Mamiya 7II: Loose Cable Release Socket Repair
Originally posted on Instagram. Notes from the repair bench, kept here as a searchable archive. View the original on Instagram
If you have a Mamiya 7II and use a cable release this might be a handy post to read in order to keep it running for a long time.
This Mamiya 7II came into the shop with a common problem: the cable release socket had come loose and fallen out of the camera. The Mamiya 7II uses a standard mechanical cable release pressing on electrical contacts to release the shutter (unlike the Mamiya 7 which uses a fully mechanical connection to the shutter release button) And, this is what can cause one of the issues I will describe.
The cable release socket is held onto the front panel of the camera by a thin nut. Not a lot of threads to connect with. And, when a cable release is put on really tight, it can loosen this connection and then the nut runs the risk of falling off and then the cable release socket ends up falling off the camera and disassembly is needed to re-install. Solution: don’t put a cable release on this camera super tight. As soon as it is connected fully, stop.
In this example, the release socket had a lot of glue residue on it. Previous repair attempt? Unfortunatley, glue, super or otherwise, will not fix this.
While I am not one to comment on design issues, I will make an exception here. The release socket on the 7II is on the corner of a rounded front panel, so you have limited contact between the nut and the front panel due to the curved surface. Not good. I do re-install them with an epoxy sealer.
One other thing, mechanical cable releases do not have a standard for maximum throw length. So, if you really extend the release, the switch can get damaged. I have made a release by cutting off the pin to about 6mm length to limit any damage.
Photos: 1.) camera body 2.) loose terminal 3) front cover off 4) close up of terminal opening showing misplaced contacts 5) close up of terminal showing glue 6) new terminal installed 7) socket showing curvature of mount panel 8) modified cable release
