Is it possible for the film to advance in a Mamiya RZ67 without the shutter firing?

[Gabe]

I just sold my Mamiya rz67 to someone and they’re saying that it’s not firing. I’ve been trying to work them through all the steps of firing a Mamiya RZ, but unfortunately they say it’s still not working. The buyer says the film counter is advancing but the shutter isn’t going off. Is that possible? If it is are there any possible fixes?

 

[xya]

My first idea: this isn't a good start at all. Get the camera back, refund the buyer, test it again and sell it to someone else. Every other solution may end in a compromise and both feel to have been cheated, the buyer ans the seller.

 

[Gabe]

My first idea: this isn't a good start at all. Get the camera back, refund the buyer, test it again and sell it to someone else. Every other solution may end in a compromise and both feel to have been cheated, the buyer ans the seller.

The buyer sent over videos and it does look like USPS roughed it up in transit. One of the focusing knobs fell off the body so it seems like they were definitely rough with it. Luckily I insured the camera and the buyer is wanting to keep it and look into getting it repaired and opening a claim with USPS.

 

[awty]

They say they advance the film without the camera shutter firing?
I don't know if that is possible.
There a multiple reasons that stop the shutter from firing, but you still can't advance the film before it fires.
There not getting confused with the lens not firing?
The focus knob is just held in by a screw, which has probably just come loose.
Always double box your camera and make absolutely sure that everything is tightly packed in foam.

 

[mshchem]

I just sold my Mamiya rz67 to someone and they’re saying that it’s not firing. I’ve been trying to work them through all the steps of firing a Mamiya RZ, but unfortunately they say it’s still not working. The buyer says the film counter is advancing but the shutter isn’t going off. Is that possible? If it is are there any possible fixes?

Is the film counter advancing with or without film? I would put in a fresh battery.

Knob falling off is weird. Good luck with USPS. I've heard nothing good about filing claims. USPS has been doing OK lately, at least by my experience.

I would use FedEx (Express), even these guys will smash things. A good friend of mine had a camera shop for 40 years, he always packed cameras expecting the box would be thrown about.

A lot of the time it's the last 5 miles, or last 100 feet that breaks something.

 

[AgX]

USPS in a case of claim first replied with a nonsense message, then replied no futher at all on detailed e-mails.

I considered a claim at the US Postmaster, but in the end decided to accept the loss than to get stressed any longer, going in circles.

 

[wiltw]

I just sold my Mamiya rz67 to someone and they’re saying that it’s not firing. I’ve been trying to work them through all the steps of firing a Mamiya RZ, but unfortunately they say it’s still not working. The buyer says the film counter is advancing but the shutter isn’t going off. Is that possible? If it is are there any possible fixes?

It is possible, as that happened to my Bronica ETRSi...like the Mamiya it uses the Seiko shutter. This is what actually occurred with my camera, as diagnosed by the importer of Bronica to US in the early 1990's...

1. The Seiko shutter is actually triggered to open mechanically by a swinging arm...it only closes via electrical signal from the shutter timing circuit
2. The mechanical arm only moves fully if the reflex mirror moves fully upward
3. The reflex mirror moving fully upward can be prevented from occurring if the film-advance interlock pin in the film back is too long
4. My shutter would sometimes fire, and sometimes not..not influenced by which lens was mounted!

In my case, GMI Photographic had me send in both body and film back (I had purchased the film back used) in order to adjust things. I have suspicion that other mechanical linkage issues inside the body might similarly interfere with shutter firiing. Given the commonality of the Seiko shutter, that kind of issue could be occurring with your camera.

 

[Mamiya_Repair]

The buyer sent over videos and it does look like USPS roughed it up in transit. One of the focusing knobs fell off the body so it seems like they were definitely rough with it. Luckily I insured the camera and the buyer is wanting to keep it and look into getting it repaired and opening a claim with USPS.

The focusing knobs on the RZ don't just fall off. They are threaded onto the focus shaft with a long thread and then held with a nut. In every case of a focus knob loose from the body that I have seen, it has been a snapped off focus shaft. This is caused by impact damage and I do see it quite often on cameras that have been shipped and handled roughly.