I rarely endorse stuff here in my blog but i highly recommend peter tookes book on the repair of the prewar contax cameras. It certainly is thinner than the t2, and about on par with the t3, but taller than the both of them due to the need to fit a rangefinder mechanism into the camera. Here are some repair shops that ive heard good things about. Leica, contax, kiev, zorki, fed, nikon, canon, voigtlander, etc. This book is not a repair tome as most of the other books on this webpage, although the author gives many tips on reliability and possible faults in several old cameras. No one is making them and the top of the heap of 35mm rangefinder cameras is the contax.
The contax t is about the size of a pack of playing cards, although admittedly it is much more densely built. The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website template. The zeiss contax was arguably the best 35mm rangefinder. Because the rangefinder camera doesnt have to work around a viewing mirror, they are almost always smaller and lighter than slr lenses. Repairing and maintaining classic cameras photoethnography. When it comes to autofocusing manual lenses on film cameras there is really only one option. Mar 09, 2020 i guess i should be happy that the rangefinder and focus mechanism are still working.
Zeiss ikon contaflex gebrauchsanleitung zeiss ikon contaflex book all models zeiss ikon contaflex iii zeiss ikon contaflex prima english german zeiss ikon contaflex beta. Is the yashica electro the best deal in rangefinder photography. Not only because of how i found it but its extremely good build quality. Again, this article is only for your entertainment and education. Zeiss ikon contessa 53324 repair manual write to me zeiss ikon contaflex rapid. The contax i was a high end 35 mm rangefinder system camera made by zeiss ikon to compete with leica models. Oct 10, 2007 flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world.
Get the best deals on contax manual focus rangefinder film cameras when you shop the. Get the best deals on 35 mm manual rangefinder film cameras when you shop the largest online selection at. After ww2 the contax ii was reborn as the kiev rangefinder camera, which was manufactured. This are old products and it came from japan so i asume it broke on the flight, but for a 500 dollar camera, im.
Zeiss contax iia, iiia cameras 100pp, fully illustrated. Earlier this year i attempted a ribbon replacement on a contax ii, and even bought the repair book, but gave up and sent it off for repair. Recently, i picked up a contax ii in what i consider poor condition. Moskow, lubitel, sputnik, estafeta, smena, vesna, kiev, fed up to fed3, zorki, zenit up to zenit 3m and start. The super nettel was based on the contax i, with the same kind of shutter, but a folding body, a fixed lens and a short based rangefinder. Canon 7 rangefinder camera 54pp, fully illustrated.
Rangefinders and rangefinder lenses f stop cameras. Rangefinder lenses use a proven focusing technology. The latest fullframe digital leica is the first and only digital m with a slim body profile thats virtually the same as 35mm mseries leicas of the past and present and thats why it tops my digital rangefinder list. In most cases, kiev cameras have been neglected as a soviet plagiarism of low quality.
Contax ii instruction manual on mike butkus excellent website. This mount was also used by the kiev followers of the contax, from the first models to the kiev 5. Beam splitter half mirror leica 3f 3c 3g 3a 3b repair parts for rangefinder dim. Save up to 40% off retail price and get a 180day warranty. Mar 29, 2016 i was looking at an old russian 35mm lens jupiter 12 in a contax kiev rangefinder mount.
Contax g1 green label 35mm rangefinder film camera body. I rarely endorse stuff here in my blog but i highly recommend peter tookes book on the repair of the prewar contax. What are the different types of film cameras still available. Zeiss ikon contax 2 part 1 richard haws classic nikon. This particular item is being sold at a discount as it is in need of reparations. Contax rangefinder camera by zeiss ikon with 50mm lens. Contax is a work of art, a product of ingenuity, precision craftsmanship and perfection both mechanically and optically. Apr 01, 2018 photorumors reported about a new contax digital rangefinder camera rumored to be announced at photokina.
Choose from a wide range of used rangefinder camera lenses and expand your collection. In that, even when at their best, with a new mirror, the rf second image on these prewar cameras is a bit weak an. In summary classic contax rangefinder camera is not just a tool to take great photos, it is a masterpiece of engineering which is a delight to use, a pleasure just to hold and a pride to own. Green means go, so set af to saf and and the shutter. Voigtlander bessa iii wide 667 instruction book no instructions with your used bessa wide. A week away with the contax t a perfect travel and. Reprint of the original service manual from gaf on this camera. Contaxkiev rangefinder on mft micro four thirds talk forum. The nikon is a classic camera of the late 1950s that uses the nikon s mount, a bayonet mount that is similar to the contax c rangefinder mount used in classic contax rangefinders of the 1930s1960s not the current contax g range.
The contax ii was released in 1936 and was the successor of the contax i. We are the largest internet source of cosina voigtlander as well as classic camera information. The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website overhauling a. All contax rangefinders and other film cameras come in one of these three basic types as related to the cameras mode of focus. This section covers germanmade zeissikon, contaflex, contax, contarex, etc. The contax g2 is like no other rangefinder on earth. The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website about us. Its probably useful for repairing soviet kiev cameras contax copies, too. So you just got your new well, new to you classic contax in the mail, and to your horror, it doesnt.
Steve shares with us his journey through all manner of cameras until he found what he was looking for. And tells the reader which ones are more likely to be dependable users. With the addition of the carl zeiss t lenses which have been tested to be some of the sharpest lenses ever created for 35mm, you have a combination that can produce outstanding photographs. This cap coordinates with contax lenses that have a 55mm filter thread. Its not an easy task to take this camera apart but the real fun begins here in part 3 where we repair the broken shutter and. The shutter works, but slower speeds are inaccurate.
Its the spirit of the legendary contax s, refined to the point of perfection. The contax company is one such company, and its rangefinder camera is just one example of film cameras still readily available. It was released in 1936 and was the successor of the contax i. Zeiss ikon contax ii a 35mm film rangefinder camera with. Many considered the prewar contax the professional 35mm camera, while the leica was for amateurs.
In part 2, we took apart the rangefinder and removed the shutter mechanism from the chassis. Today, we are going to tackle zeiss ikons masterpiece the contax 2 camera. The nettax was meant to be a cheaper alternative, it was a derivative of the super nettel with a rigid body and interchangeable lenses with a specific bayonet and a very limited range of lenses. Contax g1 green label 35mm rangefinder film camera body body only sn. Overhauling a contax iiiii shutter and rangefinder. Discussing contax t counter film repair in contax t. The curtains have previously been changed, maybe even twice in its 78 year history and look good. For years weve regularly received emails asking us if we can provide manuals and information about the wonderful contax rangefinder cameras. The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website overhauling a contax i shutter. There are many unscrupulous sellers who fix up a contax to make it appear to be working so that it can be sold for a good price. Cameraquest home shopping cart price list camera articles i buy wants repairs books adapters.
Cq will not provide repair services of any grey market bessa iii w cameras. Contax stylised as contax in the kyocera era began as a camera model in the zeiss ikon line in 1932, and later became a brand name. Contax g2 instruction manual, user manual, free pdf manual. Making your own film spool, by mike elek en cy carl. This book is very rare and hard to find, i must consider myself lucky to have one, but its available in pdf in mike haleys website not anymore.
For the germanmade contax rangefinder cameras, see the zeissikon section. Zeiss and zeiss ikon service manuals learn camera repair. Review on camera repair and restoration books tlrgraphy. Contax kyocera service manuals learn camera repair. The final products under the contax name were a line of 35 mm, medium format, and digital cameras engineered and manufactured by kyocera, and. We sell a wide range of products ranging from adapters for lens mounts long past to the most current line up of lenses for sony, leica and nikon. There are some people who have written repair manuals for the zeiss ikon contax. Zeisss finest rangefinder 35mm film camera, the contax ii, was manufactured in germany between 1936 and 1941. The contax ii and iii used the same mount, as well as the postwar contax iia and iiia models. Join rangefinderforum zeiss contax i rangefinder 19321936 the contax is the modern universal roll film miniature camera of unsurpassed efficiency and allround versatility.
The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website overhauling. By the end of the week, the contax had claimed seven of those ten rolls. Fake kiev iia black fake contax ii black rare russian. Zeiss ikon contax iiia with 2 cases, 4 cartridges, 2. The contax g1 is the predecessor to the contax g2 camera, the most advanced 35mm rangefinder ever made, and arguably one of the finest 35mm cameras ever made. Japan film type 5 35mm picture size 24mm x 36mm weight lens yashica contax mount yashica ml 50mm 1. Too bad since the rest of the camera stands up to leica m3 quality and the rangefinder of the contax even surpasses the leica. I guess i should be happy that the rangefinder and focus mechanism are still working.
Eight years ago, i shot with a leica for the first time and immediately found the. Petrakla are nice and honest people but the repair work is a hobby and the cla is superficial nothing like a complete rebuild. This is a very specialized book for the small number of amateurs looking to repair the relatively few remaining prewwii contax cameras on their own. In 2017, its rare that there is still a manual 35mm rangefinder out there in the world and not as costly as a leica or a zeiss ikon. Rather it is a book to introduce one to the existential pleasures of classic camera photography. Contax and nikon rangefinder screw and bayonet lenses.
The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website contax iiiii. Is the yashica electro the best deal in rangefinder. Get the best deal for contax manual focus rangefinder film cameras from the largest online selection at. These days there is a great demand for classic 35mm rangefinder cameras. I was lucky to borrow a used one from a camera store i worked in during my student days, along with the contemporary leica iiic, the contax with the 50mm sonnar, the leica with the 50mm summar. I used a damp cloth on the leather portions and they really cleaned up very nicely. The canon p rangefinder is a special camera for me. Lessons in life or searching for the right rangefinder. Get the best deal for vintage rangefinder cameras from the largest online selection at. Once a rich mans camera, what used to cost thousands of 1990s dollars is cheap today. On an ipod touch or iphone, save this image to your iphone photo library by holding the main button on the front, then tapping the power off button at the top of your iphone. The zeiss ikon contax i introduced a new lens mount in 1932, today known as contax rangefinder mount. Click here to go to main camera manual site right click on link below, choose save target assave to folder of your choice. Its not an easy task to take this camera apart but the real fun begins here in part 3 where we repair the broken shutter and adjust it until we get something acceptable.
The first step was to determine what problems exist with the camera. If the image below looks like your camera, click below to see the full manual. A guide to the workings of this historic camera series. S2 viewfinder is somewhat nicer than contax, you need a nikon sp for a great viewfinder. Zeiss ikon contax iia 35mm film rangefinder camera with carl zeiss jena sonnar 50mm f2 and accessories color dial fully functional. The camera came with the viewfinder broken, one of the lens in charge of the dioptry is loose and its a nightmare to repair. Among these cameras was the contax t, an unbelievably compact 35mm film rangefinder that somehow marries luxurious excess to simple practicality and impressive performance. Most zeiss contax iiiii enthusiasts are familiar with the soviet unions contax copy, the kiev. Peter tookes book on the repair of the prewar contax cameras. Zeiss ikon contax camera repair a home for your zeiss ikon contax, contarex or super ikonta camera. The contax g is the worlds most advanced 35mm rangefinder camera system.
The lens mount would turn only partially through the range roughly from 20 meters down to 6 meters. Buy and sell used zeiss rangefinder camera lenses at keh camera. Jan 19, 2018 the contax g2 is like no other rangefinder on earth. For all users of classic and new rangefinder cameras. If you find this as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take. Expect updates on the konost full frame digital camera before the end of the year contax digital camera concept leica m typ 262. A week away with the contax t a perfect travel and street. Unlike the original, which is a manual mechanism that you pull down by hand, the contax tvsiii has a motorised flap that. Lessons in life or searching for the right rangefinder by steve karsten today we have an interesting oped. Problems opening pdf files or printing problems click here. Fake kiev iia black fake contax ii black rare russian rangefinder. I decided to specialize in the contax rangefinder camera because i found out there were no high quality sources of repairs anywhere.
It was the first camera with a rangefinder and viewfinder combined in a single window. Jun 16, 2018 the contax t is about the size of a pack of playing cards, although admittedly it is much more densely built. This means, for the most part, repair persons attempted to loosen them up by saturating them with oil. However, someone who has done the research, hansjurgen kuc, has to say in his book on the trail of the contax, vol. However, accurate kiev information has not been widely available in the west. The contax i is a high end 35mm rangefinder camera made by zeiss ikon to compete with leica models. Can those lenses be mounted on an mft body without interfering with internal body functions and damaging the camera. Markus keinaths photohomepage camera and lens diy, repair. Film of the month and casual photophile subscription.
Chunky sibling of the contax rx and rts cameras, the ax was released in 1996 and it remains the only camera ever produced that can autofocus manual focus. Most contax shutters in the working cameras were serviced. The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website the contax ii jena camera. Contax ii cameras today range from rusting, unusable pieces of junk to very clean examples. The voigtlander r4m is a great 35mm rangefinder camera that should still be in production.
The contax t my final word in pocket cameras by hern. Here we have a stunning and beautiful contax ii a 35mm film rangefinder camera, complete with zeissopton sonnar 50mm f2. Were finally here at the end of our contax 2 article. Contax digital rangefinder camera to be announced at. The repair situation in the usa is now very difficult as many repair shops have been forced to distoninue repair service due to the lack of repair parts. The book includes detailed instructions to repair the following cameras. Lot of 6 kiev 3, 3a, 4 contax mount camera body part repair only 7889. The zeiss ikon contax camera repair website purchasing a. The problem with this method is that it is completely ineffective. The zeiss contax was arguably the best 35mm rangefinder made before wwii, with a larger range of faster and sharper lenses than leica. It basically works fine, the shutter fires on all speeds but the slow speeds are sluggish. This contax camera repair manual is not meant to be definitive. Contax manual focus rangefinder film cameras for sale ebay.
Well illustrated, showing dismantling stage by stage, with full service instructions. The nettax was meant to be a cheaper alternative, it was a derivative of the super nettel with a rigid body and interchangeable lenses with a specific bayonet and a. This is the method recommended by the currently published book on the contax cameras. When i focus on an object 20 meters away through the range finder.
The early cameras were among the finest in the world, typically featuring high quality zeiss interchangeable lenses. The best place to go for repairs to japanese made cameras of all types and contax brand cameras made in japan is a camera store in japan that accepts repair work from the usa. Canon 7, vit, vil, p, canonet giii repair manuals, en. The rts iii is a manual focus 35mm slr that delivers precise user control backed by cuttingedge technology, including the real time vacuum system, ultrafast shutter and more. The contax i was zeiss answer to leicas offerings in the 35mm market, one leica effectively controlled since it helped to create it in 1925. Zeiss ikon contax iia type 56324 the contax iia was manufactured from 1950 to 1961, this one is what is known as a colordial model, the latter type made from 1954 to 1961, this one being made in mid 1956. Leica model iii adjust rangefinder vertical alignment. Use contax and nikon rangefinder lenses on leica rf. Japan film type 5 35mm picture size 24mm x 36mm weight lens yashicacontax mount yashica ml 50mm 1. Amazingly, with the proper adapter you can use nikon rangefinder and contax rangefinder lenses on your leica screw mount or m body and still have full rangefinder coupling two such adapters were made in the 1950s. This is by no means a real repair and servicing manual for this camera and any damage done to your camera by following this is not my fault. After coming back from cameraworks and looking beautiful after its total rebuild, repaint and recover, the rf on my model iii has its vertical rf alignment off just a tiny fraction. The retail price of a contax iia black dial with the 50mm f1. The contax t my final word in pocket cameras by hern tan.