Before I toss yet another Contax in the dust bin, I was wondering if anyone else had this problem. My tvs ii works fine with the tele-photo at either its widest setting or in the mid-range. But once I extend it even a little past the mid-range, the viewfinder info-bar goes dark, and the shutter ceases to work...though when I retract the lens, the shutter will then click, and the film will advance.
Sorry to hear this. Sounds like a ribbon failure and it is losing connection as the lens extends. There are a couple of shops on ebay that offers to replace the ribbon. One is in Portugal, the other in Ukraine (I think).
My TVSIII had terrible focus issues so I returned it. A brand new T2 was dead after a few days of use by its new owner at my local repair shop. He paid over $1500 for that privilege. All these experiences are why I would not touch a Contax P&S or G series. Age has not been kind to them.
My Contax TVS had the common "Flex-Cable" issue.
It had been dead for about 5 years.
I found a youtube clip demonstrating the repair. Contax TVS /TVS II Lens Flex Replacement - YouTube
I contacted the author of the clip warszawa@fotonaprawa.pl
We had some email contact. Then i did send my Contax to his company for repair.
Today my TVS came back. It works now like in the old days.
The guys in Poland did a good job!