Mamiya C220F issues, need advice!

Jim17x · Sep 16, 2015

I just received the c220f today that i bought on ebay listed as "excellent condition".. When i opened the package i noticed that the knob to open the back was broken off and laying in the box! And also when i try to focus close up the bellows draw the the rail and lens back into the camera.. Can i replace the knob? Is there something im missing that is causing the bellows to draw back into the camera?

Thank you.

wy2l · Sep 16, 2015

Possibly broken in shipment. Suggest you seek releif from the shipper.

Jim17x · Sep 16, 2015

Im waiting to hear back from the seller. I want to keep the camera because it has the latest 80mm blue dot lens in mint condition on it. Im hoping to get some moisture back in the bellows because i think its very dry and thats causing the bellows to retract. Im sure i can make a tool of some kind to pop open the back but i would prefer to find a knob for it if its still available.

Sirius Glass · Sep 16, 2015

I hope that you get the problems worked out to your satisfaction.

xya · Sep 16, 2015

I have several 220 and 330 cameras and a bunch of lenses. I have never come across a camera that retracts from close focussing. there is enough friction to prevent this. IMHO there is a hype about "blue dot" lenses. I could not see any difference between those that I own, blue dot or none-blue-dot, but I have seen a lot of blue dots painted by the sellers. if you feel any doubt about your camera, just send it back.

C series cameras are not expensive any more, nevertheless they are wonderful work horses. I prefer 330 cameras, for me they are easier to handle.

Jim17x · Sep 16, 2015

xya said:
I have several 220 and 330 cameras and a bunch of lenses. I have never come across a camera that retracts from close focussing. there is enough friction to prevent this. IMHO there is a hype about "blue dot" lenses. I could not see any difference between those that I own, blue dot or none-blue-dot, but I have seen a lot of blue dots painted by the sellers. if you feel any doubt about your camera, just send it back.

C series cameras are not expensive any more, nevertheless they are wonderful work horses. I prefer 330 cameras, for me they are easier to handle.

Besides the retraction issue they also push out a bit when you fully retract them. Im thinking that the bellows are no longer flexible. I had a blue dot lens some years back and loved it so decided to go the same route again.

Jim17x · Sep 16, 2015

I might have worded the retraction issue wrong.. It doesn't retract all the way back, it goes back anywhere from a 1/4 to 3/4 of a knob turn.

MattKing · Sep 16, 2015

Jim17x said:
I might have worded the retraction issue wrong.. It doesn't retract all the way back, it goes back anywhere from a 1/4 to 3/4 of a knob turn.

Sounds like someone has added lubricant to the focussing system where lubricant shouldn't be.

grahamp · Sep 17, 2015

The focus should rack in and out without slippage, and stay where you leave it. There is potential for adjustment, but...

The C220f uses the same spool stud release for the back as the C330s. It is damn hard to work around it. I have heard of people doing a replacement, but it depends what the damage is, and whether you want to mess around.

'Blue dot' refers to the last series of the Seiko shutter. In theory there are parts for those around, while the older black Seikos may need cannibalized parts. Mind you, a lot of shutters are no longer in production, and have exceeded the planned parts support period.

Since the glass can be swapped easily, and a touch of blue paint can look like the enamel, a description won't mean a lot.

Jim17x · Sep 18, 2015

grahamp said:
The focus should rack in and out without slippage, and stay where you leave it. There is potential for adjustment, but...

The C220f uses the same spool stud release for the back as the C330s. It is damn hard to work around it. I have heard of people doing a replacement, but it depends what the damage is, and whether you want to mess around.

'Blue dot' refers to the last series of the Seiko shutter. In theory there are parts for those around, while the older black Seikos may need cannibalized parts. Mind you, a lot of shutters are no longer in production, and have exceeded the planned parts support period.

Since the glass can be swapped easily, and a touch of blue paint can look like the enamel, a description won't mean a lot.

There is no slippage. Its like the bellows are so tight that they start to pull the rails back in when fully extended. I can deal with the spool and back release and im hoping to get some moisture back into the bellows. The lens is the last 80mm they made and it in mint condition without a single speck of dust in it and the all shutter speeds are spot on so in the worst cast i can just put the lens on another body.

Mamiya C220F issues, need advice!

Jim17x

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