likaleica
newbie
Reged: 24/07/2007
Posts: 44
Loc: North London, UK
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Thought I would share my experience having a rather battered 1938 Contax III (bought on eBay) overhauled in the former Soviet Union. Oleg Khalyavin who is based several hundred kms east of Moscow performed miracles on this camera. He replaced the dud selenium cell in the light meter with a Kiev 4 cell and recalibrated it. He dismantled the shutter completely, replaced the ribbons (using the correct material - again, courtesy of Kiev)and cleaned, lubricated and retimed the shutter. He removed the leather camera body coverings and treated the worst case of Zeiss bumps I have ever seen, refitting the original leather again. He cleaned lubricated and adjusted the collapsible f2 sonnar lens and ironed out the ding in the filter rim that was preventing the use of a filter/lens hood.
And the cost ? $ 80 US dollars, plus $20 postage! That is less than £ 50 in total. Just incredible. I now have a nice usable but not over-restored looking Contax that would not have been worth repairing here in the UK. Oleg trades under the name OK cameras if anyone wants to find him on the web.
Incidentally, nice though the Contax is, my trusty 1964 Kiev 4 owned since I was a boy is far smoother in operation and has a beautifully quiet shutter. These cameras are massively under-rated in my view (especially those made up to the mid 1960s).
As for the Russian lenses, they are superb. I recently tested a Jupiter 11 135 mm f 4 lens against its inspiration, the Carl Zeiss Sonnar. Identical long and close shots at all apertures and speeds were taken - there was absolutely no difference in performance between the two.
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Simon
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Roger_Provins
Made-it Man
Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 4366
Loc: Gloucester, UK
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I've had similar good service from Oleg in the past. I'd also like to recommend Steve Ash for Contax repairs and who is in the UK.
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Rog
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likaleica
newbie
Reged: 24/07/2007
Posts: 44
Loc: North London, UK
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Thanks for that Rog. I have just bought a 1937 Contax II on eBay that I am hoping will not need any servicing......but if it does, I'll give Steve Ash a try.
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Simon
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BrianT
Old Hand
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6024
Loc: Leeds
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Wondered if anyone would like to see my 1949 Contax masquerading as a Kiev lll.
Although I think the lens is wartime, anyone know?
http://usera.imagecave.com/Annie135/MyfavouriteKiev1295x1131.jpg
Apart from that stray hair and Stalins thumbprint on the self timer the camera is just about new.......and works as well as the day it was made in .........not sure, underneath the face plate it is stamped Jena.
Naughty little Ruskies. 
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Brian BSRIPN
Oh for the days when Elvis was king and everything else was a 50th @ F11.
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likaleica
newbie
Reged: 24/07/2007
Posts: 44
Loc: North London, UK
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Interesting camera, Brian. Identical to my 38 Contax III. Like me you have no doubt read how the Russians raided Contax parts from the bombed out Dresden works and other installations to assemble the first Kievs. Some even had the Contax engraving on the lens/rangefinder plate hammered flat and re-engraved with Kneb.
Again you'll probably know the red T denoting a coated lens was SOMETIMES used before, during and after the war. But I have a feeling that Jena was only used up to 1945. I am bracing myself to be shot down in flames by CZ experts on that one, though !
What a superb lens that Sonnar 1.5 is. I recently bought one for my father, taking some test shots before handing it over. When I saw the results I nearly didn't give it to him at all ! Wide open it has a fantastically short depth of field, going from pin-sharp to OOF in a matter of inches and with bags of contrast.
It would be interesting to compare that Kiev of yours directly with my 38 Contax.
Simon
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Simon
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SkiRunOne
member
Reged: 05/09/2007
Posts: 100
Loc: Surrey UK
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Quote:
I've had similar good service from Oleg in the past. I'd also like to recommend Steve Ash for Contax repairs and who is in the UK.
It appears Steve doesn't touch late 'a' models.
I own my late father's bought from new 1954 Contax IIIa (with 5cm f/1.5 Sonnar, and 13.5cm f/4 Sonnar) and would dearly love to get it serviced. As you can imagine, the camera and lenses are priceless to me, so I am very reluctant indeed to send them abroad. Are there any other UK based Contax experts?
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Geoff MRIPN
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Stuart1
newbie
Reged: 13/03/2008
Posts: 1
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Just a note to all Contax and Zeiss owners who want a CLA. I have just had mine
cleaned in the USA by Henry Scherer who after much researchI considered the best
option for a proper job, and I have a few points you should be aware of:
1. VAT. Our blessed taxman will hit you very hard with VAT ufor the returned
item unless you go through a particular channel forsending it out there. Even
now I don't know the details so best advice is contact HMRC BEFORE you think of
sending the camers.
2. Henry will have presumable done a good job on my Contax, it was apparently a
nightmare KievTAX mix, though I haven't seen it yet as I still have not
extracted it from the VAT man! However be aware he is a pretty miserable
individual. He DID do loads of work for which he didn't charge, and for which I
was very grateful, but because I hadn't instantly written a glowing thankyou
letter (after all the camera hasn't arrived back so I can't really comment on
his presumably excellent work) I got some real miserable and rude e-mails.
3. He really went on the hard sell to make me buy a lens. At this time on top
of the CLA and VAT there is no way I could afford one even if I had wanted it.
When I refused his e-mails took a real down turn in attitude and became quite
pointedly rude.
In essence, he is probably amongst the best, however you need to be aware of the
cost implications and the fact that he is a pretty rude and pushy bloke.
Personally I would not use him again - lucky for me he has said the same.
If you are considering using him and want details of my experience I can send
you some of his e-mails so you can make up your own minds
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melek
Reged: 12/12/2003
Posts: 30
Loc: USA
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So you waited months for the work to be completed and because you didn't stroke his ego or cave in to his hard sell of a lens, he felt it necessary to be rude to you.
What's his number? I think that's someone who I would like to use (not really)!
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-Mike
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