LTM Contax II project

[rcbooth]

I just finished a functional LTM Contax II. Here are a couple of snaps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78193594@N00/3669910126/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78193594@N00/3669910458/in/photostream/

[Brian]

I would be interested in seeing the step-by-step for this conversion!

Especially for the RF coupling mechanism.

Amazing!

[rcbooth]

I'll get a few snaps taken during the fabrication process uploaded shortly. It was a project I'd been thinking about for several years. No good Contaxes were actually sacrificed to make it: the chassis and internal bits are Kiev. The rangefinder required a little thought but is really very simple.

[rcbooth]

Here's a link to follow for additional shots: http://rcbooth.zenfolio.com/p944642472/h97e5377#h97e5377

[Brian]

That is the most amazing RF conversion that I have ever seen.

AMAZING!

Post some photo's of it.

On a humorous note, how about putting a CZJ Sonnar in LTM on it...

[rcbooth]

Brian: I've done the Sonnar to LTM bit and was less than impressed. Mine started out as a Contax collapsible uncoated f2 Sonnar. Image quality was horrid. I converted the body back to a Jupiter 8 which I was very pleased with. I have another uncoated Sonnar and one that is coated and sometime I'll give one of them a try.

[Brian]

This is my album with a near-perfect glass uncoated 5cm f2 SOnnar converted to LTM:

http://ziforums.com/album.php?albumid=20

The same era F1.5 is sharper and has higher contrast.

http://ziforums.com/album.php?albumid=16
http://camwk.com/album.php?albumid=58

[rcbooth]

The converted f1.5 snaps are very nice. I've got an uncoated f1.5 Sonnar that came with my Contax 1f and a post war f1.5 Opton Sonnar but I have no intention of converting either one. I have a couple of early J3's and an f1.4 Nikkor in LTM mount and each is superb although the J3's are the best. I do have a post war f1.5 Sonnar that is mounted in a non-focusing M39 mount labeled "Burke & James" that I may tamper with though.