Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super...an expert opinion

I love this camera but ever since I purchased it over a year ago it has given me nothing but heartache. This past week I shot four rolls (of different ISO) on this camera on different days and conditions.

The two rolls that did produce a couple frames--sort of---came out overexposed and funky. They were so bad even the photo labs refused to charge me for the developing.

Anyway...

I took the camera to Camera Techs here in Seattle. After looking at the camera and testing the shutter the tech told me the problem was the shutter. It was staying open and overexposing the film.

They also said this camera is one of the rare exceptions that they did not fix. That they would not touch it and to expect to pay in excess of a couple hundred dollars for repair through an outfit called ZV in the East Coast. That they would be the best place to send the Contaflex.

Only the owner of ZV is retired. :(

So I contacted a Flickr buddy, Paul Mysterioso, who is a fellow Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B owner and lover. One of his Contaflex cameras is experiencing the same problem.

He suggested I contact someone whom he knows is an expert on these and could fix it for me.

Right before emailing the gentleman, I called Doug at Camera Clinic in Shoreline. He fixes all my cameras and is my favorite camera guy in Seattle. He told me to bring it over for an estimate.

Doug told me he knew these cameras well and to expect a shutter overhaul to cost in excess of $250. That the camera was complicated to work on and even though he could do it, he though it was not worth it. To go ahead and buy something better and less problematic, more recent, a nice used analog Nikon SLR perhaps.

I told him the problem for me was that I happened to love this camera and could not part with it. In any case, I would just look for another one on eBay.

He warned me against it, saying most probably the camera would have a bad shutter too or would eventually have the same problem.

I asked if he happened to have anything similiar and it was then that he remembered an old box of Zeiss Ikons he had in the back...

In it he found two: one had a sticky shutter, the other one was the same model I have, in working condition, including a lovely ever ready case in fantastic condition and an original lens hood.

He tested the camera and pronounced it good.

He quoted me a price, I accepted the quote on the spot and he sold it to me with a 3 month warranty. He also threw in a roll of repackaged AGFA film (100) for me to test it later that day.

And I did. And it worked! To say that I am amazed and baffled by the experienced and thrilled of my lucky coincidence would be an understatement.

What are the odds of finding the same camera right here in Seattle, about 15 minutes from home?

I know, I know...I'm very lucky. :D

This video is Doug's explanation as to why he could not recommend a shutter fix for the camera.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Zeiss
• Ikon
• Contaflex
• Super
• camera
• repair
• bad
• shutter
• expert
• Doug
• Camera
• Clinic
• Shoreline
• Seattle

[mojokiss]

what ever happened to this camera? :( hehe

[SeattleBonVivant]

please see my reply to gardunyo. thanks.

[ImmortalCHN]

This is the one that I bought (i have the webpage in my channel, we can't post it here). That'll be great if you can give me some suggestions. : ) Also, could you please tell me where is the place that u got the suggestion and made that video? Maybe I can go there. I can still return the item until 2 days later. I gotta make a decision.

Thanks!

[SeattleBonVivant]

Camera Clinic in Shoreline, Washington.

[ImmortalCHN]

Hi, are you in Seattle? I'm in seattle,too. Also I have a zeiss ikon contaflex. Pretty much the same as yours, but not completely. I just bought it in ebay.

[SeattleBonVivant]

I just saw your comment. My apologies. All these comment notifications from youtube have been going straight to my email's spam folder. Yes, I'm in Seattle. You still have the camera?

[roygbiv8clubs]

I bought one at a garage sale (a big khaki bag with two cameras - a minolta xd 11 and the contaflex - and all the bells and whistles, cases, lenses and straps for $20). Just opened the bag today and found your video. The man I bought it from said all the contents of his photography bag cost him over $2000 but it's a big hassle to get film developed and he's gone digital like everyone else. He said everything works. We shall see.

[jonmmadison]

i just got a super B! looks like the shutter is firing, but i'll know for sure after i get back this test roll..had to figure out how the meter works on this thing though! i just stuck it in "A" for now:)

[SeattleBonVivant]

No need to spend hundreds of dollars repairing that camera. I found the identical model at the same camera shop. So I purchased a second one. I'm a film photographer and agree with you on classic cameras. However, I find my Canonet Q-17 a superior rangefinder. Happy I can have all of them to alternate. Cheers.

[Gardunyo]

any SLR for $200 or less wouldn't even come close to matching a Zeiss, especially a classic. Fix it up and then you've got yourself one hell of a rangefinder.

[ImmortalCHN]

It looks brand new inside and outside but I don't even know how to snap the shutter cuz there is no button in the place where I supposed to push in order to snap the shutter.