Contax RX great if only....

[belgiumreporter]

Just bought this contax RX in like new condition. It is a great camera and i was amazed at just how quiet it is, a bit like the SLR equivalent of the Konica Hexar.

The controls are well laid out, but because i've been using nikons for so long it seems like everything turns in the wrong direction :-). The DFC (digital focus confirmation) is a great feature and works a whole lot better than say in the Canon AL-1

The viewfinder is very bright with clear info on all parameters. The body is very solidly built and the camera fits nice in (my) hand. So far for the good news, now the bad, like all Contaxes i've got or have owned this one isn't without it's troubles. For some reason the mirror has shifted downwards and now hits the back of the lens... so far as i can see there isn't a simple solution to this problem as it looks like the camera needs to be stripped down completely to adress this problem.

I don't think i can do this myselve and even if i would be able to find a repair shop wich is willing to take this on it will probably cost me more than buying another RX, so hooray! for my new shelve queen. Currently i am bidding on a RTS III but seriously thinking of letting it go considdering the troubles that allways seem to come with (japanese made) Contaxes.

[belgiumreporter]

OK, i was a bit hasty in assuming the worst, turns out the "slipping" mirror is a well known problem with both Contax and Yashica cameras. But there is (thank god) a simple solution! The cause of the problem is that the peole at Contax/ Yashica thought it would be a good idea of sticking the mirror with some sort of glue to the mirror frame instead of mounting it with clamps or so. Now what happens is the glue becomes soft with (not much) heatand when the camera is stored upright gravity takes its toll and the Mirror just slides downwards stopped only by the back of the lens wich is mounted. Now the solution is to reverse this process and heat up the underside of the mirror (in a flipped up position by using "B" and a cable release) with a hair dryer for a few minutes, the mirror just needs to get warm not hot. This will make the glue become soft again and by push-sliding the mirror back to the upper end of the frame it just sits back there were it belongs. With this done i now will be able to test the RX further to see it hasn't got any more hidden problems...

[belgiumreporter]

The RX keeps giving me trouble, after fixing the mirror the next problem rises. This time another "well known" problem : the diafragm values not transferred correctly from lens to camera. There's a fix for it but a Zeiss 50mm 1.4 is needed wich i haven't got, an attempt with the 1.7 would be futile. A well known second hand dealer is willing to help me out with the 1.4, but at the moment he hasen't got one in stock... Further more i noticed  when trying to use the Zeiss 35mm the diafragm isn't set to its working aperture wile taking a shot. The 35 mm off camera works just fine, still to be sure i'll have to check it on the RTS if it's got the same problem there or if it is the RX once more giving trouble. As it is i could use the RX but only with the lenses at full aperture, but for the time being i guess i'll keep it in the "sick bay" untill a solution is found for all it's troubles. Such a shame as it is such a fine camera (when it would work) 

[belgiumreporter]

Found a Yashica 50mm f 1:1.4 I needed this to fix the diafragm value transfer problem. To fix this problem a lens that can be set to 1.4 is needed to reset the electronics, some disasembly of the camera is needed as well but nothing major. For a long time i thought i needed the Zeiss 50 1:1.4 wich is rather expensive but turns out any 1:1.4 lens will do as these values are being transferred mechanical. I'll be updating this thread to show how things turn out....