Advice on buying a used Contax T3?

[peter_kim2]

I was down at my local camera store and they had a nice looking

Contax T3 in the window for $510. I think this is a decent price but

I heard a few negative things about it. Specificly that the film

spool or the film sprokets or something like that can break or rub

down? Can someone please tell me what I should look at before buying

it? And maybe anything else I should look at to make sure it is ok?

It seems in good codition from the outside and has a 14 day return

and 90 in-store warrenty...

[marbing]

What I have heard on the Contax discussion lists is that some people have experienced problems with the takeup spool because it appears (My T3 has film in it now or I would check) that there is only one plastic 'tooth' to start the film moving onto the spool and that it has been known to wear down or even break off. I haven't had that problem and have put quite a lot of rolls through it.

 

However, I did have a problem with the built-in flash. I generally have the flash turned off by default and on the day when I needed to use it and turned it back on, the camera would go into a 30 second charging cycle but never charge the flash. I changed the batteries with no effect.

 

Contax fixed it under warranty but it took a couple of weeks to get it back. Now I have the SA-2 flash bracket which allows me to use the TLA200 from my G2 but the camera still uses the on-board flash on when the distance is close enough.

 

In any event, if you have a 14 day return, then put it through a real series of testing during that period. It is a fantastic little tool but you want one that works correctly!

[grepmat]

I love my T3 - it's simply the best compact film camera out there. However, at that price, my personal preference would be to purchase a new one. I purchased mine during a "Contax Day" from a very large and reliable source for (I think) $585 plus shipping. This isn't much more, and a new one will carry a 3 year warranttee, which provides some peace of mind.

 

I have heard a few reports of the film take-up spool weakness, though I haven't experienced it. What I did experience was a failure of the lens to retract fully during the first roll. I returned it and received a new one without question, and it has been flawless ever since.

 

The results are stunning and absolutely the equal of my former Contax Aria plus Zeiss Distagon 35mm/2.8 lens, all in a tiny and very elegant package.

 

By the way, if you do purchase it used, be sure it comes with the very nice leather pouch.

 

Cheers!

[peter_kim2]

Thanks for sharing you experiences. That film take up thing is kinda worrisome. Also its kinda disturbing about the lens not retracting. I wonder if this says a lot about the build quality of the Contax T3. I have heard nothing but good things about the lens, but of course that doesnt really matter is the film dosesnt load or the lens malfunctions. I was hopping Kyocera cared as much about quality control as the original Contax was famous for.

[grepmat]

Don't be so discouraged. The quality is superb. Every product has some problems. If you want something that will last 40 years, you will have to get a Leica M (which of course also isn't failure-free or perfect). If you want the best point and shoot there is, get the Contax T3.