Surge in Contax II popularity?

[Philip Whiteman]

It's true enough in my own household, where I fixed a dead 1939 one, referring to Peter Tooke's manual, the Kiev Survivor's site and Rick Olsen's advice, and using Aki Ashahi ribbon but now I have the taste for the things I find each affordable 'project camera' that comes up on eBay sells in no time flat.

Has word gone around about the most handsome Contax of them all? (To my eye, the IIa looks like someone poked it in its rangefinder window eye - and even the postwar every-ready case is a hideous lump in comparison with the neat prewar job).

Oh; and if you were one of those who bought a II in the last few weeks perhaps you could tell us why you did and how you've got on with it.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

LOL, yes that would be me who bought a nice looking one with a non-working shutter a couple of weeks ago. Thought I would try to see if it really was better than my IIa, but havent started working on it yet.

 

[CliveC]

I keep hearing how there are next to nobody out there who will service Contax II these days. I saw a couple at my local camera show, and they seem to be fetching pretty premium prices, despite "only" having the f/2.0 Sonnar lens. Not Leica prices, mind you, but close to a IIIf.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

A lot of owners have taken a deep breath and worked out how to service these cameras themselves. I think they're a design of phenomenal quality, better than the post war models in every respect except their chrome. They can take all the lenses, unlike the post-war rangefinders, have a longer EBL, the RF adjustment won't usually go off (notably the vertical misalignment so many post-war ones have issues with) and the shutters won't cap or taper. I am in awe of what the Zeiss staff achieved in the West after the war, considering they were starting out with just a fraction of their pre-war facilities at their disposal. But unless you actually want to do flash photography with a Contax rangefinder, the II is a better prospect in every way than a IIa, any day. Based on your post, perhaps I should stop saying this...
Cheers,
Brett

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

LOL, yes that would be me who bought a nice looking one with a non-working shutter a couple of weeks ago. Thought I would try to see if it really was better than my IIa, but havent started working on it yet.

When you get into it let us know how you get on Larry. Nikolas and a few others know their way around these pretty well and I am getting there, every time I have done one I have learned more. Plenty of help available. There are certainly a few points you won't read in the books that I've picked up so if you run into any trouble, let me know please.
Cheers
Brett

 

[Darinwc]

I dont know about 'popularity'.. But I dont see many for sale right now. that means the scalpers have the only ones available at a premium.

 

[Contarama]

One of the things that hooked me on photography as a youngster were color images from Nazi Germany. I assume they were made on Contax and/or Leica cameras. Someday I may get one.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

When you get into it let us know how you get on Larry. Nikolas and a few others know their way around these pretty well and I am getting there, every time I have done one I have learned more. Plenty of help available. There are certainly a few points you won't read in the books that I've picked up so if you run into any trouble, let me know please.
Cheers
Brett

Wow, thank you, Brett. I've gathered up all the information I can find on the web, which is fairly substantial, surprisingly, plus all of Rick Oleson's material, along with Peter Tooke's book, and some Aki-Asahi ribbon. I'm in no hurry, so can take my time. I figured that the worst thing that could happen would be that I would give up and send it to Oleg at okphotocameras, which I could do at the outset, but what's the fun in that?
It was actually your post here a while ago about the advantages of the II over the IIa that prompted me to acquire a decent looking non-working one, (instead of a more expensive "working" one which would realistically need the same service anyway).
I've worked on some Pentaxes and some other M42 bodies, and a Graflex(!), but for this venture I will need to leave shallow end of the pool, it seems.
If I get into trouble, I will let you know, unless it is within the first 30 minutes or so, in which case I will probably just send it out🙂
Thank you again, very much for the offer.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

My interest has shifted from Contax II/III to Contax I over the last 6 months. 😉

But I have a number of II cameras and III and matching period lenses. I've managed to pick them up relatively cheap (usually because the shutter straps are broken) and am lucky to know someone who can service them for me.

I mainly bought them as they're 1930s/1940s cameras in use by military forces at the time and I am a WW2 re-enactor.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Wow, thank you, Brett. I've gathered up all the information I can find on the web, which is fairly substantial, surprisingly, plus all of Rick Oleson's material, along with Peter Tooke's book, and some Aki-Asahi ribbon. I'm in no hurry, so can take my time. I figured that the worst thing that could happen would be that I would give up and send it to Oleg at okphotocameras, which I could do at the outset, but what's the fun in that?
It was actually your post here a while ago about the advantages of the II over the IIa that prompted me to acquire a decent looking non-working one, (instead of a more expensive "working" one which would realistically need the same service anyway).
I've worked on some Pentaxes and some other M42 bodies, and a Graflex(!), but for this venture I will need to leave shallow end of the pool, it seems.
If I get into trouble, I will let you know, unless it is within the first 30 minutes or so, in which case I will probably just send it out🙂
Thank you again, very much for the offer.

You'll definitely need to perservere longer than 30 minutes but you'll get there. Taking your time is good. As I mentioned to someone else yesterday, the key is to have a reasonable grasp of how this unusual shutter works at its various speeds. Because once you've got some new ribbons fitted to it, you will then be able to interpret what it is doing, and why, and can make some informed adjustments to things like the spring tension and clutch adjustment. I spent a lot of time reading about the mechanism, and thinking about it all and re-reading materials. Being me, probably too much time. But it did pay off, because the day after I started, I had a working Contax shutter. I'll message you some contact details.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[David Murphy]

They are no big deal to service. The idea that they are difficult somehow to repair is a myth. Any competent camera tech can fix them at modest cost - I've had several CLA'd. There were thousands made and used to a significant extent by professionals, and they are still in use, and they have a long, long operational history - one reason is they are well made and serviceable (like any professional grade camera). That said, I greatly prefer the IIa and IIIa models myself - with much smoother mechanics and a superior overall fit and finish.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

One less in the wild now: my second Contax II just arrived in the post from a UK dealer. As it is matching numbers one in very good condition, works well and came with collapsible Sonnar and ERC yet cost half to a third third of the price of several of the eBay ones I missed out on buying, I am very pleased. £99 well spent! (To be honest, for that money I wondered if there might be something wrong with it, but the only things missing were lens cap - no surprise there - and take-up spool)

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I assume it has been tended to recently. As found those ribbons are generally living in borrowed time, very much so in many cases. If not I would fire it a few dozen times to ensure proper operation. Probably do it good if it has been sitting a while anyway. Remember, until you track down a spool you can shoot cassette to cassette if needed so you can start usng it. Please post some shots when you get a chance. Some of mine are here.
Cheers
Brett

 

[Philip Whiteman]

Thanks, Brett - the shutter seems to be running at the correct speed and the only fault is that the medium speed escapement can stay engaged when changing from 1/50th to 1/125th. This suggests the cam bearing is a bit sticky, but for now the easy work-around is to first select 1/1250th before returning the knob to 1/125th.

The camera has been serviced periodically, as witnessed by neat pencilled-in technician's reference numbers and dates inside the camera. Mind you, the last one was in 1974! I do however have a stock of Aki-Asahi ribbon, having fixed one II previously, so am ready for the worst, should it happen. I will pillage one of my light-leaky Kievs for a take-up spool.

 

[richardHaw]

i think I contributed a little bit to that 😱😱😱

i saw a junk Contax II being sold for cheap in a shop window and I just couldn't resist it and so I got it 🙄

 

[zhang xk]

Some rare medels of Contax II cameras might demand higher prices one day. A black painted one already sold for quite a high price recently at an auction in Europe. Those are precision, professional machines, and the only problem for some is a broken ribbon.

 

[zhang xk]

Some rare medels of Contax II cameras might demand higher prices one day. A black painted one already sold for quite a high price recently at an auction in Europe. Those are precision, professional machines, and the only problem for some is a broken ribbon.

 

[Valkir1987]

I have been using the Kiev 4 and the Contax II more often lately. The focussing system and viewfinder are great. Quick changing of the optics. Easy operation and the looks and feels are elegant.

The Contax has a repair guide of its own and there are few people who can service it properly. The shutter needs to be stripped down to the very last bit, cleaned, polished and lubcricated very specifically. Even the leather strips in the shutter have to be replaced. The ribbon of Micro-Tools works better than the Aki Asahi stuff, a little thicker but still made from silk.

I did many Kiev and Contax camera's, but I have learnt trough the years and just can say I can finally master it.