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From the bench ·

Mamiya 7 50mm Lens: Disassembly Tips to Avoid Damage

I’ve seen several Mamiya 6/7 lenses damaged a bit from repair attempts. These are not the ideal lenses to begin repair work on if you don’t have…

Mamiya 7 · Mamiya 6 · Lenses

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7II: Loose Cable Release Socket Repair

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…

Mamiya 7 · Electronics

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7 80mm Lens: Removing a Dented Filter Ring

One of the regular tasks that I do here in the shop is removing dents from the front filter rings on lenses. Not an exciting job but often very necessary…

Mamiya 7 · Lenses

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7 Lenses Adapted for Arca Swiss Pico Digital Camera

The three mint condition Mamiya 7 lenses shown here in the photo will probably never again be mounted on a Mamiya 7 body. These 43mm, 80mm and 150mm lenses…

Mamiya 7 · Mamiya 6 · 645 · 645AF

From the bench ·

RZ67: Winding System Failures and Choosing a Body by Date Code

The RZ67 is probably, after the Mamiya 6/7, the most popular model that I see here in the shop. It is also the most common model to suffer from some fatal…

Mamiya 6 · RB67 · RZ67 · Winding & transport

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7/7II: Rangefinder Calibration and Adjusting Screw Damage

One of the most common services that I provide is rangefinder calibration on the Mamiya 7/7II. While it may seem like a simple process, the details can go…

Mamiya 7 · Mamiya 6 · Rangefinder · Calibration

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7II: No Power Caused by Energizer A544 Battery

This post is for users of Mamiya 7II cameras. The Mamiya 7II that was on my bench today had an issue that had me a bit perplexed. Complaint was that there…

Mamiya 7 · Electronics

From the bench ·

RZ67: No Shutter Cocking from Broken Cocking Shaft Assembly

Failure of RZ67 models comes in one of two flavors: 1.) electrical or 2.) mechanical. First order of business is to determine which and easiest way is to…

RZ67 · Winding & transport · Buying advice

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7 65mm Lens: Replacing the Broken Flex Cable

Since I am servicing a Mamiya 7 65mm lens I thought that I would do my yearly post on replacing the flex cable. Common complaint with this lens is that the…

Mamiya 7 · Electronics · Lenses

From the bench ·

LA Camera Expo in Burbank: January 18 Show Table

It’s time for another camera show this weekend in Burbank, California. Seems like I will be making this a quarterly event for getting a sales table. So, if…

From the bench ·

Mamiya 645 Super: Broken Mirror Stop Jamming Shutter Curtains

This is my annual reminder to owners of Mamiya 645 Super/Pro/Pro TL cameras to check their mirror stop. If your mirror stop has not been replaced in the…

645 · Shutters · Parts

From the bench ·

Mamiya 6 75mm Lens: Unsharp Images from Loose Front Element

Sometimes the problem on a camera/lens turns out to be something different than what is first expected. In this case, my client told me that his Mamiya 6…

Mamiya 6 · Focus · Rangefinder · Lenses

From the bench ·

Mamiya 6/7: Why Not to Buy As-Is Broken Cameras

I’m doing some year end inventory on parts and this post is about broken Mamiya 6/7 cameras. Specificaly about purchasing cameras that are sold “as is…

Mamiya 7 · Mamiya 6 · Buying advice

From the bench ·

Testing a 3D Printed O.Zone Mark 8 Body for Mamiya Press Lenses

We recently printed a copy of an O.Zone Mark 8 camera body designed by @o.zone69 This body was made to accept Mamiya Press lenses and has a Graflok back to…

Universal Press · Testing

From the bench ·

Mamiya 645 80mm f/2.8: Sticking Diaphragm from Oily Blades

This Mamiya 80mm f/2.8 lens arrived with a sticking diaphragm. As seen in the photos, lots of oil present on the diaphragm blades. And, a lot of grease on…

645 · Lenses · Helicoid grease · Cleaning

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7: Rangefinder Control Mechanism Explained

The first photo shows most of the major parts of the Mamiya 7 : the main body, wind mechanism, rangefinder, shutter speed assembly and front lens mount…

Mamiya 7 · Mamiya 6 · Rangefinder

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7 Lenses: Inspection After Impact Damage

These three Mamiya 7 lenses came into the shop today for checkout (along with a Mamiya 7 body) as my client mentioned that the body had some impact damage…

Mamiya 7 · Testing · Lenses

From the bench ·

Mamiya 6: No Power from Corroded Battery Contact

This Mamiya 6 came into the shop with no display or release. Obvious power supply prolem and when I removed the battery cover and batteries, I could see…

Mamiya 7 · Mamiya 6 · Electronics

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7II: Two Bodies Unrepairable from Impact and Water Damage

Some of the cameras coming into the shop are not repaired due to major trauma that may not be economical or possible to repair. These are usually impact or…

Mamiya 7 · Testing · Buying advice

From the bench ·

LA Camera Expo in Burbank: October 12 Show Table

In the years before the pandemic in what seems like another life I would set up a table at a camera show in Pasadena, California every month. After decades…

645 · Hasselblad · Nikon

From the bench ·

Mamiya 6: Wrong Shutter Speeds from Spring Lodged in Speed Selector

This Mamiya 6 arrived with a common issue, a broken viewfinder window. But, it also had a problem that I have never seen before, which was various shutter…

Mamiya 6 · Electronics · Shutters

From the bench ·

RZ67: Replacing Bottom Panel Rubber Covering

I have been out of action for a couple of days last week due to a scorpion sting on my finger. In the first photo, the RZ that I am working on is shown…

RZ67

From the bench ·

RB67 Revolving Backs: Four Versions and Common Issues

I am servicing Mamiya RB67 revolving backs today. Photo one shows all fours versions that are found in the wild these days: 1.) 1971 original style without…

RB67 · Film backs · Light seals

From the bench ·

Mamiya 7: Impact Damage to Rangefinder, Frame Lines and Flash Sync

This Mamiya 7 had impact damage and due to that, the rangefinder and frame finder lines needed attention. Also the top cover trauma caused the flash sync…

Mamiya 7 · Mamiya 6 · Rangefinder · Calibration