Mamiya RZ67 lens cleaning in the UK, recommendations and price guide

[Simonh82]

I've just received an ebay purchase of a Mamiya RZ67 pro ii with 110mm, 50mm and 180mm lenses. Despite the seller saying all were clean and free of fungus, guess what, they are all far from as described. The 180mm is the worst with really quite bad fungus in several spots in the centre of the lens. The 50mm has a tiny spot of fungus not far of the centre and is generally hazy and the 110mm has all over haze and dust and a tiny spot of fungus right on the edge of an internal element. I was really quite shocked at the state of the lenses when I received them as they hadn't even bothered to give the front and rear elements a clean, they were covered in dust. To say that I am not happy is an understatement, especially as return postage with appropriate insurance for this lot will cost a small fortune. I am 99% sure that I will be sending them back but I am gutted to have to start searching again when I thought I had found a bargain.

Just so I have an idea, can anyone recommend a UK based camera repairer who you would be happy to recommend for RZ lens CLAs and if so, what kind of ball park figure might I be looking at to have them cleaned. I would like to be armed with this knowledge, if nothing else to impress upon them that cleaning probably isn't even a viable option.

Thanks, Simon

 

[ruby.monkey]

JD Cam Tech is one I used a while back. He did good work servicing my RZ Pro II.

Better check he's still working, though - t'was five or six years ago, and he wasn't a young man then.

 

[film_man]

I would definitely return them as the fungus may have caused damage, even if they clean it it may have eaten into the glass.

If you still want to go ahead Aperture (behind Tottenham Court Rd) can probably fix it but you're looking at £100-150 per lens. There is also Sendean in Soho and Farringdon which can fix nearly anything but they are expensive and I don't trust them. Last item I took to them they claimed to have fixed when it was obvious they didn't even open it. Eventually they fixed it and it was perfect but I wouldn't go there again. But you may be luckier.

 

[Xmas]

Purchase a spanner wrench.

 

[Simonh82]

Thanks all. Servicing doesn't seem like an economic option. The 50mm and 180mm lenses cost less than £200 combined and it is £165 for a service from JD Cam Tech.

Xmas, I did look at lens disassembly instructions but given that I managed to irreparably damage the film door on my C330, just changing the light seals I really fear the damage that I could inflict on a lens.

 

[Xmas]

Thanks all. Servicing doesn't seem like an economic option. The 50mm and 180mm lenses cost less than £200 combined and it is £165 for a service from JD Cam Tech.

Xmas, I did look at lens disassembly instructions but given that I managed to irreparably damage the film door on my C330, just changing the light seals I really fear the damage that I could inflict on a lens.

Ok fair do.

You remove old foam with a used chop stick?

 

[Simonh82]

Xmas, I had the appropriate kit, what I didn't do was remove the door from the camera body and this made it awkward to work with. I tried to unscrew a microscrew holding the pressure plate on and it snapped off leaving a small portion behind. I ended up having to find a parts body and scavenged the back door from that.

I didn't realise the door is designed to easily come off and reattach without any screws etc. An expensive an annoying mistake but I leave camera repairs to the Pro's now.

 

[EdSawyer]

Return them. those lenses are common (as far as RZ lenses go) - no sense not having perfect ones, given the low values they bring these days.

 

[Simonh82]

Return them. those lenses are common (as far as RZ lenses go) - no sense not having perfect ones, given the low values they bring these days.

I've decided to keep the camera and 110mm lens that it came with. It was in the best condition of the three, although still far from 'very clean' and the camera was a good deal. They even threw in a spare back for free. The 50mm and 180mm will go back and I'll keep my eye out for replacements. I'll also look out for a 110mm in good condition at a reasonable price. They seem to go for more than a lot of the other lenses, possibly because lots of people are selling spare bodies.