{"id":22799,"date":"2020-04-19T08:34:06","date_gmt":"2020-04-19T15:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wkoopmans.ca\/notebook\/?p=22799"},"modified":"2020-04-19T08:34:12","modified_gmt":"2020-04-19T15:34:12","slug":"mamiya-u","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wkoopmans.ca\/notebook\/?p=22799","title":{"rendered":"Mamiya U"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One thing I have found is that almost all Mamiya U cameras suffer from their shutter buttons turning into goo. Its too bad because they are a wonderful 80s design with their lens hump. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I purchased one in a box at a camera show prior to the necessity for physical distancing. (I add that because in the future I hope that comment was of this time and not in perpetuity) This camera was no exception, with the remains of its button an orange goop, so I set about the task of making a replacement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My first effort (Yes it required more than one) was to use the rubber from an old lens focusing ring\/area\/zone\/whatever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ta da! unfortunately the rubber was too flat and too stiff resulting in the camera wanting to take pictures on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effort two was to find a camera with a similar size button and transplant it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looks good but it had the same issue no amount of hollowing it out could make it not constantly trip the shutter as soon as the film was advanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Getting a little desperate I now tried molding a button out of gasket material. Yes it was as sticky and worked as well as it looked, I presume if I had ever put it near the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effort number four though was getting close I used elastic material that had the right feel but was still a little too stiff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And finally attempt number 5 yielded a working result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And the winner was a chunk of a nitrile glove. No beauty but it sealed the camera to the elements and functioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now with a functional camera it was time to try out that 35mm f2.8 lens. There isn’t a lot of user control available and the focus is via simple zone settings but the lens has a beautiful blue coating and was a good performer. The 5 element lens was sharp with good contrast. Additionally the use of 2 AAA batteries rather than some now defunct cell is always welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n