Learning advice from camera repairers

cliveh · Oct 29, 2023

Many years ago, I was talking to a camera repairer who was in his late 60’s or early 70’s and I asked him what camera have you noticed breakdowns the most? He replied Mamiya. This was only one guys opinion for that location and so I am not saying that you could extrapolate that worldwide. But it did make me wonder.

BrianShaw · Oct 29, 2023

I was told Bronica.

cliveh · Oct 29, 2023

BrianShaw said:
I was told Bronica.

With the sound they make when you press the shutter, I'm not surprised. It's like a bomb going off.

250swb · Oct 29, 2023

cliveh said:
Many years ago, I was talking to a camera repairer who was in his late 60’s or early 70’s and I asked him what camera have you noticed breakdowns the most? He replied Mamiya. This was only one guys opinion for that location and so I am not saying that you could extrapolate that worldwide. But it did make me wonder.

Wonder about what after so many years? If it's been that long you must surely have come to a conclusion, unless you just want to throw a grenade with the hope nobody throws it back?

guangong · Oct 29, 2023

In the early 1960s one of the US consumer magazines did a survey of major repair shops about which cameras they repaired most. The magazine concluded that the worst 35mm cameras were Nikon and Leica. What was not considered was that these were the work horse cameras of the day.
Most people wouldn’t even bother to get a less robust cheaper camera repaired so repair shops would seldom see them.
For the record, my1964 Nikon F + lens ($150 brand new in Japan) is still going strong.

cliveh · Oct 29, 2023

250swb said:
Wonder about what after so many years? If it's been that long you must surely have come to a conclusion, unless you just want to throw a grenade with the hope nobody throws it back?

I am not throwing a grenade in anywhere, but I have never owned a Mamiya.

Steven Lee · Oct 29, 2023

The most common cameras show up for repairs more frequently. That's obvious. @cliveh where's the advice promised in the title?

guangong · Oct 29, 2023

The one lesson I learn from camera technicians is to let the technician do the repairs. Unless you are one of the many on Photrio who enjoy exploring the inner workings of camera, I let the professional do the work.
However, I do enjoy reading about their repair work.

Sirius Glass · Oct 29, 2023

guangong said:
The one lesson I learn from camera technicians is to let the technician do the repairs. Unless you are one of the many on Photrio who enjoy exploring the inner workings of camera, I let the professional do the work.
However, I do enjoy reading about their repair work.

I agree. Except for using the Hasselblad tool to recock a lens, I will not touch a tool to any of my cameras.

guangong · Oct 30, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I agree. Except for using the Hasselblad tool to recock a lens, I will not touch a tool to any of my cameras.

We share the same toolkit.

cliveh · Oct 30, 2023

Steven Lee said:
The most common cameras show up for repairs more frequently. That's obvious. @cliveh where's the advice promised in the title?

The advise for me was not to buy a Mamiya.

btaylor · Oct 30, 2023

The low cost 35mm Mamiya SLRs did not have a great reputation for quality and sturdiness as I recall. The medium format cameras and lenses were (are!) professional grade. That’s been my experience, though I’ve only owned the MF cameras.

Learning advice from camera repairers

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