MZ-S not winding film after loading

keechoon · 07-14-2021, 04:45 AM

Hi All,

Need some pointers here. I have gotten a MZ-S and encountered this issue where the test roll of 12 shots (bulk roll) didn't rewind back after finishing although the motor winding sounds are heard. When I changed to another roll, the camera does not take up the film with the leader in the same position and the LCD indicating the 'E'.

Is this a case where the motor or internals has busted?

Thanks!

**scc** · 07-14-2021, 05:16 AM

Did you check for help in the manual?
It’s a long time since I last used my MZ-S but I remember something about an option for not rewinding at the end of a roll.

---------- Post added 07-14-21 at 02:46 PM ----------

Function [F13]:
[1]: automatic rewind at the last frame
[2]: disables the automatic rewind

---------- Post added 07-14-21 at 02:49 PM ----------

Manual is here:
https://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_mz-s.pdf

keechoon · 07-14-2021, 06:11 AM

Thanks for the reply!

It is not the setting problem, the rewind with leader out option was turn on during the roll. The issue now is that it does not take up film at all although the motor gives a short wind after the back is closed and LCD remains at 'E'

**AlwaysAl** · 07-14-2021, 07:09 AM

Quite some time ago (~2004-5), had a similar problem with my MZ-S; made the noise, film still extended when I opened the back After reviewing all of the potentials within my scope, took it to Pentax and they diagnosed and repaired it. Although the diagnostic report was vague, it seemed there was a gear that had failed in the rewind mechanism. There was an allusion to it being a known problem and the replacement was an upgrade.

**gofour3** · 07-14-2021, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by keechoon

Thanks for the reply!

It is not the setting problem, the rewind with leader out option was turn on during the roll. The issue now is that it does not take up film at all although the motor gives a short wind after the back is closed and LCD remains at 'E'

Welcome to the forum!

if you are getting an "E" during film loading after you close the back cover, then it's a loading error. Check the manual to make sure you are moving the film leader to the exact position, as indicated in the manual.

Phil.

disconnekt · 07-14-2021, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by gofour3

Welcome to the forum!

if you are getting an "E" during film loading after you close the back cover, then it's a loading error. Check the manual to make sure you are moving the film leader to the exact position, as indicated in the manual.

Phil.

👆 i suggest this too. I got the "E" message/ on my ZX-L a couple times when I was loading film, mainly due to me not pulling out enough of the film out for the gears to fully catch it, and it still made the motor noise

Not a Number · 07-14-2021, 06:29 PM - **1 Like**

Same symptoms as my MZ-50. Diagnosis - gear on the mirror motor is split (common problem with the MZ/ZX series) so the motor just spins without driving whatever cycle it is in when the gear broke..

keechoon · 07-14-2021, 07:25 PM - **1 Like**

Thanks all for the replies!

Have checked and tried many times, definitely not a film loading error. The camera has no issues with the mirror too as it is operating perfectly without film loaded.

The take up spool moves quite freely when pushed by the finger so I suspect it might be as AlwaysAl has mentioned about the gears.

Anyway I have written in to the Japanese Pentax repairer suggested by other members on this forum about this. Hopefully it is something fixable, the MZ-S is probably the tiniest auto SLR I ever held and hope to get it back working.

disconnekt · 07-14-2021, 09:57 PM - **1 Like**

If they respond to you and they say it is an issue with the mirror motor gear, there is a site you can get a brass one from (here: ipernity), for cheap that can be sent to you (for hopefully cheapm I dont know how much the shipping charges will be) so that way it could hopefully lessen any repair charges.

keechoon · 07-14-2021, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by disconnekt

If they respond to you and they say it is an issue with the mirror motor gear, there is a site you can get a brass one from (here: ipernity), for cheap that can be sent to you (for hopefully cheapm I dont know how much the shipping charges will be) so that way it could hopefully lessen any repair charges.

Thanks for the heads up on this!

keechoon · 07-29-2021, 06:30 PM - **2 Likes**

Hi All, NSB has gotten back about the MZ-S and they are able to fix it. Not much info on what is the exact issue yet and from the email correspondence, it's not gonna be cheap. Well if it restores the camera, still worth the repairs.

**gofour3** · 08-03-2021, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by keechoon

Hi All, NSB has gotten back about the MZ-S and they are able to fix it. Not much info on what is the exact issue yet and from the email correspondence, it's not gonna be cheap. Well if it restores the camera, still worth the repairs.

Good news, the MZ-S is worth the cost.

Phil.

07-14-2021, 04:45 AM	#1
keechoon New Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 13	MZ-S not winding film after loading Hi All, Need some pointers here. I have gotten a MZ-S and encountered this issue where the test roll of 12 shots (bulk roll) didn't rewind back after finishing although the motor winding sounds are heard. When I changed to another roll, the camera does not take up the film with the leader in the same position and the LCD indicating the 'E'. Is this a case where the motor or internals has busted? Thanks!

07-14-2021, 05:16 AM	#2
scc Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 165	Did you check for help in the manual? It’s a long time since I last used my MZ-S but I remember something about an option for not rewinding at the end of a roll. ---------- Post added 07-14-21 at 02:46 PM ---------- Function [F13]: [1]: automatic rewind at the last frame [2]: disables the automatic rewind ---------- Post added 07-14-21 at 02:49 PM ---------- Manual is here: https://www.cameramanuals.org/pentax_pdf/pentax_mz-s.pdf Last edited by scc; 07-14-2021 at 05:48 AM.

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07-14-2021, 06:11 AM	#3
keechoon New Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 13 Original Poster	Thanks for the reply! It is not the setting problem, the rewind with leader out option was turn on during the roll. The issue now is that it does not take up film at all although the motor gives a short wind after the back is closed and LCD remains at 'E'

07-14-2021, 07:09 AM	#4
AlwaysAl Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: West GTA, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 555	Quite some time ago (~2004-5), had a similar problem with my MZ-S; made the noise, film still extended when I opened the back After reviewing all of the potentials within my scope, took it to Pentax and they diagnosed and repaired it. Although the diagnostic report was vague, it seemed there was a gear that had failed in the rewind mechanism. There was an allusion to it being a known problem and the replacement was an upgrade.

07-14-2021, 08:24 AM	#5
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Originally posted by keechoon Thanks for the reply! It is not the setting problem, the rewind with leader out option was turn on during the roll. The issue now is that it does not take up film at all although the motor gives a short wind after the back is closed and LCD remains at 'E' Welcome to the forum! if you are getting an "E" during film loading after you close the back cover, then it's a loading error. Check the manual to make sure you are moving the film leader to the exact position, as indicated in the manual. Phil.

07-14-2021, 12:08 PM	#6
disconnekt Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal/I.E. Photos: Albums Posts: 1,701	Originally posted by gofour3 Welcome to the forum! if you are getting an "E" during film loading after you close the back cover, then it's a loading error. Check the manual to make sure you are moving the film leader to the exact position, as indicated in the manual. Phil. 👆 i suggest this too. I got the "E" message/ on my ZX-L a couple times when I was loading film, mainly due to me not pulling out enough of the film out for the gears to fully catch it, and it still made the motor noise

07-14-2021, 06:29 PM - 1 Like	#7
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Same symptoms as my MZ-50. Diagnosis - gear on the mirror motor is split (common problem with the MZ/ZX series) so the motor just spins without driving whatever cycle it is in when the gear broke..

07-14-2021, 07:25 PM - 1 Like	#8
keechoon New Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 13 Original Poster	Thanks all for the replies! Have checked and tried many times, definitely not a film loading error. The camera has no issues with the mirror too as it is operating perfectly without film loaded. The take up spool moves quite freely when pushed by the finger so I suspect it might be as AlwaysAl has mentioned about the gears. Anyway I have written in to the Japanese Pentax repairer suggested by other members on this forum about this. Hopefully it is something fixable, the MZ-S is probably the tiniest auto SLR I ever held and hope to get it back working.

07-14-2021, 09:57 PM - 1 Like	#9
disconnekt Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal/I.E. Photos: Albums Posts: 1,701	If they respond to you and they say it is an issue with the mirror motor gear, there is a site you can get a brass one from (here: ipernity), for cheap that can be sent to you (for hopefully cheapm I dont know how much the shipping charges will be) so that way it could hopefully lessen any repair charges.

07-14-2021, 10:19 PM	#10
keechoon New Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 13 Original Poster	Originally posted by disconnekt If they respond to you and they say it is an issue with the mirror motor gear, there is a site you can get a brass one from (here: ipernity), for cheap that can be sent to you (for hopefully cheapm I dont know how much the shipping charges will be) so that way it could hopefully lessen any repair charges. Thanks for the heads up on this!

07-29-2021, 06:30 PM - 2 Likes	#11
keechoon New Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 13 Original Poster	Hi All, NSB has gotten back about the MZ-S and they are able to fix it. Not much info on what is the exact issue yet and from the email correspondence, it's not gonna be cheap. Well if it restores the camera, still worth the repairs.

08-03-2021, 12:21 PM	#12
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Originally posted by keechoon Hi All, NSB has gotten back about the MZ-S and they are able to fix it. Not much info on what is the exact issue yet and from the email correspondence, it's not gonna be cheap. Well if it restores the camera, still worth the repairs. Good news, the MZ-S is worth the cost. Phil.