Jammed Contax II repair service.

[Sid836]

My wonderful Contax II is jammed. Could you please advice me who could have it repaired?
I live in Greece, I would prefer sending it somewhere in Europe, but I would not mind sending it elsewhere. I have checked in the sticky thread, but I can find repair services for the modern Contax Cameras.

 

[oftheherd]

I'm sure some RFFers will be able to help, as many here do use the Contax II, III, IIa and IIIa. You might also try a search of the forum, especially this sub-forum.

What are the symptoms of the jam?

 

[Sid836]

I have been shooting with it and mid roll the upper curtain remained up and the shutter rewind cannot be turned.
I will send it to Mr Henry Scherer for repair. I love it and no way I will let myself do any harm to it. It is most likely that I will make things worse.

 

[sevo]

My recommendation would be Mark Hansen (though he seems to be as overloaded as Henry Scherer) or Uwe Kersten (of http://www.kamera-restauration.de/) - both Contax II experts within the EU, which will spare you quite a bit of hassle with the customs offices.

 

[Sid836]

Unfortunately Mark Hansen had responded that he is no longer servicing pre-war Contax cameras:
"I am sorry to say the only reliable repair source for the Contax I, II, and III line of cameras is Henry Sheerer.".
Is there anybody else in the EU that could repair it?

 

[Mark Wood]

Ed Trzoska in Leicester is the UK's Contax (and general Zeiss Ikon) expert:

http://europhotoservices.co.uk/

 

[Sid836]

O.k. Emailed to Mr Ed Trzoska. Fingers crossed!

 

[p.giannakis]

Ed serviced a Zeiss Ikoflex Ib for me 6 years ago. Very satisfied with his service, I would definitely recommend him.

Edit: You can contact Miles Whitehead too and see if you can get a better quote. Miles has serviced my Nikon F4 and he has done a great job. His webpage http://www.mwcamerarepairs.co.uk/

 

[Sid836]

Unfortunately most people in the EU seem to repair only Contax IIa and later cameras. I have emailed Ed too about my camera and await for his response.

 

[sevo]

Unfortunately most people in the EU seem to repair only Contax IIa and later cameras. I have emailed Ed too about my camera and await for his response.

Have you contacted Mr. Kersten? Going by his pages (http://blog.klassik-kameras.com/?cat=5) he does work on all Contax models from the I on.

 

[Sid836]

How can I contact him? Trying to get a contact, I get through http://www.klassik-kameras.com/ to http://www.classic-camera.de and use the form found under "Restaurationen" am I correct?

 

[sevo]

How can I contact him? Trying to get a contact, I get through http://www.klassik-kameras.com/ to http://www.classic-camera.de and use the form found under "Restaurationen" am I correct?

Right. There is a contact form on his pages: http://www.klassik-kameras.com/epag...ctPath=/Shops/61610918/Categories/ContactForm

 

[David Hughes]

I can't offer any help but I'll wish you luck. I know what it feels like when an elderly camera fails and no one seems able to help.

Regards, David

 

[Sid836]

Thanks David. I will definitely have it fixed. At least now I have set another goal to myself (finding somebody to repair it of course, no way I let myself doing any harm to it).

 

[rick oleson]

Look for someone who services Russian cameras - postwar Kievs are nearly identical to Contax II and III (interchangeable parts in many cases), and were in production into the 1980s - there should be people in eastern Europe who have experience with them.

 

[RObert Budding]

I have been shooting with it and mid roll the upper curtain remained up and the shutter rewind cannot be turned.
I will send it to Mr Henry Scherer for repair. I love it and no way I will let myself do any harm to it. It is most likely that I will make things worse.

Good luck - there are now 383 people on Henry's waiting list. Can you do without your camera for 4-5 years?

 

[oftheherd]

Good luck - there are now 383 people on Henry's waiting list. Can you do without your camera for 4-5 years?

That was my problem when I contacted him. I appreciate his desire to do the very best work possible, and that he is much sought after. But when I talked to him and realized the waiting time, I had to give him my thanks and decide to do it myself if possible. As I told him, at my age, I want to be able to use mine before I pass on. 😛

 

[Sid836]

Fortunately Mr Uwe Kersten has responded and accepted to have my camera repaired. I will send my camera to him next week. I cannot wait for months and sending it within the EU will save me in customs trouble.

 

[KoNickon]

What about Oleg Khalyavin? okvintagecameras.com is his site, I believe. He definitely works on the Contax II and III, since they are so similar to the Kievs. I have a III that was serviced by him for its previous owner and it has worked fine.

 

[dee]

I would second Oleg if the camera is to be a user .He is a wizard with Contax/Kiev even sorting out the later poorly made cameras which he states are less likely to have been messed with over the years.
I have two late Kievs , one of which came with a near new Helios which work exquisitely.
I know it's possible that you would not wish to have the camera contaminated by minor Kiev parts , but the difference in cost at around £80 plus shipping is considerable.
Collectors would probably not be comfortable with this , but in my view , this is a viable alternative to the expense of reviving such a classic camera .
That Oleg is still operating gives me confidence that my Contax IIs and Contax/Kiev hybrids will be kept operational.
dee