Mamiya 7 II does not shoot anymore

Thorsten · Jul 25, 2015

Hi guys.

I have a problem with my Mamiya 7II. It was working perfectly last time I used it (about a month ago). Now it does not open the shutter anymore and I am wondering if I do some mistake or if it is a big fault of the camera.

The internal 'darkslide' is open, the lens is properly attached, the shutter is cocked, the battery is fresh, the exposure meter gives a reading in auto and it blinks in a reading if I am not in auto, yet the camera won't shoot. The red LED in the lower left, that should be constantly on if the slide is closed, no lens is attached or if the shutter is not cocked ist constantly on but I can see no reason for that.

I tried it with two different lenses (65mm and 43mm).

Does anyone have any idea, what I might check or what might be the probelm?

Thanks a lot and best regards.

michaelbothager · Jul 25, 2015

Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but you've loaded a film in the camera? No film, and the shutter won't fire, unless you enable the multi-exposure.

Rgds
Michael

Thorsten · Jul 25, 2015

michaelbothager said:
Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but you've loaded a film in the camera? No film, and the shutter won't fire, unless you enable the multi-exposure.

Rgds
Michael

Yes, the camera does not shoot without film OR if the back is open. Tried both. Open back, no shoot; loaded a roll of Ektar, no shoot.

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2015

Well welcome to APUG anyway. Maybe someone here can help you.

Thorsten · Jul 26, 2015

OK guys, now I am confused.

The camera is working again, but only without tripod quick release.

A few days ago I purchased a very nice Acratech tripod head system including a quick release plate for Mamiya 6/7/7II cameras. Unlike the Manfrotto plate I used until now this plate is cut in a way that it does not block any of the bottom elements that are needed to operate the Mamiyas. It is connected to the camera using an Allen key. So I assume I tightend the screw more than I did using the hand operated screw of the Manfrotto plate.

As I wanted to contact the Mamiya service I removed the plate yesterday afternoon to read the serial number. I did not put the plate back afterwards. Now guess how surprised I was when I looked through the the camera again some time later and the red blocking light was off. The camera worked again perfectly. I reattached the quick release tightly and the camera stopped working again.

I tried it several times. If the quick release plate is connected very tightly, the camera does not work. If it is not attached or if the screw is not screwed in too tightly, the camera works.

Now please, tell me that any of you people has any suitable explanation for this.

trythis · Jul 26, 2015

I've never seen one in person but I am going to guess that the pressure applied by tightening the screw is deforming the body enough to short a circuit inside.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

MattKing · Jul 26, 2015

I would suggest contacting Acratech to see if they have any perspective on this.

John Koehrer · Jul 27, 2015

Until you hear from Acratech, you could try putting a spacer between the body and plate. Something like the cardboard from a pad of paper should do. You don't even need to cut it to size to try it. rip off a corner & cut a hole. If it works, make a fancy one.

Keith Pitman · Jul 29, 2015

My guess is the screw is too long for the socket in your camera. As suggested, use a washer to "shorten" the screw, or get a shorter screw at the hardware store.

jochen · Jul 30, 2015

Hello,
some days ago i have read exactly the same problem in the German aphog forum. A quick release plate was mounted with an Inbus screw and the shutter did not fire, if the plate was removed, it worked again. Maybe the srew as too long or the force by the thread and the torque of the Inbus wrench was too strong. Maybe the body was deformed. It seems to be not very rugged this camera.
Comment: Exactly the same problem was posted by a person "Thorsten Latz" in the Aphog forum, he seems to be identical with the user "Krefey".

john_s · Jul 30, 2015

I use a similar plate from either RRS or Kirk, I can't remember, on my Mamiya7II and don't have this problem. I tighten the screw pretty tightly. Using a pad could negate the effectiveness of the intimate plate/body connection. Plates with rubber or cork pads can allow movement. Maybe it's the length of the screw, as suggested above.

Thorsten · Aug 4, 2015

jochen said:
Hello,
some days ago i have read exactly the same problem in the German aphog forum. A quick release plate was mounted with an Inbus screw and the shutter did not fire, if the plate was removed, it worked again. Maybe the srew as too long or the force by the thread and the torque of the Inbus wrench was too strong. Maybe the body was deformed. It seems to be not very rugged this camera.
Comment: Exactly the same problem was posted by a person "Thorsten Latz" in the Aphog forum, he seems to be identical with the user "Krefey".

Absolutely correct, Jochen. I do not see any problem with asking a question in a national board and in an international board at the same time, after all I want to get some replies.

And yes, the Mamiya 7II is quite well known as a camera that is not the most rugged machine in the world. it is a camera that offers maximal image quality in the smallest package with several great lenses but it is not built to survive mistreatment easily. The body is mostly made of plastic. If you treat it friendly, it will give you great results. It is the perfect travel camera. I own a great Hasselblad 501cm with 60 (not wide enough), 80 and 150 Zeiss lenses but for air travel I will always choose the Mamiya 7II with 43mm, 65mm and 150mm lenses. It fits in a really small camera bag.

jochen · Aug 5, 2015

Thank you for your comments

Thank you for your comments. I think they are very helpful for users and future users of the Mamiya 7 II.
Jochen

TheHat · Dec 13, 2016

Krefey said:
OK guys, now I am confused.

The camera is working again, but only without tripod quick release.

A few days ago I purchased a very nice Acratech tripod head system including a quick release plate for Mamiya 6/7/7II cameras. Unlike the Manfrotto plate I used until now this plate is cut in a way that it does not block any of the bottom elements that are needed to operate the Mamiyas. It is connected to the camera using an Allen key. So I assume I tightend the screw more than I did using the hand operated screw of the Manfrotto plate.

As I wanted to contact the Mamiya service I removed the plate yesterday afternoon to read the serial number. I did not put the plate back afterwards. Now guess how surprised I was when I looked through the the camera again some time later and the red blocking light was off. The camera worked again perfectly. I reattached the quick release tightly and the camera stopped working again.

I tried it several times. If the quick release plate is connected very tightly, the camera does not work. If it is not attached or if the screw is not screwed in too tightly, the camera works.

Now please, tell me that any of you people has any suitable explanation for this.

Hi. I found this thread when I was trying to work out what the hell was wrong with my Mamiya. I'm experiencing exactly the same issue, except the tripod screw is triggering the shutter rather the stopping the camera from working. Firstly, thank you - your post saved me a lot of head scratching. Secondly - just wondering if you managed to get to the bottom of it. Did you get it CLA'd? Thanks!

moto-uno · Dec 13, 2016

Please stop spreading crap about the body being made of plastic , covering a metal frame in plastic does not make it a
plastic camera . That's my rant , as mine has proven to be trouble free and I'm not one to use silk gloves when operating
cameras . Peter

Kirks518 · Dec 13, 2016

moto-uno, did you actually read any of this thread, or did you just assume there was bad-mouthing about the camera? Nowhere in this thread do I see where anyone comments on the construction, design, or quality of the camera.

Sirius Glass · Dec 13, 2016

I never said that the body was made of plastic.

Peter Schrager · Dec 13, 2016

Aside from the op question mine has proven itself in perfect photographs everytime (well almost)..I presume if you drop a Hasselblad on the sidewalk you may ascertain problems
Now back to helping this person out...let's not quibble amongst ourselves!

moto-uno · Dec 13, 2016

On his Aug 4 (Krefey) entry he states "the body is mostly made of plastic", middle of the third sentence . Sorry for the outburst , Peter

lifeandmylens · Oct 26, 2023

Thorsten said:
OK guys, now I am confused.

The camera is working again, but only without tripod quick release.

A few days ago I purchased a very nice Acratech tripod head system including a quick release plate for Mamiya 6/7/7II cameras. Unlike the Manfrotto plate I used until now this plate is cut in a way that it does not block any of the bottom elements that are needed to operate the Mamiyas. It is connected to the camera using an Allen key. So I assume I tightend the screw more than I did using the hand operated screw of the Manfrotto plate.

As I wanted to contact the Mamiya service I removed the plate yesterday afternoon to read the serial number. I did not put the plate back afterwards. Now guess how surprised I was when I looked through the the camera again some time later and the red blocking light was off. The camera worked again perfectly. I reattached the quick release tightly and the camera stopped working again.

I tried it several times. If the quick release plate is connected very tightly, the camera does not work. If it is not attached or if the screw is not screwed in too tightly, the camera works.

Now please, tell me that any of you people has any suitable explanation for this.

I know this is years old, but here I am 8 years later with the exact same tripod plate and problem on my Mamiya 7. Took off the tripod plate and all of sudden it started working perfectly again. Changed out the screw on the Acratech plate with a screw from my other generic plate and now it works perfectly. Seems the screw that comes with it is too long and causes a problem.

Pieter12 · Oct 26, 2023

Use a shorter screw, or put a washer under the screw head so it doesn't push into the body. Putting the washer between the plate and the body just makes it easier for the camera to unintentionally rotate on the mounting plate. The original Rollei Hy6 autofocus would malfunction if the tripod mounting screw was too long and pushed the body against the cameras internal circuitry.

250swb · Oct 26, 2023

It's the problem you find with sexy brands that cost a lot of money, when a simple Manfrotto QR plate and head works out of the box with a Mamiya 7. Grind some excess off the screw which will stop the camera distorting.

MTGseattle · Oct 27, 2023

If you're having this issue and your local hardware spot cannot get you a shorter screw that is appropriate, get some type of washers in there as spacers. Or, as 250swb says, file some length off of that screw.

ssab123 · Jan 21, 2024

lifeandmylens said:
I know this is years old, but here I am 8 years later with the exact same tripod plate and problem on my Mamiya 7. Took off the tripod plate and all of sudden it started working perfectly again. Changed out the screw on the Acratech plate with a screw from my other generic plate and now it works perfectly. Seems the screw that comes with it is too long and causes a problem.

Did you end up fixing this/find a solution? I'm having the exact same problem at the moment. Not firing when hooked up to tripod plate, but working fine when hand-held.

lifeandmylens · Feb 13, 2024

ssab123 said:
Did you end up fixing this/find a solution? I'm having the exact same problem at the moment. Not firing when hooked up to tripod plate, but working fine when hand-held.

Yes sorry for the delay. Just needed a shorter screw.

Mamiya 7 II does not shoot anymore

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency