I have owned a 670 since 1985, and the original bellows is still in fine shape. What seems to be fragile is the wiring going from the lens to the light-meter (and on the 670, another wire to the hot-shoe: The 67 and W67 have dead-shoes), and that can break due to flexing, causing the light-meter to be inoperative. A bellows replacement would probably replace that wire, but a CLA likely would not get into that area as it requires a LOT more disassembly. The W67 has a lot less extension of the bellows and scissors mechanism, so should actually be less failure prone in this regard than the 67/670. Just saying that I would seriously consider a W67 with original bellows as long as the metering works properly.
As for overall robustness, my 670 developed uneven frame spacing (after I dropped it: Yikes!), and I had to get the entire film advance mechanism replaced. My camera tech said that this was the weakest part of the Plaubel Makina: A lot of soft brass gears. He advised babying the film advance (NOT reefing on the lever), and of course not dropping it. The only other thing I've had go wrong was that the wire to the hot-shoe broke off (at the solder). You have to remove the flash-shoe to access the rangefinder calibration screws, which is needed every few years, and likely this is why my wire broke off.
In any case, great camera, and the W67 has always tempted me, but it's pretty rare. Good luck with your hunt!
grantgoodes wrote:
I have owned a 670 since 1985, and the original bellows is still in fine shape. What seems to be fragile is the wiring going from the lens to the light-meter (and on the 670, another wire to the hot-shoe: The 67 and W67 have dead-shoes), and that can break due to flexing, causing the light-meter to be inoperative. A bellows replacement would probably replace that wire, but a CLA likely would not get into that area as it requires a LOT more disassembly. The W67 has a lot less extension of the bellows and scissors mechanism, so should actually be less failure prone in this regard than the 67/670. Just saying that I would seriously consider a W67 with original bellows as long as the metering works properly.
As for overall robustness, my 670 developed uneven frame spacing (after I dropped it: Yikes!), and I had to get the entire film advance mechanism replaced. My camera tech said that this was the weakest part of the Plaubel Makina: A lot of soft brass gears. He advised babying the film advance (NOT reefing on the lever), and of course not dropping it. The only other thing I've had go wrong was that the wire to the hot-shoe broke off (at the solder). You have to remove the flash-shoe to access the rangefinder calibration screws, which is needed every few years, and likely this is why my wire broke off.
In any case, great camera, and the W67 has always tempted me, but it's pretty rare. Good luck with your hunt!...Show more →
Thanks! I have a 670 and I love it. I also have a 67 that I just had CLA'ed and the bellows replaced if anyone is interested in trading for a W67.
Plaubel Makina W67