Mamiya 6 Photo Frame Span Not even

[bearkoala]

Hi, Buddies,
My mamiya 6 had something wrong with the frame span. The span should be even, probably around 6mm, but now sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller . I took 4 rolls 120 film for test. here is the result: First 2 rolls , set film type selector as 120. The span of frist 3 or 4 frames looks fine. Then span becomes much bigger suddenly The 2 frames coming after always have very close span (about 1mm intervel) , one rolls between frame 4-5, another 5-6, but not ovelapping. The span of rest film are not even randomly.
Second 2 rolls set film type selector as 220. The span situtation seems better than 120 but eche roll there are 2 frame ovelapping (6-7mm). After that span distribution is still not even randomly.
All 4 rolls have differnent situation. I am getting headche..........
Did anyone meet this kind problem? Where is problem. BTW, I have a question on the 120 camera winding system, since whatever 120 or 220 film does not have the gear hole for counting the frame length and the winding crank always rotates constant degrees, how does the camera measure and control frame span? what is the trick?
Do any one have the Mamiya 6 or 7 repair maunal? These 2 looks same. I want to fix it myself if possible Thank you very much! Koala

 

[Jim Watts]

Koala,
I can't be much help with the problem, but I can confirm that my Mamiya 6 has consistant frame spans of between 6mm - 9mm (slightly increasing from start to end of roll). It seems that you do have the begining of a winder problem and this has been reported before as a weakness of the Mamiya 6 if they have seen hard use. The gears strip and then the winder fails completely. I think parts and repairs are still possible, depending on your location, but I don't know about the feasibilty of self repair for this fault.

 

[bearkoala]

Thanks Jim.

Do you have more detail information regarding this weakness.

Koala

 

[john_s]

I don't know if your problem is the famous "weakness". Apparently there is/are plastic gear(s) in the film winding mechanism that can break and the story is that spares are not available. I think (guessing here) that if your Mamiya 6 had that so-called "weakness" that winding would feel rough and maybe noisy (from the stripped gear teeth slipping, or something like that). I don't actually know.

Your question about winding film evenly without sprocket holes is a good one. Sorry I don't know the answer. My Mam-6 has even spacing. There must be some measuring or compensating taking place as the diameter of film on the spools changes throughout the roll.

(When you think about it, the only adjustment for 220 film which is thinner (no paper throughout most of its length) is the pressure plate on the camera back, so I don't know how the spacing is controlled in that different situation. I've never used 220 film)

Maybe there is something at www.photo.net

 

[bsdunek]

I don't know about the Mamiya, but the Rollei has a seperate spring loaded roller that the film turns. Works like the sprocket holes but without the holes. If there is any slippage from friction, it would measure wrong, giving a wider border.
Come to think of it, I don't know how my Mamiya Press backs work, and they always have even borders. Need to look into that.

 

[Jim Watts]

Thanks Jim.

Do you have more detail information regarding this weakness.

Koala

Sorry no more than John has already stated. I do think it is still possible to get a repair in the UK via Johnsons Photopia the distributors for Mamiya though. Luckily I have not had this problem and I have had mine some years from new.

 

[Jim Watts]

The reports that Mamiya had no more spares for the winder were around 4 years or more ago, but you will find one reply in this PhotoNet thread that someone obtained a repair from Mamiya about that time: http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/008hcA

 

[andrew moxom]

Send it to Mamiya (MAC) for a check, they can repair some winder problems and tighten things up BEFORE it FAILS. If it fails it is unusable and becomes a paper weight!

 

[bearkoala]

I find mamiya 7 repair manual is available on ebay.
These 2 cameras seem similar. I guess they might have same winding system.
I am thinking of fixing M6 with M7 manual. Any comment?

Thanks!

 

[john_s]

I find mamiya 7 repair manual is available on ebay.
These 2 cameras seem similar. I guess they might have same winding system.
I am thinking of fixing M6 with M7 manual. Any comment?

Thanks!

I don't know, but it could be a guide. The framing mechanism could be very similar. One would hope that the 7 would be improved over the weaknesses of the 6 (despite being not as nice a camera to carry and use i.m.o.)