Mamiya 65mm Lens for the 7II: How's Reliability?

[agoglanian]

I'm fairly new to the Mamiya 7 system, but my only lens currently is the 65mm and there are zero issues, my body was showing a strange metering error initially but it seems to have sorted itself out because it spits out perfect roll after perfect roll.

 

[__jc]

I have the 50mm, 65mm and 150mm and have had zero problems. Buy it and use it. If a problem comes up, get it sorted. Kind of like life itself.

 

[Turtle]

Favourite lens for M7 II. No problems at all.

Just seems to suit everything....

 

[Rob-F]

Well, guess what? I took a chance on a used 65mm from an eBay camera dealer, and it's defective. The shutter doesn't click when I press the release. Nothing happens, no sound. But when I turn the power switch off and back on, it causes the wind-on lever to release, as if a picture had been taken. I don't know if the shutter releases or not at that time, but it doesn't sound like it.

So. I have contacted the store, and I added a count to the 65mm in the poll I started. That brings it up to six.

 

[Canyongazer]

fine camera, great lenses

fine camera, great lenses

Rob, for seven years I owned and frequently used a 7ll with three lenses.
They spent most of their shooting time outside (landscape, cityscape, North America and Europe) They have traveled in trains, planes, automobiles, and on my back.

Used the 150 very little, pretty equal use between the 50 and 80.
Nary a hiccup.
Best film camera I've ever owned.

Just realized it's posing with me here, below. Hah!

 

[furlongphotos]

Hey Rob, Exactly the same has happened to my 65mm just about to send it to Protech Photographic in East Sussex (hmmm not sure if you are UK based), I have used the lens for the last ten years without fault though.... will update on progress , and cost!

 

[Rob-F]

Well, I finally had to return the one I bought from Roberts camera. I sent it back asking for repair. Instead of sending it out for repair, they accidentally sent it back to me. I sent it back a second time. After 30 days from my original purchase date, I and it wasn't fixed yet, I decided enough was enough, and asked for my money back. Roberts complied. A couple of days ago I saw one on the KEH site and pulled the trigger. If anything is wrong with this one, I believe KEH still has a six month warranty.

Well, good luck with yours, and wish me luck with mine!

 

[Rob-F]

So I bought a 65mm from KEH on the same day as my last post. I took it out today to shoot, and it failed the same way as the previous one. It's still under warranty, so it's going back on Monday.

What is it with the 65mm? Are they haunted? Jinxed? They have a pox on them? (What's a pox?)

 

[agoglanian]

That is crazy! Could it be your camera body somehow? I have zero problems with my 65mm.

 

[Rob-F]

That is crazy! Could it be your camera body somehow? I have zero problems with my 65mm.

I guess anything is possible, but my 80mm works great on the same body. The 65 worked fine this afternoon for 3 or 4 shots, and then nothing. Switched to the 80, and I was back in business.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Just thinking out loud here, but did you try cleaning the electrical contacts on the lens (and camera) with a pencil eraser? The problem you describe could be caused by poor contacts between the lens and body. Cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser removes any surface corrosion on them.

 

[Rob-F]

The lens is now back from KEH warranty repair. Looking forward to trying it out. I believe I will wait for a warmer day, though.

Edit: Still waiting for that warmer day! Maybe this Sunday.

Another edit: I took it out on Saturday, and it did fine! Nine out of ten perfect exposures. And one blank frame (I forgot to take off the lens cap). But that's me, can't blame the camera.

 

[DanskDynamit]

Hello guys, I've just discovered that my 65mm lens is -probably- having the flex cable problem as well.
Anybody know a good technician in Europe/UK to send my lens?
and yes, I have cleaned the contacts with a pen eraser and nothing.

cheers.

 

[michaelbothager]

Hello guys, I've just discovered that my 65mm lens is -probably- having the flex cable problem as well.
Anybody know a good technician in Europe/UK to send my lens?
and yes, I have cleaned the contacts with a pen eraser and nothing.

cheers.

Photografice in Copenhagen. They sent my camera body and lens to a repair facility in Sweden for CLA and minor camera body repair.

 

[DanskDynamit]

Photografice in Copenhagen. They sent my camera body and lens to a repair facility in Sweden for CLA and minor camera body repair.

thank you!🙂

 

[kram]

I have all of the listed lens (sold the 43mm). No problems with any lens. Had jssues with my 645super 80mm N lems though. Oil on iris blades.

 

[DanskDynamit]

Be advised, Johnsons Photopia is no longer repairing the 65mm flex cable issue.
"We have contacted the factory but they have advised that parts are no longer available for this lens so we would not be able to carry out a repair".

edit:
I found a shop repairing the flex cable issue in Spain: Kamaras.com there, Juan will do the job for around 140€.