Go Back   Rangefinderforum.com > 35mm Film Range Finders > Zeiss Contax

Zeiss Contax Forum for the classic Zeiss Contax I, II, III, IIa, IIIa , G series, and if you want to push it, the nice Contax point and shoots. Some spill over from the Kievs, the Soviet copy of the Contax II/III can also be expected. Plus the ONLY production camera ever made in classic Zeiss Contax Rangefinder mount WITH TTL metering ... the Voigtlander Bessa R2C.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes

Contax G2 CLA
Old 09-28-2006   #1
1dave
RFF Sponsoring Member.
 
1dave's Avatar
 
1dave is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
Unhappy Contax G2 CLA

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
  Reply With Quote

Old 09-28-2006   #2
flipflop
Registered User
 
flipflop's Avatar
 
flipflop is offline
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 414
Whats wrong with the camera?
  Reply With Quote

Old 09-28-2006   #3
1dave
RFF Sponsoring Member.
 
1dave's Avatar
 
1dave is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
Don't know. Power seems intermittent. Installed new Batteries
Probably just needs tune-up
  Reply With Quote

Old 09-28-2006   #4
plummerl
Registered User
 
plummerl's Avatar
 
plummerl is offline
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Age: 60
Posts: 726
This thread: http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/s...t=21282&page=2 indicated pretty good satisfaction with KEH service (www.keh.com).
__________________
larry
My RFF Gallery
flickr
  Reply With Quote

Old 09-29-2006   #5
1dave
RFF Sponsoring Member.
 
1dave's Avatar
 
1dave is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
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
  Reply With Quote

Old 10-05-2006   #6
1dave
RFF Sponsoring Member.
 
1dave's Avatar
 
1dave is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
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?
  Reply With Quote

Old 10-05-2006   #7
Issy
Registered User
 
Issy's Avatar
 
Issy is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Massachusetts
Posts: 283
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1dave
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?
__________________
Bill "Issy"
Hexar RF, Contax G... but I see better through a Nikon SLR
  Reply With Quote

Glad I sold mine....
Old 10-05-2006   #8
steve garza
Registered User
 
steve garza's Avatar
 
steve garza is offline
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 427
Glad I sold mine....

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1dave
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.
  Reply With Quote

Old 10-07-2006   #9
kdemas
ʎlʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp sƃuıɥʇ ǝǝS
 
kdemas's Avatar
 
kdemas is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,141
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
__________________
------------------------------------------------------------
Open Iris. Life, Captured.
  Reply With Quote

Keh
Old 10-12-2006   #10
Issy
Registered User
 
Issy's Avatar
 
Issy is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Massachusetts
Posts: 283
Keh

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
__________________
Bill "Issy"
Hexar RF, Contax G... but I see better through a Nikon SLR
  Reply With Quote

Old 10-13-2006   #11
1dave
RFF Sponsoring Member.
 
1dave's Avatar
 
1dave is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
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.
  Reply With Quote

Old 10-13-2006   #12
Issy
Registered User
 
Issy's Avatar
 
Issy is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Massachusetts
Posts: 283
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)
__________________
Bill "Issy"
Hexar RF, Contax G... but I see better through a Nikon SLR
  Reply With Quote

Old 10-13-2006   #13
1dave
RFF Sponsoring Member.
 
1dave's Avatar
 
1dave is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
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
  Reply With Quote

Old 10-14-2006   #14
1dave
RFF Sponsoring Member.
 
1dave's Avatar
 
1dave is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
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.
  Reply With Quote

Old 08-01-2007   #15
Eugene
Registered User
 
Eugene is offline
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 30
1dave, any luck with finding a place that would repair your Contax camera in Canada? I would be of interest to know. Thx.
__________________
Eugene
Contax G2 w/21, 28, 35, 45, 90, 35-70 mm lenses
Contax N1 w/24-85, 70-200mm and 70-300mm
Canon EOS 1N and EOS 3 w/24-70mm L and 70-200mm L
Canon EOS 10D w/Tamron 17-40mm
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-04-2010   #16
scottgee1
RF renegade
 
scottgee1 is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 887
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1dave View Post
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.
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1058'>My Gallery</a>
  Reply With Quote

G2 Repair.
Old 07-05-2010   #17
Rangefinder 35
Registered User
 
Rangefinder 35's Avatar
 
Rangefinder 35 is offline
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle, Washington.
Posts: 79
G2 Repair.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1dave View Post
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.
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-05-2010   #18
sepiareverb
genius and moron
 
sepiareverb's Avatar
 
sepiareverb is offline
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NEK
Posts: 7,096
Go to TOCAD. They do excellent work on G2 cameras.
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-05-2010   #19
lewis44
Registered User
 
lewis44's Avatar
 
lewis44 is offline
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 555
Quote:
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.
__________________
Randy
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-05-2010   #20
digitalintrigue
modern vintage
 
digitalintrigue is offline
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,262
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.
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-05-2010   #21
jasonhupe
Registered User
 
jasonhupe is offline
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: all over
Posts: 78
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.
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=759'>My Gallery</a>
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-05-2010   #22
Bob Michaels
nobody special
 
Bob Michaels's Avatar
 
Bob Michaels is offline
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Apopka FL (USA)
Age: 69
Posts: 2,928
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.
__________________
http://www.bobmichaels.org
the correct answer to 99% of photo related questions is "it depends"

Last edited by Bob Michaels : 07-05-2010 at 16:44.
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-05-2010   #23
scottgee1
RF renegade
 
scottgee1 is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 887
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Michaels View Post
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.
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1058'>My Gallery</a>

Last edited by scottgee1 : 07-08-2010 at 07:58. Reason: clarify language
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-05-2010   #24
emraphoto
Registered User
 
emraphoto's Avatar
 
emraphoto is offline
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,153
i used to shoot contax cameras quite regularly and these folks took mighty good care of mine.

http://www.camtexgroup.com/

Vancouver
__________________
www.johndensky.com

assignment/exhibit inquiries:

medium
www.mediumlondon.com
mediumlondon@yahoo.ca
226 700 4857
  Reply With Quote

Old 07-06-2010   #25
Bob Michaels
nobody special
 
Bob Michaels's Avatar
 
Bob Michaels is offline
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Apopka FL (USA)
Age: 69
Posts: 2,928
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottgee1 View Post
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.
__________________
http://www.bobmichaels.org
the correct answer to 99% of photo related questions is "it depends"
  Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Contax IIa/IIIa CLA recommendations JohnM Zeiss Contax 90 03-10-2013 07:36
Contax book-History of Lensman3 Zeiss Ikon ZM 3 07-21-2006 10:48
Contax IIa CLA? Steve B Rangefinder Photography Discussion 1 02-24-2006 20:55
Contax and Nikon "F" Series Parable Honu-Hugger Rangefinder Photography Discussion 10 04-11-2005 13:16



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:48.


vBulletin skin developed by: eXtremepixels
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

All content on this site is Copyright Protected and owned by its respective owner. You may link to content on this site but you may not reproduce any of it in whole or part without written consent from its owner.