How to determine the age of a Mamiya RB Sekor C lens?

"Ronin" wrote in message
...
The earliest ones were symmetrical. Later one may have been too - don't
know, never had one - but I don't think so.

By "symmetrical" I mean that the rear elements would function as a stand
alone lens of about 140mm after the front ones were unscrewed.


Thank you. Unfortunately, I've asked that question because I'd intend to
buy
a Mamiya lens on ebay and all that I can check is the serial number...
Checking the diaphgram blades or if the front elements screws away is a
little beyond my possibilities...

The most important question you will want to ask is, are the shutter speeds
accurate and at one second do you hear a clean zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz as the
governor is running. The major parts such as the main spring and governor
are no longer available for the older 791 shutter so if there is a problem
which requires one of these parts you may be looking at a new shutter.
The problem is that until the shutter needs to be serviced there is really
no way to tell the condition of the shutter.

The most important question you will want to ask is, are the shutter
speeds
accurate and at one second do you hear a clean zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz as the
governor is running. The major parts such as the main spring and governor
are no longer available for the older 791 shutter so if there is a problem
which requires one of these parts you may be looking at a new shutter.
The problem is that until the shutter needs to be serviced there is really
no way to tell the condition of the shutter.

thank you
I always ask for shutter conditions...

by the way please take a look at some pictures of the lens I intended to
buy... too bad the auction ended but the reserve price wasn't met:

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...ageName= STRK
:MEWA:IT

(ebay item 3825175123 )

do you think it is an older C lens or a newer one?

bye

"Ronin" wrote in message
...
The most important question you will want to ask is, are the shutter
speeds
accurate and at one second do you hear a clean zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz as the
governor is running. The major parts such as the main spring and
governor
are no longer available for the older 791 shutter so if there is a
problem
which requires one of these parts you may be looking at a new shutter.
The problem is that until the shutter needs to be serviced there is
really
no way to tell the condition of the shutter.

thank you
I always ask for shutter conditions...

by the way please take a look at some pictures of the lens I intended to
buy... too bad the auction ended but the reserve price wasn't met:


http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...ageName= STRK
:MEWA:IT

(ebay item 3825175123 )

do you think it is an older C lens or a newer one?

bye

There is no way to tell from the photo. If the shutter blades are matt black
it's newer.