TenEleven
Well-known
I do like the Contax IIa, and while in many ways it was a step forward, especially the later models with the fixed take-up spool and platinum finder which are much easier to load & see through, I have to agree that in some ways it introduces new problems that that original II did not have. Most notably it now had a rangefinder that could (and often does) go out of alignment vertically. This would not have been possible on a II unless you took a hammer to it.
The feeling that the IIa is a sort of "prototype" can be confirmed in the fact that most of the IIa's design documents were actually drawn up during or before the war. Then after the war they no longer had Kueppenbender to make sense of these drawings or address some of the shortcomings which had already been identified in these very drawings, but remained unaddressed.
I still like the IIa's for the excellent "Opton" lenses though - the new Biogon in particular is a big step up over its predecessor as is their compact size and weight. The new chrome process is very beautiful, also. However if I want a camera that I can blindly rely on, I often end up taking the II ...
Edit: Oh yeah, addressing the above messages, the IIa is also the much.. much more "repairable" camera. It comes apart into three main sections (the outer shell, the shutter board, and the helical assembly) which thus can be serviced individually and the process is quite painless. The II is quite straight-forward as well, it's just involved but no worse than a Barnack Leica in my opinion. The I is an absolute nightmare to work on though, no disagreement there!
The feeling that the IIa is a sort of "prototype" can be confirmed in the fact that most of the IIa's design documents were actually drawn up during or before the war. Then after the war they no longer had Kueppenbender to make sense of these drawings or address some of the shortcomings which had already been identified in these very drawings, but remained unaddressed.
I still like the IIa's for the excellent "Opton" lenses though - the new Biogon in particular is a big step up over its predecessor as is their compact size and weight. The new chrome process is very beautiful, also. However if I want a camera that I can blindly rely on, I often end up taking the II ...
Edit: Oh yeah, addressing the above messages, the IIa is also the much.. much more "repairable" camera. It comes apart into three main sections (the outer shell, the shutter board, and the helical assembly) which thus can be serviced individually and the process is quite painless. The II is quite straight-forward as well, it's just involved but no worse than a Barnack Leica in my opinion. The I is an absolute nightmare to work on though, no disagreement there!
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Erik van Straten
Mentor
gelatin silver print (s skopar 50mm f2.5) contax 1 v4
Amsterdam, 2016
Erik.
Amsterdam, 2016
Erik.
Dralowid
Michael
Erik van Straten
Mentor
When an early Contax works as it should, is using it quite nice. "Change of food makes people eat" is a famous Dutch proverb.
Erik.
Erik.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
It's been said before, (in this thread and another one discussing the Contax I), I think the camera just gets a bad rap, mainly because it's hard to find them in working order today.
Simply because there aren't (m)any technicians working on them. Same goes for the Contax II, or Kievs for that matter). All cameras need service over time and like with any camera, a well-maintained one will generally do a good job.
I should feed some film through one of mine soon.
Simply because there aren't (m)any technicians working on them. Same goes for the Contax II, or Kievs for that matter). All cameras need service over time and like with any camera, a well-maintained one will generally do a good job.
I should feed some film through one of mine soon.
Erik van Straten
Mentor
gelatin silver print (nikkor 50mm f2) contax 1 v4
Amsterdam, 2016
Erik.
Somehow I like to use the Contax 1 better than the Kiev 4 altough the Kiev is the better camera. The Contax 1 is so decorative, it's like it's straight out of a Laurel & Hardy movie!
Erik.
Amsterdam, 2016
Erik.
Somehow I like to use the Contax 1 better than the Kiev 4 altough the Kiev is the better camera. The Contax 1 is so decorative, it's like it's straight out of a Laurel & Hardy movie!
Erik.
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perberggren
Newbie
Hi,
First time posting on this topic.
A have a Contax I that I just cant get to work proparly. New shutter ribbons, the right ones, are installed.
The slow speeds are correct and normal group is correct, no worries there. B does not stay open, even how hard I try. The Sport group is the same as Normal group.
What am I missing here?
Ps.
This is not the first Contax I or camera I work on, but this one is given me nightmares!!!!
First time posting on this topic.
A have a Contax I that I just cant get to work proparly. New shutter ribbons, the right ones, are installed.
The slow speeds are correct and normal group is correct, no worries there. B does not stay open, even how hard I try. The Sport group is the same as Normal group.
What am I missing here?
Ps.
This is not the first Contax I or camera I work on, but this one is given me nightmares!!!!
Erik van Straten
Mentor
I have four Contax l cameras, but only one of them works as it should. I've been working on the other three, but to no avail. Just don't start to work on them, it is impossible for a beginner to get them right. You are warned!Hi,
First time posting on this topic.
A have a Contax I that I just cant get to work proparly. New shutter ribbons, the right ones, are installed.
The slow speeds are correct and normal group is correct, no worries there. B does not stay open, even how hard I try. The Sport group is the same as Normal group.
What am I missing here?
Ps.
This is not the first Contax I or camera I work on, but this one is given me nightmares!!!!
It is clear that my fourth Contax l has been repaired, or has been remade, by a true specialist.
gelatin silver print (sonnar 50mm f1.5) contax l
the bicycle repairman, 2023
Erik.
perberggren
Newbie
Hi, everybody
I got myself stuck on one Contax I. I changed the ribbons and now the only speeds that is working is the slow ones. Not encountered this before. B-1/10 is ok. All over that does not work, the curtains does not travel up enough to catch the release and the curtains do not seperate.
This is ny 4th shutter repair and I never got this problem.
Any thoughts?
I got myself stuck on one Contax I. I changed the ribbons and now the only speeds that is working is the slow ones. Not encountered this before. B-1/10 is ok. All over that does not work, the curtains does not travel up enough to catch the release and the curtains do not seperate.
This is ny 4th shutter repair and I never got this problem.
Any thoughts?
Erik van Straten
Mentor
Try to get a true specialist if you want to get the camera back to work. Don't work on it yourself.
Erik.
Erik.
perberggren
Newbie
Hi, Erik
As i wrote this i the 4th Contax I that I worked on and the other three work just fine, after my repair and CLA, included the camera from the post above. I worked on Leicas, Hasselblad, Rolleiflexes, lenses from all over the world. I do not see myself as a newbie in the field of camera repair.
Now , on this camera, I encountered a problem I have not encountered before. Therefor I reach out to all of you, in this Forum, for help and input on what could be the problem. You guys are the experts, the specialists.
Anyone got any idea? The winding goes to far, almost all the way round, before it starts to move the curtains.
Erik van Straten
Mentor
Beware, this is just one of the many mysteries you will encounter when working on working on the Contax l. Don't waste your time on it. Be happy when you have a working Contax l.
gelatin silver print (sonnar 50mm f1.5) contax l
Amsterdam, 2023
Erik.
gelatin silver print (sonnar 50mm f1.5) contax l
Amsterdam, 2023
Erik.