The little “screw” on the bottom that you mentioned- when removed, it exposes a hole that accepts one of the screws for mounting an optional left-hand grip/shutter release. It was a rare accessory that only fit the ZE-X. I have one that goes with mine.
If the film is advancing and the shutter works (waste two frames -- fire three without the lens, one at 1/60th and one at a full second -- you should be able to see the film and have much different story times) then the problem is the frame counter. If that's all that's wrong, you'll just need to keep a bit of a mental track on your film use.
Help, i bought a ze x on flea market, but the film advanced lever did not work. At first i thought it because it didn't have battery in it, but when i put the battery it stil doesn't work
Hmm. There are a few possibilities. I don't think that this camera requires a lens to work. To verify that, if this video shows the camera working without a lens then we know that it does not need one. It is a distinct possibility that there is another issue. The easiest would be that there is some dirt or corrosion on the battery chamber contacts and threads. Clean those with isopropyl on a cotton swab and if it works then that was the culprit. If it continues not to work, then the electronics may be dead.
That switch exists only on the EF lenses. The EF lenses are an extension of the E series of lenses which fit all the Mamiya Z cameras. The EF lenses added the capability to communicate the focusing distance to the camera for purposes of accurate flash exposure with Mamiya-brand flashes. This function only works with the ZE-X, and only 4 lenses were ever made in the EF series. That little switch is meant to activate or deactivate the distance-priority flash mode.
You could remove the rewind attachment cover and possibly use something to rewind the film or track down the power winder. You can also press the shutter button half-way and see if the display lights up to check the batteries.
Great videos! They helped me suss this thing out. Question: Did you ever find where the capacitor is located? I have a ZE-X that's been in storage for decades, and it seems to have the same shutter issue. It fired (once) after installing new batteries; but won't won't fire a second time. I can hear a *very* faint click when I fully depress the button, but the shutter and mirror do not move. When I partially depress the button, I do get the info in the viewfinder and the timer is working, so the new batteries are good (they test at 1.5V). An ideas? Thanks!
Thank you! For a repair question like this, I'd recommend the Fix Old Cameras channel. He was a Mamiya repairman and fixed my ZE-X. I've never opened one of these.
I bought a Revue X-4M branded ZE-X and was out of luck with its functionality. The electronics were acting weird and the lens was extremely hard to remove and mount. EF 50mm 1.7. On a closer look metal from the bayonet was carved off the lens by just taking it on and off. Too bad, I wanted to use a Sekor E 35mm 2.8 that is supposed to be great.
Mamiya's lenses were generally very good to great. That holds up a bit less well after Osawa bought them, but that's more to do with use than optics. Mamiya had great optical engineers.
My goal with these is to make it feel like one-on-one teaching from across a table. I try to make sure to do everything backwards from my perspective but sometimes I slip up.
Ive noticed in your videos that have part one and part two, you cover camera basics on how to use a camera. You really could just make one video, and cover just the information about the specific camera you’re talking about. Why tell people how to use a camera every time you make a video?
Good question. It's because people tend to search for guides on their specific camera make and model. This format provides starting photographers with a guide on how their specific camera works so it's easy to make a point-to-point connection between what they see on screen and what's in their hands.
There's a pretty grave mistake in your video - actually (unlike with Mamiya ZE/ZE-2 cameras!) you *cannot* use the older Sekor CS lenses on the ZE-X! On the ZE/ZE-2 there is a dedicated mechanism for activating the aperture lever on CS lenses, which is lacking on both on the ZE-X as well as the ZM cameras. This means while you can mount the CS lenses onto the ZE-X, you cannot close the aperture to the selected value: The Sekor CS lenses will always stay wide open.
Someone gave me their old Mamiya ZE-X and I got it repaired but had no idea how to use it. This video helped me a lot!
Thank you! And they're nice cameras, too.
The little “screw” on the bottom that you mentioned- when removed, it exposes a hole that accepts one of the screws for mounting an optional left-hand grip/shutter release. It was a rare accessory that only fit the ZE-X. I have one that goes with mine.
Thank you! That is a rare part. No wonder I had no idea about that part's use.
Such a useful video!! Thank you!!!
Thank you!
I have a Mamiya ze the film is advancing however the shutter hasn’t moved from S. What do I do?
If the film is advancing and the shutter works (waste two frames -- fire three without the lens, one at 1/60th and one at a full second -- you should be able to see the film and have much different story times) then the problem is the frame counter. If that's all that's wrong, you'll just need to keep a bit of a mental track on your film use.
Thanks lots of info!
Thank you!
Help, i bought a ze x on flea market, but the film advanced lever did not work. At first i thought it because it didn't have battery in it, but when i put the battery it stil doesn't work
Is it because it didn't have the lens on? Because i don't have a lens yet
Hmm. There are a few possibilities. I don't think that this camera requires a lens to work. To verify that, if this video shows the camera working without a lens then we know that it does not need one.
It is a distinct possibility that there is another issue. The easiest would be that there is some dirt or corrosion on the battery chamber contacts and threads. Clean those with isopropyl on a cotton swab and if it works then that was the culprit. If it continues not to work, then the electronics may be dead.
@@DavidHancock the battery is work, because when i took a timer its working, but the film advance lever i cannot push them
@@DavidHancock can you push the lever without battery?
@Watersoul the shutter has to fire before the advance lever moves. But yes, it can move without film just fine after the shutter has fired.
Does anyone know what the switch on the objektive does? It's located on the objective bellow and when you turn it on it's having an orange color.
Which lens do you have? I don't recall a switch on my lens.
That switch exists only on the EF lenses. The EF lenses are an extension of the E series of lenses which fit all the Mamiya Z cameras. The EF lenses added the capability to communicate the focusing distance to the camera for purposes of accurate flash exposure with Mamiya-brand flashes. This function only works with the ZE-X, and only 4 lenses were ever made in the EF series. That little switch is meant to activate or deactivate the distance-priority flash mode.
I just bought one of these,I have an Olympus also.
Nice!
Can i use a 28 mm mamiya lens on this camera?
If it's the correct mount, yes.
You could remove the rewind attachment cover and possibly use something to rewind the film or track down the power winder. You can also press the shutter button half-way and see if the display lights up to check the batteries.
I did end up getting a rewind, but these used plastic rewind forks and the plastic, with age, has gotten fairly brittle.
@@DavidHancock I just ordered one of these, advertised as NOS so hopefully won't have any major issues.
@@thomask1424 Nice! NoS cameras are great.
Great videos! They helped me suss this thing out.
Question: Did you ever find where the capacitor is located? I have a ZE-X that's been in storage for decades, and it seems to have the same shutter issue. It fired (once) after installing new batteries; but won't won't fire a second time. I can hear a *very* faint click when I fully depress the button, but the shutter and mirror do not move. When I partially depress the button, I do get the info in the viewfinder and the timer is working, so the new batteries are good (they test at 1.5V). An ideas? Thanks!
Thank you! For a repair question like this, I'd recommend the Fix Old Cameras channel. He was a Mamiya repairman and fixed my ZE-X. I've never opened one of these.
@@DavidHancock Thanks for the direction! Will do..
I bought a Revue X-4M branded ZE-X and was out of luck with its functionality. The electronics were acting weird and the lens was extremely hard to remove and mount. EF 50mm 1.7. On a closer look metal from the bayonet was carved off the lens by just taking it on and off. Too bad, I wanted to use a Sekor E 35mm 2.8 that is supposed to be great.
Mamiya's lenses were generally very good to great. That holds up a bit less well after Osawa bought them, but that's more to do with use than optics. Mamiya had great optical engineers.
flip the angle next time
My goal with these is to make it feel like one-on-one teaching from across a table. I try to make sure to do everything backwards from my perspective but sometimes I slip up.
Ive noticed in your videos that have part one and part two, you cover camera basics on how to use a camera. You really could just make one video, and cover just the information about the specific camera you’re talking about. Why tell people how to use a camera every time you make a video?
Good question. It's because people tend to search for guides on their specific camera make and model. This format provides starting photographers with a guide on how their specific camera works so it's easy to make a point-to-point connection between what they see on screen and what's in their hands.
There's a pretty grave mistake in your video - actually (unlike with Mamiya ZE/ZE-2 cameras!) you *cannot* use the older Sekor CS lenses on the ZE-X! On the ZE/ZE-2 there is a dedicated mechanism for activating the aperture lever on CS lenses, which is lacking on both on the ZE-X as well as the ZM cameras. This means while you can mount the CS lenses onto the ZE-X, you cannot close the aperture to the selected value: The Sekor CS lenses will always stay wide open.
Thank you and good catch.
Ergonomic beauty; functional hot garbage.
LOL. These are not the best camera ever to fall off a production line, no.