Another SLR that RFF could love

[shadowfox]

So how did I happen to own this somewhat obscure camera? It was the 14mm semi-fisheye lens that someone was selling for about $75 new as I recall. Way back yonder there weren't many 14mm lenses available and none for $75 (a deal I couldn't refuse). Quite a bit later I got a body and used metal tape to change it to the panorama format. Amazingly little distortion when you just use the strip across the center of the negative. I have compared this lens to a 16mm semi-fisheye and it has a significantly wider field of view! I also have the 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 135mm lenses. In the past you could get these lenses for under $50 each If you were patient. Anyway, I'm glad to see someone else appreciates this camera.

That is just incredible.
I am not a fan of fisheye at all, but if I can get an extra-wide rectangular image out of it, that's cool.

I found one of these at a thrift store with a 50mm macro lens, 35mm and a standard 50mm.. The camera is quite nice. Shutter controls like an OM camera. Unfortunately the film advance was wonky and I couldn't figure out how to fix it, so I sold the lenses and body on eBay.

I wouldn't mind the 50mm macro. But when the 3D printed M42 adapter arrived, I can test it with my Industar 61L/Z which is macro-ish.

Beautiful indeed. It has a model number that they'd surely like here in North Carolina. 😀 Will, upon seeing the first pic in the original post, I was going to ask what the orange thing does -- until I read on. But a clarification: is the orange square both the button to press, and the light that lights? Weird if so. Interesting camera, but I tend to shy away from these orphan mounts with limited lens availability.
--Dave

Dave, that explains the sudden urge to buy when I see a Canon TX (haha...)
The orange square on the top will light up when the orange button is pressed indicating battery status.

Mamiya, having such a good line of MF cameras, never seemed to market their 35mm cameras well. They did have some perfectly acceptable 35mm cameras. I wasn't aware of the OP's camera. It looks like a nice user. Shame they didn't expand on it. Looking forward to seeing how you like it as you continue to use it.

Yes, I have a Fuji Superia 200 in it right now. My standard test roll so I can see orange streaks if there are any light leaks.
So far I'm happy with the handling, it is surprisingly familiar due to the shutter speed around the lens mount.

I had a wonderful NC1000 with a range of 4 lenses and loved it. My sole complaint was the fact that the little button on the top would release the arm and simultaneously turn on the meter. Many times I found that the button had been accidentally pressed in my bag and the meter was dead. After replacing the batteries several times, I retired the little camera and eventually gave it all to a friend who was interested in learning about photography. Except for this one flaw, it was a fine little camera with an excellent selection of lenses and all very inexpensive.... except for the batteries.

Actually it's the reverse.
The round button on top of the film advance lever will pop-up when the meter is on (the lever is at about 30 degrees from the body). If you push it down, it will turn *off* the meter and make the lever flush to the body.

It reminds me of Konica T4 in this regard.

 

[L David Tomei]

"Actually it's the reverse. The round button on top of the film advance lever will pop-up when the meter is on (the lever is at about 30 degrees from the body). If you push it down, it will turn *off* the meter and make the lever flush to the body." Shadowfox

Your right. The film advance arm on mine released very easily, maybe too easily. Anyway, it's was a very nice camera system and I'm frequently tempted to get one when I see the undeserved low prices- David

 

[shadowfox]

A little update.
I didn't get to shoot what I usually like to shoot.
So the first test roll is a bust.
I do want to show you one image:

This is the 200mm 1:3.5 lens.
And this is a 100% crop from a typical minilab Noritsu scan (not the usual Coolscan V):

Yes, some of you will focus on the film grain or bird droppings... I notice those as well.
But I also think that this lens is extremely sharp and has an overall nice rendering. And it's smaller than even the OM Zuiko 200/4, and has a built-in hood.

All I can say is, good job, Mamiya.
The 35mm is nice as well, I'll show some pics when I'm done with my second roll.

This kit is growing on me.

 

[mdarnton]

For those of you who are interested in this kind of thing, my brother and I both worked in a camera store in the late 50s to mid 60s, and we both brought one of everything free home. I'm cleaning house this weekend, and this just turned up in a box filled with similar stuff. Even that early, the plain design aesthetic was there. Note the Canon lens in Exakta semi-auto mount!

 

[Trius]

Well, there goes the price of NC1000s on eBay! 😀

 

[DrTebi]

Bucking the trend of going more expensive and "betterer" cameras,
I find myself drawn to the lower rung of the ladder (price-wise).

I have been on a similar hunt lately and discovered the Mamiya ZM Quartz. I like the features, and especially the "grip". It came with three lenses, the Mamiya f2.0 50mm, a Osawa f2.8 28mm, and a Omestar f3.8 75-150mm zoom. Got it all for about $70.

While the lenses all looked quite good, the camera was a bit beat and the ISO dial didn't register correctly. This was quite a disappointment, as I wanted the camera for it's AEL exposure. After a roll of sunny 16th tests, which came out so-so, I played around about 10 minutes with the ISO dial and it finally registered again.

Now it's working great. I really like the little LED dots in the viewfinder for the shutter speed, and find the warning beep for slow shutter speeds rather helpful than annoying. My first Provia 100F roll came out perfectly exposed. The lenses all did really well, except for the Omestar, which is very soft.

Nevertheless, on my day out shooting, suddenly one of the camera strap attachment "nuts" came off! I was able to hold on to the camera, but started worrying about the built quality a bit... the batteries also tend to drop out on their own at times, but a bit of tape may fix that problem...

Overall I really like the ZM Quartz, especially for the little money I paid for it. Here is a shot that shows of the great working lightmeter. I uploaded the full size scan to flickr, check it out to see what great resolution this Osawa lens can deliver.

 

[shadowfox]

Not bad.
Keep the Mamiya 35mm SLR experiences coming.

I'm developing the second roll.
Let's hope something decent will turn out.

 

[shadowfox]

To close the loop, here's a link to the shots I posted in a new thread:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120101

 

[kuzano]

Pentax K mount....

Pentax K mount....

I posted a web site for collectors of the Mamiya nc1000 and Z series cameras. Posted it on the second thread you started on your nc1000.

I seem to recall something about an adaptor for K mount pentax on that site related to the Mamiya 35mm.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Older and uncommon SLRs are great - when they work.
But repairs can be hard to come by, and very pricey.

I run with the Pentax crowd. We have Eric Hendrickson! 🙂

Chris

 

[shadowfox]

I posted a web site for collectors of the Mamiya nc1000 and Z series cameras. Posted it on the second thread you started on your nc1000.

I seem to recall something about an adaptor for K mount pentax on that site related to the Mamiya 35mm.

Not K-mount, but M42.
I have two on order.

 

[shadowfox]

Older and uncommon SLRs are great - when they work.
But repairs can be hard to come by, and very pricey.

I run with the Pentax crowd. We have Eric Hendrickson! 🙂

Chris

Chris,
I ended up with four NC1000 bodies (in search of the rarer 200mm and 35mm lens).

Two are just fine.

I have my local camera repair shop work to combine the other two. One has perfectly clean viewfinder and focusing screen, but weird shutter that refused to work when set to 1 second. The other has perfectly working shutter and meter, but has the worst balsam separation on the viewfinder I've ever seen.

When he's done, I'll have a good CLA'd NC1000 body. In the end I'll probably keep one and sell the remaining two. People need to be introduced to this camera, it's that good.

 

[Steve M.]

Neat little camera. I found this on the web. The guy apparently designed an adapter to mount the lenses on Canon EOS cameras, as well as a replica of the Mamiya NC1000 P mount M42 adapter.

http://www.shapeways.com/model/344509/mamiya-nc1000-s-cs-quot-p-mount-quot.html

 

[pakeha]

I didn't use to think much of Mamiya's 35mm offerings, as I was only familiar with their bulky M42-mount TL and DTL series. More recently, I've read up on their other SLRs and found them rather interesting. I'm currently courting the idea of buying a Mamiya ZE2; however, the NC1000 looks rather attractive. If the ZE2 turns out to be more plastic than metal, and not very compact, I'll try to get an NC1000 instead. Did your set come very cheap?

ZE2 is a good camera , mix of metal and plastic but feels quite solid.Weak point is the speed change disc. But all cameras have cons.I have one and four ZM bodies.The ZM is also a good option overlooked by many.Paid between $12.50 and $40.00 for them.Big downside is that lens choice is limited to E and EF series Mamiya lens unless you can find adapters for CS lens/tamron/P adapter, and an adapter that allows 645 lens to be used i believe.Ergonomically the ZM is best.

 

[shadowfox]

The 135mm and 28mm lenses (both f/2.8) for this camera arrived yesterday. Sweet!!

The 135mm is small, maybe smaller than even Zuiko 135/2.8 and has a very cool looking built in hood.
The 28mm looks... like any other 28/2.8 lenses I've seen 🙂
We'll see if its optics are as good as its brethren.

 

[Aristophanes]

Older and uncommon SLRs are great - when they work.
But repairs can be hard to come by, and very pricey.

I run with the Pentax crowd. We have Eric Hendrickson! 🙂

Chris

The Pentax MZ-S has to be the most RF-like 135 SLR ever made. With the FA 43mm on (sans AA battery grip...nice to have that option) it is barely larger than my Canon QL 17 III and smaller than my Yashica GSN.

Hendrickson does fine work. He's :angel:

 

[shadowfox]

The Pentax MZ-S has to be the most RF-like 135 SLR ever made. With the FA 43mm on (sans AA battery grip...nice to have that option) it is barely larger than my Canon QL 17 III and smaller than my Yashica GSN.

Hendrickson does fine work. He's :angel:

You must be thinking of Pentax MX (or MV).
MZ-S is not barely larger than a Canonet 😀

 

[Greyscale]

The Pentax MZ-S has to be the most RF-like 135 SLR ever made. ...

I don't know about that. The Zenit 3 probably gets that honor.
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Zenit_3

 

[Speedfreak]

Didn't Fujica make a tiny little m42 mount camera?

Fuji built Fujica cameras with M42 mount, yes. Several.

 

[DrTebi]

ZE2 is a good camera , mix of metal and plastic but feels quite solid.Weak point is the speed change disc. But all cameras have cons.I have one and four ZM bodies.The ZM is also a good option overlooked by many.Paid between $12.50 and $40.00 for them.Big downside is that lens choice is limited to E and EF series Mamiya lens unless you can find adapters for CS lens/tamron/P adapter, and an adapter that allows 645 lens to be used i believe.Ergonomically the ZM is best.

Yes, the ergonomics of the ZM are really nice, a camera that´s easy to hold with one hand. I actually bought it because of it´s ergonomics, and my curiousity of 35mm Mamiya lenses (since the MF rangefinder ones are highly praised).