Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

It's old & so am I but.
Bought in 1952, this little 35mm found it's way back to the USA
with many GIs as in the case of my Father.

I would like to find a person who has experience in Analog
Camera repair, to do a check up of this fine example of a 35mm camera.

I'm in no hurry I just want someone as good as I am with machines, to
look it over & make any suggestions as to my cameras needs or not.

Thank you to anyone with any tips as to who to contact.

Even if this camera never worked again, it has my Fathers full
name inscribed in Gold by a craftsman in Japan. I will never sell
this camera as long as I live.

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AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Whether it works or not, it's a valuable keepsake. Happy Father's Day!

Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

Thank You Bob & a very happy Fathers day to you as well.

Here is a picture of myself & my Sisters in Panama, my Father shot this picture with
the Contessa. I repaired the slide using Photo Shop in 2000.

This camera told the story of my life growing up in the US Army.

FT. Clayton Panama Canal Zone

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Bill 45

I may be able to help you out. I have one, it one great camera. I found it great to use in the winter time. Being it small fit inside my coat with no problem, pull it out when I want to take a picture back into the coat after taking the picture. No batteries need , which is great when one is outdoors. You will have known how to use "Sunny 16 Rulers" . What I just said about winter time hold for the other three season. Forget about the light meter on the camera, it dead and gone after so many years. You are looking at big dollars to get it fix. To me forget about that.
Now, have you use the camera? First thing is get on the internet to find a cope of the owners manual. You do not to pay for one. Read the manual, read it , read it and have the camera with you when reading the manual, Don't put film in the camera when check it out. For film use 200 speed film, Do not use 400 speed film, Camera said "500" don't use it , reason age of the camera, spring can broke when set at "500".
Get back to me if you have any problems

agillot

it is so simple , it may not need anything .i still have my first 35 camera , a praktina fx [ from the early 60 , still work fine .has the stamp on it that say germany ussr occupied .

Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

Thank you Bill, I did get a DVD with instructions & repair tips, however it gets the point across.
No one does film around here anymore, so I am going to order a C-41 Kit & get on with it.

When my Father passed this on to me he thought it may need service, but did not remember why.
So best thing I can do is shoot some film develop, & see where we go from there.

I will contact you Bill if I need help. Thank's for offering

Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

[quote=agillot]it is so simple , it may not need anything .i still have my first 35 camera , a praktina fx [ from the early 60 , still work fine .has the stamp on it that say germany ussr occupied .[/quote]

That's one interesting history you have in your Praktina a great little camera.

Bill 45

To the trash can with the Praktina Fx. I have no use for Russia's cameras ( it said German made ,but still a Russia camera) The Contessa is ten time better than any Russia's camera.

Bill 45

I don't have any one in my area who works on film so I mail it out. One place: oldschoolphotolab. com. (tel#: 603-742-6659) The other place Dwayne's Photo Tel#:800-522-3940, Third place: Blue Moon ( I don't have their tell# at this time, but look on the internet for Blue Moon Photo.)

User ID

With any luck, the repair your father might have meant would be the meter.
The meter is not coupled to any camera functions so its demise can be ignored.

Bill 45 offered some ok advice except for that “200 400 500” stuff where he seems to cross pollinate film speeds with shutter speeds. Acoarst 200 is a good general purpose film speed but you can also use 400 or higher or any speed you want. Reading between the lines I think he was warning against using the maximum shutter speed of either 400 or 500 and that is good advice.

Many shutters at that time had an extra spring that powered only the top speed. You could feel the extra resistance in the cocking lever. It was also bad news to shift back and forth between top speed and the “main range” if the shutter is already cocked. It seems wise to avoid that top speed altogether. Later designs did not use an extra spring.

Usually the old design maxed at 400 and the later design at 500. A 500 shutter COULD be either design, IOW a 500 top speed is not a guaranteed indicator. OTOH a 400 shutter is almost certainly going to be the old design.

I think I see an M-X synchro lever which most likely means a 500 shutter, but by its age it’s prolly the old design.

Bill 45

Thank you, I did get it mix up

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

What a wonderful camera and history!

I have a couple of Zeiss Ikontas/Super Ikontas, and many other vintage cameras as well. The Contessa's shutter is quite reliable, except for the top speed, which I would also avoid using, as other have suggested.

If the shutter speeds "sound" right, it's probably unnecessary but any of the vintage camera repair shops recommended in this thread and others should be able to test the speeds and do a light cleaning and lubrication for under $100. It's also fairly easy to get to the shutter on this model, and to gently apply a few drops of naphtha solvent (lighter fluid). Do not try to apply lubricant yourself to the gear train of a vintage leaf shutter unless you are experienced, and never, ever apply any lube of any kind to the delicate shutter blades. If you have to clean the rangefinder, do so very carefully, using isopropyl alcohol and a Q-tip, as the prism is very easy to damage. Blow out the back thoroughly with a rocket blower or similar; use "canned air" only with extreme caution and not around the lens surfaces.

Many of these cameras will give years more of service if well taken care of, and, judging from the surface appearance, yours has been well-loved and cared for.

Have fun shooting film! It's my biggest photographic pleasure these days.

Andy

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

The Praktina was a German original design, and built in a German factory with experienced German technicians, from the KW factory, which was in business before WW2. They just happened to wind up on the wrong side of the occupation line in the Russian Zone. The early post war Praktinas may have suffered from material shortages in some of their metal finishes, but so did the West German and Japanese models. It has nothing in common with the rather hamfisted Russian designs of the time.

The Praktina's breech lock lens mount remains one of the most solidly constructed ever, and will stand up to rough use. The lenses were great and were made by Zeiss, Schneider, and other great lens makers. If you (or anyone else!) have any and are looking to dispose of them, I'll be very happy to take them off your hands and pay you for the privilege.

http://www.praktina.com/

Andy

Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

Man O man did I come to the right place I learned more about this fine line of German cameras than I ever
knew before.

When my Father bought this camera it came with a kit all in a leather brief case.
I seldom ever saw this camera outside of the leather carry case only to change film.
He would send his film to NY City to be developed & it could take months to get back.

Sometimes we would be long gone to another country & my Dad would somehow get his
slides. To this day I believe the US Army helped him track down his slides

The light meter has long ago seen it's last good day however I doubt my Dad would stray
far from the Sunny 16 rule, & common shutter speeds. I have light meters if I need them
but this is such a easy to understand camera. I wonder about light seals if the Contessa
even uses them I just do not remember him getting this camera serviced.

You know Army people they like spares & on time service on our machines. I still
shop groceries once a month like always overseas. Came in handy for the last
few months.

Bill 45

Friend, we are only writing about one camera model of the Zeiss line of cameras.