RZ67 Pro II: Cracked Mirror Replacement
Originally posted on Instagram. Notes from the repair bench, kept here as a searchable archive. View the original on Instagram
Fairly straightforward repair to this Mamiya RZ67II, replace cracked mirror. Client said the mirror cracked when the tripod fell over.
In cases with a cracked mirror, I check the mirror dampening mechanism to make sure that it is working properly. If the mirror is not dampening it will slam upward with quite a bit of force and will likely crack the mirror. Although in this case an impact did the damage to the mirror, I still do a quick check to make sure it is being dampened. The fourth photo shows what the dampener looks like (this part is actually from another RZ67, just using it as an example). It is a centrifugal mechanism that slows down the mirror’s upward movement.
In the case of this camera, the mirror was working OK even after the crack, but it is wise to replace it before it comes apart and causes damage to the mirror/light trap.
