Contessa VF is MESSED UP. Help, if possible?

[cameron.knight]

So a bought a Zeiss Contessa at my local camera swap. Shutter speed sounds perfect. It's cosmetically really good, not perfect, but good. The aperture isn't frozen, the focusing isn't frozen, but the viewfinder and rangefinder is pretty bad. I only paid $40 for it, so it didn't break the bank.

I've recreated the look here. Basically the left side is clear like a viewfinder, there's not second image or anything. The right side is a DARK brown. In anything other than bright sunlight, it's opaque. In bright sunlight, I'm getting a sort of functional thing going on. There is a circle in the brown area that moves with the rangefinder. I suppose the idea to match up the image in the circle with the image in the brown area, but the brown area is so dark it's basically impossible. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Also, here's the actual camera. Just for fun.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I'm guessing that the moveable mirror has lost it's reflective silver backing and you're just looking at the brown coating on the back of the glass. Might be replaceable but will be a custom job and more than you paid for the camera. Wait & see if someone can tell you how to open the top up and have a look. Option might be to look for an accessory rangefinder to slip into the show on top of the camera. Problem with that is increased bulk and you have to transfer the distance to the lens manually.

 

[L David Tomei]

The Contessa shared the basic design found in the Contax, Super Ikonta and other camera models of the period.

The problem that you have is something I can't diagnose but there are real experts out there. If you solve the problem let everyone know. I am curious.

A diagram of the design is below and comes from Lipinsky's book on miniature camera optical designs.

Auguri!
David

 

[Brian Legge]

I'd start off by shining a flashlight into the finder to see if you can see whats going on. It may be something just slipped down and is obstructing part of the finder. Or it could be a mirror problem, as others mentioned.

 

[L David Tomei]

The problem may be in the optics of the rangefinder which doesn't have mirrors but rather uses rotating or sliding prisms and a solid glass prism without reflective coatings. One or more mounts that hold the prisms in place may be moved or dislodged but it is unlikely (but not impossible) that the glass prisms may be cracked. This drawing shows how the rangefinder uses prisms instead of coated mirrors as used in other cameras such as the Leica.

David

 

[Nikon Bob]

There has been some discussion in this thread on it http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19149 .

Bob

 

[farlymac]

Cameron, if you get your rangefinder problems sorted out, I've still got that adapter to mount Series V filters on a Contessa. Yours for the asking.

PF