Need info on a Contax IIIa

Thanks all. BTW - it's really clean inside. I'm planning to shoot a roll after I read the downloaded manual I got from butkus.com.

One question regarding the Sonnar 50mm/1.5 lens - can you tell me what the diameter is (my guess is 39mm)? I'm member of the "filter school" (yes, I know others here prefer to "swim naked") and want to order a UV filter for it.

Thanks.
 
Before you waste your film, take the lens and back off. Point the camera at a white CRT display set to 60Hz refresh (or standard TV), turn it vertically and fire all the fast speeds 1/50 - 1/1250. You should see a quick flash of bars that becomes progressively narrower as you increase speed.

There are three problems one consistently comes across with the postwar Contax shutter:

1. Fast speeds all fire at the same speed (detected by the size of the TV "bars") - there is a lever that can be bent out of shape that is a real PITA to get right

2. Shutter has fade - if the flash of bars is significantly thicker on one side compared to the other, yours has fade

3. Shutter fails to open at all - usually at 1/500 and/or 1/1250.

Also, check the rangefinder moving image carefully. Often the spring it uses to return gets weak and requires adjustment. In this case the image will "skip" or simply not return to infinity.

$150 is an OK deal but the camera looks a little rough in the (hard to see) photos. It looks like the earlier black dial type (no PC socket and black speed numbers) but its hard to see.
 
Also, check the vertical alignment. It is often out, and there is no simple way to adjust it. Usually the black pitch that cements the lens to the holder breaks loose, but on mine it was very tight, and still needed a major PITA shimming job to get it back.
 
Mike Kovacs said:
Also, check the vertical alignment. It is often out, and there is no simple way to adjust it. Usually the black pitch that cements the lens to the holder breaks loose, but on mine it was very tight, and still needed a major PITA shimming job to get it back.
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Mike,

Thanks for the info. I'll do some checking tonight. Can you recommend someone who would be good to do a CLA on it?
 
Henry Scherer is the best but has a waiting list that some find difficult to deal with. I have only been extremely pleased with his work and will use no one else for my Contaxes or lenses. His address is Zeisscamera.com or something like that (Google him if that doesn't work).
 
Sorry, I service my own cameras and lenses. The IIA/IIIA are a fair bit easier to work on than the prewar models, but are more likely to have issues with the shutter requiring service in the first place.

My IIA BD stripped to the bare chassis.... and back!
 
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Well first of all, thanks for the CLA info. I want to keep it "close to home" so will go with a US-based service person.

I'm not set up to do a "60Hz screen test" but I did an eyeball one with the lens and back removed and the shutter does "perform" at both 500 and 1250 (it's interesting that you can "see" the difference b/w the two). Of course this doesn't mean the timing is correct or that there is no "blade lag" but at least it "works" at those speeds!

I do think I'll burn a roll in it before sending it off (for now, at least, film is still cheap) - but if it is in as good a condition as I suspect - then a CLA will be an extra nice improvement.
 
copake_ham said:
Well first of all, thanks for the CLA info. I want to keep it "close to home" so will go with a US-based service person.

I'm not set up to do a "60Hz screen test" but I did an eyeball one with the lens and back removed and the shutter does "perform" at both 500 and 1250 (it's interesting that you can "see" the difference b/w the two). Of course this doesn't mean the timing is correct or that there is no "blade lag" but at least it "works" at those speeds!

I do think I'll burn a roll in it before sending it off (for now, at least, film is still cheap) - but if it is in as good a condition as I suspect - then a CLA will be an extra nice improvement.
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Congratulations, George. It's amazing that there are no camera repair shops in the big apple that can CLA your Contax.

R.J.
 
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Honestly, there has to be shop in NYC that is capable. The IIIA BD is not a particularly difficult camera to repair, especially with some help from Rick Oleson's tech notes.

Good to see Nicolas here - he really approaches camera repair with a cautiousl and perfectionist eye. His cameras that I have seen are beautiful.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
That is a beautiful Contax IIa, and a very informative site.
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I second this statement. Great site. While I am all thumbs with delicate repairs, I have successfully used the info on this site to clean and lubricate some parts of the Contax cameras, and to remove the zeiss bumps. Thanks, Nicholas!
 
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