Covid-19 Update & The 1932 Contax I...A True Camera Legend!

[@JonJOn0]

If you're more interested by cameras than covid19 jump to 4:27 😁.

[@sentimental7167]

Thx for the nice vid, hope you‘re fine... as I recently got hold of a Contax I I read your interesting article on Camera Legend. Your camera seems to be a mix of earlier and later, maybe from around 1934... your lens is from around 1938. The rangefinder doesn’t necessarily have to be dull, but apart from Henry Scherer offering replacement (BIG bucks!) there is no cure for this. Shutter can be adjusted tho. An old repairsman told me you have to take the whole camera apart to get to the shutter, later Contaxes were built differently. So there is no surface CLA possible. Then, there are so many tiny differences in all the variants of the Contax I shutter design, that there is no guarantee that to get the right spare part. Though I don’t trust most of the ramblings of H. Scherer on his site, I do believe he is right about the unreliable transport mechanism of the Contax I due to design failures. This is often the cause of shutter malfunction. In my camera the shutter during advancing the film opens the blades occasionally exposing it to light and leaving weird triangular blank shapes on the frames at times. I noticed that it is mandatory to make sure your film is traveling absolutely correct inside the camera, had the wrong spool inside in the beginning. Also, be sure to completely advance the advance knob every time to avoid blocking of the transport mechanism, which when forced, will brake it and the shutter. Then there are also the notorious silk ribbons... it’s not a daily shooter, you’re right. But its a true historical treasure and a true beauty!

[@antonelloimineo8790]

Which version of Contax I do you have? Is shutter firing at 1/25 ?

[@cameralegend1033]

Absolutely appreciate all the wisdom and information you posted here! Also agree with all you said about Mr. Scherer! I’ll be in touch with the Zeiss historical society thanks to you. Appreciate all your input! 😎📸👍🏻

[@sentimental7167]

@@antonelloimineo8790 Mine is 3rd (Kuc), would be b, I think, from around Spring 1933. It was serviced recently by a 93 year old former repairman from Zeiss Ikon. Before, it had been waiting for me in an attic for fifty + years from the original owner, lucky find.

[@cameralegend1033]

@@antonelloimineo8790 Hi Antonello sorry for the late reply. A friend had the camera and I just got it back. Yes it is firing at 1/25 and even better it seems I have the improved version with shutter speeds going all the way down to 1/2 seconds!

[@antonelloimineo8790]

@@cameralegend1033 No worries. Mine is the very first model (Contax I a) so it has no slow speeds. Anyway it’s working good up to 1/50. Tried several times to position the shutter speed dial at 1/25 and the little ‘white dot’ falls into place properly, but it doesn’t cock (the dial gets stuck and no way to turn it) . Transport doesn’t work at 1/25 and Z pose, otherwise all seems to be working flawlessly :)

[@erichartke4331]

I hope you are still safe and healthy. I have a Contax II with CZJ 50 1.5 T. I thoroughly enjoy it. The #1 is cool!

[@cameralegend1033]

I’m good and hope you are too thanks! The Contax II is a better camera in all ways enjoy it!

[@antonelloimineo8790]

Very lucky to get the camera for such a price. Does the shutter fire at all speeds?

[@cameralegend1033]

Thanks. Indeed it was lucky because every time I looked for one it was around $1000 and always from somewhere far like the Ukraine! It seems to fire at all speeds but low speeds like 1/25 seem to stick so I’m not trying to push it because the shutter has a reputation for being fragile. Hope this helps.

[@antonelloimineo8790]

@@cameralegend1033 I know, it’s a German camera, then it’s normal that if you buy it outside of Europe it becomes very hard to find, and the price rises accordingly. I own the contax I, II and III and had a good deal too. Anyway, my Contax I is working, but only on high speeds, like yours basically. Even if I’m doing several tests, I won’t stress it a lot. It’s quite rare to find a fully functional model nowadays.

[@sentimental7167]

@@antonelloimineo8790 Different from the later models (Contax I with slow speeds and Contax II/III etc.) in the first version without slow speeds the shutter is traveling always at the highest speed, all other speeds being achieved by a delaying mechanism. The highest tension on the spring (and greatest friction on the silk ribbons) then is at 1/25.

[@antonelloimineo8790]

@@sentimental7167 Yes you are right. I have the very first model, the Contax I (a), and can confirm that the slowest speed is 1/25, then Z pose. My camera is working good on fastest speeds. Sometimes 1/50 is a bit too slow and the second curtain closes very slowly, but it doesn’t get stuck. 1/25 and Z pose are not operable unfortunately so I won’t try to stress them, otherwise I will really break the shutter. I assume the fact that this is the most unreliable and fragile Contax ever made!

[@marvuser1367]

Where did you buy it?

[@cameralegend1033]

I got it on eBay. They come up every now and then just have to keep an eye out for the right one at the right price. Hope this helps.

[@marvuser1367]

@@cameralegend1033 may i ask, What was the price of yours?

[@cameralegend1033]

@@marvuser1367 I paid $250 camera and lens. Hope this helps.

[@marvuser1367]

@@cameralegend1033 what, the best offer i got is 1000 dollars.

[@cameralegend1033]

@@marvuser1367 Ah yup that’s usually the standard price you see people try to pull on these cameras because they are using the historic nature of the camera to their advantage. I bought when the tide was low. As I said in one of my other videos quoting from Steve Winwood “While you see a chance take it!” Be patient be vigilant. I waited years to get mine. I’d never buy it for a thousand dollars. Good luck with the hunt!

[@myblueandme]

Wow great. Iam getting a simmilar lens its T* coated. are these m39 mount

[@cameralegend1033]

This is a Contax rangefinder mount, not to be mistaken for Contax G. If yours is M39 then it's for Leica screw mount. Thanks

[@myblueandme]

@@cameralegend1033 thanks. What adapter Do i need to fit contact G to Nikon z

[@cameralegend1033]

@@myblueandme If your lens is a Contax G mount lens then there are many choices. Search Amazon for "Contax G to Nikon Z Adapter" and you'll find many, from basic to the more expensive ones that can autofocus the G lenses.

[@myblueandme]

@@cameralegend1033 wow thats very helpful. One last question is jupiter 8 is as beautiful as this one. Its available at cheap price

[@cameralegend1033]

@@myblueandme Jupiter 8 is a beautiful lens yes! It could be considered a clone of this lens and you can get it at bargain prices.

[@lamenza3]

nice camera!

[@cameralegend1033]

lamenza It is, thanks! 😎📸👍🏻

[@imvisier9925]

You really need to get that camera fixed if you intend for it to be usable in the long term. These cameras were not designed to run dry, which after 85 years this one surely is. Each time you fire the shutter you are damaging the internal mechanisms, and eventually you'll either damage the camera beyond repair, or best case scenario damage it to the point it does not work anymore and the repair costs more than it would to repair will it still kinda works. Remember, these cameras were made before part interchangability was a thing, even moreso in the case of the Contax I where they went through about 10 itterations through production before standardising in the contax ii, so replacement parts can not easily be sourced. Of course, the only truly proffesional repair for this camera can be given by Henry Scherer from Zeiss Ikon Contax Camera Repair in the US. Virtually any other repairshop will offer surface level CLA that will probably buy you a couple years of extra life at most. His work is ultra expensive however, easily running 1-2k depending on the level of restoration required. Given your comments in the video, I expect you'll opt to just use it while it runs, which is completely fine, but know that you should enjoy it while you can because it won't be that long.

[@cameralegend1033]

Thanks for your comments and insights! I actually bought it as a collectible but you’re right about these cameras. In fact, from what I’ve read, they were not that reliable even in their day. I wouldn’t mind an overhaul if it were not too expensive but I haven’t been able to find someone experienced at working on these sadly. Again appreciate your insightful comments 😎📸👍🏻

[@sentimental7167]

@@cameralegend1033 I would advise you to ask the guys from the Zeiss Historical Society if they know any repairs person.

[@hansemannluchter643]

🤣🤣