Brand: Contax
Category: Camera
Document Type:
Language: EN
Manual for RTS
Uploaded: Aug. 9, 2025, 11:34 p.m.
This manual provides detailed information on the Contax RTS camera, focusing on its repair and maintenance. It includes comprehensive assembly charts with part numbers and descriptions, troubleshooting guides for common issues such as shutter malfunctions and speed inconsistencies, and adjustment procedures for various camera mechanisms. Key sections cover shutter operation, manual speed circuits, and specific component overhauls.
Troubleshooting and error codes
| Problem | Cause | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Shutter trips simultaneously with film winding. (Body grounded). | During film winding one of the switches is causing the body to be grounded. | Use storage oscilloscope (for testing) CH-1 Check for grounding of body or short circuit. Check switches for short circuit to ground. Check minus (-) contact in battery chamber for short circuit to ground with camera body. Check wiring insulation. |
| Shutter trips simultaneously with film winding (body is not grounded). | Wiring incorrectly connected. | Check voltage with tester. |
| Shutter does not operate (Similar to short circuit situation). | Diode defective on diode circuit board or faulty soldering of connections. | Check with tester, if necessary change diode or re-solder properly the faulty soldered connection. 1) If shutter operates normally when camera base plate is removed; excessive solder on diode circuit board is touching the base plate causing a short circuit. 2) Check wiring and connections are properly soldered. |
| Shutter trips prematurely or at fast speed. | Excessive solder on diode circuit board is touching the base plate causing a short circuit. | Remove excessive solder and make sure the soldered parts do not touch the base plate. (131-A-030-03). |
| With the mirror in the up position the shutter trips at a faster speed than the selected speed. | Magnet adjustment defect. (131-A-030-01). | Adjust magnet. If adjustment impossible change magnet. |
| Release magnet inactive. | RL(1) is obstructed by the hook claw. | Make adjustment. |
| Shutter trips at faster speed than selected speed. | Shutter adjustment defect. | Adjust primary and secondary curtains traversing speeds (11.6~11.7 µ/sec.). For 1/2000 sec. adjust by turning adjusting screw of trigger contact. (Tiny (-) screw near |
| Shutter remains open and long time. | Sliding contact out of position | Adjust to correct position and check contact pressure. |
| Shutter remains open at LV.4 | Preamplifier defect | Change Preamplifier |
| Long Time 4 secs. operates to 8 secs. | Main Amplifier defect | Change Main Amplifier. |
| Delay in synchro time lag | Adjustment defect | Adjust by changing gear engagement position of primary curtain gear and one revolution control gear. |
| Shutter remains open. | Defective resistor in switching amplifier. Loose connections of resistor leads or open circuit in printed circuit. | Check each resistor lead connections. If open circuit is found in printed circuit change switching amplifier. |
| Shutter remains open under low light conditions. | Chattering of Switch (SW-7). | Adjust contact points with the aid of storage oscilloscope. |
| At 1/2000 sec shutter operates at a faster speed. | Faulty adjustment. | Re-adjust (See A-030-04). |
| Shutter at 1/125 sec. and under operates at a faster speed. | Timing of Mirror UP Switch incorrect. | Adjust timing. (See appendix - Adjusting with the use of the Memory). |
| Shutter at 1/2000 sec. is fast, 1/500~1/125 sec. are slow. | Defect in mirror box assembly. | Change complete Mirror Box. |
| RL(1) is obstructed by SP hook. | Make adjustment. | |
| Shutter does not operate at "Manual". | Timing of Mirror UP Switch incorrect. | Make adjustment. |
| At 1/2000 sec. with mirror in locked position the shutter speed is slow. | Defect in shutter magnet adjustment. | Make adjustment. |
| At 1/125 sec. and under the shutter operates at one constant speed without change. | Memory switch breakdown. | Change Memory switch. |
| Shutter curtain slackness. | Curtain metal clip is bent | |
| Curtain string out of position | ||
| Curtain string is overlapping. | ||
| Secondary curtain string gets out of position on spring drum due to improper attachment of string to curtain causing the string to overlap or wind on the shaft. | The string should never overlap during winding. | |
| Primary curtain string gets out of position due to excessive space between winding side roller and string guide plate, which should be within 0.2-0,3mm. | Adjust position of string guide plate. | |
| Shutter curtain shutter bounce occurs at 1/30 or 1/60 sec. | Tighten any play in primary curtain limit lever. Especially, lateral play. Replace shutter damper spring if it is weak. Shutter piston and cylinder of shutter damper action should be smooth. |
|
| 1/2000 sec. is inconsistent, with mirror locked the shutter speed is fast or slow. | With the mirror locked the speed should be generally under 0.1 µs but a big change takes place. | |
| Inconsist shutter curtain speed. | ||
| The shutter curtain speed is inconsistent. | ||
| Countermeasure: | Rivet on movable plate of shutter Mg is loose or the assembly is out of position. | |
| Roller not operating smoothly. Shaft is clogged | ||
| Primary curtain movement inconsistent because primary curtain control gear is not operating smoothly. |