Hi Carl. Thank you for your reply. Yes I am totally aware that it the luck of the draw and that the previous owner cannot be held responsible (unless of course it was known and the camera was "left to rest" and then sold. The inclusion of a part used film that I finished shooting with and no batteries until I had put brand new ones into it should have alerted me - but then. Am I being a little cynical?

Hi JohnX. Thank you for your message. It actually came through after other returns/replies to my posting for help - of which some were from your good-self.

Hi Alan. Thank you for your offer but I have already got a couple of others as per my reply to JohnX.
The camera that has died actually came from a chap in Heckmondwike that was giving up his interest because of a health issue and an inability to any longer hold a camera steady.

Hi again JohnX. Yes you are absolutely correct,the lock-up occurred after pressing the shutter release.
Everything appeared normal on the LCD screen and the new film when loaded was transported and confirmation was there on the LCD screen with the indicator showing 1 on the LCD screen.
I have not been getting any hint of heat about the camera albeit the batteries have all but totally drained.
An odd thing had occurred that I failed to mention. It would appear that the film was still being transported after the lock-up occurred and possibly because I had pressed the shutter release a few times in an attempt to free-up the mirror.
I resorted to removing the film by opening the back and retrieving it.
I tried the removal and resting procedure but will try it again and leave it for a couple of days and then post an update.

Hi to JohnX & Peter. Thank you both for your replies,it looks very like I have been had !!!!!!!!!!!!!
The more that I think about the whole process of buying the camera the more I can see that it probably had an intermittent fault that might have cleared by leaving it "resting" and then I come along and insert new batteries and start it off again.
I bought this one to be able to just have a camera at the ready in the car,it would certainly appear that the best part of the deal was the rather well cared for Lowepro EX 140 camera bag that came with the camera.
Peter. Thank you for your suggestion to go with a good DSLR but I think that the K20D will have to be put on the back-burner.
I have just recently added to my trusty old Yashica 230AF 35mm film camera kit with another Yashica 230AF absolute mint body and a GENUINE YASHICA 75-300mm MACRO ZOOM lens. Both were bought separately a few days apart from a dealer in Pudsey
I have had my original outfit since buying new in the summer of 1988.

I actually do have a couple of other MZ-7's with both 28-80 & 35-80 lenses - so perhaps all is not lost.
They have both been trialled since buying them and to-date are holding-up.

Hi to you all out there. I have recently purchased a Pre-owned MZ-7 from a private seller,it was fine after installing new CR2's and running the roll of film that was already loaded through the camera.
The odd/coincidental thing about the roll of film - there had already been 6 exposures on it and when I contacted the seller I was told that the film was of no importance.
I ran the film through on just candid and random shots around and about my local area and the results were rather good albeit all were taken in Auto mode.
I loaded another film and went out with a measure of more serious subject shooting and the camera seized and the mirror is locked in the up position albeit I can drop it with my finger nail and it just springs back when released.
The film will not rewind with the concealed rewind button and the batteries are now all-but exhausted.
I have even attempted to activate the camera in manual mode but - nothing.
I am beginning to suspect electronic circuitry issues and possibly internal gearing/cogs.
Is this camera repairable or a bin job?

Hi to you all. I am retired and have been since 2007 and although I have always had an interest in photography and the camera and yes I have been somewhat pulled into the convenience of modern camera phones - for what they are and what they offer.
I have recently had a dip into a Pre-owned MZ-7 class of smaller and lighter film camera and must be totally honest - I am not terribly impressed.
As they say - faint heart never won fair lady.