← Blog

All posts

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7 vs 7II: Four Frame Finder Versions Compared

While doing some service on Mamiya7 bodies today I thought it would be a good time to document the differences on the various versions. While officially…

Mamiya 7 · Viewfinders & meters · Buying advice

From the bench ·

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…

Universal Press · Shutters · Cleaning

From the bench ·

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…

Mamiya 7 · Testing · Lenses

From the bench ·

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…

C Series TLR · Nikon · Canon

From the bench ·

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…

Mamiya 7 · Fungus · Cleaning

From the bench ·

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…

Shutters · Parts

From the bench ·

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 · RZ67 · Winding & transport · Buying advice

From the bench ·

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 · Shutters · Cleaning

From the bench ·

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 · Film backs · Winding & transport

From the bench ·

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…

RB67 · RZ67 · Buying advice · Parts

From the bench ·

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…

RZ67 · Fungus · Parts

From the bench ·

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…

Nikon · Canon

From the bench ·

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 7 · Fungus · Cleaning

From the bench ·

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…

C Series TLR · Lenses

From the bench ·

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…

645 · Focus · Lenses · Cleaning

From the bench ·

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…

645 · Winding & transport · Light seals · Calibration

From the bench ·

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 7 · Cleaning · Rangefinder

From the bench ·

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…

Mamiya 6 · Lenses

From the bench ·

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…

RZ67 · Winding & transport · Parts

From the bench ·

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…

RB67 · Universal Press · Fungus · Cleaning

From the bench ·

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…

Universal Press · Super 23 · Rangefinder · Calibration

From the bench ·

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…

Shutters

From the bench ·

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…

RB67 · Hasselblad · Shutters · Cleaning

From the bench ·

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…

RZ67 · Focus · Parts