Zeiss Ikon Contax Camera Repair
A home for your Zeiss Ikon Contax, Contarex or Super Ikonta camera!
Information
- Services
- Scheduling Services
- Waiting List Info
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- What is a CLA?
- What a CLA leaves out
- Purchasing a Contax Camera?
- Camera Equipment Sales
Cameras Serviced & Pricing
- Contaflex TLR
- Contarex Bullseye
- Contax I
- Contax II and III
- Contax IIa and IIIa
- Zeiss Lenses
- Kiev Cameras
- Contaflex SLR
- Kyocera Contax
Overhauls
Previously Serviced Camera Report
- Dear V.,
- I started work on your camera tonight. This is a report of its condition.
- I have found the camera lightmeter and wind controls to be in original condition being very dirty and showing signs of dried original lubricant. The rangefinder module still has its original Zeiss paper light seal attached. This demonstrates that when the camera was last serviced the camera was not disassembled to the point where the focusing helical assembly, rangefinder assembly, or the shutter assembly could have been removed from the camera shell, and that they have not been removed since the camera was manufactured. The reason for this is that Zeiss used shellac based glue to attach the paper seal and the paper deteriorates in the sovent used to remove it so it cannot be removed and reinstalled. It must be replaced if the camera is to be completely disassembled or even disassembled enough to correct the original problem.. It is therefore obvious that these parts of the camera were not examined, cleaned, lubricated or serviced. The shutter medium speed escapement (controls 1 second to 1/100 second) is completely dry and has no signs of being lubricated since it was assembled when the camera was new. The other shutter speed controls are likewise dry, dirty and in original condition. The film frame indicator system was dirty and had signs of old dried original lubricant. The shutter speed control system is in original condition being very dirty and with signs of dried original Zeiss lubricant.
- The only work that I can see has ever been done to your camera is the insertion of an additional single 0.005" thick washer underneath the shutter release button. This would be about 15 minutes work maximum. It is a very quick and simple fix that I have seen attempted sometimes to correct a relucatance of the Color Dial shutter to release by lengthening the stroke of the shutter release shaft. It is a completely ineffective technique since it does not address the actual cause of the problem. It is my opinion that the technician who did this work had to know it was ineffective because the camera would not have acted any differently after the work was done at the time it was done. The shutter release certainly doesn't work now, and it didn't work when you received the camera back. So it is also my opinion the people who charged you for this work had to know they were charging you for work that was ineffective and that they were returning your camera to you in the same operating condition as when they received it.
- I expect to be ready to ship your camera back to you a week from today. It will be much different then.
- Thank you,
- Henry
- V. S. wrote:
- > Henry, the camera is on its way to you Fed-Ex, will be there in the morning.
> Please feel free to e-mail me or call (toll-free number below) with an
> estimate of charges. I anticipate $295.00 for the overhaul, and some extra
> for the zeiss bumps. Please let me know if things begin to escalate.
>
> V. S.
> A. W.
> (707) 5xx-2xxx (800) 5xx-2xxx
- -----Original Message-----
From: Henry Scherer [SMTP:superwide@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 6:33 PM
To: V. S.
Subject: Re: New Contax Lover...
- Dear V.,
- Please include the sonnar. Even if you don't have it serviced I will be able to check its focusing characteristic and will adjust it if needed.
- Thank you,
- Henry
- V. S. wrote:
- OK, I'm packing up the camera tonight for shipment to you tomorrow. I need to economize a bit, though, so I don't think I'll send the Nikkors at this time. Should I send the Sonnar 50mm with the body?
- Vic
- -----Original Message-----
From: Henry Scherer
To: V. S.
Sent: 9/15/2003 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: New Contax Lover...
- Dear V.,
- I can service both of them. They are fairly popular lenses with Contax users because their apertures are larger than equivalent Zeiss lenses. Two weeks ago I shipped a serviced Nikon Contax 35mm and 135mm to a customer in Spain.I will need to see the filter ring dent to see what can be done with it.
- Thank you,
- Henry
- V. S. wrote:
- Can you service the two Nikon lenses? 35mm and 135mm. 135 has a dent in the filter ring. Both are black.
- V. S.
A. W.
(707) 5xx-2xxxx (800) 5xx-2xxx - -----Original Message----- From: Henry Scherer [SMTP:superwide@earthlink.net] Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2003 7:42 PM To: V. S. Subject: Re: New Contax Lover...
- Dear V.,
- I forgot to mention one thing. In order for me to get your equipment back to you in time to thorougly test the camera I had to move you up one notch on the wating list. I thought of this while I was writing my last email to you, but forgot to change the letter. So please do not delay in sending you equipment. The soooner I get it the sooner I can get it back to you. A trip to France is very important thing.
- Sincerely,
- Henry
- V. S. wrote:
- Thanks for your very prompt reply. I'm quite nearby, in S. R., CA. What kind of turn-around could I expect for a general overhaul of the 3 lenses, and repairing the shutter release problem, along with two Zeiss bumps? I'm planning a trip to France in November, and had hoped to use the camera over there. I understand that these things cantake time...
- V. S.
Santa Rosa, CA. - -----Original Message-----
From: Henry Scherer
To: V. S.
Sent: 9/19/2003 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: New Contax Lover...
- Dear V,
- You are not alone and you are not the first person to have written to me about this problem. I don't think there is any point in throwing good money after bad. I am absolutely certain that there is no way that your camera is going to be working properly and reliably as a result of it being worked on by the same shop no matter how many times it is cycled through it. The workings of the Contax shutter are very complex and subtle and it really does take a specialist to make it right. It also takes time. There is are many good reasons why I lavish one week of time on each camera. There is simply no substitute for a complete strip down for any machine that is around 50 years old and I'm the only one who does it for your camera. I've examined a large number of cameras that were supposedly "serviced" by others and have found all of these to have been superficially repaired if anything had been done to them at all. I recently had a camera sent to me from Japan by a man who purchased a IIIa from a camera store here which had been advertised to have been "serviced". When I opened it I found that it was in completely original condition. You can count on three things from me. The first is I will give you a complete honest report of the condition of the camera when I open it, the second is a full report of its condition when I'm finished with it, and the third is that it will not disappoint you when you get it back. I have repaired 32 Contax IIIa color dial cameras this year. All of them are out there working reliably and I have had no complaints and much praise. I know what is wrong with your camera and I know how to repair it so that you can depend upon it to take great pictures for you. I have has several customers who have demanded and received refunds from other servicers based upon my written reports. While the lens mount on the Nikon cameras is the same as the Contax, the pitch of the helical threads is different. This pitch difference doesn't make much focus difference with a 35 to 50 mm lens. But it does throw the focus off enough to make a visible difference with a 135 mm lens. Nikon made two versions of the 135 mm lens; one for the Nikon cameras and one for the Contax cameras. The one made for Contax is engraved with a "C" on the body and/or the bezel. If your 135 is a Contax model you can verify this by looking at the barrel of the lens. There should be a prominent "C" engraved in the barrel and/or a red "C" engraved in the front bezel. If there is no "C" then your lens is for the Nikon cameras and it will not focus properly on your Contax. You'll see a red "C" in the bezel of the 35 WA Nikor if the lens is a Contax version. My guess is that it is since you've had good results with it. Keep in mind that your lenses are likely just in need of a service as is your camera. If you send me your lenses with your camera I have a policy of offering a substantial discount on the lens servicing. I will service both lenses for $45.00 each and will also service your Zeiss normal lens for $45.00 also if you include it. While the lenses may appear to be clear and clean to you now, both have a thick internal oil film on the internal element surfaces, and you will definitely notice the difference in their feel and clarity after they are thoroughly cleaned and relubricated. Check the aperture blades to see if there is any trace of oil on them. If there is the lenses are definitely long overdue for a cleaning. I completely disassemble all the lenses I service in the same manner as the cameras. Another thing to keep in mind is that I am also the only person in the world that repairs the IIIa light meter. I offer a discount on a photocell replacement and meter calibration when this is done in combination with a camera body servicing and charge $65.00 for this. The light meter on the IIIa is highly accurate and reliable when it is in good condition and it is a delight to be able to use the camera without having to lug around a separate light meter. If you want me to service your equipment please send it to me at the following address:
- Henry Scherer
- Thank you,
- Henry
A. W.
(707) 5xx-2xx (800) 5xx-2xxx
