See the MD2 I just stole

sissysphoto · Jun 23, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401554217707
Looky. I wonder what could be wrong with it. I had bought from Robert's Camera before and was very happy. I wonder what the trouble could be. Maybe a bad gear? The last time I bought from them the purchase was supposed to be broken. But it wasn't.

Huss · Jun 23, 2018

You only stole it if it works! But reading their description it sounds you got a handle of parts.
Good luck - maybe they just didn't test it.

sissysphoto · Jun 23, 2018

Oh I'm sure I will fix it. I don't buy working things. They're boring.

Theo Sulphate · Jun 23, 2018

Maybe just battery contacts need cleaning.

4season · Jun 23, 2018

Possibly broken plastic gears:
Dead Link Removed
Have seen that on F motor drives too: Pinion gear on motor shaft tended to split over time, and when that happens, the drive might still be functional, but noisier than it should be.

sissysphoto · Jun 23, 2018

4season said:
Possibly broken plastic gears:
Dead Link Removed
Have seen that on F motor drives too: Pinion gear on motor shaft tended to split over time, and when that happens, the drive might still be functional, but noisier than it should be.

Thanks for the lead. I just bought an F2 foam kit from him and it was excellent. It was also pretty difficult to install. In fact I think I'll make a thread on that for the archives.

sissysphoto · Jun 26, 2018

As it turns out, the MD 2 works just fine. It's the MB1 battery pack that wasn't working, but its just a battery pack, and not corroded
How much trouble can that be to get working? This is the second time I've bought something from Roberts Photo that was advertised non working and ended up just fine. Yes the glass crystal on the battery check meter on the battery pack was broken just like advertised, but I'm sure I can fashion something to replace it. Happy customer .

Rick A · Jun 27, 2018

Battery packs are generally straight forward to repair, check for contact points that may have come off or corroded. I bought a Bronica SQaM body for cost of shipping for the same reason, five minutes later I had the battery pack repaired and body functioning. Damned great camera, albeit heavy as hell.

sissysphoto · Jun 27, 2018

I t turned out the MB1 battery pack is ok too. I simply put the 2 battery holders in and slipped them back out 3 or 4 times figuring that maybe the contacts might be a little tarnished and simply needed clearing and I was right. It now works perfectly. As for the broken glass over the battery check meter I believe I found a watch crystal online for a few dollars that will work perfectly. So, for s grand total of $64 including shipping I have an MD2 + MB1 in perfect working condition. Every other one I had seen was at least $180 for anything decent.

Kino · Jun 27, 2018

As Mr. Burns on the Simpsons says..." I like the cut of your jib"!

I love buying broken stuff and fixing it, even if I don't succeed every time; It's worth the gamble to me.

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

it's a fairly primitive device. My only concerns would be gears or capacitors.

BrianShaw · Jun 27, 2018

I had a similar experience with a MD-4. It wasn’t powering on and I thought it gave up the ghost. But a minor adjustment of the electrical connectors on the battery holders put it all back into operation.

Congratulations on your success. I, too, like buying broken and fixing.

Huss · Jun 29, 2018

sissysphoto said:
As it turns out, the MD 2 works just fine. It's the MB1 battery pack that wasn't working, but its just a battery pack, and not corroded
How much trouble can that be to get working? This is the second time I've bought something from Roberts Photo that was advertised non working and ended up just fine. Yes the glass crystal on the battery check meter on the battery pack was broken just like advertised, but I'm sure I can fashion something to replace it. Happy customer .

Excellent result!

AgX · Jun 29, 2018

Can someone explain to me what "I just stole" means in this context?

Theo Sulphate · Jun 29, 2018

AgX said:
Can someone explain to me what "I just stole" means in this context?

Obtained it for a very low price (almost as if it were free - or stolen).

e.g.

A: How much did you pay for that 35/2 Summicron?

B: $500.

A: You stole it!

sissysphoto · Jun 29, 2018

A month ago I got an MD3 with MB1 working perfectly, although the paint on it was pretty rough, for 38 clams. I robbed the seller blind on that one. Now I have a ragged out looking F2 + DP2 and motor drive to go along with my mint F2 + DP1 and motor drive. I felt kind of bad, risking taking my mint F2 out too much and getting it scratched up. I'll keep that one for indoor flash shots on family and such. and use my raggedy looking F2 for carrying around. Besides, I had to work on the raggedy DP2 and got it working pretty well. It was trash when I first got it. Kind of proud, so I'll shoot that one and not worry about getting it knocked around.

shutterfinger · Jun 29, 2018

Roberts Photo either buys lots or takes trade in or both then sells the low demand stuff on ebay listed as untested for parts or repair to prevent stock overload which gives buyers a bargain in many cases as paying employees to check the gear out would raise the sell price significantly and possibly over the retail value if certified.
I too have been satisfied with their Not tested listings. Odds are in your favor of getting a bargain or good deal.

sissysphoto · Jun 29, 2018

I didn't get that MD3 off Roberts. But I believe it was my mint F2 I got from there. I remember it being described in terms that seemed to convey it was in ordinary condition. But when it arrived, that dadgum thing was absolute mint. A few weeks ago I bought a foam kit for it from Sover Wong, and that was of absolute OEM quality. I'm so happy, I'm now on Sover Wong's repair list. He says it might be a year, but I'm going to have him do his premium job. Actually, the camera seems perfect already. But since it's a '73, I feel like putting that motor drive on it is not helpful on that old lubrication. It's just too nice to tear it up. Anyway, when I see that name "Roberts', I perk up and pay attention. 2 for 2 on ebay is already good odds.

Huss · Jul 1, 2018

sissysphoto said:
I'm so happy, I'm now on Sover Wong's repair list. He says it might be a year, but I'm going to have him do his premium job.

Wow, a year wait! Guess the word is out that he's the guy. My two repairs/services with him took just a few weeks, but that was maybe 2-3 years ago.

cooltouch · Jul 10, 2018

Congrats on your steal, er, um -- purchase! Robert's Camera are good people. I've done business with them before and they've always treated me right. You really lucked out that your MD2/MB1 came with the battery inserts. Those things are rare as hens teeth these days, and super expensive when anybody has one or two to sell.

Glad to read you got your battery pack going. I've got one here that has an "open" somewhere in the circuitry. I've totally dismantled it and have even pulled back some of the sheet metal to trace down the hidden wiring to see if I could find the faulty area but no joy. Aggravating. I just went and bought another battery pack sans inserts. Those are pretty cheap these days, at least.

Several years ago, I found an MB2 with no battery pack at a local camera shop. They wanted $40 for it and I bought it in a heartbeat. I ended up scrounging up an MB2 for it (MB2s take "only" 8 AAs so aren't quite as powerful as the MB1s) for next to nothing and I've been quite happy with that combination. So, the deals are still out there -- if you're patient.

See the MD2 I just stole

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency