Fedka excellent service

[colyn]

I ordered shutter tape material for my Contax II from Yuri on Sunday and got it today.. 🙂 🙂

Now that's fast service..... 😎 😎

 

[colyn]

The only problem is that the shutter tape sold by Fedka doesn't fit in a Contax II shutter, it is too thick and too wide.

Since when??

I've used it on 2 other pre-war Contax II cameras with no problems whatsoever. In fact it's size and thickness matches the original Contax II shutter tapes..

This "Arsenal" shutter tape is designed to service a Kiev shutter not a Contax II shutter.

In case you're not up to snuff the Kiev shutter through the 4a and the Contax II shutter is identical. In fact they are interchangeable..Where do you think the Kiev came from?? For all intents and purposes it is a Contax II re-badged Kiev..

This peculiar point is well documented on the Internet with many threads on this very forum - with discussions about which shutter tape, and from which source, for the Contax II.

I have not heard anything about this. But the attached photos clearly show the Arsenal shutter tapes easily fit the Contax II shutter.

 

[ernesto]

colyn,

You can force them to fit, of course!
But the consequence of this, will be an abnormal behabiour of the shutter times.
Read the article regarding contax tapes at www.zeisscamera.com where it is explained extensively.
http://www.zeisscamera.com/articles_tape.shtml

Ernesto

 

[colyn]

colyn,

You can force them to fit, of course!
But the consequence of this, will be an abnormal behabiour of the shutter times.
Read the article regarding contax tapes at www.zeisscamera.com where it is explained extensively.
http://www.zeisscamera.com/articles_tape.shtml

Ernesto

No force fit here. The ribbons slipped easily through the slots on the closing curtain and the the slots on the opening curtain yoke.

The camera is now working and shutter speed testing indicates speeds within range.

This is the third Contax II I have re-ribboned using the Arsenal tapes. I tried Aki's tape on the second Contax which quickly broke after less than 100 shutter actuations..

I find this interesting since the Zeiss ribbons were silk 1/8 wide and .010-.011 thick which is the same as the new ones I am using..

 

[ernesto]

Colyn,

Perhaps I didn´t explained very well...
When I said "force" I didn´t meant that you would need to force the tape to fit in place... what I really means is that by changing the phisical caracteriscs of one of the components in the shutter, it will be changing the general behabiour, shifting the speeds, due to a diferent interaction between the tape and the metalic components.
Every speed will be forced to change to another unexpected speed.

Ernesto

 

[colyn]

Colyn,

Perhaps I didn´t explained very well...
When I said "force" I didn´t meant that you would need to force the tape to fit in place... what I really means is that by changing the phisical caracteriscs of one of the components in the shutter, it will be changing the general behabiour, shifting the speeds, due to a diferent interaction between the tape and the metalic components.
Every speed will be forced to change to another unexpected speed.

Ernesto

If I understand you correct you are referring to the characteristic of the shutter ribbon itself.. Comparing the weave pattern etc of the Arsenal tape to the original I find them nearly identical.

The myth that only the pre-war ribbon is the only ribbon that will work is just that...a myth.. I have re-ribboned 3 Contax II's and my Kiev 4a with the same ribbon with 8-11 turns on the spring tension and get shutter speeds within specs so the idea of having to beef up the springs on the Kiev to handle the Arsenal ribbon just doesn't sound quiet right to me..

The main consideration is that a robust silk ribbon 1/8 in wide by .010-.011 in with a weave running lengthwise will work as good as the original.

The Arsenal ribbon contrary to popular belief fits the bill and while there are others out there this is the easiest to find...and it does work.

From my experience dealing with Zeiss repairmen I find most consider the Kiev the redheaded stepchild of the family... but if the truth be known many use the Arsenal ribbon 😱

 

[ernesto]

We have a lot of miths, uh?

E

 

[colyn]

We have a lot of miths, uh?

E

I read the entire article you pointed to above and find it to be pure scare tactics in order to get a person to send him their Contax for repair..he even says Kiev's are pure junk which is far from the truth. So I put no stock whatsoever in what he says. I fact if you read his entire site you'll find he contradicts himself..more than once..

I overhauled my granddads Contax II a couple of years ago using Arsenal ribbon and it has had between 200-400 rolls run through it with no problems whatsoever.

So what works.....works no matter what this person says...

 

[wlewisiii]

He's got an overpriced biz to protect. I had Eddie Smolov do my Contax III (including new ribbons) for $75 instead.

William

 

[colyn]

He's got an overpriced biz to protect.

William

And his attitude is unbelievable..

On one of his pages he states

"NEVER EVER BUY A CONTAX FROM A SELLER IN THE NETHERLANDS. DON'T DO IT. NEVER EVER DO IT. THE OPERATORS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TOTALLY DISHONEST AND PRODUCE NOTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL FRANKENSTEIN CONTAXES THAT ARE ACTUALLY KIEVS IN DISGUISE." the above was in bold red lettering..

He also says if you buy a Contax with a Russian lens it is in reality a Kiev camera..

 

[dee]

Seems there are a lot of nutters in both camps / Kamps .