Sonnar 50/1.5 (Contax RF) CLA recommendations in the US?

[wern0122]

Hi Folks, does anyone have a good recommendation for a CLA on a Contax-mount Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 50mm f/1.5? The aperture blades seem to get sticky and tense when you try to open them past f/2. It feels like I'm going to break it trying to open it to 1.5. Not sure if this is from built up grime, or something physically catching, but I assume that at the very least the aperture mechanism needs to be cleaned (easy) and then the lens columnated properly upon reassembly. This part worries me because it's an uncommon mount, and from what I've heard columnating a Sonnar involves checking, take it apart, adjust, put it back together, check, take it apart, adjust, put it back together, check, etc. This makes me reluctant to send it to just anybody. Or perhaps I'm being silly and this is an easy job for any camera repair person to do properly? What do you think? The glass is in great shape, not much needed there. This lens along with two Contax bodies and a Kiev 2 body are my regular shooters; it's been in my bag every day since I got it!

I'd be interested to hear recommendations, please, for someone who would be able to do this CLA correctly, but also in a reasonable time frame (a few months?). Thanks!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

A good repairman with experience with older lenses should be able to do this lens. The "Gotschas:: Stuck retaining ring holding the barrel in the mount; Stuck retaining ring holding in the rear group' and stuck retaining ring holding in the front group. I've seen all.

Collimating this lens: it uses a variable stand-off ring instead of a shim. Very easy to collimate, but does require taking the barrel from the mount in between tries. With the proper tools, the error in focus can be converted to turns of the ring and will "converge" quickly.

Contact DAG to see if he will do this lens.

https://www.dagcamera.com/contact.html

 

[wern0122]

Thanks, DAG is a good idea!

 

[wern0122]

I emailed DAG Camera and Don wrote back immediately in the affirmative, good recommendation, thanks! Other shops I wrote to almost a week ago have never responded.