G CLAs and repairs in Australia

daveywaugh

daveywaugh

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Apr 14, 2008
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I am having trouble finding anyone prepared to do CLAs or repairs to the G system in Australia. I have read the sticky thread on repairs and obviously there is USA, Japan and UK, but I was hoping for something closer to home ;-) I must have contacted a dozen techs but no go... are they THAT hard to work on?

Nothing I need right now but wanted to at least source a CLA soon and my 45mm is a little 'loose' (barrel feels a bit sloppy). Are there any service manuals floating around perhaps?

Thanks.
 
Our RFF member, Charles Woodhouse in AU is reportedly an ace repairguy. I never had him do a CLA for me, but he's one fine, knowledgeable gentleman.

Bill
 
Bill58 said:
Our RFF member, Charles Woodhouse in AU is reportedly an ace repairguy. I never had him do a CLA for me, but he's one fine, knowledgeable gentleman.

Bill
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Charles is very good but on my last contact with him a few months ago he told me he was giving up most camera repair work and concentrating on another interest of his - antique gunsmithing.
 
daveywaugh said:
<snip>
Nothing I need right now but wanted to at least source a CLA soon and my 45mm is a little 'loose' (barrel feels a bit sloppy). <snip>.
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No one does a "CLA" on these cameras. Not the official Contax factory repair stations, nor any of those who semi-officially took over those duties.

There is really nothing in general to clean, nothing to lube, and nothing to adjust. If you lens has become "loose", it is probably because some screws have backed out and simply need to be re tightened.
 
Bob Michaels said:
No one does a "CLA" on these cameras.
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I think any device that's at least partly mechanical can benefit from a clean, lube and adjust at some point. The G is obviously a very different beast to other fully mechanical cameras, but I can't see how a G lens for example would be THAT different to a Leica in respect to a CLA.

I see where you are coming from though - you wouldn't routinely CLA a G like say a V Hasselblad.
 
Well I have now tried everyone - just received my 12th "no can do" so I think it's fair to say that noone in Australia can service a Contax G. Bummer! I can see the reluctance of people to invest in G's.
 
daveywaugh said:
I think any device that's at least partly mechanical can benefit from a clean, lube and adjust at some point. The G is obviously a very different beast to other fully mechanical cameras, but I can't see how a G lens for example would be THAT different to a Leica in respect to a CLA.

I see where you are coming from though - you wouldn't routinely CLA a G like say a V Hasselblad.
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My source is talking with Kyrocea / Contax factory service back when they serviced direct. They were the ones that told me there is nothing to clean, lubrication was for lifetime, and there is noting adjustable.

Remember that the shutter is electronic not mechanical. There is no rangefinder to adjust. They are simply "assembled" with no part being adjustable.

You can clean them, but this is external and cosmetic.

No one recommends disassembling the lens. That is for any reason other than it is broken and needs to be repaired.

I sometimes hang out at Kiwi Camera Service, a pro camera repair show, as Michael Levira, the owner, is a personal friend. The above seems to be true of all modern electronic cameras. I have seen a Hassleblad being serviced. A large amount of precision mechanical components that eventually will need servicing. I have seen a lot of modern DSLR's disassembled. Just a lot of miniature PC boards, miniature components and flexible connectors.
 
Interesting Bob - I didn't realize just how 'electronic' they are. So I guess you use em till they die and then at least they'll look good on a mantelpiece ;-) Thanks for the info.
 
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