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From the bench
Real repairs, start to finish.
Mamiya Press 100mm f/3.5: Sticking Shutter Cocking Ring
This Mamiya 100mm f/3.5 lens being serviced is for the Press/Universal line of cameras. Typical issue of sticking shutter cocking ring. On opening the…
Mamiya 7 Lenses: Evaluation Process and Testing Steps
These Mamiya 7 lenses were sent in for evaluation and here is the process that I do with these lenses: 1.) external observation for impact damage or other…
A Friend's Camera Collection Arrives at the Shop
I recently acquired this collection of cameras from a good friend of mine. It was his collection of many years and although there are some common cameras…
Mamiya 7 80mm Lens: Cleaning Concentric Rings of Fungus
This Mamiya 7 80mm lens had concentric rings of fungus. Kind of disappointing fungus, as least for photographic purposes as they were not really…
Fuji GS645S Wide: Broken Plastic Part in Shutter Cocking
This is a post about plastics. Plastics in camera construction. I am servicing a Fuji GS645S Wide W. Great camera, I have been repairing them since the…
RZ67 vs RZ67II: Two-Piece Winding Shaft Differences
This is a brief discussion about what I consider an important difference between the RZ67 and RZ67II in terms of build. The RZ67, unlike the RB67, had a…
RB67 180mm Early Lens (1974): Slow Shutter Release
This early version of a Mamiya RB67 180mm lens (1974) is being repaired for the typical slow/delayed shutter release. These need disassembly and removal of…
RB67 Pro Back: Counter Failure From a Loose Gear Plate Stud
This Mamiya RB67 Pro back came into the shop with complaint of the counter not working, so the film would just wind through without stopping. When I…
RB67 vs RZ67: Build Quality and Parts Availability
I am often asked about quality of the RB67 vs RZ67. I initially wrote a detailed response but could not post here on IG due to length. Here is a synopsis…
RZ67 Outfit With Water Damage: Donated for Parts
This RZ67 outfit came into the shop recently and, as you can see, has obvious water damage. All of the equipment is full of fungus/mold/rust. No repair…
Nikon Microscope Camera With a Canon Stepper Motor
The first photo is of a Nikon microscope camera that I was in the process of modifying to accept my Nikon mirrorless camera. I was surprised to see that…
Mamiya 7 150mm Lens: Finding Fungus Behind the Closed Shutter
Another fungus post. This 150mm Mamiya 7 lens came into the shop for a rangefinder check. While the rangefinder checked OK, I did notice fungus on inner…
Mamiya 55mm f/4.5 TLR Lens: Removing Filter Thread Dents
Removing dents from the taking and viewing lenses on a Mamiya 55mm f/4.5 lens for TLR. Fortunately, the owner of this lens was wise and did not take a…
Mamiya 645 80mm f/2.8 N: Loose Focus Ring and Slow Diaphragm
Servicing an 80mm f/2.8 N Mamiya 645 lens. This lens came into the shop with the complaint of a loose focus ring. A straightforward repair where some…
Mamiya 645 1000S: Film Counter, Light Seals and Calibration
Servicing a Mamiya 645 1000s. This particular example is unusual in that it shows very little wear/use. These were professional tools in the day and often…
Mamiya 7II: Sticky Shutter Button From Spilled Liquid
Servicing a Mamiya 7II. This camera had a sticky shutter release button and I was told that a sticky liquid was spilled on the camera. After removing the…
Mamiya 6 Lens: Inspecting a Botched DIY Disassembly
I bought this Mamiya 6 lens recently knowing that it did not work so might be fixable or usable for parts. My end of the week project was to inspect the…
RZ67II: Release Failure From Broken Cocking Gear Drive Studs
Servicing an RZ67II. This camera came into the shop with a shutter release issue. Would not work in electronic or mechanical mode. This indicates to me…
RB67 140mm Macro Lens: Severe Fungus on Most Elements
This is a post about lens fungus. I am servicing a Mamiya 140mm Macro lens that has a very bad case of fungus on almost every lens element. Photo two is…
Mamiya Universal and Super 23: Rangefinder Adjustment With a Jig
When adjusting the rangefinder on the Mamiya Universal or Super 23, I always remove the complete rangefinder assembly for two reasons: 1.) this gives…
Ilex Acme Synchro 3 Shutter: Black Face and Flash Sync Delays
Servicing an Ilex Acme Synchro 3 shutter. I don't see many of these with the black face as this one has. The Acme Synchro shutter was the top of the line…
Mamiya 90mm f/3.8 (1973): Excess Moly Lube in the Shutter
Servicing an early version of the Mamiya 90mm f/3.8 lens (1973). Shutter was sticking (delayed release) and needed disassembly and cleaning off of…
RZ67II: Scraping Broken Fine Focus Gear Teeth From Main Gear
Servicing a Mamiya RZ67II body. Replacing a broken fine focus gear. When the gear teeth break, they become embedded in the metal main focus gear and often…
Rolleiflex 4x4 Baby Rollei: Modified 00 Shutter Mainspring
Servicing a Rolleiflex 4x4 (Baby Rollei 127). It's been a while since I repaired one of these and now a remember why I did not find it that joyful. Rollei…