Mamiya 7 43mm, 65mm, 150mm, 210mm: Locking Shutters Open
Originally posted on Instagram. Notes from the repair bench, kept here as a searchable archive. View the original on Instagram
This service involves modification of four Mamiya 7 lenses: 43mm, 65mm, 150mm and 210mm). My client requires that these lenses have the shutter blades locked open for his application and before he modifies the mount. Actually, what I do is either lock open the blades or remove them, depending on the lens. Also, I remove the rangefinder cam and the cocking lever on the rear of the lens as these interfere with the lens mount modification.
Photo two shows the rear of the lens after my service of removing the protruding cocking lever and rangefinder cam. Photo three shows the 65mm after service and the lens has shutter blades opened. The final photo is of all the lenses and the tools that I use for this particular operation.
A final note: I did a similar post some time ago and one of the comments was that I had “butchered” the lens with these mods for future generations. Please keep this in mind:
1.) These lenses are not bespoke artifacts, they are mass produced working tools and the owner can do what he wishes with them to fit his/her use.
2.) I would imagine that sometime in the future, repair of the Mamiya 6/7 models will become even more challenging than it is today due to lack of new parts. My opinion is that in the future, these lenses have a good chance of living on in a different form other than use on a Mamiya 6/7 body when modified.
