First of all, while I shot film exclusively from 1970 through 1975 and did my own developing and printing that was a long time ago. These days I mostly shoot digital. I’m by no means a tinkerer and while I spent most of my professional life involved with machinery and mechanical design, I have no experience in camera repair.
Although pushing 70, I’ve only been using eBay as a source of goods for the last few years. This habit was reinforced by my dabbling with watch repair where the only source for parts for a 100-year-old watch is often another 100-year-old watch of the same make and model.
I started photography with a borrowed Voigtländer VITO CLR which I replaced with my first purchased camera: a Canon FTb. This was later followed by a Durst enlarger and all the timers, trays and red lights needed to develop all the Tri-X Pan I could shoot. At the time I suppose I was afflicted to a degree by camera envy and lust for a Nikon F, Leica M6 or the camera that went to the moon: a Hasselblad 500c. Although I never ended up buying any of those cameras, I did re-acquire copies of both the Voigtländer and FTb. I also rediscovered why shooting film without a darkroom can be frustrating to someone now used to immediate digital developing the 6 shots from an hour ago without worrying about finishing off the rest of the roll or the lag in waiting for commercial processing.
Which brings me to the dilemma of my recent impulse purchase.
I was browsing eBay (as I do from time to time) and after looking at the asking prices of Leica M’s for several weeks I saw a Mamiya m645 1000s with a 210mm lens and PD finder for what appeared to me to be a bargain price of $259.00 (USD). The seller did state that there was some fungus in the optics but that it didn’t affect the photographs. I thought a 645 medium format film camera would be a fun step up from the 35mm format and I pressed: BUY IT NOW. In my excitement I also went ahead and locally purchased a “normal” 80mm lens for an additional $200. The 80mm lens arrived in a few days.
Using my best internet sleuthing skills, I located a manual for the camera, servicing guides for the body and finder as well as a parts list (https://learncamerarepair.com/index.php). I had also begun an online discussion with Hamish regarding cleaning fungus from old optics.
After what was certainly longer than I’d anticipated the camera showed up from Japan. It looked great however it wasn’t the 1000s model but rather the original m645. At this point I didn’t really understand the differences between the m645 and the 1000s and the need for a top shutter speed of 1/1000th second wasn’t an aspect of what drove my purchase in the first place.
I installed a new battery, attached the 80mm lens and loaded it with a roll of Ilford HP5+. Upon looking through the viewfinder there was a dark opaque band right across the split-image in the center of the focusing screen. I also couldn’t coax the meter to give me a reading of anything other than both over and under exposed (at the same time).
Once I removed the finder, I could easily see the damage to the pentaprism mirror, and it certainly wasn’t fungus. I sent a note to the seller noting that the camera wasn’t the 1000s model that was listed and that there was no fungus but there was mirror damage. The item I received wasn’t the bargain that I thought I bought, and I asked the seller if perhaps he had a different finder that we could swap. I had 6 weeks during which the seller would accept a return (at my shipping expense). I began investigating alternative finder availability and learned that a (very) large percentage of these 50-year-old pentaprism mirrors have this identical problem due to a piece of foam on a bracket behind the mirror intended to provide stability. It appears that over time the chemicals of the foam or the adhesive used degrade the silvering of the mirror surface.
After no word from the original eBay vendor, I was able to find a CdS metered finder here in the USA for another $100. That finder arrived and it is crystal clear and the meter works! I shot ten exposures using the PD finder by also using a Lumix GX9 (set to monochrome) as a guide for exposure.
Unfortunately, after waiting for the weather and some good light I was disappointed to find that following a shutter release the main mirror didn’t drop with the CdS finder in place. Swapping the finders, I verified this didn’t happen with the PD finder and while the CdS finder had a working meter and a clear view it wasn’t releasing the mirror. So, I sent the roll of 15 exposures off to determine that my shutter speed and aperture were OK and to see if there were any light leaks.
I was disappointed to see the results! Perhaps had I shot on a tripod, things would have been better but it seems that all of my images suffered from camera blur. I’m also not sure that the shutter speed and aperture values that I cribbed from my digital were giving me the same exposure on the Mamiya. Blurry on the left is the Mamiya v. the Panasonic sharp on the right.
This shot of the top of a barrel seems to confirm camera movement in the up/down axis although it could be a combination of unsteady hands holding a heavy beast along with missed focus due to the band across my viewing of the focus screen.
In any event, I decided that enough was enough and that my bargain Mamiya wasn’t the bargain that I had hoped for, and it was turning into more trouble than it was worth to me. I returned the camera, 2nd lens and 2nd finder. I immediately was refunded the price of the camera by the eBay vendor and the price of the 2nd finder, but I wasn’t as lucky with the return of the 80mm lens. The large, New York City-based vendor claimed that the lens was damaged, and they rejected my refund. I eventually did get the lens back from them after some squabbling and the lens is in exactly the same condition it was in when I received it the first time. So, I now have an 80mm lens with nothing to put it on.
The story may not be over yet – a local shop with a huge inventory of film cameras happens to have an m645 1000s and if I can strike a deal with them, I might end up with a medium format film camera after all. If not, maybe I’ll sell them this 80mm lens that I have. For now though, this has been something of a frustrating experience, to say the least.
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Paul Quellin on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 08/03/2024
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goran santar on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 08/03/2024
Using Sekor 80/1.9 , 210mm and 50mm lens.
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Jim Scheffler on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
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Timothy Hancock on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
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Kai Lietz on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
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Jeff T. on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
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Jim Scheffler on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
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Murray Leshner on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 08/03/2024
Until a 645 arrives, you might investigate how impractical it is or isn't to adapt the lens you have to one of your digital cameras, if that is an interchangeable lens type. Even 'freelensed' (handheld, but coincidentally also $-free).
It is not practical with RB67 to adapt anything in either direction (to the camera or from the camera). Not impossible, but uncooperative & expensive.
There is another story (Chapter 2) rom the Camera Island of the Evil Dr. Murray series that is not written yet because it is darker than the most seized shutter, and Chapter 1 is either stuck in a Customs port-of-entry, or incomplete.
Actually, it's the latter. I owe an improved ending to Hamish.
May a camera rise to meet your lens soon at a price which rewards your diligence.
Chapter 2 in my dark tale from the aforementioned island will only end on film after navigating similar obstacles like C-foam (camera-). The RB path for converting other brand lenses to the camera or its lenses to mirrorless is treacherou$. Heed Nature's warning $ign$.
Comment posted: 08/03/2024
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Sam Forrest on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 08/03/2024
I just wanted to add, I have a Mamiya 645 and I absolutely love it. I have one lens for it, the Mamiya-Sekor C 55mm f/2.8 N. Quite soft in the corners until f/5.6 but I enjoy the character of it anyway. I bought from KEH and when my body suffered the infamous mirror stop failure that plagues these cameras (google it if you are unfamiliar) they sent me a replacement body! Much like you describe, I love shooting with old cameras but don't have much interest in tinkering. For me, the extra money you spend buying from a reputable establishment is well worth it.
If the new 645 doesn't work out for you and you're stuck with the 80mm lens, let me know. I'd like to have a less-wide option for mine.
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Tony Warren on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
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grain_frame on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
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Carlo (nikarlo) on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 09/03/2024
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Dan Castelli on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 09/03/2024
We've all been there. Let's face it, eBay buying is a gamble. I'm a few years older than you. I found that carrying a canvas bag with a M series Leica, film, etc, while using a cane is difficult. I have a Leitz-Minolta CL as a back-up to my M2, and the CL has become my go to when I'm out shooting all day. They take m mount lenses, and the weight of the kit is kind to my spine and I like using them. I thought, time to buy a back-up CL.
I found a really good looking Leica CL a couple of months ago from a dealer in Austria. Hyped as a store with only 'curated' used cameras, I bought the CL. The first day I used it I found the focusing was off. I took the lens off the camera while sitting at my kitchen table. The actuating arm that follows the lens cam and the (very!) tiny locknut fell onto the table. So much for the camera being tested and adjusted by 'well trained technicians'.
So began the email dance back & forth. I asked the store to refund 50% of the cost. The CL is now in the hands of the very competent DAG camera repair. I took the time to look up the store on the internet before making the purchase. Nothing but praise for their high-quality used camera stock and first-rate service. They had a 100% customer rating. I did do my research into the seller. I checked the return policy. I still ended up with a less than perfect purchase.
As for B&H, I had an issue with a new lens purchase. They would not work with me. Now I get film & darkroom supplies from other vendors.
Comment posted: 09/03/2024
Graham Orbell on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 10/03/2024
Rolleiflex don’t have a complicated SLR moving mirror mechanism. The only mechanism they have apart from the shutter is the film wind on. The Rolleicord version of the Rolleiflex has an even more simple film wind on unlikely to have been abused by an enthusiastic professional.
If necessary a Rollei could easily be repaired by a watchmaker or by most people handy with tools. There are few people these days able to repair a medium format SLR, and even fewer parts available. I’ve got a 1933 Rolleiflex TLR in poor cosmetic condition that is still operational although I don’t use it. Also 1956 Rolleiflex and Rolleicord cameras working like new. There is nothing much to go wrong with them.
Buying old cameras I avoid complicated mechanisms and especially electronics. Electronics of course uses electricity and electricity causes electrolysis and electrolysis can cause corrosion of the electrical parts. Yours is a sad story and I’m sorry you had so many hassles
Comment posted: 10/03/2024
Eric on An eBay Bargain and Impulse Bought Tale of Woe
Comment posted: 15/03/2024
Comment posted: 15/03/2024