Sid836
Well-known
That would mean sending my Contax out of the EU and that could impose customs trouble.
Jammed Contax II repair service.
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Sid836
Well-known
Finally, my Contax II is back to life with new Ribbons fitted. Many thanks to Oleg for repairing it. I have no words to describe how happy I am!
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Can you hear us all cheering? I'm pleased you've got it back and pleased Oleg has another feather in his cap.
Regards, David
PS For others, it's normal for things to be sent overseas for repairs. You mark the customs form "Broken camera for repair" and - with luck it comes back with the green form marked "Repaires to camera"...
You might also add "film" to the description as digital may carry a different % tax and/or duty.
Can you hear us all cheering? I'm pleased you've got it back and pleased Oleg has another feather in his cap.
Regards, David
PS For others, it's normal for things to be sent overseas for repairs. You mark the customs form "Broken camera for repair" and - with luck it comes back with the green form marked "Repaires to camera"...
You might also add "film" to the description as digital may carry a different % tax and/or duty.
Sid836
Well-known
Thank you David.
Just for the record, it took just a few days for Oleg to bring it back to life. The rest has been custom delays. I never knew I could hold my breath for that long. 🙂
I will try it again with a test roll. Half of it will be with the collapsible sonnar and the rest with a Jupiter-8, just for the fun of it.
Just for the record, it took just a few days for Oleg to bring it back to life. The rest has been custom delays. I never knew I could hold my breath for that long. 🙂
I will try it again with a test roll. Half of it will be with the collapsible sonnar and the rest with a Jupiter-8, just for the fun of it.
Highway 61
Revisited
The more time is passing by, the more Contax II owners and users will have to learn how to repair their cameras themselves, for no pro repairer will want to tackle that camera - not that it's particularly complicated (although it is in some ways), but just because of the time consuming.
Overhauling that camera and installing new shutter ribbons (and, most of the time, a new lower curtain drum roller main spring) can take more than 40 hours of work if it's done properly and with the amount of care the camera deserves. No professional repairer can afford to do this at cost.
Plus, you'll probably have to re-cement the RF wedge prism, to clean and relube the focusing helix, to re-do the light seals of the whole top cover casting, to clean the VF optics inside and out, etc.
The DIY thing is possible - think of our RFF fellow Kevcaster out there who started from scratch and promptly began very handy at servicing those cameras. 😉
Oleg more than probably installed a Kiev shutter unit in your Contax II but for a user it's probably the best solution. Not only did you get fresh shutter ribbons but a less tired lower curtain drum roller main spring, and the like. Broken shutter ribbons aren't the only illness of the original Zeiss shutter if this one has got an high mileage.
Overhauling that camera and installing new shutter ribbons (and, most of the time, a new lower curtain drum roller main spring) can take more than 40 hours of work if it's done properly and with the amount of care the camera deserves. No professional repairer can afford to do this at cost.
Plus, you'll probably have to re-cement the RF wedge prism, to clean and relube the focusing helix, to re-do the light seals of the whole top cover casting, to clean the VF optics inside and out, etc.
The DIY thing is possible - think of our RFF fellow Kevcaster out there who started from scratch and promptly began very handy at servicing those cameras. 😉
Oleg more than probably installed a Kiev shutter unit in your Contax II but for a user it's probably the best solution. Not only did you get fresh shutter ribbons but a less tired lower curtain drum roller main spring, and the like. Broken shutter ribbons aren't the only illness of the original Zeiss shutter if this one has got an high mileage.
Sid836
Well-known
I have asked Oleg to replace just the ribbons if that would be the issue, or else leave it as it was and this is what has been done. I did not want a Contax II with a Kiev shutter in any case. Do not take this as an insult to the Kiev cameras. I have also Kiev II,III and 4 cameras, and I like things to stay as close to being genuine as possible.
Besides that it has been CLAed and now focuses a lot easier, the focusing is smooth and not stiff as before, the viewfinder/rangefinder are no longer foggy and I am happier than ever with that.
I'd love to learn repairing it myself, but that would also require lots of free time that I do not have.
It will not be my all around shooter. I will be using it occasionally, so I hope it will take quite a while until the next repair.
Besides that it has been CLAed and now focuses a lot easier, the focusing is smooth and not stiff as before, the viewfinder/rangefinder are no longer foggy and I am happier than ever with that.
I'd love to learn repairing it myself, but that would also require lots of free time that I do not have.
It will not be my all around shooter. I will be using it occasionally, so I hope it will take quite a while until the next repair.
R
rick oleson
Guest
I haven't done any of these in a number of years, but I did quite a few while I was at it. I have a set of notes and sketches for some of the most common DIY tasks, which I will be happy to share with anyone who would like to send an email to rick.oleson@gmail.com and ask for them.
(I replaced the ribbons in my own II in 1984, and it's still doing fine)
Also, there is the book by Peter Tooke, "Zeiss Contax Repair Manual, Models II and III" which is almost painfully thorough in its descriptions of how these cameras work and how to service them. I would recommend this book to anyone who owns a II or III (or Kiev), whether you plan on repairing it yourself or not.
rick
(I replaced the ribbons in my own II in 1984, and it's still doing fine)
Also, there is the book by Peter Tooke, "Zeiss Contax Repair Manual, Models II and III" which is almost painfully thorough in its descriptions of how these cameras work and how to service them. I would recommend this book to anyone who owns a II or III (or Kiev), whether you plan on repairing it yourself or not.
rick
Elmar Lang
Well-known
Hello,
I would like to revive this discussion and ask if Mr. Uwe Kersten would be still active in camera repair.
I've seen two Contarex (S and SE) very well serviced by him a few years ago and wanted to contact him for two similar cameras I have, in need of service.
Now, his websites are not active anymore, nor his email is still active.
Did he retire (he isn't that old...), or changed firm's name?
Any info would be most welcome,
Enzo (E.L.)
I would like to revive this discussion and ask if Mr. Uwe Kersten would be still active in camera repair.
I've seen two Contarex (S and SE) very well serviced by him a few years ago and wanted to contact him for two similar cameras I have, in need of service.
Now, his websites are not active anymore, nor his email is still active.
Did he retire (he isn't that old...), or changed firm's name?
Any info would be most welcome,
Enzo (E.L.)
steveyork
Well-known
Ed repaired a Contax II for me. Good job.
