Mamiya Medium Format owners group

Quick question, I'm looking at prints and Illford have their price/size matrix but I'm getting confused to aspect ratios. What's optimal for the RB67, 10"x12"?
 
I'm not a Mamiya owner, but I did get to borrow a Mamiya 645 1000 for a few months last year. I showed some of the first roll some time ago, took it to the Llangollen meet, and then stuck some Portra 400 in it. I took some shots on a trip down in the Borders, and then left it, before finishing the film much, much later. By that time I had convinced myself the film was Tri-X! Luckily my black and white compositional skills were not enough to totally ruin the shots... well, you may think otherwise. :)

I did like the Mamiya, although the borrowed light meter was waaaaay out, and I decided I would really like an interchangeable back. This isn't quite compatible with also really wanting a Mamiya 6, but I don't claim to be consistent. Anyway, although the film was finished in early December, I've just got the film back from processing (Genie), and I quite like some of them.

1) Bridge over tributary to the Tweed



2) Bridge from below... it's damaged and unsafe, apparently!



3) Line of trees glimpsed from the road (screech of brakes, parked in a layby!)



4) Edinburgh and the Castle from below Arthur's Seat



5) I did have trouble focusing on these swans by the lochan at the back of Arthur's Seat, but they came out pretty well anyway, I thought!



I suspect I could buy that camera for very little money; my colleague is onto a D800 now! Still tempted...
 
Nicely done, Chris, I need to try some Portra in one of my C2s.
 
Thanks... in the kind of winter light we often get, Portra 400 doses very well. Mind you, some of these winter sunny days, the sun may be low in the sky but it can be very bright and contrasty, not at all golden hour!
 
Good morning all, I am after a bit of advice on 6x45 rangefinder cameras. I am shooting infrared film on 35mm slr but as you can understand you can hardly see anything while composing unless you remove the filter so a rangefinder would be ideal. So if anybody out there has any advice it would be appreciated.
 
Had an afternoon of very mixed emotions with my C330f.....
The last time I put a roll of film in it, I didn't notice that the film counter hadn't zeroed when I loaded up - so I wasted about four frames on the roll because it would on a bit too far each time. The weather being awful today, I decided to take it to bits and see what had gone wrong. Much peeling of covering and undoing of small screws later, I found a little lever in the reset mechanism had become stiff with corrosion product. OK, I thought, rather than wait for it to stick again, I'll strip it down and lubricate it - do the job properly! Well, that was a crap idea. The screw that was the pivot for this lever had a big flat head and,it turns out, only a really spindly threaded section which sheared off when I tried to undo it. Aaarrghhhhh!!!!!!!

I did find a 1mm drill bit and managed to get the remains of the thread out of the hole in the camera chassis but I'm still looking for a suitable screw to fix that mechanism with.

BU@@ER!!!!!
 
Simonx said:
I did find a 1mm drill bit and managed to get the remains of the thread out of the hole in the camera chassis but I'm still looking for a suitable screw to fix that mechanism with.
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Is the thread still ok? If not, can it be drilled out and tapped to M2?


Steve.
 
Just FOUND this Group !! Well although I am pentaxpete I do have Mamiya so can I join?
When I wanted to start up on my own as a freelance and leave University College London where I was a Scientific Photographer on £ 27-00 a week my Aunty Ivy said she would give me the money for a 'professional' Camera Outfit as she had had to sell her house to the Council for it to be knocked down -- she got £ 2,600-00 for it lump sum I remember. ell, I had a look for 'Medium Format' cameras and decided on a Mamiya Press Super 23 outfit from Pelling & Cross, London as there was no 'Purchase Tax' on it due to it being called a 'Professional' Camera whereas the Koni-Omega Rapid HAD Purchase Tax on it ! I have the original receipt still
Mamiya Press Super 23 body, focussing screen, 100mm f3.5 Sekor, 65mm f6.3 sekor, 150mm f5.6 Sekor, 2 6x7 Rollfilm backs £ 318-9-3d in 'Old Money' bought 18th December 1968


Mamiya Press by pentaxpete, on Flickr


move forward many years --- I was given a 1984 Mamiya C220 with 'Blue Dot' 80mm f2.8 Sekors by a Camera Club member and have bought a 135mm f4.5 'Blue Dot' Sekor set for £75-00 off EBay



MAMIYA C220 + 135mm lenses by pentaxpete, on Flickr
 
Very nice Pete. I've always been intrigued by those Mamiya Press cameras, a very, well er, industrial look to them...built for purpose not looks I think.
 
Yes, Andy -- I did a LOT of work with it -- weddings, PR works etc etc -- then the FOAM started to go and light leaked in the 6x9 back on a PR shoot on tranny film -- I was one of the FIRST snappers to provide COLOUR trannies to our local 'Brentwood Gazette' when it went 'Offset' instead of 'Letterpress' so it could use colour pages in 1970. All the other 4 freelancers had only 35mm cameras and the printers would not accept 35 mill trannies. I developed a lot of E4 Ektachrome for the newspaper and got several Front Pages and they paid £ 1-50 a shot ! Rate was £1 Guinea for B&W and the Brentwood 'Argus' paid 15 shillings ( 75pence) so all the Freelancers were fighting for GAZETTE work -- I would turn up on jobs with my Mamiya Press Super 23 and twin head Braun EF3 flash -- no wonder I got through THREE WIVES as the PAY in Photography is SO POOR ! ( Wife No 3 is Filipina -- I got fed up with the British ones -- )
 
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ihatefootball said:
Good morning all, I am after a bit of advice on 6x45 rangefinder cameras. I am shooting infrared film on 35mm slr but as you can understand you can hardly see anything while composing unless you remove the filter so a rangefinder would be ideal. So if anybody out there has any advice it would be appreciated.
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I would think a TLR would work well too with their separate viewing and taking lenses. I also know that some TLRs have marks for infrared focusing or at least my Minolta Autocord does. You might be better posting a new thread in the Film and Conventional section though about this if you want more info, unless you're dead set on a Mamiya.
 
Asha said:
Wow! I've never seen one of these before ....not the pretiest of cameras but quite impresive nonetheless.
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If you think that's impressive, have a look at the Koni Omega cameras which my father used to use for weddings (it's not a Mamiya though!).

rapid_m.jpg



Steve.
 
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All interesting kit Steve...I never tire ( spelling??:thinking:) of looking at any camera or photographic equipment ....it simply fascinates me!
 
Wow, that is sharp. Nice one Pete.

So, what do you think of our little club over here on TP? Told you it was more active than the other place. (y)
 
pentaxpete said:
trying the 'Scheimpflug Principle' with my Mamiya Press Super 23 + 150mm f5.6 Sekor lens --I swung the back ( focussing with the screen) and got it all sharp at a wide aperture f8 on Kodak Tri-X film


Scheimpflug by pentaxpete, on Flickr
Click to expand...


WOW! The quality is stunning.
 
Andy : Yes, I agree more 'active' and more 'FILLUM' users !
While I am on I will show you a sample from my free gift 1984 Mamiya C220
2003 dated Kodak Portra 400 VC, 80mm f2.8 'Blue Dot' Sekor lenses

Misty River by pentaxpete, on Flickr
My Boy's Fish -- very old ( 1987) Kodak Vericolor III 220 size film, lighting by my even older Braun Hobby flashes, twin heads


Goldfish 2 by pentaxpete, on Flickr
 
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Hope I am not 'Clogging up' this Group, but I would like to show you a few more taken on my 1968 bought Mamiya Press Super 23

100mm f3.5 Sekor, Kodak Ektachrome, taken about 1969 in Blackmore Essex



Milkman by pentaxpete, on Flickr

100mm f3.5 Sekor, Ilford FP4 film toned in PhotoShop 7 -- I did a 20x16" darkroom print for my Club and won an award



Rope by pentaxpete, on Flickr

150mm f5.6, ORWO NP22 film, Bowens flash



Julie D 2 by pentaxpete, on Flickr
 
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Oh I say, that last one is a little risque....I've had a bit of a hot flush.:naughty:

The first one is beautiful Pete, and a great subject as well. And don't worry about clogging anything up, the more the merrier I say. (y)

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
Oh I say, that last one is a little risque....I've had a bit of a hot flush.:naughty:

The first one is beautiful Pete, and a great subject as well. And don't worry about clogging anything up, the more the merrier I say. (y)

Andy
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Really must get my eyes tested, I couold have sworn that said dogging :lol:
 
ihatefootball said:
Good morning all, I am after a bit of advice on 6x45 rangefinder cameras. I am shooting infrared film on 35mm slr but as you can understand you can hardly see anything while composing unless you remove the filter so a rangefinder would be ideal. So if anybody out there has any advice it would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I think you're in the wrong thread if you want 6x4.5 rangefinder advice as I don't believe Mamiya ever made one. I've had very good results using my Mamiya 6 with IR film however, and can highly recommend that :)
 
can I show some more on my Mamiyas ?
trip to Lake District with the PhotoTravellers Group -- Mamiya Press Super 23, Ilford FP4 220 size film, 100mm f3.5 Sekor lens


Lakes-1 by pentaxpete, on Flickr
The Land WAS sloping uphill--

Lakes-3 by pentaxpete, on Flickr
The LAKE was NOT sloping down here -- sorry !


Lakes-2 by pentaxpete, on Flickr
 
I can join this thread now I've got my M645J up and running :0)

View attachment 5804

I've also just received another box containing the original Mamiya boxes for the body, lens and WLF along with the Mamiya strap and lens hood so I'm a happy bunny!

I'm away this weekend so will run a couple of films to test it out. I've got one roll of Ektar 100 and a New Portra 400 which I can't wait to shoot.
 
Well Done ! KEEP those boxes -- put into loft -- make camera WORTH MORE with original boxes !
 
Some LONDON photos from my FIRST C220 roll just after I had got it ----
RAF Memorial, London Embankment -- 1996 dated Kodak T-max 100 rated 50 ASA, processed in Acutol S Formula -- did 20x16" print and won Award !


Mamiya 4 by pentaxpete, on Flickr

The Cleopatra's Needle -- also a 20x16" darkroom print won me an award !!


Mamiya 5 by pentaxpete, on Flickr

London Eye -- I held an Orange Filter over the 80mm f2.8 'Blue Dot' Sekor lens -- didn't win with this one !

Mamiya 3 by pentaxpete, on Flickr

Human Statue, South Bank -- changed to 1997 dated Kodak TMY 400 as light was going -- won an award for THIS one !!



Mamiya 6 by pentaxpete, on Flickr

Very pleased with results from my FIRST ATTEMPTS with a C200 Mamiya !!
 
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I've just made a small modification to my M645J to assist with verticals. I've attached a hotshoe bubble spirit level to the WLF;

View attachment 6250

View attachment 6251

As it's in my eyeline while using the WLF I can easily maintain level shots when I'm handholding. I was going to make a small bracket to use the mount point for the sports finder target but decided on a simple dab of clear silicone which will come off if I need to remove it.

Not a bad little spirit level for £1.65 :0)

Cheers
Steve
 
That's a great idea Steve, I've got a couple of those little bubbles knocking around somewhere.
 
Steve Smith said:
Is the thread still ok? If not, can it be drilled out and tapped to M2?


Steve.
Click to expand...
Update on my C330

Well, the thread was still OK - and happens to be the same size as the screws that I had to remove to get the side off so I took the lazy approach and borrowed one of them to 'fix' it with. All good now and waiting for some more appropriate weather to try it out for real.
 
might have to see if I can one of those for my rb67, got a big cube one on there atm
 
I can now say I am a 'Mamiya Medium Format' owner :D my C220 arrived on Saturday and it's really great to use. Having only really used DSLRs I find it very different, but there's not much I don't like about it so far. I especially love the waist level finder, it makes landscapes so much easier!

Shot a roll of Ilford FP4 Plus on Saturday and popped to my local development shop, just to find that they only do colour 120! I've looked around the area for all the photographic stores and none within 50 miles that I can find do b+w 120 (if anyone knows any in South East Somerset...). I'm planning on posting it off for development today but I'm not sure what the turn around time for it will be. I should have a few rolls of colour film arriving in the post today too, so I'm gonna take a few photos tonight and tomorrow and then get it developed later in the week. Having never used a film camera, nor a medium format camera before, I'm like a kid at Christmas waiting to get some shots developed! (to make sure that the camera works, of course...)

I will post some photos when I have some (well, the good ones anyway).

Carl
 
Carl Hall said:
I can now say I am a 'Mamiya Medium Format' owner :D my C220 arrived on Saturday and it's really great to use. Having only really used DSLRs I find it very different, but there's not much I don't like about it so far. I especially love the waist level finder, it makes landscapes so much easier!

Shot a roll of Ilford FP4 Plus on Saturday and popped to my local development shop, just to find that they only do colour 120! I've looked around the area for all the photographic stores and none within 50 miles that I can find do b+w 120 (if anyone knows any in South East Somerset...). I'm planning on posting it off for development today but I'm not sure what the turn around time for it will be. I should have a few rolls of colour film arriving in the post today too, so I'm gonna take a few photos tonight and tomorrow and then get it developed later in the week. Having never used a film camera, nor a medium format camera before, I'm like a kid at Christmas waiting to get some shots developed! (to make sure that the camera works, of course...)

I will post some photos when I have some (well, the good ones anyway).

Carl
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Great...... and would say to all committed digital guys that might be browsing on this forum:- use you DSLR for main use and a film camera, at least, for some relaxation and fun. For me it's in reverse as I'm a committed film user but do find a digital camera handy at times but am pleased to say I've never parted with any cash for one. :cool:
 
Carl : I sent you a 'Conversation' about film processing -- I can help you --- PS used the Darkroom for E6 but they have put UP their prices a lot AND charge 20% VAT !
 
Arrrrggghhhhh, mirror lock mode.

Lost three frames from my last roll becuase I didn't notice I'd left it on, luckily I was hedging my bets and used a different focal length for one of my POTY attempts.

Sorry no one else would understand and I had to rant...
 
Good morning! I've been lurking on this thread for a while now but not posted anything before, I've recently acquired a scanner though so I think it's time that I show some photos! These were both taken with my Mamiya RZ67 last winter, ice fishing;

View attachment 6928


View attachment 6927


I will (hopefully) have more to post when I get a bit quicker at scanning..

Josh.
 
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