Bought a Makina 67!

Pagpow,
You are correct, I was thinking of 6x6 and 35mm. I hadn't really considered this but I will likely crop to 6x6. One of the pros in the gf670 category was actually the 6x6 built in mask. I love squares and often shoot my om-d in 1:1 mode. I will have to check my slide mounts to see how big the emulsion space is compared to the image area...I might be able to squeeze most of the extra centimeter in there, though it won't be visible. Gosh, I have been out of film for a long time!
 
dfatty said:
Cal, your gear list is GAS inducing. I have a P67II, it's a monster. To me it makes the Fuji 6x9 feel like a half frame.
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I like carrying two cameras because I hate changing lenses, but carrying two P67II's is a bit much. Already have an extra unmetered P67II prism and a waist level finder though... Just need a bare body...

The Rollei 3.5F and the Plaubel 69W is a great pair, and carrying a GM670 and GL690 pair of Fuji's is easy using a Black Rapid harness.

All these cameras kinda look supersized because although I'm 5'10" I only weigh 150 pounds, but my right arm is kinda overdeveloped and almost an inch longer. Also for a skinny guy I have a very thick neck.

Cal
 
Should change the title to "returned a Makina 67"! It wasn't in terrible shape, but I didn't like the feel of the advance and the meter didn't work. One its way back to KEH now. One thing that really surprised me that I didn't remember from the last one I owned years ago...the thing is loud as a gun. Not sure how they got a leaf shutter to be so bloody loud.

Decided to try something really different--Norita 66. That will sound like a gun but it's supposed to since it's a medium format SLR. 6x6 with 80mm f2 lens. I'm getting a rare chrome one in the original Rittreck livery (Rittreck produced it first, sold the line to Norita (or whatever the parent company was).

I'll have to post my impressions in the SLR forum...should be here next week!
 
Well, that's a bummer. I got mine used, so I can't account for its first years of life, but since it's been in my possession, I have always made sure to be gentle when extending the bellows and to focus to infinity before closing, but despite my caution, the meter still failed. I use a CV meter on the hotshoe now.
 
I could have done the same. I have to get a meter now anyway for the Rittreck. It just spooked me a bit in terms of reliability and the advance was wracking my nerves...there's a gear in there that I guess can't be replaced any more.

This might be news, but I called Nippon Camera Clinic in New York City, and they told me that they no longer even fix the meter, and they quoted me $600 for a CLA!
 
Sorry to hear about your disappointment. Nippon Camera Clinic is the only place I know that will repair a Plaubel with a broken meter. The cost is expensive, but I know they do good work because of other cameras they have repaired for me.

For a medium format SLR I went for a Pentax 67II. It has awesome metering with the AE finder. Spot, center weighted, and 6 segment matrix metering, plus aperture priority that I found to be deadly accurate.

Cal
 
Plaubel in Germany is still servicing them. I saw an ad recently for a 670 that had a very recently dated service invoice with it.
They were pretty expensive, but probably no more than Nippon Camera.
 
I've never had a meter issue with all the Plaubels I've owned over the last 25ish years. Try cleaning the contacts and bending the prongs to guarantee that contact is being made. My 67W came from a seller who claimed the meter didn't work. For the price, I bought it and expected to use a handheld meter. I pushed on the cover and played with it and it was intermittent. Then, I did as above and it works perfectly. Lucky, perhaps, but why not check it out.

Joel
 
Yes, plaubel in Germany still working, and they do it pretty well!
I sent mine few months ago, took like three months as my makina 67 needed a new viewfinder (!!)
They did a great work on it ,and when i recieved seem a new camera.
 
Calzone said:
Sorry to hear about your disappointment. Nippon Camera Clinic is the only place I know that will repair a Plaubel with a broken meter. The cost is expensive, but I know they do good work because of other cameras they have repaired for me.
Cal
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Cal,
As I wrote, Nippon told me they won't fix the meter and a CLA would cost $600. (Actually, they said $600 or $700). If someone has information more recent than two days ago that modifies this, please speak up. Otherwise, I suggest calling ahead before shipping your Makina to them.

I wrote to plaubel in Germany and have not received a response.

I did make sure the contacts were...making contact, and still a no go. No big deal, you win some you lose some.
 
Me too! To my eye medium format is where film really has the edge over digital (at least the digital most of us can actually afford). And sure the D800 might be getting to a point where the resolution beats medium format, but it's still a 35mm frame, still 35mm depth of field, etc.
 
dreilly said:
Cal,
As I wrote, Nippon told me they won't fix the meter and a CLA would cost $600. (Actually, they said $600 or $700). If someone has information more recent than two days ago that modifies this, please speak up. Otherwise, I suggest calling ahead before shipping your Makina to them.

I wrote to plaubel in Germany and have not received a response.

I did make sure the contacts were...making contact, and still a no go. No big deal, you win some you lose some.
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Ouch. That's crazy expensive.

Plus one on MF and film, especially in B&W.

Cal
 
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