This page deals with
the Mamiy cameras which have rear bellows, the Mamiya Press and the Super 23.
The Mamiya Press was - as the name suggests - a very popular press
photographer's camera for the 6x7 and 6x9 format, with a large, coupled
and reliable view/rangefinder, introduced in 1960. There was a 90mm
standard lens, a very good 65mm wide angle with its finder and a 150mm
tele lens with its mask to be clipsed into the viewfinder. Since the
Press camera
had built-in bellows for compensation of converging lines, there were
also a ground glass and sheet film magazines available.
The
Super 23 was a major redesign of the Press camera in 1967. It had a
bigger view/rangerfinder with bright framelines and parallax compensation, built-in masks for the
standard lenses (100mm, 150mm, and 250mm), and a sturdier lens
fixation to be able to carry the new bright but heavier lenses. There were now lenses from a 50mm super
wide-angle (equivalent to 21mm with 24x36mm film) to the large and
heavy 250mm F5 telephoto lens.
Mamiya Press
A Mamiya Press with its handle, the original 90mm lens and a ground glass/sheet film holder.
Seen from the back. Parallax compesation has to be set by shifting the eyepiece of the finder.
Hood of the ground glass open.
Bottom. Tripod socket. The hinged metal plate can be swung forward and keep the camera standing on a flat surface.
Top. the accessory shoe is offset.
Right side.
Left side. Flash fixation.
This
is a typical Press camera set-up. I boughr this camera from an American
photographer who said that it served him in the Vietnam war. I cannot
confirn this, anyway, it's an early model.
Sheet film
Focussing screen/sheet film holder detached.
Hood open and sheet film holder type "J", which can accept 6.5x9 (21/2x31/2") plates and film + film from a full sheet cut into 4 quarter sheets.
Holder seen from the camera side.
This is the other sheet film holder, type "A", which can accept 6.5x9 (21/2x31/2") plates and 21/4x31/4 cut film.
Slide side.
Slide half open. You can see the sheath for 21/4x31/4 cut film.
Sports
finder with box and case. It has an offst fixation for the old Mamiya
Press. On the Press it would be centered. Parallax compensation is done
by moving the eyepiece.
90mm frame, set to infinity.
90mm frame, set to 2m.
150mm frame.
Roll film
6x9
roll film holder, attached to a Mamiya Super 23. These
holders are big, but keep the film absolutely flat. There is a 6x7
version as well.
Seen from above. Film ISO reminder, window for pressure plate setting 120/220, film counter window and lever for film advance.
Camera side with dark slide.
Back open.
Film
chamber. Put the film on the left side and the winding spool to the
right. Tear the leader across the back, engage into the spool and wind
until the arrow meets the yellow marks. Close and wind until it stops
for the first photo.
The
"K" multi-format film back. You can choose between 6x9, 6x6 and 6x4.5
format. You will need the masks for the back, shown above and the masks
for the viewer. However, there is no automatic advance, you have to use
the according red window.
Viewer mask for 6x6 and 6x4.5
6x6 mask installed.
6x4.5 mask instaled.
Maniya Super 23
Mamiya Super 23. Front.
With roll film back attached.
Seen from above.
Bottom.
Tripod socket. There is a metal piece on the edge of the front that can
be extended to let the camera stand on a flat surface.
Right side. Grip socket.
Left side. Flash fixation.
Right angle finder/sheet film holder and its case. It gives a non-inversed image of the normally inversed ground glass image.
Camera side.
Attached and viewer housing taken off.
Portrait position.
Landscape position.
Seen from above.
Mamiya Super 23 Graflex
Camera, front. This is a very rare model, a Mamiya Super 23 with Graflex back.
Body, back side. Graflok focussing screen and 2x3 (6x9cm) film holder.
Seen from above..
Bottom. Tripod socket and extendable stand.
Right side. Grip socket..
Left side. Special torch flash fixation.
Focussing hood open.
Graflok screen off.
Screen from camera side.
Back, full bellows extension.
Back tilted.
Graflex Backs
Graflex RH8 roll film back.
Seen from above, Advance lever and exposure counter.
Camera side. Dark slide.
Holder open.
Spool unit
Back attached to camera.
Graflex RH10 holder. This is an older one.
Seen from above. Advance lever and exposure counter.
Camera side. Dark slide.
Holder open.
Spool unit.
Attached to the camera.
There is also a Horseman Polaroid back that fits into the 2x3 graflok
holder. You can only use it with the 100mm lens in retracted position.
The film plane of the Horseman back is further away from the fixation, the
lens compensates it when retracted, so you can reach infinity. But it
doesn't make much sense, the holder is expensive and the Universal with
its Polaroid back allows the use of a variety of lenses.
