Learning advice from camera repairers

[cliveh]

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]

I was told Bronica.

 

[cliveh]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[guangong]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.