Contax 167MT doesn't load film

Gimenosaiz · Sep 2, 2015

Hello!!

I've just received a Contax 167MT. It is in very good shape but I think it has an issue: I cannot load film. It seems that the camera doesn't recognize the film inside.
I've inserted it followinfg the instructions but when I press the shutter (after closing the backdoor, of course), nothing happens ... just blinking "00" in the panel.

Any idea?

Thanks a lot!!!

Regards from Spain.
Antonio

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 2, 2015

Make sure you have the leader far enough around the take-up drum - that could be the problem. Also, make sure you have fresh batteries installed and they're in the correct alignment. Take the batteries out, clean the contacts, put them back in, and try again.

Gimenosaiz · Sep 2, 2015

TheFlyingCamera said:
Make sure you have the leader far enough around the take-up drum - that could be the problem. Also, make sure you have fresh batteries installed and they're in the correct alignment. Take the batteries out, clean the contacts, put them back in, and try again.

Hello!!

Thank you !
I think I've followed all those steps ... nothing. I forgot to mention that the mirror is up (it was not when I did the first try to load the film).

Regards

tomken · Sep 2, 2015

Have you tried pressing the film rewind button and then follow TheFlyingCamera's steps?

Gimenosaiz · Sep 2, 2015

tomken said:
Have you tried pressing the film rewind button and then follow TheFlyingCamera's steps?

Hello.
Yes i did. Nothing.

Thanks.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 2, 2015

Gimenosaiz said:
Hello!!

Thank you !
I think I've followed all those steps ... nothing. I forgot to mention that the mirror is up (it was not when I did the first try to load the film).

Regards

The mirror is stuck up? Hmm...

can you (Gently!!!) lower the mirror with your finger? I wish I still had at least one owners manual for my old 167MT to check but I traded both of my 167s in a while ago. Can you dry fire the camera with no film in it? Do you have a lens mounted? Make sure the lens is completely and fully seated and locked in position.

Gimenosaiz · Sep 3, 2015

TheFlyingCamera said:
The mirror is stuck up? Hmm...

can you (Gently!!!) lower the mirror with your finger? I wish I still had at least one owners manual for my old 167MT to check but I traded both of my 167s in a while ago. Can you dry fire the camera with no film in it? Do you have a lens mounted? Make sure the lens is completely and fully seated and locked in position.

Hello!
Thank you for your answer.

No, I cannot lower the mirror gently. It's "hard"... I'm afraid I could break it !
I cannot fire the camera nor with film neither without film in it.
Yes, I have a lens mounted. Fully seated ;-)

The led panel works (inner battery?). When I press the shutter release button, I can see that the camera recognizes the ISO of the film (DX works) but the led starts to blink immediately and it only stops to do it when I switch the camera off. Nothing else happens: the camera doesn't fire and the film cannot be loaded.

I can also see that the light receptor window lights when I press the shutter.

One more thing: the DoF button seems to be loose, I mean, it doesn't move any lever.
Thank you for your help!!!

Best regards,
Antonio

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 3, 2015

Your camera is broken.
Send it to a repairer or send it back if you can.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 3, 2015

Agreed - at this point it needs professional attention.

Gimenosaiz · Sep 3, 2015

Hello!

Thank you for your help!
Right, the seller has just refunded me!
This was my second 167MT ... and the last. I'll go for a S2 ;-)

Regards.
Antonio

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 3, 2015

Actually, for the money, look for an ST or an RX. The S2 is a bit overrated in my book.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 3, 2015

TheFlyingCamera said:
Actually, for the money, look for an ST or an RX. The S2 is a bit overrated in my book.

I'd second that. S2 great camera but overpriced. RX is terrific. For something more simple try an RTSII. Or if money is an issue and you want to save for Contax Zeiss glass get a Yashica body. FX- or FR- versions are good.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 3, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
I'd second that. S2 great camera but overpriced. RX is terrific. For something more simple try an RTSII. Or if money is an issue and you want to save for Contax Zeiss glass get a Yashica body. FX- or FR- versions are good.

These days, with a few exceptions, most Contax bodies aren't that expensive anymore (RTS III, S2, AX being notable exceptions). There are some really cheap ones but I wouldn't recommend them - the 159 MM, 137 and 139 series. They were advanced in their day, and when new looked slick, but they haven't aged well. It's a shame you had two bad 167MT's - I had two of them that were totally trouble-free for over a decade. One was purchased used and one new. True, an RX isn't as cheap as a Yashica body, but if you're buying Contax glass, the difference in price between an RX and a Yashica FX isn't going to buy you another Zeiss lens.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 3, 2015

TheFlyingCamera said:
These days, with a few exceptions, most Contax bodies aren't that expensive anymore (RTS III, S2, AX being notable exceptions). There are some really cheap ones but I wouldn't recommend them - the 159 MM, 137 and 139 series. They were advanced in their day, and when new looked slick, but they haven't aged well. It's a shame you had two bad 167MT's - I had two of them that were totally trouble-free for over a decade. One was purchased used and one new. True, an RX isn't as cheap as a Yashica body, but if you're buying Contax glass, the difference in price between an RX and a Yashica FX isn't going to buy you another Zeiss lens.

I have not looked at the price of the RX lately but many of the Yashica bodies are getting so low ($10-20 sometimes) I expect them to be in the "free rear lens cap" category soon.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 3, 2015

RXs are going for under $300 on KEH, and around $200 on Ebay. RX II's (which IMHO are less desireable because they removed the Digital Focus Indicator in the viewfinder on the RX II) are closer to $400. I think back in the day I paid about $600 for mine, used.

Gimenosaiz · Sep 4, 2015

Hello!

Thank you for your advices. I think that the RX is fine!
My first 167MT was a unreliable half of my rolls were unexposed. Very odd ... but I've continued trying to purchase a decent couple for my planar. So I bough a FX-D. Nice, but, well, you know, I want something more robust.

Thank you again.
Regards
Antonio

Gimenosaiz · Sep 5, 2015

Hello!

I've just purchased the Contax RX

Thanks again.
Regards

naaldvoerder · Sep 5, 2015

The RX is a great camera. You will be very happy with it. The mirror is delightfully will dampend. However, if you ever encounter, a mirror stuck in the upright position, in a Contax body, dismount the lens. In Contaxen the mirror can slip down in it's frame a bit, causing it to get stuck on the lensmount... It's easily repairable...

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 5, 2015

Yes, congrats. You'll love the RX. Back in the day if I could have afforded two of them instead of my 167MTs, I would have had a pair of RXs instead. They're beautiful to look at, very comfortable to hold (thanks to Porsche Design!), and can do anything anyone reasonable would want them to do.

Gimenosaiz · Sep 9, 2015

Thank you! I'm still waiting for it. It really seems fine !!
Regards

Trask · Sep 9, 2015

Gotta say -- I bought my 167MT in Hong Kong just after they came out, and it has worked flawlessly to today. I have two RTSII that have issues, and I'm still searching for someone who repairs them -- is TOCAD still doing that? My latest acqusition was an Aria for Euro 60 -- cheap because the button that allows one to change programs is missing (a toothpick does just fine). It's a very nice little camera! I just wish the associated databack that prints the exposure info on the film were (A) readily available, and (B) cheaper.

Contax 167MT doesn't load film

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