World Weary Contax II - what would you do ?

[dee]

I am having a cosmetically fine Contax II Bitsa fixed with a little help from a Kiev [ shutter and some bits ] ... but ... i may have the opportunity to buy a very tired and brassed Contax II - from someone here .
As it would cost just 70 euro to fix up into working condition ... I am rather tempted to buy it just because it is so tired and emotional [ it even has newish leather .]
The original idea was a black Contax ... but it seems a waste of an opportunity for something , well , with patina plus .
Bit like those rusty VW campers with new mechanicals !
This from someone obssessed with newness . LOL
Am I crazy ?

 

[Mudman]

Well judging by the rambling its a possibility 😀

However if you want it and can afford it, why not?

 

[Al Kaplan]

I took my rusty VW camper and painted it all up with bright colors and flowers, but that was forty years ago. If I was you I'd get the camera and enjoy it. You won't have to worry about messing up a pristine paint job! Or you could paint it up in all kinds of bright colors, flowers and all, and still enjoy it. If you do that show us some pictures. If you poke around http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com there are pix of my VW camper.

 

[Merkin]

If you want a black one, fix it up and get it painted, it will patina again soon enough with enough use, and it sounds like a camera that you wouldn't be afraid to slog about with.

 

[Santafecino]

Cameras with experience to justify their high price are valued and rightly. I would fix it up and leave the exterior as it came to you. It will promote the kind of centered seeing that produces great pictures.

Needless to say, these decisions are highly personal.

 

[michaelging]

I happen to agree, I have my original Nikon F, that I bought in a fire sale from the US embassy BX in Saigon in May of 1976 for $25 as Saigon was falling. This camera knows what a good photo is and tells the person pushing the button what to do when. Its a little rough around the edges ,but then so am I .

 

[dee]

Hmm - seems keeping a tired old workhorse and making it work is prefered . I quite like the concept of investing in a camera which most would consider a waste of money ... the odd thing is , it will probably be more precious to me because it has seen so much , been so many places ... I love those old battered Nikons which a pro has hammered into the ground !Of course , I would need a grunge lens ... and tatty half case !
I just hope the seller replies to my e-mails !

 

[FPjohn]

I have a productive and continuing relationship with a lllb that needed a good home ...

yours
FPJ

 

[ErnestoJL]

I bought a 1937 old and weary Contax II during 2005, and payed USD 50 for it.
The low price was due to a "bad" collapsible Tessar 2.8 lens (it was just dirty) and a non working shutter, as well as a lot of Zeiss bumps under the leather plus a fogged VF. The shutter fix costed none as I did it by myself (a broken spring under the top cover that allowed only one speed:B) as well as the other repairs.
I will never regret of buying that camera.
IMHO, do it.

Ernesto

 

[dee]

Lovely irony here as I am gonna have a KNeB II nickel plated , recovered as new AND crave a working grunge Contax II LOL !

 

[dee]

.. and the 1951 KNeB II in the avatar is neat too ...

 

[jmkelly]

I am completely satisfied with my beautifully refurbished Contax II, but could not resist a beater IIa that came my way for less than $100. Yes I'm sending it to Mr. Smolov for shutter repair but that's all; no more - I like the way it carries its years: brassing, corrosion, scuffed paint, beat-up leather, Zeiss bump and all. If I named things I would call it Cromwell.

 

[dee]

A step too far ?
The world weary Contax did not happen , but a really really cheap Contax III with smashed - dropped ? meter and top plate ... did - though I am hoping that this transpired years ago , so that it has not been used - so I can rescue the part which is dodgy on my Contax III ...
But that leaves a body of evidence ... in OK shape
Now I love the compact meter of the Contax IIIa but like the prewar cameras ... so this broken baby is to suffer the final indignity -of a K 4 top and meter .
The guys in Ukraine promise to polish it in to match the Contax base ...
I know , I am a charlatan - but better than one of those Kiev / Contax copes .
I wonder if it will slip into a Contax II case [ avatar ] ?

 

[dee]

... and another world weary brassed Conatx is currently being repaired by the Arsenal Techs ... it's fate , black / nickel still to be dee'cided .... LOL