The Mamiya 6 meduim-format folding rangefinder camera was made over a period of fifty years with many model variations. In spite of that long history, high quality construction and unique features it is curiously rare on web sites devoted to vintage cameras.
From the front the Mamiya 6 resembles other popular medium-format rangefinders of the same era such as the Zeiss Ikonta and the Soviet Iskra. A top/rear view shows what sets the Mamiya apart from all others in its class. The thumb wheel to the right adjusts focus by moving the film plane rather than the front lens standard. Also visible in the same view is the switch to the left which permits either 6x6 or 6x4.5 formats. The flip-open ruby window only needs to be used to position the first frame; frame spacing from there on is automatic.
The format switch changes the aspect ratio in the viewfinder and also releases the double exposure lock. To actually ready the camera for either format, one opens the back, slides out the removable pressure plate and flips a couple barn doors to the appropriate position. The 120 roll film can than be threaded through the exposed rails and the pressure plate slid back into taking position.
I have so far only shot one test roll with the camera in Albuquerque's Old Town. Everything seems to be working perfectly. The film was Fomapan 100 which I developed in Rodinal 1:50. The Olympus D. Zuiko 3.5/75mm lens performed well as expected.
3 comments:
Very impressive results from a camera I had not heard of until today. Enjoyable Sunday "over coffee" reading!
A friend showed me one recently and I was especially impressed with the innovative features including the dual format and the focal plane focusing. I like the camera quite a lot more than the somewhat similar Zeiss Ikonta I used to own. When one showed up on ebay at $25 and no other bidders, resistance was futile.
Resistance is futile. That's the danger when nice classic equipment just happens to appear on our computer monitors.
Post a Comment