Looking for scrap Contax RTS (original version) for spares

Anything considered. I'm in the UK so preferably from Europe.

Your best bet is surely Ebay or such other popular sellers' web sites. I have used Ebay in the past (although not recently) to pick up clapped-out Rollei TLRs for spare parts.

The only problem will surely be that (too) many sellers will want the equivalent value of a down payment on a house for their precious camera. As I have found in the past. But there are also bargains to be had if you check consistently.

Best of luck.

I gave in and paid up for two on evilbay today. Just hope they are, at least, complete so I should get what I want from them.

So...does the fact that you were looking for and eventually bought a couple of RTS bodies mean that you’re now repairing RTS (and RTS II?) bodies? I ask because the RTS is not listed on your Contax-Yashica-Repairs website as a model you work on. I’m curious because I have a couple of RTS II bodies that are misbehaving...

Trask said:

So...does the fact that you were looking for and eventually bought a couple of RTS bodies mean that you’re now repairing RTS (and RTS II?) bodies? I ask because the RTS is not listed on your Contax-Yashica-Repairs website as a model you work on. I’m curious because I have a couple of RTS II bodies that are misbehaving...

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I am doing some things with first version RTS but still limited. I never learn on someone else's camera so only do what I know. RTSii I'm not working on at present.

monopix said:

I am doing some things with first version RTS but still limited. I never learn on someone else's camera so only do what I know. RTSii I'm not working on at present.

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Thanks. Be sure to let us know here on Photrio if and when you do work on the RTS II. I believe I’m not alone in having a body or two that is giving some trouble, particularly re: the shutter release — either it won’t release the shutter, or the simple act of advancing the film causes the shutter to fire at the moment of maximum film advance. I’ve read that there might be a capacitor in the camera that’s the culprit.

Trask said:

Thanks. Be sure to let us know here on Photrio if and when you do work on the RTS II. I believe I’m not alone in having a body or two that is giving some trouble, particularly re: the shutter release — either it won’t release the shutter, or the simple act of advancing the film causes the shutter to fire at the moment of maximum film advance. I’ve read that there might be a capacitor in the camera that’s the culprit.

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If the shutter doesn't release, it's almost certainly the release magnet stuck. Common problem with Contax bodies of the era. Trouble is, the magnet is under the mirror box so it's a big dismantling job to get to it. I wouldn't attempt it without doing a strip down on another camera first. The other problem could also be the magnet just not holding.

I have a RTS ii that has the shutter not firing problem. I gathered a bit of courage and tackled it one day. I got to a point of separating the mirror box and the base with the shutter. I quickly realized that I won't have much chance of reassemble everything back together. I stored everything in a box and put it aside. It is now a parts camera. I have two more RTS-ii with shutter problem. I also have another with film advancement problem. It works in every way except it does not advance the film. I hope I will eventually have the time and patience to use the parts camera as a learning tool and use its parts to fix other RTS ii somaday. It's going to be NOT fun. I also have two working ones so I am not in a hurry.

Just updating this to say I'm now taking repairs on the RTSii. Possibly RTS as well but depends on what the issue is.