Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Mort54 on September 08, 2007, 06:44:58 pm

Title: Mamiya 75-110 Failure
Post by: Mort54 on September 08, 2007, 06:44:58 pm
My Mamiya 55-110 zoom, purchased new only four months ago, has gone belly up. This morning I was changing the focal length and the zoom ring seized up. It wouldn't turn either way. I rotated the focus ring a bit and the zoom ring freed up, but then the focus ring seized up. After a little more fiddeling, during which one or the other ring would freeze up and then free up, both rings froze up and wouldn't turn. I eventually got them to turn, but now there's an ominous clicking sound coming from the lens, and it still freezes up every once in awhile. Something's obviously come loose inside. Arrrggh.

Anyway, before I send it in for repair, I thought I'd check to see if anyone else here has had similar problems. Is this an isolated problem, or a known issue with this lens?

I generally view most of my Mamiya lenses as having a fairly flimsy build quality, except for the 55-110, which is built like a tank. It's ironic that it should be the one to fail. In over 30 years of photography, this is the first ever lens failure I have experienced. I'm sure it's just an isolated failure, but still, it doesn't fill me with confidence in my lens set.
Title: Mamiya 75-110 Failure
Post by: mcfoto on September 08, 2007, 08:53:05 pm
Hi
I have had a 55-110 for over 2 years with no problems. I bought it used on ebay for $850.00 USD. I have really enjoyed using the 35mm, a very light weight lens.
Title: Mamiya 75-110 Failure
Post by: Ken Doo on September 09, 2007, 01:17:15 am
I've had the 55-110 about four years---absolutely no problems.  Grat workhorse lens, though it is not my favorite lens.  FWIW, I have had no problems with any of my Mamiya lenses----35, 55, 80, 150, 55-110, 105-210, 210, 300.  All have performed very well.  I think the 35 is the weakest of the bunch----but I must have a good copy because I've gotten some stunning images with it.
Title: Mamiya 75-110 Failure
Post by: Jack Varney on September 10, 2007, 11:43:37 pm
The 55-110mm has been my workhorse for over two years with no problems.