Contax ii maintenance and repair options

[twokiddad]

I had Oleg repair/CLA my Contax I(f). It was cosmetically excellent, but the shutter was sticky and the combo rewind/shutter speed selector didn't correspond to the actual shutter speed selected. He replaced the shutter ribbons and repaired the winder/selector as well as completing the CLA on the camera and lens.

Turnaround to/from Bratislava was about 6 weeks, his price blew me away considering what I had been previously quoted, (by those who would even bother to answer my email enquiries), and I have a what is almost a Unicorn - a mechanically perfect, cosmetically excellent Contax I!

Oleg will be getting all of my future Contax business.....

 

[Pioneer]

If it means anything my Contax II was overhauled by Henry about 10 years past. Since then I've averaged 20 rolls each year. It is still in great shape and taking photos. The quality of those pictures are still up to me but the camera is at least doing its part.

I had a conversation with him a couple of years ago about a different camera and I brought up my Contax II. He said my camera was likely to outlast me with no additional work needed. He also said that if a shutter ribbon died, which he considered an unlikely event based on my use, that I could probably replace it on my own without too much stress.

Sometimes I think we spend to much time worrying about the condition of our cameras, all cameras, when there are no problems at all with how they are working. I've heard it said that the Leica is the most CLA'd camera on the planet because every time some purchases one the immediately send it to someone for service. The Contax II is a pretty reliable camera and was able to stand up to press journalist use so like Henry said, it is unlikely that I am being nearly as tough on it as a photo-journalist from the 40s.

In fact I picked up a newer model Kiev 4 for very little money that has some shutter issues. I bought a Zeiss Contax repair manual put out by Hove Collectors Books and some shutter ribbon from Oleg and have both on hand should that ever become necessary. I figured I would put in some practice on the broken Kiev this winter when I have a bit of time. The Kiev probably may not be exactly the same but I suspect it is close enough.