Please, listen the sound of your camera...

[mauro scacco]

Hi, contax fiends
I have a IIIa color dial (very fine) and a IIa color dial (fine) but the sound of their shutter is completely different, the IIIa has a soft flushy sound , the IIa has a sharp metallic "sdeng"...
It is normal? What are your experiences?
Thx Mauro

 

[Xmas]

Mauro

There can be big differences and there not be a problem. But people increase the pretension to work around stiff lube.

Both at 1/10 should have a long zingszssss sound if the lube is still good.

Noel

 

[dexdog]

I have a couple of each, and all make the soft flushy sound that you describe, sort of a whooosh noise. The difference in sound probably is not important- I would only get concerned if the images captured were not properly exposed.

 

[Vics]

Mine is one of Henry's recondition jobs, and the shutter has a louder-than-Leica, metallic but quite positive sound.
Vic

 

[KoNickon]

I just got back from overhaul a IIa and its shutter has somewhat of a "snap." I don't recall if its sound is appreciably different from before I sent it out, but before the overhaul it had no slow speeds and the speeds above 1/250 tapered, so I'll take it!

My IIIa (now out for overhaul) has a quieter shutter sound, but the slow speeds are off on it, so once brought to specifications it may sound like the IIa.

 

[darkkavenger]

My IIIa black-dial produces very pleasant sounds, at low speeds it gives out a metallic swoosh, at high speeds a solid, pleasant thwap.

 

[ZeissFan]

The shutters on the color dial and black dial are mechanically slightly different. I'm not sure of the mechanical differences, but it's been my experience that the color dial has a sharper sound, especially from 1/25-1/100. Beyond that, the differences narrow, although the color dial will almost always sound a bit more positive and precise.

The slower speeds on both camera should be roughly similar, as the escapement that controls the slow speeds is the same (from what I can tell).

I actually prefer the black dial because it's a bit more discrete from 1/25-1/100.

 

[darkkavenger]

This thread makes me think, does your Contax IIa / IIIa produces a little metallic noise when you focus the lens ? Mine does, it seems to come from the focusing wheel, when I focus a lens with the lens barrel.