Contax IIa / IIIa overhaul recommendation

[MikethePiper]

Hello,
I am new to this forum. Among other interesting RF cameras that I recently acquired locally, are a Contax II, IIa and IIIa that I would like to shoot with (or at least one of them). I have no idea who to trust with overhauling these great cameras but from reading, I see it is very important to have someone who knows what they are doing and care about quality. Assuming some people still repair these, who would you recommend, and what should I expect in terms of wait and cost?
Thank you

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

It will probably help to know where you are located because postage costs and perhaps even customs charges might influence where it's viable to send items for repair. Welcome to Rangefinder Forum.

 

[Dralowid]

In the UK: http://europhotoservices.co.uk/

 

[Doug]

I believe he's in western Washington state, USA.

 

[WoodallP]

Hi, happy new year.

I recently had a IIa serviced in the UK by Newton Ellis in Liverpool. It took a while as the technician sustained an injury and couldn't work a for some weeks. However, the camera that came back was worth waiting for. It is superb. The cost was 185 plus VAT but this covered the rangefinder, shutter, lens clean and a lot of work on the flash circuit.
I have now had four classic cameras serviced by them an each time it has been a great job.

For a Contax II I have heard that Oleg of OK cameras in Russia is good though you may end up with the odd Kiev substitute part if needed.

Phil W

 

[Ste_S]

In the UK: http://europhotoservices.co.uk/

Hi, happy new year.

I recently had a IIa serviced in the UK by Newton Ellis in Liverpool. It took a while as the technician sustained an injury and couldn't work a for some weeks. However, the camera that came back was worth waiting for. It is superb. The cost was 185 plus VAT but this covered the rangefinder, shutter, lens clean and a lot of work on the flash circuit.
I have now had four classic cameras serviced by them an each time it has been a great job.

For a Contax II I have heard that Oleg of OK cameras in Russia is good though you may end up with the odd Kiev substitute part if needed.

Phil W

The UK seems to be pretty good for Zeiss Ikon repairs. I've had a good quote for a (allegedly difficult to service) Contaflex III from Miles Whitehead

 

[MikethePiper]

Contax IIa /IIIa repair

Contax IIa /IIIa repair

It will probably help to know where you are located because postage costs and perhaps even customs charges might influence where it's viable to send items for repair. Welcome to Rangefinder Forum.

Hello,
I am in the Seattle area. Sounds like there are a few good people in the UK - is there someone in the US?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[MikethePiper]

Contax IIa /IIIa overhaul recommendation

Contax IIa /IIIa overhaul recommendation

Hello, and Thank you for your suggestions. I live in the Seattle area, so if I could find someone in the US it would be more practical than shipping the cameras to the UK, although if that is my only option I'll go that route.

Mike

 

[markjwyatt]

Henry Scherer is the best known Contax guy ( http://zeisscamera.com/about.shtml ), but last I checked he had a 4 year waiting list.

Mark Hansen is considered good also, and is known to do complete overhauls. classiccamera@comcast.net

I had my Contax iia CLA'd by Ross Yerkes in Los Angeles. Fast, reasonable, and good, but I am not sure if he will do a complete overhaul or not (he might). (323) 256-1018 . He has done other work for me, all good work at reasonable rates.

Good luck.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Radu Lesaru will repair Contax rangefinders. Although best known as an ALPA specialist, there are not many cameras he's not prepared to work on, even quite rare and collectable types such as Ducati and Rectaflex for instance, as well as particularly challenging designs like Contaflex TLR and Contarex SLR.
http://www.3rcamera.com/

 

[Johngwill]

Mark Hansen is considered good also, and is known to do complete overhauls. classiccamera@comcast.net

I can certainly recommend Mark Hansen. He recently did a complete strip down and rebuild of my lla repairing a number of parts. It now works perfectly. Cost was $350 plus shipping.

 

[chipgreenberg]

Has anybody used Cameraquest? I have an email into them regarding my lla and am waiting for a response.

Chip

 

[Livesteamer]

I used CameraQuest for a Nikon SP repair and they were great. Contax is a different animal but I would expect they will get back to you soon. Good Luck, Joe

 

[splitimageview]

I didn't know Radu did Contax, thanks for that. I've sent him a lot of Alpa and he's quick, reasonably priced, and reliable.

 

[steveyork]

Radu Lesaru <rlesaru@yahoo.com> serviced a prewar Contax II for me several years ago, and Vermont Camera Works can probably do it too. There was a good guy over in England who specialized in old Zeiss stuff (eddy T.), but I believe he may be retired. Camerquest services the IIa and IIIA Zeiss post-war rangefinders, but not the pre-war stuff though. My experiences with all four of the above (Radu, Vermont Camera Works, Eddy and Camerquest) have all been very good.