nick tulinen , Jan 04, 2012; 07:23 a.m.
Hi,
I have a problem with my Contax G2 + 90mm Sonnar i recently bought, fully functioning. The camera has been working really fine, but after a couple months use it stopped releasing the shutter, but the funny thing is that the shutter releases fine without the lens. I don't have an extra lens so I'm not sure if the problem is in the lens or the body..
has anybody have experienced problems like this?
Anyone in The Netherlands (Den Haag area) with a functioning lens I could try out? I really hope it's my lens that has the problem..
/Thank You for all your help!
Nick
Detailed description:
The camera has been in regular use, shot maybe a couple of rolls. In some wet weather conditions.. and actually got splashed by small amount of water at one point, but not really that bad. I took all the parts and the battery off just to make sure it will dry fine. The camera worked fine for weeks after that too. Then the next time grabbing the camera, it did not work anymore. The lens seems to find it's focus with AF and MF but does not do a thing when pushing the release button!
When i take off the lens the shutter runs flawlessly!?
I noticed some light green/blue stuff (oxidized copper?) in the lens mount, NOT on the contacts just around the ring.. But i don't remember if this was here before.
Francisco Solares-Larrave , Jan 04, 2012; 01:50 p.m.
Can you take it to a store and see if they happen to have something to help you test whether it's the body or the lens? Den Haag should have a place for this type of inquiry. Otherwise, I'd jump on the train and take it to Amsterdam.
Best of luck!
Philip Wilson 
, Jan 04, 2012; 10:43 p.m.
I doubt if it is a lens issue - it is either the lens mounting (contacts, non in position correctly etc...) or more likely a camera issue. I just played with one of my G2s and 90mm lens and found that the camera will fire without a lens mounted and with one mounted correctly. But if I have the lens incorrectly mounted it will not shoot. That is if the black lens surround is correctly positioned but the lens is not twisted to lock it correctly then the camera does not shoot. Thus I suspect that the camera does not think the lens is correctly mounted.
Michael Axel , Jan 04, 2012; 11:44 p.m.
A colleague who shoots this camera, mentioned that you need to make sure the contacts are clean. I would use a rubber eraser on both the lens and body contacts and see if cleaning them off would help.
nick tulinen , Jan 05, 2012; 08:45 a.m.
oh gosh, wonder how the mounting contacts just can go bad like that.. with what and how can I use to clean the contacts?
Actually yesterday when i was testing it again several times, it started to work again? just for a couple of shots.. then I turned it off again and it stopped working... contact problems?
It also seems to make a terrible noise every once in a while after focusing and releasing my finger from the focusing button
jens g.r. benthien , Jan 06, 2012; 02:32 p.m.
I clean the contact in the camera mount an in the lenses with a piece of a dry coffee filter. It's rough but doesn't rub off and cleans the contacts thoroughly.
If the lens makes noises when pressing the rear focus button, you might apply one tiny drop of 'Ballistol' or weapon or gun oil into the drive shaft of the focus drive, which pokes through the camera mount (looks like a short screw driver). Then mount the lens and let it hunt focus several times. Repeat if necessary - but please only a TINY drop. Take a toothpick, dip it into the oil, lift it up and let one drop flow into the drive shaft. Do NOT apply oil to the counterpart in the lens!
nick tulinen , Jan 11, 2012; 08:13 a.m.
I've had only bad luck so far.. I think I really just need to test the body with a nother G lens.
I've called one camera guy de Ridder, been to Foto Konijnenberg, and HAFO in Den Haag city and they have no idea about the cameras, nor about any contax owners.
If anyone knows anybody!!!!!!! who I could buy a coffee and we could just try the camera out somewhere in Den Haag i would be most grateful! :)
jens g.r. benthien , Jan 11, 2012; 08:30 a.m.
Nick, I'm a bit too far away (currently in North Germany), but thanks anyway for the invitation.
You might contact Tritec near Hamburg and send them your camera including lens. They have a great service and CLA'd my two G2 - they returned in almost brand new condition.
http://www.tritec-service.de/
TRITEC GmbH
Technischer Service für Camcorder,
Fotogeräte & Officeprodukte
Kolpingstraße 5
D 38159 Vechelde
+49-5302 9181-0
nick tulinen , Jan 11, 2012; 09:19 a.m.
Thanx Jens for the tip! how much was the CLA?
I will still try to test it by myself here, if I'd find somebody with a g1 or g2..after that I might hafto send it somewhere..
jens g.r. benthien , Jan 11, 2012; 09:27 a.m.
The standard CLA was around 150 Euro and for the second body it was 320 including a new main circuit board. The new camera top plate was free of charge (it had some minor scratches, and I didn't even mention it in the order).
However, if you will send your camera and lens, they will send you an estimate for the repair, which is around 40 Euros as fas as I remember. If you decide to have it repaired, the estimate is free of charge.
