Contax II repair and flash mystery

Robfilmfan · 09-19-2006

This is one of those questions that I know comes up from time to time - but I'm going to ask it anyway... My Contax II, a "C" serial number from around 1936 (and not, apparently, a faked one) has a flash sync socket on the front, about 2cm below the main view piece. Does anyone know if a few of the pre-war Contax IIs were perhaps fitted with flash sync at the factory, or maybe some were fitted with flash sync as a post-purchase extra - anyone any ideas on this? It's a neat job. Go on... someone tell me I own a Russian imposter!
The other regular question that I'm going to ask anyway is whether anyone can recommend a decent repairer in the UK for the camera's tired shutter...

dexdog · 09-19-2006

Based upon what I have read about the history of the Contax camera, no pre-WW2 cameras were equipped with a flash sync from the factory. It seems fairly certain that the flash sync is a post-war add-on made by a repair shop. The first Contax RF to have a factory installed flash was the Contax IIa of 1950 or 1951. Even then, the IIa had a proprietary mechanical flash sync, not the PC-type sync.

The serial number beginning with "C" corresponds to a 1936 date of manufacture, so the camera is probably genuine if everything else seems appropriate.

Sorry, don't have a recommendation for a Contax repair shop in the UK.

Xmas · 09-19-2006

My Contax II '42 has an add on synch PC fitting about 3-4 cm below the viewfinder, (lower then a Kiev by 1.5 cm or so), but nothing is visible in the cassette area, like on a Kiev. I think all the synchs were fitted post production and many may be third party rather than Zeiss retrofits, there may be many patterns. The PC socket looks like a kludge compared to a Kiev!

My camera is in poor condition cosmetically so the modification does not do much to any collectibile value, the Zeiss chrome is really poor. It would be easy to remove the PC socket, fill with auto filler & replace the leather to conceal the retrofit on mine, if one wanted to counterfeit... but I dont think it would add any value.

It is a nice shooter & came with a nice Zeiss collapsible.

There is (certaintly was) a UK Kiev and Contax II specialist repair person, who is cheap, but he only offers a CLA type service, which may be ok for your problem, I'll post again if I find a link. I'm sure he could tell you if you had any Kiev parts, frequently the Contax shutter is replaced by a Kiev pattern, it is the easy way...

Noel

Xmas · 09-19-2006

Rob...

http://www.sdash.plus.com/index.htm

Still seems to be trading

Noel

xayraa33 · 09-19-2006

In a related topic, the Popular Photography edition of August 1959 has an article about Life mag. photographer Ralph Morse.
Morse talks about his camera gear and states that along with his motordrive Nikon SP, he uses two pre war Contax II's all with 35mm lenses and states" these old boxes are worth their weight in gold on fast news events.They are the only 35mm cameras that can be electronic flash synched for 1/100 of a second.This speed eliminates the ghost image made by the TV and newsreel lights "
I do not know how this can be done, as their clone the Kiev 4a synchs at no faster than 1/25 of a second,
unless Morse had the shutter modified on each Contax II.

Xmas · 09-19-2006

The shutter is only open fully (at any one time) at slower than 1/50, it could be modified but it would require a redesign of lots of little parts, perhaps he was an artistic photographer and somone merely relabeled his speed dial?

And I checked the inside of the Contax II there are two tapped screw holes (and screws ends) visible in the cassette chamber, but no wiring visible, or Kiev style cover plate, the holes are below the cassette holding spring rather than above as on a Kiev.

Noel

varjag · 09-19-2006

Flash synch mods are relatively common with prewar Contaxes. Along with heavy brassing it suggests the camera was used by a professional photographer.

My 'M' series II has flash synch socket installed on top casting, between accessory shoe and film counter, which is fairly unusual.

Robfilmfan · 09-20-2006

Absolutely brilliant replies - thanks so much one and all! I'm very glad that it does appear that flash sync modifications on Contax IIs aren't unknown and therefore not necessarily suspicious. Nice to hear from the 1959 Popular Photography piece that the cameras were still rated highly so long after they (allegedly) became obsolete. I did get one reply yesterday from a Contax expert in the US who poured scorn on these modifications, saying that the addition of flash sync to Contax IIs caused damage to the sensitive shutter set-up, and that these mods were usually amateur botch-jobs. But from what I can see of the set-up on mine, it looks a pretty pro-quality job. I still wonder if a few Contax IIs were "informally" given flash sync while still at the factory stage, perhaps as a special job for certain favoured important photographers - remember where and when these cameras were made! I've been looking with a magnifying glass at old pictures of photographers like Capa and the Life staffers in action, to see if I can make out any evidence of a flash sync conversion job on their Contax II bodies. Nothing yet - I'll keep you posted.

Paul T. · 09-20-2006

"I did get one reply yesterday from a Contax expert in the US who poured scorn on these modifications"

Hmmm, I wonder who that might have been. COuld it have been the expert who pours scorn on any work done on a Contax by anyone - including the company's owm workers - rather than himself? I do respect said gentleman, but methinks he protesteth too much....

Xmas · 09-25-2006

Rob...

The Contax shutters can operate like they were tired but can still keep going.

I'd not trouble to have it serviced until it is too stiff to select a new speed or a ribbon snaps, Id not try forcing the shutter selection.

Noel

Robfilmfan · 09-26-2006

Thanks Noel - speed selection on mine is, so far, pretty accurate, positive and easy - so, yes, I guess even though it "sounds" tired (to an unfamiliar ear), it doesn't behave like it is. One of the many things I like about using this camera is that people I'm photographing or shooting near to say things like "oh, that sounds odd" or "is your camera ok?", or "what was that noise?" when you make an exposure. It's great! Only worrying aspect is that I've lost any blind movement at 1250. Simply isn't exposing film at this speed. At first I put this down to a creeping slow deterioration in the entire mechanism, but from what I've read in the Hove repair manual, it seems that some speeds can die while others remain fairly ok. All part of the charm of the thing!

Xmas · 09-27-2006

received wisdom is...

The faster speeds are set by the shutter gap which is 'fixed' and the travel speed which is controlled by friction. If your shutter does not open there may be a fault. The gap is controlled by the speed selection process which sets the lengh of ribbon between the top and bottom blind.

Hey if you dont need 1/1250 dont worry.

Noel

P.S. see my '42 model, with green everywhere etc.