Am I cursed? Is it my magnetic personalty?

[summicron1]

I wonder, some times, if my joke about "I have such a magnetic personality I can fog film" has some truth in it. Electronic/electric cameras don't seem to like me.

The P&S digitals seem to survive ok, but anything more sophisticated buys the farm early on.

My Minox EC bit the dust and even DAG, through three tries, couldn't get it to work properly, or even at all. OK, I thought, pick up a Minox EL -- super sophisticated, well-made, high reputation.

And the shutter on it started being wonky. I mean, really?

The Minox 35s I had -- one I bought at a camera show, one someone gave me, worked a bit, then died.

Go bigger -- the Leica R-4 I picked up to fill in the gap while the SL2 was out for repairs. It seemed OK, serial number was high enough to avoid the bad ones, but it still, yes, has issues. Congenitally under-exposes. Yes, new batteries, new this, tried that, and when I put the motor winder on it, it would just quit working.

Why? I dunno.

And now the Mamiya 645 -- universally hailed in this very forum as bullet-proof. Someone gave it to me, I have no kick, but it was working fine, really just fine, and now it's not. Shutter opens, doesn't close. Low battery? Battery was new three months ago. Either buy another new batter or buy a new body, I guess. Fortunately, bodies for those are cheap, but still ... do I need this?

No.

Evil spirits? Haunted? I dunno.

Meanwhile, mechanical cameras just seem to go on and on -- the Leicas, the Kodak Panorama, everything in between. If it's mechanical, it likes me.

If it's electronic, it goes flooey.

Anyone out there got an exorcist handy?

 

[pentaxuser]

Anything is possible. Mickey Rooney wandered into the Nevada desert during an atomic bomb test, found a house and was making himself some toast when the bomb went off. He managed to get to what remained of the front door with a burnt piece of toast and said that he must have had the toaster turned up too much

Anyway he made it to Las Vegas and the radiation in him helped to empty every fruit machine he passed. You are not a million miles away in Utah. I'd jump on a plane. Magnetism might be as good

Mickey came to APUG and asked what damage the radiation might have done his body. Some sent flowers and hoped they arrived on time but others said that a little piece of burnt toast never hurt anyone but he should not carry D3200 film on his person for a few days in case of fogging

pentaxuser

 

[RobC]

Yes, you're cursed.

 

[Rick A]

I could never wear wind up watches, they always stopped within one day of putting one on. My father was always perplexed by it. Even now days, battery operated watches die rather quickly when I wear them.

 

[Sewin]

I could never wear wind up watches, they always stopped within one day of putting one on. My father was always perplexed by it. Even now days, battery operated watches die rather quickly when I wear them.

I had the same problem in the 70's and was informed by someone to stick an Elastoplast on the back of the watch,never tried it though.

 

[ron917]

And now the Mamiya 645 -- universally hailed in this very forum as bullet-proof. Someone gave it to me, I have no kick, but it was working fine, really just fine, and now it's not. Shutter opens, doesn't close. Low battery? Battery was new three months ago. Either buy another new batter or buy a new body, I guess. Fortunately, bodies for those are cheap, but still ... do I need this?

This is how Mamiya 645s behave when the battery is low, dead or missing.

A battery is cheaper than another body, normally - but not always. I paid $5 for my Mamiy 645E with 55mm f/2.8, 120 insert, rapid winder grip and strap. The seller thought it was junk due to a stuck open shutter and mirror. New battery fixed it

 

[Saganich]

It's the Pauli effect. See here. Be glad it isn't worse!

http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/dreamgates/2014/07/the-pauli-effect-on-the-pauli-effect.html

 

[summicron1]

This is how Mamiya 645s behave when the battery is low, dead or missing.

A battery is cheaper than another body, normally - but not always. I paid $5 for my Mamiy 645E with 55mm f/2.8, 120 insert, rapid winder grip and strap. The seller thought it was junk due to a stuck open shutter and mirror. New battery fixed it

I've tried three separate batteries in it now, so I think I can rule that out.

What the heck, may just get another body and see if that works. The thing about the Pauli effect worries me, though. Better get it from someone with a good warranty.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you wrote Minox B, Leica M4, Hasselblad - I would be somewhat surprised.
But:

Minox EC, EL, Leica R-4, Mamiya 645...

I'm not surprised at all.

Stop buying cameras which became junk due to the aging of electronics, whats all.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The solution to your problem is to sell off the cameras that you have and buy a new set of cameras that are all mechanical. We can help you pick out your new collection, just get your credit card ready so that we can help you even faster.

 

[summicron1]

The solution to your problem is to sell off the cameras that you have and buy a new set of cameras that are all mechanical. We can help you pick out your new collection, just get your credit card ready so that we can help you even faster.

Oh I have lots of mechanical cameras, Sirius. Your are talking to the SAG master. I shoot vintage Leica, rollei and was fondling the Graflex XL just last night.

As I said earlier, the mamiya came to me free, if I hadn't spent $130 on the wide angle lens for it I would just box it and forget it.

Are there any mechanical cameras that use these lenses?

 

[summicron1]

If you wrote Minox B, Leica M4, Hasselblad - I would be somewhat surprised.
But:

I'm not surprised at all.

Stop buying cameras which became junk due to the aging of electronics, whats all.

Words of wisdom.