1) well.
Scroll down past the Fed and KMZ Russian cassettes which are different.
http://t.hacquard.free.fr/site1/filmcartridge_en.html
Scroll down past the Fed and KMZ Russian cassettes which are different.
http://t.hacquard.free.fr/site1/filmcartridge_en.html
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
OK, just to tantalize, here it is:
and...
The lens if 5cm Sonnar f/1.5
Can see through both the lens and viewfinder, but both are clouded. Controls work, and shutter seems to fire.
and...
The lens if 5cm Sonnar f/1.5
Can see through both the lens and viewfinder, but both are clouded. Controls work, and shutter seems to fire.
Jealous. Would love that combination myself, but the budget is a bit tight these days. Of course, I could sell some other stuff, but I don't tend to do that...
Do we want to know how much he paid for it?
Do we want to know how much he paid for it?
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Nice find,
In combination with that 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar you have a very nice set indeed.
Thought the self-timer appears to be set in your photo, that might indicate a problem.
You can feed it with a 35mm Cartridge and if you don't have a take-up spool use one out of a 35mm cartridge.
I have a couple of the reloadable Zeiss cartridges, but I've never bothered with them.
What's the serial number of the camera, if I might ask? That should be over the film plane inside the camera.
In combination with that 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar you have a very nice set indeed.
Thought the self-timer appears to be set in your photo, that might indicate a problem.
You can feed it with a 35mm Cartridge and if you don't have a take-up spool use one out of a 35mm cartridge.
I have a couple of the reloadable Zeiss cartridges, but I've never bothered with them.
What's the serial number of the camera, if I might ask? That should be over the film plane inside the camera.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Self timer stuck? That will need fixing.
Sid836
Well-known
Send it to Oleg for a full CLA. He does a great job on these and you will have it back in a month or so.
Not sure if he can take care of the lens too.
Not sure if he can take care of the lens too.
David Hughes
David Hughes
HI,
Nice cameras, nice lenses but expensive to get sorted out if need be and repairs take a while but there's lots of Kiev parts around for repairs. So go into it with your eyes open...
Regards, David
PS Finding an original instruction manual and lens caps will take years and cost a fortune. I'm still looking for the manual...
Nice cameras, nice lenses but expensive to get sorted out if need be and repairs take a while but there's lots of Kiev parts around for repairs. So go into it with your eyes open...
Regards, David
PS Finding an original instruction manual and lens caps will take years and cost a fortune. I'm still looking for the manual...
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
The cameras and lenses themselves don't seem to be commanding such high prices, which at least is a blessing. 
Highway 61
Revisited
Sadly it has been stored in its everready leather case, which means lots of haze, mould and corrosion for everything.
The camera needs a total teardown and a general cleaning.
Regarding the lens, it's only upon close inspection that someone will know if it's fixable, or not. Chances are that it is, if the clouding is only basic haze and not severe fungus.
Using the camera as is would lead to a quick failure of the shutter ribbons and foggy pictures so it's not worth the trouble.
Servicing Contax II cameras have become something to be tackled as a DIY job because no pro repairer will want to do it any longer (it's not that difficult but it's highly time consuming).
Mike Elek's and Rick Oleson's instructions and sketches still apply.
Also, all the cleaning and repair instructions available here (click) can be followed for either the camera or the lens. The only caveat is that you can't use some Arsenal ribbons in the Zeiss shutter. Yet there are lots of good silk substitutes out there, and tons of threads have been written about this on this forum already.
The camera needs a total teardown and a general cleaning.
Regarding the lens, it's only upon close inspection that someone will know if it's fixable, or not. Chances are that it is, if the clouding is only basic haze and not severe fungus.
Using the camera as is would lead to a quick failure of the shutter ribbons and foggy pictures so it's not worth the trouble.
Servicing Contax II cameras have become something to be tackled as a DIY job because no pro repairer will want to do it any longer (it's not that difficult but it's highly time consuming).
Mike Elek's and Rick Oleson's instructions and sketches still apply.
Also, all the cleaning and repair instructions available here (click) can be followed for either the camera or the lens. The only caveat is that you can't use some Arsenal ribbons in the Zeiss shutter. Yet there are lots of good silk substitutes out there, and tons of threads have been written about this on this forum already.
JeffL
Well-known
What about Mark Hansen? Will he fix ZI Contax?
He did a good job on my Super Ikonta.
He did a good job on my Super Ikonta.
dee
Well-known
oleg is a superb tchinician=http://www.okvintagecamera.com
$88 plus return shipping.
Buy a decent Jupiter 8 for peanuts , but you could ask if he could service the lens.
I use a Jupiter 8 on my Contaxe M8 !
$88 plus return shipping.
Buy a decent Jupiter 8 for peanuts , but you could ask if he could service the lens.
I use a Jupiter 8 on my Contaxe M8 !
Sid836
Well-known
All true! My Contax II had its ribbons ripped off right in the middle of my first roll with it.
Oleg had them replaced in no time. CLA is mandatory right after acquiring one of unknown state.
I will post photos taken with an uncoated pre-war Sonnar 5cm soon.
Mudman
Well-known
Oleg replaces the whole shutter assembly with Kiev parts though, doesn't he? If it were me, I'd rather send my camera to someone that maintains the original shutter, though I know that costs more.
Sid836
Well-known
He does not unless you ask him to. He opens your camera, informs you on what he suggests to be done and if you accept it he goes ahead with it.
For just broken ribbons there is no reason to replace the entire shutter. You can have the ribbons replaced for $400 and get your camera after a year or so, or just $88 and have it back after a month or less. Your choice.
For just broken ribbons there is no reason to replace the entire shutter. You can have the ribbons replaced for $400 and get your camera after a year or so, or just $88 and have it back after a month or less. Your choice.
Monochrom
Well-known
Contax are amazing cameras, the shutter is awesome and can handle very slow speeds with success add it the terrific sonnar 50 f1.5 (coated if possible) and you will have a long lasting RF.
For what i can say the only drawback is RF vertical alignment it´s said to be very hard perhaps impossible to correct.
So look for a mint copy.
For what i can say the only drawback is RF vertical alignment it´s said to be very hard perhaps impossible to correct.
So look for a mint copy.
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
I used Henry Scherer work on my Contax II and lenses. I highly recommend him. I believe he is the expert. The camera takes standard 35mm film without trimming. The II pre-war is different from the IIa. The Jupiter lenses work with the II and no the IIa, as I have been informed, but have no experience with them.