Is my G2 acting weird or malfunctioning??? help!

[haagen_dazs]

Hey experts
I am wondering if my G2 is acting weird or malfunctioning.

The camera works perfectly fine during normal uses.
However when i dont use the camera for a while eg 1-2weeks
and I pick it up, turn it on and fire the first shot
The shutter doesnt fire off
It make a soft click (somewhat like and electronic sounding click) and the film counter number increases.
I fire off the next shot and the camera then starts to work perfectly as normal (with various lenses)

This happened twice or 3 times already.

Is something wrong? 🙁 🙁 🙁

 

[jlw]

No, it shouldn't do that.

Are you sure your batteries are fresh and the electrical contacts clean? It sounds a bit as if the battery contacts might be getting oxidized during non-use, just enough that they don't pass enough power to trip the shutter on the first try.

Next time you've let the camera sit unused for a few weeks, you might try cleaning the contacts and putting in new batteries before you try it -- then see if it still behaves this way.

 

[sepiareverb]

Does sound electrical. Contax repair was pretty prompt fixing my G2 that had developed an erratic light leak- you might give them a call.

 

[haagen_dazs]

how do i contact them?
what is an erratic light leak? (on the g2?)


the thing is, my camera is working super fine.
just that the first shot after not using it for 1 week does not trip the shutter (but advances the film counter)
🙁 odd...

 

[Socke]

Sounds weird, neither my G2 nor my G1 behave like that, even after a week or two without use, which doesn't happen too often 🙂

 

[BigSteveG]

My G2 always had strange problems...it's why I got rid of it! Although when I look at the old images I made with it I want another.

 

[JeffM]

Sounds like you'll definitely have to send it off for a repair. Believe it or not KEH repairs to the G series. I had an issue where the manual focus wheel on my G2 stopped working, not only did KEH completely fix the problem but their turn around was literally within the week I sent it out! I also assume that I got lucky and the problem wasn't too tricky to fix... though it definitely seemed electrical and erratic before it stopped working completely. You can always send it to them to get a quote for repair and decide not to take it, but you'll have to pay for the shipping cost. In the case of my G2 it was worth it. I hadn't heard anyone on the forum really speak of KEH repair but I can say that my experience was positive. Good luck!

**Oh yeah and definitely make sure to try fresh batteries before sending it out... the G2 usually does all sorts of funny things when the batteries are about to go. It's just like with a computer, when in doubt, reboot.

 

[sepiareverb]

This is the 'official' Contax repair facility- in NJ somewhere.

Please contact ToCAD America
Phone: 973-627-9600

My G2 would give a small ray of light along the top edge every 20 or 30 frames. Couldn't figure it out, but the camera has been flawless since they had it. Drawback is I never found out what they found or did.

Note: my repair was done while the camera was still under warrnaty- don't know if this makes any difference in their turnaround time. This work was done about 2 years ago I think.

 

[rich815]

My G2 always had strange problems...it's why I got rid of it! Although when I look at the old images I made with it I want another.

Get another. It's worth it. I bought mine used at a shop in Köln, Germany back in 1999 and have never had a single problem. I paid $900 USD for the body and the 45 Planar. With patience you can get that set for half of that price now! What a steal. IMO, there is no 45/50mm lens that tops the 45 G-Planar.