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MZ-M Faults

Jabof33
Posted 04/11/2010 - 18:39 Link
Help!

I have just acquired an MZ-M body.

I fed it with 2 new CR2 batteries, attached an FA lens & switched on for the first time.

The display works fine and the alternate programmes appear in the LCD.

My problem started when I pressed the shutter.

The mirror has locked up and whatever I do it won't come back down.

I was previously pressing the DOF button, but I have no idea whether this was a related effect.

The mirror was properly parked before I attached the lens, and whilst I was looking through the viewfinder and zooming focusing - which worked until I pressed 'GO'

Is this a known fault, a one-off aberration, or me being a d*!k-head?

Any help would be most welcome.

Regards

Randal Williams - (Just another boring old f........)
Randal Williams
Dangermouse
Posted 04/11/2010 - 18:54 - Helpful Comment Link
Is it also making a whirring noise as though trying to wind on?

I know a common fault with the MZ-50 involves a drive cog cracking and slipping on the motor, which disables the camera as it can't operate the shutter sequence but just whirrs.

I don't know how similar the various MZ bodies are, but I managed to fix an MZ-50 by removing panels and eventually putting a tiny drop of superglue onto the loose cog, fixing it to the motor shaft without gluing the bearings solid.
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Roscoe
Posted 04/11/2010 - 18:56 - Helpful Comment Link
Jabof33 wrote:
Help!

I have just acquired an MZ-M body.

I fed it with 2 new CR2 batteries, attached an FA lens & switched on for the first time.

The display works fine and the alternate programmes appear in the LCD.

My problem started when I pressed the shutter.

The mirror has locked up and whatever I do it won't come back down.

I was previously pressing the DOF button, but I have no idea whether this was a related effect.

The mirror was properly parked before I attached the lens, and whilst I was looking through the viewfinder and zooming focusing - which worked until I pressed 'GO'

Is this a known fault, a one-off aberration, or me being a d*!k-head?

Any help would be most welcome.

Regards

Randal Williams - (Just another boring old f........)

Hi Randal,

I have an MZ7, with a non functioning shutter, It's a common fault that developes with all MZ cameras.(so my favourite camera shop tells me)
My MZ7 body had very little use, no damage either from impact or misuse.
Like you everything powers up, all modes are displayed, but the shutter just will not work.

The repair costs are prohibitive, as it will cost more to repair this camera, than it's in fact worth.
My solution was to bite the bullet and purchase a new K20D!

Hope this helps.

Kindest Regards,
Peter,
Jabof33
Posted 05/11/2010 - 06:39 - Helpful Comment Link
Thanks, both.

Yes, it is whirring and the shutter does not fire.

Also I (thinking outside the box) tried to load a film.

It started OK, but then went in to rewind mode, and left me with no header (twice - I'm nothing if not doggedly determined!)

The tips are helpful.

I will explore the repair cost, failing that I can try to repair it - if it is going to be junk then what do I have to loose?

I only paid e-bay buttons for it and won an FA 80 - 200 with it which works fine.

Regards

Randal Williams
Randal Williams
Dangermouse
Posted 05/11/2010 - 11:01 - Helpful Comment Link
You can buy a device to recover the film header (if you don't already own one) so don't throw those rolls away.

Your best bet is probably to buy another body. You can fix the problem but you need to be willing to unscrew things and take the risk of wrecking it completely.

If you want to stick with the MZ series then have a look on the Dimitrov K-mount site (Google it) and read about the "crippled" K mount. In general the single digit models such as the MZ-7 don't have it while the double digit ones do, although the MZ-10 doesn't. The "crippled" mount only allows use of lenses with an A setting which means you can't buy those lovely old K or M series lenses.

Or even better go properly retro and buy an MX or ME Super. If you can find a fully functional one then they're brilliant little cameras, the ME S has Av mode and it really doesn't take me any longer to take a photo with that than it does with a modern DSLR.
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Aero
Posted 05/11/2010 - 13:25 - Helpful Comment Link
My MZ-M went into rewind mode unasked while I was on holiday several years ago. It happened only once, but another owner on the net reported this was a regular occurrence with his. He said he sent it to Italy for repair after emailing a company over there and they solved the problem for a very small outlay.

I've hardly ever seen reports of problems with the MZ-M, which apparently uses the body and most of the internals of the MZ5n, which was pretty highly regarded. It has the full KAF2 lens mount, which allows use of the full range of Pentax glass.

As others have said, it's probably uneconomic to repair. They're undervalued cameras IMO and you could pick up a replacement for a bargain price.

Al

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