My RTSII Quartz all jammed up !

pentaxpete · Oct 15, 2015

I was checking the seating if the focus screen as I have had 'back Focus' problems, and got it back all OK then tried firing shutter using the 'manual' 1.60th with the lever with the mirror up then suddenly it all jammed up -- mirror stays UP, shutter will not fire, camera is wound on , delayed action does not work -- battery OK -- took it out and put it back -- any IDEAS what has happened please ?

blockend · Oct 15, 2015

Absolutely none, unfortunately, and I won't be telling you anything when I say the move from electronic to mechanical shutter locked everything up. This suggests its some kind of nuts and bolts failure. Could it be a magnetic lock up, like the Canon T90 sometimes falls victim to?

Hope someone can help.

pentaxpete · Oct 15, 2015

-GOOD NEWS !!!! I thought I would have 'one last Play' with the Contax RTS II as i was sitting down for my morning coffee so i went into darkroom and got it out again and played with the mirror which was UP and the shutter release and the aperture activating lever and I must have done 'Something' as it suddenly sprang into life, mirror came DOWN, I could fire shutter again so it is now working again !
bye for now ---

naaldvoerder · Oct 15, 2015

Pete,

I do not know whether this has anything to do with your RTS II, but Contaxes are knows to have a problem known as "mirror slip", whereby the glue that holds the mirror in its metal frame to fail, which causes the mirror to creep down, up to a point where it can get cought at the back on the mounted lens and stay up. Usually it gets freed up after unmounting the lens. The erronious position of the mirror might even be a reason for focusing issues. Repairing "mirror slip" is quite easy. Hope this helps...

pentaxpete · Oct 16, 2015

Never heard of THAT problem with Contaxes == i will investigate but I don't think it IS 'Mirror Problems' as it jammed up
with NO LENS mounted. Thanks for you help anyway == appreciated .

naaldvoerder · Oct 16, 2015

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz1P2AiYwPc

Here is an example

Yashica · Dec 31, 2023

I'd like to add (after soo many years, this old post) that my RTS II does have issues, too. Whileas optically into great condition,
the mirror doesn't return after a shutter release, means the viewfinder is black. Any suggestions ?

Happy new year, guys !

1957ExaktaVarexIIa · Jul 9, 2024

Yashica said:
Whileas optically into great condition, the mirror doesn't return after a shutter release, means the viewfinder is black. Any suggestions ?

I had a problem very similar to this when one of my RTS II had the mirror slip issue: the mirror had slammed against the back of the 18mm Distagon. It was a mechanical problem with the mirror mechanism and the mechanical shutter. Seemed to be a very rare problem.

If there should be still a problem with your RTS II - there is a repairman with a (very) small workshop in France near the German border who works on German customers' C/Y SLRs. He has serviced all my RTS II (even the mentioned one), Contax 139 and several Yashica bodies and has done a good job.
Please send me a PM if you like to know his address.

Michael

My RTSII Quartz all jammed up !

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