Odd Contax G1 glitch

[Doug]

Several weeks ago I bought a used ("Excellent") G1 from KEH with a 21mm Biogon. I had so much fun with it that I soon ordered a new 45mm from Central Camera and arranged with another RFF member for his 28mm. This is quite a nice system now at extremely attractive prices.

But each of the seven rolls of film shot and processed have two or more blank frames. These are usually near each other in the roll but usually separated by one good frame. At first I thought the power film advance was sometimes winding twice after an exposure. But I could identify several clear instances where a picture I remember shooting was represented by a blank frame!

I had one sequence of six exposures of a business owner painting the front of his establishment, and the second and fourth of these were blank.

Mostly daylight shots, no flash. I wasn't using a lens cap. The camera was always on AE, but sometimes I used the compensation dial. I don't recall anything different about the camera's behavior during shooting.

Anybody else encounter anything like this?

 

[Bob Michaels]

Nope, I've been shooting with both G-1's and G-2's for quite a few years and never heard of anything like this.

But change the battery. G-1's do really weird things when the batteries get low. I mean things you would never imagine.

Have you isolated it to the body by the problem occuring with various lenses?

Bob Michaels

 

[Doug]

Right, the seven rolls of film used three different lenses, and I stuck to one lens for a whole roll, trying 'em out.

I put brand new Everready lithium CR2 batteries in when I received the camera, since it came without. The CR2's were from a large retailer, should have been fresh. AND, it seems I can't change batteries anyway, as the battery cover just keeps rotating in the unscrew direction without coming off! Geez...

Absent a glitch with the batteries, I'm guessing it's related to shutter electricals. KEH has suggested I return it, and they will pay the shipping. Thanks for the comments, Bob!

Here's a jpeg of two of the rolls of film, like a contact sheet. Only I just taped the PrintFile pages to the window with letter paper behind. So that's where the texture comes from, and please ignore the light streaks, reflections off the shiny film...

 

[Doug]

The G1 was duly returned for credit to KEH, and I opted to have them send me a G2 as replacement. I liked the low cost of the G1 and its slightly smaller size and 100g lighter weight, but the G2 has quite a number of welcome improvements in operation. The G2 has been working great as I get used to its characteristics. Very nice system and at bargain prices now too!

 

[jasonhupe]

AnyOne else ever have this problem?

AnyOne else ever have this problem?

I was wondering if any one else had this problem....apperenty not from the non replies. I just started having this same problem begin two months ago with my G1. It seems to be happening most when the camera has not been used for a period and then is turned on and fired. It will no do it without a lens on??? I have played around with it to try to find a pattern and can not, very random. At times it will go half a roll without incident, and then one blank frame. You can clearly tell when the shutter does not open if you listen closely but if you are not paying attention the film advance motor overrides the sound and you can not tell. I guess I am going to have to send into NJ soon to get fixed. I was looking into buying a used second body for backup and to use the 35 and 21 at the same time, this must be just a way to get me to do it sooner than later.

 

[Doug]

You might contact KEH's repair service about this. They got mine back, and presumably dealt with the problem somehow so that the camera could be resold. Maybe they sent it to NJ, or maybe they were able to take care of it themselves. Could be as simple as dirty electrical contacts... That crops up on my Minolta CLE every 10 years or so 🙂