james_schaffner Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 <p>I just received a free Makina 67...<br> It has the problem with the winder...it advances the film and with film loaded, the shutter works with a cable release, but not the button.<br> The light meter doesn't work and the batteries heat up...I'm assuming a short in the circuit.<br> Also, I don't think the rangefinder/focusing works either as I can see no image to match through the viewfinder.<br> As I paid nothing for the camera and they seem to sell in the $1000 range when working properly, I'm asking for opinions on whether or not it is worth repairing.<br> Many thanks in advance,<br> Jim Schaffner<br> Butler, PA 16001 USA</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCL Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 <p>Ken Rockwell suggests it isn't cheap to fix....when he wrote this article http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/plaubel.htm he cited a cost of about $300. I guess it really depends on whether you will really use it to get the full value of the cost of repairs or not.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borrel1 Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 <p>Do it! You won't regret it. I had my bellows and lightmeter wires fixed by Plaubel in Germany. My 67 is usually chosen before the Hasselblad, Rolleiflex or Mamiya Universal because of portability. The results are also astounding: http://abdallah.hiof.no/2010_montejaque/html/20100806_061300.html</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_l3 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 <p>The Plaubel Makina 67 had an excellent reputation and the cameras were costly when 120 film was commonly used. If you can afford it, the repairs would get you a very nice medium format camera. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_schaffner Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 <p>Many thanks for your opinions...</p> <p>I'm going to shoot a couple rolls of film with a cable release and a light meter and use the scale to focus just to make sure everything is working.</p> <p>I'll post back with the results and maybe a few photos...</p> <p>Thanks again....</p> <p>Jim Schaffner<br> Butler, PA 16001 USA</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_bolonick1 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 <p>I've owned a Makina 670 for many years and love the camera.<br> However, repairing it is a problem. Given that you got the camera for free, you could try Nippon Photo in NYC, who are expensive but competent. Based on a recent experience, I advise against sending it to Plaubel in Germany. It's expensive and the arrangements are complicated, involving bank transfers for payment and difficult communication issues with them. You'll love the camera once it is fixed, although parts availability is becoming a real issue.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aplumpton Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 <p>The camera was researched (design) in Germany (a university professor) and its production licensed by Plaubel to a later defunct company in Japan (Doi?) known more for its film and negative processing services and which produced the camera. The light meter was a problem on my 670 and the seller repaired that quite poorly within the guarantee period, a process requiring 6 months. Not sure who does the repair these days. Plaubel had nothing to do with the production so I am quite surprised they repair the Japanese camera.</p> <p>The camera is really a fine image-maker when it works, the Nikkor lens being one of its main values. The shutter noise is too high but the camera is often used mainly for architecture or landscape photography.</p> <p>Check to see if the lens is in good shape and the bellows are functional as without those there is not much point in repairing the rest, You might ask for an estimate before committing any repair money. If all the problems can be righted for 3 or 400$ it may be worth it. Otherwise, for 600$ you can get a near mint Fujifilm 670 that admittedly has no meter and is somewhat bulkier (no collapsing bellows) but a fine medium format tool. </p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_schaffner Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 <p>Many thanks for your response Mr. Plumpton,<br> I just have a few shots left on a couple of rolls I've been shooting...<br> At first I thought that the rangefinder was not working, but I can see it quite well when outdoors.<br> I'll post when I make a decision on what to do after I see the prints...<br> Many, many thanks to those who have responded...<br> James Schaffner<br> Butler, PA</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry_hollander Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 <p>Fabulous camera. Plaubel in Hamburg, Germany always serviced these cameras and still do - of course, if you have to send the camera and the money overseas, that is a bit more complicated, but better than being serviced by people who don't really know what they're doing with this camera (and Plaubel do). In good state, it is worth the dosh. Question is, will you use it yourself. Otherwise, you might leave this decision to a buyer.<br> The light meter is a weak point because the wires suffer each time the camera is opened and closed. It is a factor in the value of the camera; personally, I would not trust the meter too much, and prefer a hand-held meter (I owned two copies of this camera in the past and still regret not having one today).<br> The rangefinder can be out of order, but that should not be hard to fix.<br> The Nikkor lens is famed for all the right reasons. <br> Best, W</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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