Equipment failures have persisted from winter into spring. They break in the cold and warp as they loosen; perhaps the strain is the same for both man and machine. Those with crashed circuit boards have been reduced to non-combustible waste.
My primary camera, the PENTAX 67II, no longer fires even when the shutter button is pressed. Fortunately, I was able to commission an overhaul from a repair shop in Saitama run by a former service technician—a lead I was given after the manufacturer declined to service it.
With a long two-month lead time, my other primary camera, the FUJI GM670, was called into service, but it too immediately suffered from film advance issues. I rushed it to the technician in Hiroshima who has handled its modifications and maintenance for years. However, after two round trips with no improvement, the technician fell ill just as I was preparing for a third.
While wishing for their recovery, I must get by with the equipment I have on hand. Ensuring a lasting relationship with reliable repair technicians is likely to become an essential challenge from here on.