Any Mamiya Press users here?

[FrankS]

I recently bought a Super 23 from Craigslist. Great shape, black, with the standard 100mm f3.5 Tessar lens. What a beast! Odd shape, and heavy. Separate film wind and shutter tensioning procedure keeps you thinking about what you're doing. The lens will need a CLA as the shutter is sticky/erratic due to sitting around for years. Yesterday I bought a 150mm lens for it from eBay for $60. I'd like to find a 50mm as well. Today is rainy so I'll have time to develop the roll of film I shot with it yesterday.

Is anyone here using one of these cameras?

 

[naruto]

None that I know of here, but here is a user on flickr. Kirk is a good friend, and an excellent teacher.

His shots with the Mamiya Press. I have used the camera a couple of times, and it is very nice for use in any situation.

 

[hans voralberg]

I, Kuzano and I think a few more member, probably 2-3 use the Press. I have a Universal, 127/4.7, 100/3.5 and the 75/5.6 with Pola back, 4x5 back and 6x9 back !

If you want to handhold it comfortably you need a grip 😉 Oh and try to have fun with the Super TS, it can produce some very interesting effects

Here's one on Polaroid with the 100/3.5

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

I sued to have one.
With the 50,60, 100/2.8 and 150 lenses.
Nice camera, well built. The 50 and 100/2.8 are very good performers. The 60 was not that good.
I sold it because it is a bit awkward and big.

Best regards,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[sevo]

I have a Super 23 (or rather two, the old one now is a spares donor) - but I almost always use it as a dedicated wide-angle camera, with the 50mm.

 

[johnny.moped]

I'm using the Universial-Version with the 100/3.5 for land- and cityscapes.
6x9 (and polaroids for testshots). especially the groundglas-back gives great composing-possibilitys.
love this camera.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I have a flat topped Super 23 and a two Universals (a chrome and a black) with 50mm, 65mm, 100mm, and 127mm (it covers the Polaroid back) lenses. Two 6x9 backs and two Polaroid (now Fuji) backs. The 6x9 negatives are a pleasure to work with!

Some Flickr pictures of the cameras.

 

[kuzano]

I use the Press lenses, and have a home built body.

I use the Press lenses, and have a home built body.

I am currently looking and will probably order one of Tony Sansone's rebuilt Universal bodies. I have a homebuilt (bought it) body and use the 50, 75, 100 lenses on it. Linked are a couple of pics.

And no, none of the Mamiya Press lenses cover a full 4X5 sheet of film, but they do cover the 3X4 pack film. I use a Quickload back and a roll film back. When I shoot a 4X5 quickload, it is with the intention to crop to the usable image circle.

 

[FrankS]

Hey, good to see I'm not alone.
The tilt back feature is intriguing.
Kuzano, what lens is that there?

 

[jdos2]

Had a couple- pretty complete set:
Two bodies (one silver, one black/brass).
50mm/65mm/75mm/100 f2.8 and 3.5, 127mm, 150, 250... Along with several backs and lots of Polaroid.

It's been my favorite rig ever for film. I miss it, in fact, and have been talking with Tony Sansone again about picking up one...
(oops! For clarity, mine was a Universal)

 

[johnny.moped]

The tilt back feature is intriguing.

actually i've read a lot that it's pretty useless.
you should definitely go for the "universal" version.

 

[FrankS]

I've seen some photos with selective DOF induced by the back movements, that looked pretty interesting. And the opposit: foreground to infinity sharply focused.

 

[sevo]

actually i've read a lot that it's pretty useless.
you should definitely go for the "universal" version.

The tilt is rather useless when it comes to the architecture and landscape photography with which tilt is traditionally associated, as only some of the normal lenses are collapsible (and hence provide tilt to infinity), while you'd want it with wides for these applications. But it can be handy in close-up photography (the Super is one of my favorite mushrooming cameras), and makes it a neat tool for DOF reduced negative tilt "toy landscape" photography (though the effect has been rather overdone lately).

Sevo

 

[oftheherd]

actually i've read a lot that it's pretty useless.
you should definitely go for the "universal" version.

It is like anything else, it has its use, but if you don't ever need it for what it was designed for, it is indeed useless. It can help you keep things in focus. That is probably not something most people will use if for, but when needed, it is there. It will also help with magnification. If you don't ever want to use the back for that, keep it tightly closed. If you do have a need for either of those, enjoy what not many cameras have.

They are a little heavy, but with a wide strap, manageable. They are a system camera. You can change backs, lenses, and add extension tubes. The large negatives are nice to work with. The 65mm and 50mm lenses need separate viewfinders. They are both nice. The 50mm is a little large, but gives a really nice wide view.

The backs include a multi-format back. That is something I consider a bit useless. Why drop to a 6x6, and if you want 6x9, they have those backs too. Other backs include about three or four focusing backs. All but one take cut film holders, which can still me found from time to time. Beware the film pack backs which are sometimes advertised on the 'bay. Nobody I am aware of sells film packs any more.

The viewfinder has frames for 100mm, 150mm, and 250mm. The 250mm lens comes in two flavors; an f/8 and an f/5. The f/8 doesn't couple to the rangefinder, but is not as large. The f/5 does couple, but requires two men and a boy to handle. Alll Mamiya lenses are superb.

I keep most of mine in an aluminum case for transport, but not for carrying items. Already too heavy without the added weight of the case. A small (or larger) backpack with lenses rubber band wrapped in foam is a better bet. And unlike a 35mm system where you carry everything just in case, you won't do that with a press camera if you have many lenses and/or backs and accessories. At least I won't. In fact, there are times when I carry a Zeiss 6x9 for the big negatives and do without interchangeable lenses and backs.

Anyway, enjoy. Versatility in a 6x7 or 6x9 negative can get addictive.

 

[kuzano]

Hey, good to see I'm not alone.
The tilt back feature is intriguing.
Kuzano, what lens is that there?

That's the 75, although the 50 looks about the same.

I never used the bellows on the two Super 23's I had. As far as I know, the only collapsible lens, which is needed to use the bellows, is the 100, and not all of those collapse. Furthermore, the bellows is really only usefull with Ground Glass viewing which is yet another attachment.

The Universal has far more flexibility for backs, plus the back opening is large enough to take the Polaroid Pack Film attachments.

One reason for this camera with 4X5 capability is that I can mount a 90 or 100mm large format lens in a 100mm focus helical (mamiya mount), and a 127 LF lens in a 127 focus helical and cover a full 4X5 sheet of film.

With this capability, I can shoot 6X9 (roll holder), 6X12 (roll holder), instant pack film, and 4X5. The lack of movements is of no concern to me. I have a standard LF camera for that. A stripped Graflex Super that weighs in at 4 pounds. All the rangefinder guts are gone and it's reduced to bare essentials for ground glass shooting.

 

[johnny.moped]

It is like anything else, it has its use, but if you don't ever need it for what it was designed for, it is indeed useless. It can help you keep things in focus. That is probably not something most people will use if for, but when needed, it is there. It will also help with magnification. If you don't ever want to use the back for that, keep it tightly closed. If you do have a need for either of those, enjoy what not many cameras have.

You misunderstood me. I would have loved to have a tilt-option, but from what I've heard and read it's just way to imprecise to be useful and to compensate for all the disadvantages compared to the universal-version (see post before).

 

[oftheherd]

You misunderstood me. I would have loved to have a tilt-option, but from what I've heard and read it's just way to imprecise to be useful and to compensate for all the disadvantages compared to the universal-version (see post before).

Sorry to have misunderstood. I think it would be impractical to use without a ground glass back. In that case I think would not be imprecise, as you can see what you are getting. Of course, it is not as versatile as a camera with full movements front and back. Still, with the 100mm f/3.5, which I think is the only lens you can use that for, it gives the user one more thing he is capable of. And of course, it is still usable for closer closeups. EDIT: BTW, I don't recall ever having used it for anything but closeups, but I am sure there are those for whom focus control with a movable back was valuable. I'm just not one of them.

The only thing I know of that the Universal can do that the Super Press can't, is take the Polaroid backs and the graflex backs as I recall. It also requires an adapter back to take the regular backs, which the Super Press doesn't. As in all things photographic, there are always good and bad, and compromises to make.

 

[newsgrunt]

I had a Super 23 as well and also thought the rear movements would be useful. That honeymoon didn't last very long. Got a Universal instead which was much more useful (graflok, Polaroid back etc). I figured for the hassle of the swing and tilt, I'd be better off setting up my 4x5 instead.

Good luck finding a 50, they're pretty hard to find and when you do, they'll cost a few bucks as well.

They're a beast to carry and use but it's basically a photographic Sherman tank.

 

[oftheherd]

I had a Super 23 as well and also thought the rear movements would be useful. That honeymoon didn't last very long. Got a Universal instead which was much more useful (graflok, Polaroid back etc). I figured for the hassle of the swing and tilt, I'd be better off setting up my 4x5 instead.

Good luck finding a 50, they're pretty hard to find and when you do, they'll cost a few bucks as well.

They're a beast to carry and use but it's basically a photographic Sherman tank.

For a news person, I expect the rear movements would have little use. It is usually a tripod thing.

The 50mm is expensive, as is the 250mm f/5. I got both mine off ebay, at relative bargain prices, but still not free. I saved on the 50mm as it came without a viewfinder. I see the viewfinders going for well over $100 dollars. A little experimenting showed me that the 65mm viewfinder using the 6x9 setting was close enough to correct for the 50mm with the 6x9 back which is what I use (I seldom use my cut film backs). I don't know why the 250mm was sold at a relative good price, but I wouldn't have it otherwise. Strangely I have yet to use it. I started having back problems shortly after I got it. You don't carry a kit of Super Press gear with a bad back. Fortunately I am getting over that, so I look forward to using the Press again.

 

[oftheherd]

Oops, sorry for the double post. It appently happened as I got logged out and had to sign in again to finish the post.