Mamiya RZ67

mindwar · Aug 22, 2012

Hello,
My first post on this AWSOME forum.
Now the problem. Just bought a Mamiya RZ67 as my first medium format camera and having a bit of trouble with it.
The manual states that without film loaded, the camera should work in the M (multiple exposure mode). Now, switching to M allows me to fire off a shot, the lens opens for the right amount of time set on the shutter speed dial and closes after exposure. Right after this i can't advance/cock as the lever sticks. Now i did find that pressing the shutter button a few times more allows me to re-advance/re-cock and re-shoot (still in M mode). The lever advances OK every time when in mechanical 1/400 mode. What could be at fault? Note that i've not loaded a roll yet so this might be a retarded question but please bear with me .
Thanks!

EdSawyer · Aug 22, 2012

Try it with/without a back, and with back at different orientations. sounds like minor jamming of film advance coupler in the back possibly?

mindwar · Aug 22, 2012

same deal without the back. body in M mode will only cock/fire once, then the lever doesn't want to move. i did just notice that after the lever jams, if i dont "play" with the shutter button for about a minute the body will start buzzing. it will stop after i press the shutter button for a bit (just as if i'd do it before the buzzing starts). when i do this i do hear a sound (probably a interlock somewhere) and everything works again.

Marc B. · Aug 22, 2012

You have a problem. If you are able to return the camera for a refund...do so!
If not, your problem can be addressed during a complete CLA.
The CLA will be an outlay of approx another $140-$165/USD.

Marc

mindwar · Aug 22, 2012

a CLA would definitely set me back more then i wanted to spend. so i'll probably contact the seller to arrange a return if nobody has a better advice..

polyglot · Aug 22, 2012

If the camera buzzes, it means that it thinks the shutter did not fire; it won't let you advance until the shutter has fired because doing otherwise can cause a jam. Since you say the shutter did open for the correct time, the problem is either the lens contacts or in communication with the body. Try cleaning the lens and body electrical contacts and try a different lens. Otherwise, you will need to return it.

mindwar · Aug 22, 2012

yeah. the shutter speeds seem OK. will go through a roll tomorrow and see if all is good with the speeds. the camera seems to be able to actually take pictures, the process is just so slow heh.
will give cleaning the contacts a try tomorrow. I will have a Z 180mm that should be arriving next week so could try with that.
in the mean time i'll also give a friends' 180KL a try. I'm thinking all should be good with that lens since it has no contacts and is all mechanical, right?

Really appreciate the time everyone took to give a suggestion.. like i said this place is awsome, only hope is i'll sort out the camera soon so i'll be able to post a couple of shots heh.

EdSawyer · Aug 22, 2012

Fresh battery?

mindwar · Aug 22, 2012

first thing that got checked. couldn't find a replacement 4LR44 so used 4 x LR44 inside the old battery's housing. voltage was measured to be good, battery indicator shoes a steady red light and shutter speeds seem to be OK which shouldn't be possible without a working battery as far as the manual says. i'll order a proper 4LR44, though, just to scratch that off the list.

Ratboy · Aug 22, 2012

That's a sucky problem. I never have a use for multiple exposure, but that's just sucky.

Does the same issue occur in normal shooting mode?

I remember the first week with my RZ, I loaded the film on the right side instead of the left, not knowing I had to move the take-up spool over each time, and it being a very confusing day!

mindwar · Aug 23, 2012

yep happens in normal shooting mode also. loaded up a roll and same deal. i'll try cleaning the contacts to see if that helps and try with a different lens later today

mindwar · Aug 23, 2012

ok. cleaning the lens/body contacts didn't seem to help. i'll have to see if a different lens does the trick

raccou · Aug 23, 2012

I had some troubles once that sounded like yours: my problem was that the thing where you screw in the cable release on the lens wasn't fully retracted in to the lens, causing the everything to work ok, but taking some time after the camera was fired until I could recock the camera. Did you check that already?

mindwar · Aug 23, 2012

hm. it seems to be sticking out very slightly. i'll have to try this out too if i can find a cable somewhere

polyglot · Aug 23, 2012

If the lens' cable release isn't screwed in properly (usually you can see a little of the red ring in this case) then the shutter won't fire at all until you screw that in or poke it with a release cable. Given that the shutter is actuating when the main button is pushed, that indicates that the lens' cable release is not the problem.

mindwar · Aug 24, 2012

tried this with a friend's KL180. safe to asume its the body, right?.

polyglot · Aug 25, 2012

A K/L? That's a mechanical RB lens (with the shutter speed being selected on the lens instead of the camera), is it not? I believe you need to use a special adapter between the lens and body for that to behave properly because the RB lenses are not electronic.

I think when using an RB lens on an RZ you need to make a specific setting (maybe the red dot, maybe B; I don't recall) on the camera's shutter speed dial. Get the manual from butkus and read it, the details are in there somewhere.

Try it with a proper RZ lens before deciding that the body is broken.

mindwar · Aug 25, 2012

the KL lens (and a C) that i tested seem to work as expected regardless of any shutter setting selected on the body (the speed on the lens is the one is shot). i do believe the RZ II has a RBL setting on the shutter speed dial on the camera but no such thing on the original RZ.
when using a KL or C lens in the orange dot mode the camera works just fine (the time selected on the lens is used regardless of the time on the camera's shutter speed dial and i get no jam when advancing). if i switch to normal mode i get the same jam as with an electronic lens.
anyways i'll be getting a Z 180 this week and see how that works out.

cheers and thanks for taking the time to help out!

Mamiya RZ67

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