New to forum! Contax RF collector

[nygacr]

Hello! I am new to the forum. I have been a casual collector of prewar contax cameras for several years (mainly on and off) I have an example of a I (F), II, and a III, and love each one of them. I do have a question, maybe someone can help.

I mainly shoot digital pictures now (Sony 828) but I think I would enjoy shooting with a vintage contax for a change. (BTW, me and my wife just had a baby at the end of July) Last time I shot (the only time) with the I, I noticed the pictures were not sharp, from any range of focus, including infinity.

I am curious, as to whether this might actually be a problem with the camera, or a problem with the lense, I am pretty sure that I can swap one of the other lenses on the I and shoot to eliminate the lense as the culprit.

The lense on the Contax I is a Tessar 2.8 50mm and I have a known good Sonnar 1.5 50mm that I cna put on it.

With the issues that are apparent with the I's is it even a good idea to take it out and shoot with it at all? (it functions very well, shutter functions well, other than the slightly off focus)

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!
Rick

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Welcome Rick,
By all means use the Contax I -- they are a robust design limited only by the age of susceptible components (silk threads on the shutter, for instance). My first suspicion regarding your focus problem, if the lens has been ruled out, would be the rangefinder -- especially if it is the early mirror version. I am attaching a photo of a Contax I that was returned just yesterday from service work by Henry Scherer; it now performs like a new camera. I recommend you send your camera to Henry if you are serious about keeping it in top condition; I'll attach a link to his site:

Henry Scherer, Contax Repair Extrordinaire 😉

Henry allows you to make a reservation in advance and then send your camera as your reserved time approaches. This way you can continue usng the camera instead of having it sit upon his shelf for months.

 

[furcafe]

I would also have a technician look @ your Contax I, but I would recommend Ken Ruth of Photography on Bald Mountain (http://www.baldmtn.com).

 

[Richard Black]

Welcome,
This is a great group of folks that will share everything, maybe not their cameras, and encourage the use of classic rangefinders. By all means, get the lovely lady serviced and you will be pleasantly surprised. Again, welcome.

 

[RObert Budding]

Henry Scherer is another service person who can put your Contaxes in top condition. But there is often a wait for service as he keeps quite busy. He does amazingly good work!

Robert

 

[JoeFriday]

hi Rick.. welcome to the club! yes, you definitely should take your Contax out as often as possible.. I've got a IIa with a 50/1.5 Sonnar, and that's clearly my favorite lens (at least for now).. I'd suggest putting the Sonnar on whether the Tessar works or not

 

[back alley]

greetings and welcome to the forum!

joe

 

[Skinny McGee]

Welcome! come on in take your coat off, and leave your camera on..

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Welcome! come on in take your coat off, and leave your camera on..

I thought I just heard Randy Newman... 🙂 (great song BTW).

 

[Honu-Hugger]

I would also have a technician look @ your Contax I, but I would recommend Ken Ruth of Photography on Bald Mountain (http://www.baldmtn.com).

Furcafe,
Please tell us more about Ken Ruth; it would be nice to have another option for Contax repair if his work is thorough.

 

[nygacr]

Thank you all for the nice reception.

I checked Henry's website out, last night while searching thru the forum. All I got to say is "wow"....

I only recently got these camera's back out, they were on lockdown (in the safe) for about two years, and figured it was time to rethink my collecting interests (meaning between vintage fountain pens, early US large cents, and hudsons, I was thinking of getting out of cameras) After having the baby, the spare cash was kind of inviting, but when I got the cameras out and started just handling each one of them, it is almost hypnotic.... I ended all thoughts of even considering selling any of them, they are just too impressive of items of history to part with.

I am going to try running a roll thru the Contax I with the 1.5 Sonnar on it and see what results I get.... I am hoping it is just the lense, but we'll find out...

As far as vintage cameras, I have been colecting on and off for about 12 years, beginning with screwmount pentax, then a nikon or two (THe old F's) and finally got a Contax RF, and had to have a few more..... the rest is history.....

My dad collects as well, but as of yet, I think he only has one Contax RF, a III with a lot of problems.... mainly Leica, and a Nikon RF....

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Welcome. It sounds like this could be a Father/Son thing. Does your Father have the address?

We also have a Nikon forum, and Leica.

 

[nygacr]

He's more of a "lurker" than a joiner, when it comes to forums... unfortunately...

 

[ZeissFan]

Regarding out-of-focus photos. The first thing to suspect is the rangefinder system.

First off, these cameras are at least 70 years old, and if the camera has never been serviced, it's very likely that it should be overhauled. The Contax I is a somewhat different camera from the II and of course radically different from the IIa.

One of the differences in the I is its use of mirrors -- rather than prisms -- for the rangefinder system.

I would check this first: At infinity, objects more than 1/4 mile away, the image in the rangefinder should coincide. And they should coincide only at infinity -- not before or after when focusing the camera.

If you're using the collapsible Tessar, you are completely extending and twist-locking the lens, right? Just wanted to make sure of that.

 

[phototone]

Isn't that Tessar lens a "collapsable" one? Do you have it extended to shooting position? Otherwise the image will be out-of-focus.

 

[VinceC]

Welcome,
I second the suggestion for using a very distant object (the moon at night is one of my favorites, or Venus at dusk) to check that your rangefinder at infinity is actually showing an infitine distance.

I've found that photographing my children with classic cameras is a tremendously satisfying and rewarding way to combine collecting with family. It makes the pictures that much more special. I usually shoot B&W C41 film and, while getting prints, also have the negatives scanned for digital use. Every so often I mail out the extra prints to various relatives, who really enjoy getting high-quality black and whites in this modernday digital world.

 

[furcafe]

As 1 of the top camera techs in the U.S., Ken works on all kinds of cameras, from large format to 35mm, not just Zeiss Ikon Contaci (like Mr. Scherer). Among many of my cameras (sometimes I feel like I'm funding his retirement! ;-)), he's worked on my Super Ikonta B, Foton, Contarex Special, & Nettax. Ken's perhaps best known for his work converting Medalist I/II's from 620 to 120 (I had 1 of those done, too). He's also a really nice guy & pleasant (& informative) to talk to on the phone. Like most of the good techs, however, he often gets backed up w/work & is not cheap.

Furcafe,
Please tell us more about Ken Ruth; it would be nice to have another option for Contax repair if his work is thorough.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

(snip)...One of the differences in the I is its use of mirrors -- rather than prisms -- for the rangefinder system...(snip)

Mirrors were used pre '34, prisms were used afterwards. If the rangefinder window is outboard then it is a mirror system; with a prism system the rangefinder window is inboard (adding to the confusion) 😀!!!