Jimbo035
James M Turner
Took my recently acquired 1956 vintage near mint llla to a worthy Liverpudlian repairer the other day as its meter needs sorting out. The needle will swing to and fro as the measuring ring is turned back and forth (Instruction Book p10), but raising the cover has no visible effect upon it. Any thoughts I may have consequently had about changing the llla for a lla (or even a ll since reading about Robert Capa and the Normandy Invasion) were quickly dispelled as I was assured that the responsive needle was a sure indication that my camera could be made fully functioning without difficulty.
ps To be honest, I haven't really given up the idea of buying a ll
ps To be honest, I haven't really given up the idea of buying a ll
Highway 61
Revisited
The selenium cell is dead and has to be replaced. Unfortunately the lone possible provider (Megatron Ltd) doesn't offer this service any longer.
Yet the IIIa meter selenium cell can be repaired by using a selenium cell coming from a working Kiev 4 meter.
The only caveat is that the selenium cell from the Kiev 4 will be thicker, so the repairer will have to carefully remove a layer of metal off the backside of the selenium cell before re-using it in the IIIa meter unit, using a precision dremel. Caution : don't overheat the metal unless the selenium will melt on the other side of the cell.
Otherwise, it works - and worked super on mine when I fixed it myself that way. My IIIa meter having a selenium cell coming from a Kiev 4 donor body was darn accurate through the entire metering range.
Yet the IIIa meter selenium cell can be repaired by using a selenium cell coming from a working Kiev 4 meter.
The only caveat is that the selenium cell from the Kiev 4 will be thicker, so the repairer will have to carefully remove a layer of metal off the backside of the selenium cell before re-using it in the IIIa meter unit, using a precision dremel. Caution : don't overheat the metal unless the selenium will melt on the other side of the cell.
Otherwise, it works - and worked super on mine when I fixed it myself that way. My IIIa meter having a selenium cell coming from a Kiev 4 donor body was darn accurate through the entire metering range.
I'm going to have a play with some crook cells over the next few months. In fact I'll try to acquire a few malfunctioning meters that present themselves at the right price for just this reason. I'm wondering if I might have finally found a way that may get some of them going, again. Zeiss used to make a repair kit for them, the tantalisingly obscure and mythical VE33. I've been trying to pin down possible processes it might have involved. The catch is that it would have to be a long term, not temporary, restoration of ability to produce electrical output, so it will take a while to determine if it's actually of any real value. And I need to further research and digest details of the material that was used to coat cells and how readily it can be reproduced, as maintaining a sound external coating seems to me to be key to ensuring long term sustainability of any renewal of their ability to produce power. This will take a while to bear fruit (if it does, at all, that is).
Hatchetman
Well-known
this may be helpful: http://elekm.net/zeiss-ikon/repair/meter-repair/
Thank you—I had actually seen that. It's helpful advice as in some cases, the basic problem is not a dead cell, rather age-related continuity faults in the circuit, which may occur at the cell connections. But I'm thinking of how to actually persuade a cell which no longer responds to light by producing electrical output, to once again do so.
Cheers
Brett
Highway 61
Revisited
FWIW the Zeiss Ikophot handheld meter has a selenium cell which is 100% identical to the one used in the Contax IIIa meter unit.
For some reason (probably due to the Ikophot leather case and plastic body being a better insulating shell than the IIIa full metal jacket meter unit, hence less backdoor voltage drain off the cell over time) most of the Ikophot cells are still running strong nowadays, while almost all the IIIa meter units have a dead cell.
I didn't use that trick when I fixed my IIIa because my Ikophot is a very nice handheld meter and I didn't see the point of destructing it. OTOH the Kiev 4 off which I took the selenium cell to install it into the IIIa meter unit was a wreck as for a functional camera.
For some reason (probably due to the Ikophot leather case and plastic body being a better insulating shell than the IIIa full metal jacket meter unit, hence less backdoor voltage drain off the cell over time) most of the Ikophot cells are still running strong nowadays, while almost all the IIIa meter units have a dead cell.
I didn't use that trick when I fixed my IIIa because my Ikophot is a very nice handheld meter and I didn't see the point of destructing it. OTOH the Kiev 4 off which I took the selenium cell to install it into the IIIa meter unit was a wreck as for a functional camera.
Yes I have an Ikophot myself. It was a lucky win on eBay for about $3 a few years ago and it indeed is still working well. It's one of my favourites and makes a good companion to one of my Contaflexes. I usually use a newer meter but the Ikophot often accompanies me as a back up.
oftheherd
Veteran
That is a useful tip. Thanks!
zeissguy
Member
There is an even simpler trick one may try to revive their selenium cell, at least temporarily, before opening up their camera body. I describe this trick in detail in a completely free eBay guide I put together several years ago. Feel free to check it out at the following URL:
Link to Completely Free eBay guide entitled Temporarily Revive the Light Meter On Zeiss Contessa 35 & Others