Need urgent help, cant remove film back to fix the frame counter!

[jerome_pan]

<p>Hello!<br>

I need to remove the film back from my Mamiya 645 Super, as to disassemble it and fix the glass over the frame counter making the dial stuck...<br>

However i dont have a dark slide and struggle to remove the film back in the first hand. I tried credit cards (didnt work) and now two films, which i can put all the way in. However it still does not allow me to remove the film back!<br>

I did it just as it says in the manual (<a href="http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/files/documentation/M645_Super_v3.pdf">http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/files/documentation/M645_Super_v3.pdf</a>).<br>

Here are some images... Please for the love of god any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>http://imgur.com/a/zP61D</p>

<p>thank you!</p>

<p> </p>

[henryp]

<p>You may have to break down and buy a dark slide from a used camera store or eBay.</p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

[Dustin McAmera]

<p>I agree. In fact, it seems quite possible that taking your film back apart might leave you needing to get a new one. That would probably come with a dark slide, so you could save yourself time and grief by looking for the new back now.<br>

However, If you don't want to do that, I think your alternative is to cut a dark slide from thin metal sheet. A credit card is too thick to go in the slot, and film isn't stiff enough to operate the interlock that stops you detaching the back. I doubt you'll find a plastic that's thin enough and stiff enough. The real dark slide is steel.<br>

I think you could cut one from aluminium or brass sheet. You can get small pieces from hardware or art/craft stores. Looking at a dark slide from my 645 Pro, it's only about a quarter of a mm thick, and I think you could even cut brass that thick with strong kitchen scissors. I've made aluminium dark slides for a couple of roll film backs (for my Century Graphic). Those are much thicker; almost credit-card thickness, and too thick for the slot in the 645. If you do make an aluminium or brass slide, it won't be very strong, so treat it with care.<br>

It needs to be 54 mm wide, and it goes about 76 mm deep into the camera. You need to leave more length to get a hold of, and if you're bothering to make the thing, you might as well glue a handle on it. The front corners are very slightly rounded, and of course you should smooth any rough edges before taking it near the camera. Good luck!</p>