Contax SLR repairs

<p>I don't know if this is the right place for this post or not but no other category seemed correct.<br>

OK. I've got two Contax SLRs, both inoperative.<br>

First, I've got a 137MA quartz which seems to be electronically screwed, will not advance, etc.<br>

Second, I've got a 139 quartz that was damaged during travel. Specifically, the shutter button was damaged, or more specifically, it is no longer fixed in the hole in which it should sit and the aperture priority-iso dial doesn't turn correctly.<br>

I only have one lens, a Zeiss 1.7 50mm.<br>

Is it worth repairing one, both or none of these? I enjoyed using both cameras until they broke down and would like to invest in more Zeiss glass, probably a 35mm fixed.<br>

Also, who repairs these things? Any advice?<br>

john</p>

<p>It's hard to say where your Contaxes would go on this site. They're a little advanced for the old manual cameras typically dealt with here, but there is no forum devoted to them specifically. It and other transitional models kind of fall between the cracks here. Maybe someone will have a suggestion on a repair facility.</p>

<p>At the least, your cameras are classic designs, up there with what most people on this forum would think of when Contax SLRs are mentioned here.</p><div></div>

<p>Fairly late model Yashica SLR 35mm cameras will accept and function with your Zeiss 50mm f1.7 and the cameras are available for a lot less than you would pay for a Contax rebuild. IMHO this is the way I would go. The other alternative is to buy a low miles Contax off the auction site or any of the approved online sellers like Cameta, KEH, B&H, Adorama to name a few....I've not bought from any of these merchants but reading these posts they seem like stand up people.</p>

Darn it, JDM... you beat me to it. I thought I'd be the first to post a gratuitous picture of a Contax SLR that has nothing at all to do with the OP's cameras. ;-)

 

I haven't checked specifically, but I'd guess that these Contax-named Yashicas are fairly inexpensive on eBay or KEH.

 

--Marc

<p>Marc,</p>

<p>heh, heh....<br /> I just felt I had to justify this being on this forum somehow, Of course, when I read the title, I was thinking of the Contax S and all.</p>

<p>I've actually been looking every once in a while for one of the Contax RTS to 139 line, they have classic design, at the least. They go for widely varying prices, but at their costliest, can be pretty dear.</p>

<p>I can do that too !</p>

<p><img src="http://westfordcomp.com/classics/contax-s/contaxc2.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /> <br /> I took some<a href="http://westfordcomp.com/classics/contax-s/index.htm"> pitchers</a> with mine once.</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>No point any more in paying someone to fix those. The repair, even if fairly simple would no doubt cost more than buying another of the same Contax. The electronic repair even iff possible would certainly cost far more than another 137 would cost.</p>

<p>cheers Steve.M.</p>

I think what Steve said is sad but true. I think if you surf around you will find an adddress in Passaic NJ that wasi/is the official location foer Kyocera products. Aksing doesn'T cost anything but I fear those two models are old enough for them to say.. "sorry no support" or "sorry no parts" etc! This is the problem with the electronic era.

 

I just went surfing for the address and came across it...

 

http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/bulletins/csb2.htm

 

 

along with this halfway down the front page!

 

*Please Note: Contax RTS, RTS II, 137MA, 137MD, 139Q, 159MM and Contax T are not serviced by ToCAD America Inc. Please go to the section Contax Cameras No Longer Serviced for additional information.

 

Keep the lens. There are plenty of bodies out there and they are all on the dinosaur list ..so price will vary they will generally be good. While additional focal legths are usually rather expensive!

<p>The electronics for early Kyocera/Yashica Contax cameras is hard/impossibly to fix on some cameras, or so says my camera repair guy (who used to repair them for a living). He gave up on a couple of RTS I's which couldn't be salvaged except for parts. His name was Mark Hama and he works out of Atlanta, Georgia. But you could try him.</p>

<p>The Kyocera/Yashica cameras are wonderful to use, but were somewhat problematic I think. The problem is parts of course. I still have an Aria and a Contax RTS III. The RTS III has a strange viewfinder fault where there is a "flag" showing in the viewfinder that doesn't actually mean anything and doesn't interfere with operation. It used to show a shutter speed and Mark moved it down so that it is out of the way. But fixing it would have required a donor RTS III.</p>

<p>I guess there is nothing to lose by trying Tocad, but it has been some years since I've dealt with them, and I don't think they're good for much any more.</p>

<p>The Contax bodies from the period yours were made are fine and reliable cameras if not abused. They are still my primary SLR system; I have a 137, three 159s, two 167s. Paul, Steven and Chuck are right, however; a good used replacement will cost less than the repair, even if you get one of the same model, and certainly if you step down to a Yashica. </p>

<p>You might try a DIY repair. Start with the 137. If it's completely dead, the problem could be a simple as corroded battery contacts or something. Make sure you have really fresh batteries; my 137 starts to act up when the cells begin to run down. The 139 sounds like it will require parts. You'd have to find a dead donor camera that is broken in a different way, and it sounds like you may to remove the top cover which gets messy quickly with wires and flex circuit boards and stuff. Used 139s are so cheap that it's doubtful any repair would be worth your time unless it's the type of thing you enjoy.</p>

<p>I own a Cantax RX and a Contax Aria and up until last June a Contax S2. I live in New York City so I have always taken them to Panorama Camera Repair on 30th Street. It is a mom and pop place that has repaired cameras when other places refused because of lack of parts. That being said, it will cost you as much to repair these cameras as it would to buy a used replacement from KEH cameras. KEH by the way also repairs cameras but I have never used them. Good luck.</p>

<p>Try both Mark Hama and Nippon Camera Repair. I understand that both shops are able to repair these cameras. I am still using my Contax 139Q and Aria wit my assortment of C/Y lenses.</p>

<p>Evan</p>

<p>Try both Mark Hama and Nippon Camera Repair. I understand that both shops are able to repair these cameras. I am still using my Contax 139Q and Aria wit my assortment of C/Y lenses.</p>

<p>Evan</p>