Mamiya 7ii - New Purchase - Question

Bromo33333 · Aug 23, 2006

I just got delivery of a Mamiya 7ii camera, and was looking it over and noticed that the back of the camera didn't close cleanly - it snaps closed rather than smoothly closed like I am used to on my Nikon FM2.

(The store I bought it from is willing to take it back no questions asked, and since it is a rather large outlay I want to make sure this camera is OK)

I am concerned that something might be wrong with this camera on day one. Does anyone have any expereince with this camera that could shed light on the subject?

Can anyone help? :confused:

MAGNAchrom · Aug 23, 2006

I have both a Mamiya 7 II and a Mamiya 7.

Not sure what you mean my "snap" vs. "smoothly" -- care to describe this more?

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Aug 23, 2006

Mine does the same thing. Its a fairly large door with a lot of seal area and not having spoken to Mamiya, it seems reasonable.

--Jeffrey

Bromo33333 said:
I just got delivery of a Mamiya 7ii camera, and was looking it over and noticed that the back of the camera didn't close cleanly - it snaps closed rather than smoothly closed like I am used to on my Nikon FM2.

(The store I bought it from is willing to take it back no questions asked, and since it is a rather large outlay I want to make sure this camera is OK)

I am concerned that something might be wrong with this camera on day one. Does anyone have any expereince with this camera that could shed light on the subject?

Can anyone help? :confused:

Greg_E · Aug 23, 2006

I have a type 7 body that closes with a good snap, looking at it I think it is opperating properly. It closes much more loudly than any of the smaller format cameras that I have. Might be normal.

Bromo33333 · Aug 23, 2006

Description of Mamiya "snapping" back cover

Following the directions in the manual...

With the back cover lock release button facing upward, we press both corners on the back cover to close. The manual states it should "click", but for us, it doesn't click, and we have to press quite hard to close the cover. When it is closing, it snaps shut, not even as good as a chintzy 35mm. If we don't press very hard, the cover will not close, and sometimes it won't close even if we press hard.

There is no information in the manual about doing anything other then pressing on the two corners of the back. We tried pressing the release button to loosen the latch hooks, but it made no difference.

Does this sound familiar?

JosBurke · Aug 23, 2006

Hmm! I'd question that bad fitting back!! I have a 7 II and it just smoothly snaps shut--I guess it could need a little adjustment but then I ask--WHY??---I'd tread carefully on that one---other than your issue at hand I'd also check the RF focused at infinity (actually focused at approx. 3000 ft) to ensure that its not out of spec. (both Hor. and Ver. alignment) as well--mine was off and I adjusted it but I also got a decent buy on mine. It's a fine, fine camera---actually it's the optics that impress me so!!! My sharpest MF by far---above my hassy Glass and my RolleiFlex glass !! SHARP and CONTRASTY And handholdable too!!

colrehogan · Aug 23, 2006

Is the plate on the inside of the back cover in the appropriate position, with 120 showing for 120 film and/or 220 showing for 220? I don't know about pressing the corners, I think I usually press in the middle and it closes easily. I've had mine for about six years.

JosBurke · Aug 23, 2006

I hope your not paying "new" price---check the "Buy It Now" ebay prices for new from Hong Kong. Lens choices--The 80 is great and the 65 is a terrific mild wide---the 65 is my first choice!!

Aggie · Aug 23, 2006

JosBurke said:
I hope your not paying "new" price---check the "Buy It Now" ebay prices for new from Hong Kong. Lens choices--The 80 is great and the 65 is a terrific mild wide---the 65 is my first choice!!

The Hong Kong guy is very high, for their prices over there. I had a friend in Hong Kong pick mine up from Tin Cheung. the 43, 80, 150 lenses, the camera, and 508 sekonic light meter cost me with shipping and customs, $3700 brand new. It's warrenty is also good in England.

My camera closes nicely with a good snap. It does it withoug a lot of pressure.

naturephoto1 · Aug 23, 2006

Aggie said:
The Hong Kong guy is very high, for their prices over there. I had a friend in Hong Kong pick mine up from Tin Cheung. the 43, 80, 150 lenses, the camera, and 508 sekonic light meter cost me with shipping and customs, $3700 brand new. It's warrenty is also good in England.

My camera closes nicely with a good snap. It does it withoug a lot of pressure.

Hi Aggie,

Just hope there is not a problem and you need to send the camera or lenses to MAC. As I understand it, they will not repair cameras brought into the US through any other source.

My Mamiya 7II also closes well with a good snap.

Rich

Bromo33333 · Aug 24, 2006

Mamiya 7ii

Thanks for all your help - it seems that this camera turned out it had been a 'demo' and it must have been damaged at some point. The salesperson at the shop sold it as a piece of 'new' gear when they should have sold it as a 'demo.' Aside from that it appeared to be in good shape (and indeed would have a MAC warranty), though I hadn't shot any film in it.

The shop owner has apologized profusely and offered to take the camera back with a full refund (including shipping - this outfit is really great and why I was willing to risk buying sight unseen) - and I intend to return it since my intention was to have something that was going to be reliable 'out of the box' and hence trying to buy new.

Again - thanks to everyone on this topic!

David Henderson · Aug 24, 2006

I have a six year old Mamiya 7ii which does and always has closed easily and decisively albeit not terribly quietly

Steve Hamley · Aug 24, 2006

For those of you needing service on gray items, have an authorized Mamiya dealer send it to MAC. The logic is that if dealers take equipment in trade, they're not going to immediately know if its gray or not, and if MAC doesn't service stuff from their dealers, there's going to be a lot of very mad authorized Mamiya dealers out there. With margins on new equipment what they are, it wouldn't take long for such a policy to cause major problems for MAC if they enforced that policy on dealers.

Thats what I did with a gray lens and they serviced it without a peep. Expensive though, about $450 for a new shutter in a 80mm lens.

Steve

Aggie · Aug 24, 2006

Like I said there is a warrenty that will be honored in England. I can send it to the European Mamiya reps to have it fixed. Thing is I've had it for 6 years also, and not a hint of a problem. It is a work horse and I use it alot.

Mamiya 7ii - New Purchase - Question

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