Help with Contax S2

[eliehbk]

Hi guys, I just bought a Contax S2 from Japan. It came with a 45mm Tessar f2.8. The camera is like new. Everything is beautiful until you look through the viewfinder. It’s dim and looks as if there’s a veil on the focus screen with some things at the bottom that almost look like eyelashes. The viewfinder looks almost opaque with almost a feeling of dirt on the focus. Screen. Furthermore, there’s a metal frame that seems to swing on top of the focus screen. I’m no expert on film cameras, but I contacted the seller and he offered to send me a focus screen. At this point, I’m not sure if this is the problem. I am including pictures of the viewfinder (as much as possible with an iPhone) and of the inside of the camera mirror/prism. Any input from someone more camera savvy or who has an S2 would be a great help. This will help me communicate with the seller.
thank you!!!

 

[Vinc1973]

Hi,

never had an S2 myself, but there is a service manual available for download from this link:

https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Contax-S2-Repair-Manual.pdf

The frame you mention is called "PG Holder" and is described on pages B-25 and B-26 of the manual. It seems to be meant to hold the focussing screen in place.

 

[eliehbk]

Thank you. Is it easy to put it back? I’m afraid to mess it yo

 

[Vinc1973]

I would probably try pushing that frame up gently and see if it holds the focussing screen in position.

I've never done that, so I don't know how easy/risky it is.

 

[FrancoD]

Your focusing screen looks a bit dirty but as for the holder you just push it up and it should lock into that sort of spring loaded frame you see in this photo.







Lock that frame in and see how the OVF looks then.

 

[eliehbk]

Thank you! turned out that they sent me a camera with the focus screen upsidedown. I was able to take it to a repair shop yesterday. Amazing that a professional camera shop in Japan would send the camera this way. The focus screen is very scratched and I cannot seem to find a replacement anywhere.

 

[Winterfrost]

Hi guys, I just bought a Contax S2 from Japan. It came with a 45mm Tessar f2.8. The camera is like new. Everything is beautiful until you look through the viewfinder. It’s dim and looks as if there’s a veil on the focus screen with some things at the bottom that almost look like eyelashes. The viewfinder looks almost opaque with almost a feeling of dirt on the focus. Screen. Furthermore, there’s a metal frame that seems to swing on top of the focus screen. I’m no expert on film cameras, but I contacted the seller and he offered to send me a focus screen. At this point, I’m not sure if this is the problem. I am including pictures of the viewfinder (as much as possible with an iPhone) and of the inside of the camera mirror/prism. Any input from someone more camera savvy or who has an S2 would be a great help. This will help me communicate with the seller.
thank you!!!

I know all about the S2(b) since its release, when it came out, but it was always being too expensive for me - i'm shooting with CONTAX, Yashica since 1989-90, besides Minolta, and Nikon (AF) into 3rd place. Your S2 sadly does have a scratched focusing screen - into the same way, my 3rd FX-3 Super 2000 is being damaged, and it was also described as "new" literally - i bought it some years ago through the 'bay, because they're no more being sold new into the stores, like it was into it's heyday (86-89 ca.)



Good Light.



--
"The Best Camera is the One That's with You" ~ Chase Jarvis

 

[eliehbk]

Thanks! it is scratched! Hopefully, I will find a new one or one in good condition.

Good light to you too!

 

[FrancoD]

Thank you! turned out that they sent me a camera with the focus screen upsidedown. I was able to take it to a repair shop yesterday. Amazing that a professional camera shop in Japan would send the camera this way. The focus screen is very scratched and I cannot seem to find a replacement anywhere.

Hi, sorry I forgot to add that. I did see that the small protrusion from the screen , the bit you use to grab the screen with the tweezers, was not in its slot but just resting at the other end. Very visible in this photo but I re-posted another one ...