Mamiya 645 Super body problem?

tikkathreebarrel · 30 Dec 2011

I've recently picked up a Mamiya 645 Super body which may, or may not have a problem in that the shutter speed dial simply spins freely and I can't find a way to get it to lock/engage in any position. The lock buttom in front of it stands a couple of millimetres proud of the body and I can feel it depressing but not by very far and it doesn't appear to be doing very much.

Is the body a goner?:bonk: Is it repairable? :thumbsdown:Is is just a Mamiya design quirk?:bang:

I have to admit that I bought the body on impulse from the Bay "as is/untested" at a cheap price and have assembled a film back, a power drive and prism finder to go with it though the finder is still on it's way. Otherwise - and without a film in the back yet - all seems to work when powered up.

My previous experience of Mammy 645s is with the older steel bodies.

Cistron · 31 Dec 2011

Not sure if that is of much help. Mine doesn't stick out and the wheel locks on the square and circle AE modes.

You'll need a 4L/SR44 battery to test the shutter speeds. Set to the white square and then see ... Do the shutter speeds sound alright? Do the AE modes (I think square is AE lock with half press) work with a prism?

tikkathreebarrel · 1 Jan 2012

Cistron said:
Not sure if that is of much help. Mine doesn't stick out and the wheel locks on the square and circle AE modes.

You'll need a 4L/SR44 battery to test the shutter speeds. Set to the white square and then see ... Do the shutter speeds sound alright? Do the AE modes (I think square is AE lock with half press) work with a prism?

Prism won't be here for a few days yet - boo!

However, having powered up the power winder, put the body onto multiple I've got mirror & shutter movement and the shutter speed dial now locks into place and can be wound from speed to speed. Mind you it's not like fine watch engineering in that there's a bit of play. Page 18 of the manual is a bit ambiguous about whether the release button ("B" in the manual) is needed to change shutter speeds so I'll err on the side of caution and use it.

Thanks for your input.

Cistron · 1 Jan 2012

tikkathreebarrel said:
Prism won't be here for a few days yet - boo!

However, having powered up the power winder, put the body onto multiple I've got mirror & shutter movement and the shutter speed dial now locks into place and can be wound from speed to speed. Mind you it's not like fine watch engineering in that there's a bit of play. Page 18 of the manual is a bit ambiguous about whether the release button ("B" in the manual) is needed to change shutter speeds so I'll err on the side of caution and use it.

Thanks for your input.

The release button is only needed to get off the red circle or square. The other speeds can be dialled in freely. So it seems as if your Mamiya is working after all

tikkathreebarrel · 1 Jan 2012

Cistron said:
The release button is only needed to get off the red circle or square. The other speeds can be dialled in freely. So it seems as if your Mamiya is working after all

Thank you, yes. Deep joy unconfined. I was initially sceptical that a "camera shop" weren't able to test the body. :lol:

tikkathreebarrel · 5 Jan 2012

Damn thing has gone all floppy again. The AE prism finder is now fitted and there are electronic signals twixt body, finder, power winder and back but the shutter speed dial is back in "free spin" mode. I will again today disassemble the camera into it's component parts and see if I can get the dial back into dial functionality. I could be going back to full metal bodies!!!

Cistron · 5 Jan 2012

tikkathreebarrel said:
Damn thing has gone all floppy again. The AE prism finder is now fitted and there are electronic signals twixt body, finder, power winder and back but the shutter speed dial is back in "free spin" mode. I will again today disassemble the camera into it's component parts and see if I can get the dial back into dial functionality. I could be going back to full metal bodies!!!

That's a bummer. Good luck with the repair!