Contax G2 CLA [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

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1dave

09-28-2006, 14:34

Who would be the best person to send my G2 to for a thorough and professional CLA.
I've heard of two, DAG and Focus Point, but other than names i have no idea who they are, or how to judge them, or how to contact them.
I would appreciate any help i can get.
Thanks.
Dave

flipflop

09-28-2006, 14:38

Whats wrong with the camera?

1dave

09-28-2006, 14:46

Don't know. Power seems intermittent. Installed new Batteries
Probably just needs tune-up

plummerl

09-28-2006, 14:56

This thread: http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21282&page=2 indicated pretty good satisfaction with KEH service (www.keh.com).

1dave

09-29-2006, 06:37

Thanks all for the recommendation for G2 CLA. I've written to 2 suggested repair shops, and await replies.
I do appreciate the guidance.
Dave

1dave

10-05-2006, 09:36

I have discovered that Tocad are the only folks who can work on Contax now, as they own all the parts. Their website does not make me comfortable. Any other suggestions?

Issy

10-05-2006, 10:29

I have discovered that Tocad are the only folks who can work on Contax now, as they own all the parts. Their website does not make me comfortable. Any other suggestions?

Not even KEH? Seriously?

steve garza

10-05-2006, 10:54

I have discovered that Tocad are the only folks who can work on Contax now, as they own all the parts. Their website does not make me comfortable. Any other suggestions?

I had strange issues with it. Power was just one of them. I miss the auto focus now and again. But not enough to put up with the problem.

kdemas

10-07-2006, 15:52

I used ToCad last year to tune the autofocus on my NX and they did an excellent job. They are the "official" Contax repair center, they might be a bit slow but they'll do a nice job.

Kent

Issy

10-12-2006, 07:58

Question:

There is a rumor going around that you guys can no longer do repairs on the Contax G2 (since ToCAD America has all the parts).

True?

Answer:

Hello,
We still do repairs on G2's!

Thank you,

KEH Repair Center
2310- C Marietta Blvd, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
phone: 404-748-6050
fax: 404-748-6039
email: repair@keh.com

1dave

10-13-2006, 05:29

Let me correct that. KEH do not accept repairs from out of country, for some reason. I am in Canada. Some folks think we're foreign, but we're not, not really. Just think of us as your 'pain in the neck' brother-in-law, living next door!
Sorry if i mislead you. I should have been more specific.

Issy

10-13-2006, 05:57

That's unfortunate (that they won't help you). Henry's doesn't have any contacts to repair facilities in Canada?

Bill (whose sister lives in Etobicoke)

1dave

10-13-2006, 10:25

1dave

10-14-2006, 07:19

There are a couple of other threads discussing this same subject, and have a number of recommendations, including Camera-Care, and , wolwalu57@pinelink.com, 252-249-2576
Check them out.

Eugene

08-01-2007, 13:23

1dave, any luck with finding a place that would repair your Contax camera in Canada? I would be of interest to know. Thx.

scottgee1

07-04-2010, 19:24

There are a couple of other threads discussing this same subject, and have a number of recommendations, including Camera-Care, and , wolwalu57@pinelink.com, 252-249-2576
Check them out.

That email address is now bad. :(

Rangefinder 35

07-05-2010, 13:56

Let me clarify. I sent a note to KEH asking that same question, and got no reply. Their website says they don't accept ANY repairs from foreign sources. I live in Canada. So, i guess they consider us foreign!
Another source, (can't remember who) said all parts in ToCad hands now, and they were the only folks able to service Contax. I made the leap to the idea that they weren't interested in Contax any longer. (I hadn't told them where the repair was coming from)
If i have created this confusion, i'm sorry.
Let me say that they won't service MY G2
Hope this adds some clarity

I had some work on my Contax (RX) and lens (25/2.8 Distagon) done by KEH. First of all they ignored my written (2 emails) and spoken on the phone request about changing the LCD screen. They basically did the main repair but ignored everything else. I also paid them to clean a Rollei 35. It was a terrible job not worth their charge. I found them arrogant and hard to deal with. On the other hand I just sent a G1 to ToCad for G2 modification a week ago. I'll see how long it will take and the quality of their service, and i'll post it. If you want me to act as a foster owner for the repair in case they don't accept the oversees orders, Let me know. Basically you would send the camera to me and I'll ship to the shop. You should consider it as a last resort solution, though, because of mail charges back and forth. Also, try to clean the gold-plated contacts inside the body and lens, and also the ones in the battery compartment. The contact cleaner sprayed on the Q-tip and rubbed on the contacts works well. I found that this helps in a lot of cases of misfunction.

sepiareverb

07-05-2010, 14:00

Go to TOCAD. They do excellent work on G2 cameras.

lewis44

07-05-2010, 14:19

Go to TOCAD. They do excellent work on G2 cameras.

I second that statement. Had a CLA done on mine a few years ago. Turnaround time was good and work was excellent.

digitalintrigue

07-05-2010, 14:58

I sent a G2 to TOCAD for a shutter problem, it came back in a couple of weeks with a 6 month warranty for a reasonable price.

jasonhupe

07-05-2010, 15:30

I sent my G1 to KEH, I was the one who started the thread refered to above. They were quick and good, but after a few months the camera started having the same problems. I still have the body as I would not sell it in the condition it is in. Not fun having half a roll of blank frames from the shutter never opening.

Bob Michaels

07-05-2010, 16:42

Keep in mind there is essentially nothing in a ContaxG to clean, nothing to lubricate, and nothing to adjust. There is no rangefinder to align. The shutter is electronic. The film advance is a piezo motor, not gears. And, the focus mechanism is a piezo motor, not a helicoid. You are hard pressed to find any actual mechanical parts in there. There is nothing adjustable.

My ContaxG bodies have been to Kyrocera once back when they serviced direct and once to TOCAD. Today, I believe both problems were user perceived and not actual.

Electronic problems are possible, even intermittent ones. But that is cured by replacing a faulty board or component.

scottgee1

07-05-2010, 19:46

Keep in mind there is essentially nothing in a ContaxG to clean, nothing to lubricate, and nothing to adjust. There is no rangefinder to align.

Hmmm . . . I hope the viewfinder can be adjusted. The one on my G2 was suddenly rotated about 15 degrees clockwise. Didn't drop it, don't recall any impact . . . just took it out of the case one day and . . . tilt!!

Called Tocad and was told they charge a flat rate of US$174 for G2 bodies. Since the repair is limited to just one element of my camera I was hoping to get it done for less but the trend amongst servicers is clear; prix fixe. :(

emraphoto

07-05-2010, 20:16

i used to shoot contax cameras quite regularly and these folks took mighty good care of mine.

http://www.camtexgroup.com/

Vancouver

Bob Michaels

07-06-2010, 02:53

Hmmm . . . I hope the viewfinder can be adjusted. The one on my G2 was suddenly rotated about 15 degrees clockwise. Didn't drop it, don't recall any impact . . . just took it out of the case one day and . . . tilt!!

Called Tocad and was told they charge a flat rate of US$174 for G2 bodies. Since the repair is limited to just one element of the camera I was hoping to get it done for less but the trend amongst servicers is clear; prix fixe. :(

It certainly sounds like your viewfinder has become loose and needs to be mechanically reconnected or tightened.

Is there a local camera repair guy in your area? Ask the local pros who services their cameras. Most repair guys do not advertise but stay busy servicing heavy duty shooters. I would imagine this is a simple mechanical repair than any competent repair person could handle quickly and inexpensively.

Rangefinder 35

07-06-2010, 09:54

Keep in mind there is essentially nothing in a ContaxG to clean, nothing to lubricate, and nothing to adjust...Today, I believe both problems were user perceived and not actual.
Electronic problems are possible, even intermittent ones. But that is cured by replacing a faulty board or component.

I second that. Over the last 6 years I had at least 50 G1/G2s come through my hands. Only one had a real problem with a shutter, not counting things like dust in the viewfinder, or so. The rest were just perceived by the owners to have some problem. (In one G2 the owner complained of strange thick line in his pictures. It was his strap getting in front of the lens.)

scottgee1

07-06-2010, 10:18

scottgee1

08-17-2010, 10:07

Well, I ended up sending my G2 to Camtex for repair and it turned out to be a complete waste of time and money.

Full story here:

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=93905

What a PITA!

andtky

08-22-2010, 08:09

Well, I know my problem is not just "perceived"; my regular service guy had a look at it, confirmed the problem, took the top off and when he couldn't find anything obvious/mechanical wrong, closed it back up because he doesn't have a service manual and can't get parts.

May seem like an obvious question but . . . Rangefinder 35, do you service these? Any idea what might cause rotation of the image in the VF?

I had the same problem with my G2 about 2 years ago. It was slanted only about 10% to one side. I was not able to find a service for it but luckily I was able to buy a copy of the original repair manual at e-bay. Following the exact description I was able to repair the viewfinder myself. It is not the easiest task - due to the fact, that it is not easy to strip the camera from its cover. But the viewfinder alignment was just a case of inserting some self-made shims (made of plastic foil) under one screw. You have to check the alignment optically against a test chart also provided with the manual.

Andrej

scottgee1

08-22-2010, 15:02

Andrej, this is extremely helpful information! I too will have to find a copy of the manual -- though I may ask my regular repair person to do the work . . .

Cheers!/Scott

andtky

08-23-2010, 13:51

I think this is what I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-G2-G-2-Factory-Repair-Manual-Rangefinder-/200319055657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0#ht_1049wt_913

I wish you good luck with the repair. Your skilled repair person should have no problem fixing it with the manual.

Andrej

sepiareverb

08-23-2010, 15:01

Just send it to TOCAD if you want it fixed. If you want to di¢k around that's another story...

san84

10-18-2010, 14:25

I'm also with shutter problem with my G1. So it would not open for 1-3 time in a roll. Maybe someone knows the answer?