Inquiry: Plaubel Makina 67 Reliability

Hi, I am new to this forum. Had lots of fun reading the responses.

I would like to ask for opinions about the Plaubel Makina 67. Strange that I had always been fixated by it. I own several MF cameras but no 67 format. I guess I like the design of the camera. I am told (uncertain though) that the chap who designed this camera is the same chap who had designed the Rollei 35 (one of my fav).

Any views? How's the bellows/range finder/shutter/metering reliability and durability? I do a spot of home base repairs, I used where I can obtain, factory manuals or similar publications on repairs. I have fiddled and managed with some success to fix some of the common problems with some of my 35mm RF and the occasional MF like the nettar/Bessa 1 etc.. so any idea on its home serviceability?

Thanks

Francis Goh

I have owned Plaubels since 1981. I have had a 67 a 670 and a W67. I have never found the cameras "fragile" as seems to be the line on these cameras by most "experts." Granted, if the camera is on a tripod and falls over onto the lens with the bellows open, it will be damaged. But, I think you could say that about most any camera. I ran about 1500 rolls of 220 through my 670 between 1983 and 1998 and finally sent the camera in to be repaired because it fell out of the back seat of my F350 4x4, hit the running board and then landed on the ground. After the fall, the only problem was that the frame counter would no longer function.

Because of the length of time between purchase and repair, I asked that the entire camera be brought back up to as new condition. I had the meter switch replaced, film transport/winding mechanism replaced, and the meter and range finder calibrated. After nearly 15 years of continuous service, I don't think that's too bad.

My W67 has never been in for repair, but it does not get the same amount of use as the 670. The meter is wonderful to use once you get used to it. The read area is approximately the bright area of the rangefinder making it about a 10 degree spot meter.

Plaubels are lovely cameras and will give years of service if you just give them good treatment. They are not Nikon F series drive a nail with the body tough, but they are a great field camera that gives a good sized negative or transparency. Easy to carry, compact, good optics -- what else do you need?

If you can find a 670 I would recommend that over the 67 as you can shoot either 120 or 220 film. I hope you find one in good condition, buy it - you won't regret it.

I've used a Plaubel 67 for a few years. For the past year it's sat idle as I use now both a Mamiya 6 (for portability) and a Mamiya 7 (for 6x7) instead.

Specifically: it's works fine for me for the year I've used it. I only ran about 100 rolls through it. I bought it used.

I did buy another one used in 1993 and had to return it as it had problems with both the meter and focussing that were not able to be repaired by the dealer. On the other hand, I have a fantastic image I made with it on display in my gallery. I did have to compensate deliberatrly for the focussing error, however, to make that image.

If you find a source of parts of manuals let me know. As of Feb 1997 the USA service facility was Nippon Photoclinic, Inc. (NPC) 920 Broadway #705, NY NY 10010 (212) 982-3177, fx (212) 982-1715

I'm told that it is a bitch (read difficult) to repair. The problem, unlike the folders of the '50s, is that there are wires in the scissor rails that couple the shutter and aperture settings from the lens into the electronics for the rest of the meter based in the body. therefore, 1.) those wires tend to break and your meter now does not work, and 2.) the camera requires all sorts of unsoldering of wires from that meter to get inside to do any sort of mechanical work. Also 3.) I hear that the gears for the film advance are delicate and if you break them your camera is now good only for parts, unless maybe you have a custom machine shop make you that gear.

If you've read this far my camera has been fine. It is the biggest neg you can get that will fit in your (big) pocket and have a meter built in. See my tips section in this digest just above your question.

Ken Rockwell

Sunny California

(619) 453-2099