Contax 139 Quartz
Sept 2, 2015 21:32:46 GMT
on Sept 2, 2015 21:32:46 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 3, 2015 1:38:37 GMT by ridgeblue99
The camera arrived yesterday with the associated gear. Deitz 2.8/28 Macro; Data Back D-6; 139 Winder II; and Shutter Release Button Cable.
Where do I begin. I cleaned almost all the crud off the outside of everything, enough to be able to load batteries, and give it a check-out. The dials on the camera, and metering system all appear to be functioning correctly. But there is a lot of wheeze in the shutter gear-train. And of course the seals are goo, especially on the mirror damper. Not much left of the coverings except the fabric base.
The shutter release button cable only works sometimes, and looks like someone set it on an electric stove burner.
The D-6 display will fade out if the battery compartment door is fully tightened. Other than that, the Data Back is functioning properly, as far as what the display shows.
The Winder II has II issues. First off, the meter does not shut off with the winder attached, whether or not there are batteries in the winder. Secondly, the ring around the auxiliary shutter button on the winder is somehow causing the winder to keep activating. If you grip the camera in a normal fashion with the winder attached, it will just keep on running. Keep your fingers away from the aux shutter button, and it works normally. The lightest touch on the button surround will trigger the motor.
The Deitz lens cleaned up nicely, with no internal issues. Blades are dry and snappy, no big scratches to be found, even though it came without any caps. Of course the camera protected the rear element. It has Macro Focusing to just shy of 0.2 m/8 in from the subject for a ratio of 1:4. If it wasn't for differences in the barrel designs, I'd say it was a twin to my Albinar in Minolta SR mount. Same manufacturer perhaps?
The 139 Quartz, being a sibling to the Yashica FX-D, has it's own idiosyncrasies. The shutter speeds and ASA/ISO setting rings are in opposite places than on the FX-D. The self timer has it's own control ring lever. There is a third contact on the hot shoe, and an actual PC socket on the front of the camera, just under the rewind knob.
Sad to say I won't be using this camera when I test the Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/135 T*. That's the problem with buying off a charity store auction site, no recourse for getting a load of junk. But then I've gotten some good deals too, so hopefully in the long run it balances out in my favor. It can also be a parts source for future purchases.
PF
Where do I begin. I cleaned almost all the crud off the outside of everything, enough to be able to load batteries, and give it a check-out. The dials on the camera, and metering system all appear to be functioning correctly. But there is a lot of wheeze in the shutter gear-train. And of course the seals are goo, especially on the mirror damper. Not much left of the coverings except the fabric base.
The shutter release button cable only works sometimes, and looks like someone set it on an electric stove burner.
The D-6 display will fade out if the battery compartment door is fully tightened. Other than that, the Data Back is functioning properly, as far as what the display shows.
The Winder II has II issues. First off, the meter does not shut off with the winder attached, whether or not there are batteries in the winder. Secondly, the ring around the auxiliary shutter button on the winder is somehow causing the winder to keep activating. If you grip the camera in a normal fashion with the winder attached, it will just keep on running. Keep your fingers away from the aux shutter button, and it works normally. The lightest touch on the button surround will trigger the motor.
The Deitz lens cleaned up nicely, with no internal issues. Blades are dry and snappy, no big scratches to be found, even though it came without any caps. Of course the camera protected the rear element. It has Macro Focusing to just shy of 0.2 m/8 in from the subject for a ratio of 1:4. If it wasn't for differences in the barrel designs, I'd say it was a twin to my Albinar in Minolta SR mount. Same manufacturer perhaps?
The 139 Quartz, being a sibling to the Yashica FX-D, has it's own idiosyncrasies. The shutter speeds and ASA/ISO setting rings are in opposite places than on the FX-D. The self timer has it's own control ring lever. There is a third contact on the hot shoe, and an actual PC socket on the front of the camera, just under the rewind knob.
Sad to say I won't be using this camera when I test the Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/135 T*. That's the problem with buying off a charity store auction site, no recourse for getting a load of junk. But then I've gotten some good deals too, so hopefully in the long run it balances out in my favor. It can also be a parts source for future purchases.
PF