 Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:25 pm Post subject: Contax CLA - A Good Experience |
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Laurence wrote:
The Contax AX came back from an extensive CLA. The camera was working fine prior to the CLA, but I want to use this camera for the rest of my life, so preventive maintenance seems like a good decision.
The CLA involved:
Strengthened weak solder junctions with updated solder.
Cleaned all gearing and replaced grease as necessary with new technology grease.
Put in a brand new new ceramic rod and spline for the autofocus carriage. Lubricated rod with some kind of Teflon that doesn’t break down .
New mirror and mirror spring.
New mirror pad.
Adjusted focusing mechanism to tolerances specified in repair manual.
Tested and refined metering system and shutter speeds.
Collimated autofocus mechanism with sensor.
Cleaned and adjusted film advance motor. It is much quieter!
Cleaned exterior.
Yes, this was a pretty extensive CLA, but I'm confident that the camera now has probably several decades of life left. So, that means it will probably outlive me!
James W. has told me this is possibly his last camera to CLA. He has been a local camera repair guy for a long time, and he REALLY knows cameras. He said this camera was a challenge, and he said he was cussing at what he called The Beast here and there.
I have the utmost respect for guys like him who aren’t afraid to work on any type of camera and have the talent to do so. And to actually have a few parts for an AX! He said that the amount of grease he needed to use was just a tiny amount. He will be missed – but he is looking to retire in Panama, so here’s a toast to him.
Let’s just say that I paid plenty for his service, plus I gave him a generous tip. But it still was way less than an AX off the auction site.
Of course you aren't going to see anything 'new' in an image of the exterior, but I thought I would just include a few snaps of The Beast.
_________________
Assent, and you are sane;
Demur,—you ’re straightway dangerous,
And handled with a chain.
Emily Dickinson
Cameras and Lenses in Use:
Yashica Mat 124 w/ Yashinon 80/3.5,
CV Apo-Lanthar 90/3.5SL, (Thank you Klaus),
Pentax 645,
Flek 50,
Pentax-A 150
Pentax-A 120 Macro
Voigtlander Vitomatic I w/Color Skopar 50/2.8
Konica TC and zoom lenses (thanks Carsten)
Contax AX
Yashica ML 50/2
Yashica ML 35/2.8
Carl Zeiss Contax 50/1.4
Tamron Adaptall SP 17/3.5
Tamron Adaptall 28/2.5
Tamron Adaptall SP 300/2.8 LD (IF)
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