Contax IIIa + Sonnar 50/1.5

[Nitroplait]

In a box of photografica I bought for other reasons, I found a Contax IIIa with a Sonnar 50/1.5.


The shutter doesn’t work reliably - as one would expect, but the viewfinder+rangefinder and meter is fine and the lens is clear.

I would like some suggestions on how to proceed.

I certainly will keep the lens (and use it on a mirrorless), but should I throw money at the camera to have it fixed?

The shutter is active when the camera is turned upside down!?!!!

But otherwise, obviously unreliable.

It is a camera I highly respect but not one I find to be attractive to the extent that I would pay Leica CLA price to have it fixed, or yet selling it for parts is also a little sad.

What do you think?

I’m in Europe
- if you have any repair suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[Duofold RF]

Not sure about EU, in North America not many techs service CONTAX rangefinders, the famous Henry Scherer waiting list is about 20-30 years

 

[Nitroplait]

Cool. I’ll sign up- but be dead by time it is my turn;-)

 

[raid]

Eddy Smolov was s good repairman for Contax cameras until he retired. I would Google for a reprimand or use several photography websites to get suggestions from members there.

 

[Nitroplait]

Eddy Smolov was s good repairman for Contax cameras until he retired. I would Google for a reprimand or use several photography websites to get suggestions from members there.

So Raid, do you think it is worth repairing the camera body - or should I just look for an adapter for mirrorless?

 

[boojum]

So Raid, do you think it is worth repairing the camera body - or should I just look for an adapter for mirrorless?

Not Raid, but, depending upon your wallet you could do both. Bottom line, how important is film to you?

 

[raid]

So Raid, do you think it is worth repairing the camera body - or should I just look for an adapter for mirrorless?

I have one that I have not used in over ten years. I use the lens quite often with my Leica cameras. Get the adapter first.

 

[Nitroplait]

I have one that I have not used in over ten years. I use the lens quite often with my Leica cameras. Get the adapter first.

Thanks. I think I’d prefer my Leica cameras over the Contax and may do just that; get an adapter first.

 

[Coldkennels]

I have a love/hate relationship with Contaxes. I've only used pre-war ones and they're ridiculously over-complicated machines - it seems like everything needs to be perfectly in spec or you'll have nothing but problems. But when they work, they're quite satisfying things - and that lens is a stunning beast, so it's worth using, one way or the other.

It might be worth talking to Ed Troska here in the UK - he specialises in Zeiss stuff: http://europhotoservices.co.uk

Cosmetically, it's in pretty good shape. I'd say it's worth fixing, whether you plan on only use it occasionally or if you want to sell it on. Personally, I'd keep it around, but that's just me.

 

[davidswiss]

I can also recommend Ed of europhotoservices. He sorted my IIa a year or so ago.

 

[Miles.]

I shoot Contax’s (pre-war and post-war) daily and love the experience but they are difficult (not impossible) to service. My anecdotal experience has been that the pre-war shutters (from the II and III) are more reliable after service than the post-war counterparts.

Your IIIa looks worthy of service but I can’t offer any tech recommendations as I live in the U.S. and have Henry Scherer or Don Goldberg service my Contax gear.

One alternative to think about would be to trade up for a Nikon S2 and have it adjusted for use with Contax lenses - much better “shooting experience” going that route.

Good luck!

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I've yet to mess with the post-war Contax shutters (beyond the slow speed escapement), but it sounds like the shutter curtain roller spring could use an extra half turn of tension.
I recall the spring tension adjustment sits at the lower right side of the shutter crate (looking from the back).

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Not sure about EU, in North America not many techs service CONTAX rangefinders, the famous Henry Scherer waiting list is about 20-30 years

Yes, but this is not a "CONTAX" camera, is it? It's not made in Japan. It was produced in Germany. As the front of the pictured camera reveals, it is a real "Contax".

From memory Mark Hansen is (or at least, was) happy to work on the post war IIa/IIIa models. Not the original Contax, II, or III, though.

Edit:
For clarity, I should add that I think the Japanese made "CONTAXES" are capable of superlative image quality. And I own (and love), a number of Japanese cameras. But, being different altogether designs, made in a different country by different people at a much later time—they truly are a "Contax" in name only. They could just as easily have had the Rollei name put on them (trademark and licencing availability aside, of course). It's badge engineering, pure and simple, for marketing, not historical, reasons.

 

[chipgreenberg]

I had a pretty bad experience with Mark. My camera came back twice with a light leak that wasn't there before, and when I asked him for an ETA he basically said he was doing paying work first, not warranty work. Also complained about having to pay for film and processing to diagnose the light leak. But, it does work fine now.

 

[Duofold RF]

increase shutter tension before CLA is not recommended, just like increase tire pressure to improve gas mileage.

 

[wern0122]

If you aren't interested in paying "Leica CLA" price then you might be out of luck, I've heard that a Contax IIa/IIIa CLA is a lot more work than a Leica, and it's unfamiliar to boot, because no other camera uses a shutter mechanism like that. But, if you do make the investment, once it's rebuilt it's supposed to keep working much longer than most other rangefinders without the need for additional service. Over the past year I've totally fallen for the Contax system; I got rid of my Leicas because the Contax is always what I've been reaching for. That Sonnar lens is my favorite lens ever and coincidentally is the reason I came to this forum today to write a question! 🙂 It's definitely worth getting an adapter to a digital camera, at the very least. 🙂

 

[Mr_Flibble]

increase shutter tension before CLA is not recommended, just like increase tire pressure to improve gas mileage.

If the mechanism winds and runs smoothly, and it's just not running down, you're dealing with weakend springs.

 

[nanthor]

Hi, a few years ago I sent my IIIa to Oleg at okvintagecamera.com. The turnaround was quick, about 3 weeks, and the work done (a CLA) was satisfactory. He is located in Russia I believe so you would want to contact him to find out if the shipping would even get through given the current political climate. Price was very reasonable, under $150, and he will clean the lens for free too. Don't take this endorsement without a grain of salt though, it is but one experience. Bob.

 

[KoNickon]

Oleg is great, but I think he is looking to leave Russia and will be leaving his repair business behind. A casualty of this war.

 

[nzeeman]

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