How does one recognise a Contax or Kiev shutter unit?

[Kevcaster]

Hi
How does one tell if a Contax has a Kiev shutter? I am about to strip and service 2 Contax ll cameras and do not wish to invest a huge amount of time on a Kiev shutter. I have bought them from dealers as working but 'requiring service' so expect to work on them. The provenance is not known.

How do I recognise the real Contax or replacement Kiev unit?
All help very welcome.
Best to all Kevin

 

[nzeeman]

if i remember correctly - contaxes have some serial numbers on shutter itself
here is the list of numbers...
http://www.wctatel.net/web/crye/z-i35mm.htm#tax

 

[Grytpype]

I think that Contax with Kiev shutters are far less common than is rumoured. I can think of at least a couple of fairly obvious differences. I will post pictures shortly when I put them together.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

My Contax II has a mostly Kiev shutter. It would be a dead as a doornail otherwise. So I would ask what does it matter?

Regards, David

 

[Grytpype]

These differences certainly apply from the Kiev 2A/3A onwards (as well as the flash mods of course), and I think would apply to the Kiev 2 and 3 - maybe someone else can confirm this.

The first one you can see just by removing the film gate, the second by removing the top casting:

Note that in the Contax the vertical double gear is made in two parts, splined together.
​

 

[David Hughes]

Interesting, thanks.

Regards, David

 

[Kevcaster]

Yes very interesting, many thanks for your various contributions. I'm clearly working ( al little unsuccessfully as of right now) on a Contax unit.
Thanks again
Kevin