Mamiya Universal: Hazy Finder Cleaning and Rangefinder Calibration
Originally posted on Instagram. Notes from the repair bench, kept here as a searchable archive. View the original on Instagram
Servicing a Mamiya Universal and 250mm f/5 lens.
This particular example from 1981 looks like new, appears to have had very little use (many of these cameras were used in professional settings in the field and have heavy wear). Had the typical issues of hazy viewfinder and rangefinder needing adjustment.
Photo two shows the “purple haze” in the finder. Fortunately, all of the residue cleaned off on the rear lens group and the front finder window.
To access the front finder window, the rangefinder needs to be removed and photo four shows it taken from the camera with the top cover plate removed and it is a fairly simple unit.
Photo five shows an interesting test lens that I use for rangefinder and focus calibration. I acquired it from a Mamiya factory service facility and it is a 90mm Mamiya Universal lens mount with the shutter and lens removed and a 90mm viewing lens from a Mamiya C (TLR) lens installed.
Rangefinder calibration starts with checking and adjusting the contact lever once the rangefinder has been removed and photo six shows the factory jig used (I have no idea what the Japanese characters represent on the tool).
The 250mm f/5 lens is the longest and largest lens in the Mamiya Press lineup. This lens also needed rangefinder calibration.
