Contax / Kiev II / III ' smoothness ' ?

[dee]

I was wondering how easy to wind , both fast and slow speeds , quietness of shutter , should be anticipated from a CLA Contax / KNEB II or III ?

What do you engineers think ? Have you had a camera rebuilt / repaired / CLA ?

I ask because I have a CLA 1951 KNeB II which is so easy to wind , on both fast and slow speeds , gentle ' click ' or ' buzz ' dependant on speed selected .
A good , considerately , but well used camera if the worn case is anything to go by .
It's just a delight to use .

My CLA Contax III , shutter repaired , is not quite as effortless , and my near mint 1952 KNeB II just feels consistent , but has more resistance - probably from dry lubricant .

My other Contax cameras - II with K II shutter / Rat II / and repaired rough III with K IV top , are awaited with anticipation , I just don't know what to expect , but if they are as good as the Contax III , I shall be content .

 

[ErnestoJL]

I have a K4 made in ´66 (well used), another in ´62, and a ´37 Contax II. The ´66 Kiev and the ´37 Contax received some home CLA some years before today. All three cameras perform more or less the same way, it is a delightfull buzzing sound from the shutter at low speeds, and the same noise of the closing curtain at high speeds. All three are delicious to use. The effort needed to wind is almost the same in all of them, and speed selection is equally easy/difficult for them all.
As all are old and used cameras I´m not sure they can be compared to a mint unused one, but once they received a decent CLA, consistence is something to expect under normal circumstances (that´s what I found with them).
Hope you find the same+ with yours!

Cheers

Ernesto

 

[payasam]

Excellent machines, and if they are maintained well you should expect nothing less than perfection.

 

[tenderobject]

the kiev 3 i bought a month ago is very smooth compared to the kievs i used. a 1955 kiev III!

@dee where do you send your kiev/contax for repairs?

thanks

 

[ray*j*gun]

I have a Contax IIa and a IIIa both done by Henry Scherer and the shutter is a whisper with a very smooth wind on. They are wonderful when right!