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Zucci
Tinkerer
Username: Zucci
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2010 - 09:35 am: | 
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Ok, new camera repair person, so please be truthful but be patient.
Before I take a chain saw to my well loved camera, that no local firm wants to know about, my Pentax MZ50 and its apparent loss of teeth on the take-up spool is baffling me. Would anybody have any idea about this? |
Brcamera
Tinkerer
Username: Brcamera
Post Number: 47
Registered: 08-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2010 - 01:09 pm: |
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Much cheaper to just replace the camera. It really does not make any economic sense to repair the MZ50 and replacing the take up spool is not normally a trivial matter.. |
Zucci
Tinkerer
Username: Zucci
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 05:58 am: |
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About to bin my MZ50! Any advice on an affordable classic to cut my teeth on, preferably SLR? |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 233
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 08:18 am: |
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While not particularly 'classic', Canon AV-1, AE-1, and T70 are safe bets and remarkably good value.
Avoid Olympus OM10, and Pentax ME/ME-Super as they have wind-on problems. |
Zucci
Tinkerer
Username: Zucci
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 09:38 am: |
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Thanks for that, sounds like a good place to start. |
Steve_roberts
Tinkerer
Username: Steve_roberts
Post Number: 53
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 21, 2010 - 05:19 am: |
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As your existing camera is a Pentax, perhaps an older Pentax is the way to go for an affordable classic? How about one of the many Spotmatics or a KM/KX if you prefer a bayonet mount?
Not sure about Brcamera's comment regarding the economic sense of repairing your camera. Whilst he's undoubtedly correct, by that yardstick we wouldn't end up trying to repair most of the cameras mentioned on this forum! With respect, I suggest that this forum is more about having a go and overcoming the odds than about studying the economics (especially if we all started costing our time realistically).
Best wishes,
Steve |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 234
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 21, 2010 - 07:14 am: |
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I concur with steve's comments. If we didn't take into account that we allegedly enjoy repairing these old classics then the time spent would indeed be a waste of valuable time.
Regarding the choice of a Pentax model, KM/KX are fine cameras but quite expensive as they attract collector interest. The Spotmatic is also well engineered, but stop-down metering can be a real pain. Given the choice between the mechanical models of the mid 70's I would be inclined to choose the Minolta SRT101, or better still the SRT303/ 303b/ 102 models, as the viewfinder is very bright and informative, lenses are cheap and readily available, and the metering can easily be reset for 1.5V batteries. |
Zucci
Tinkerer
Username: Zucci
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 22, 2010 - 03:08 am: |
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I do thank you all for most informed and inspiring opinions, it has given me lots to think about and plan for. Thanks again. ‘The beginner’ |
John_shriver
Tinkerer
Username: John_shriver
Post Number: 63
Registered: 12-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 05:36 pm: |
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Or, stock up on a few MZ-5n bodies (a/k/a XZ-5n) if you like the MZ-50. I have an MZ-3, and have a lot of respect for the user interface, although it is a "plastic wonder". If you have some decent Pentax-F or -FA lenses, these bodies are a good home for them.
Normally it's the mirror motor that fails on MZ/XZ series bodies. You have an unusual failure.
Still, the nicest K-mount Pentax has to be the MX due to the amazing (OM-1 quality) finder. Only gripe is the stiff hard-to-turn shutter speed knob. |
