Great Find: a Mamiya 6 Automat 2

[Abbazz]

I already own an early Mamiya 6-IV, the older folding camera, not the more recent interchangeable lens one, with a nice Zuiko 3.5/75mm coated lens.

It looks great, very solidly built, but a tad bigger than the other 6x6 folders. This is probably due to its unusual film plane focusing, as it is one of the rare MF or 35mm cameras that focuses by moving back and forth the film plane (like the Ensign Commando, Stereo Realist and Contax AX). This contraption allows the use of a coupled rangefinder on a folding camera with a more rigidly mounted front standard (better for sharpness) and without resorting to a front element focusing lens (better for optical aberrations correction).

Recently, I found a Mamiya 6 Automat 2, the last version of this camera, released in 1958. The Automat 2 offers coupled shutter cocking and film advance. The lens is a coated Mamiya Sekor 3.5/75mm. The yellow and purple reflections on the front element make me think it sports some kind of early multi-coating.

It is now it in my bag with the older Type IV. Hopefully, the pair will mate 😀

Here are some pictures of this unusual camera:







Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[jan normandale]

it looks almost mint! not a visible mark on the metal surfaces. Was this in someones closet for the last 60 years? I'll wait to see how it shoots. Most interesting. Lucky you.

 

[jlw]

So, is that the one that was on eBay several times with a Buy It Now price that dropped $20 each time it was re-listed? That one had leatherette peeling off the lower lens housing, too, so I wondered. (But then, maybe they all do that!)

I was tempted by the one on eBay -- I had owned an older Mamiya 6 and admired the solidity and cleverness of the design, and the convenience of focusing via that well-located right-hand thumbwheel. The idea of one of these cameras with a bright-frame finder and auto shutter cocking seemed very appealing. The only reason I passed on it was that I currently have no way to scan 6x6cm negatives.

If it's the same one, I'm glad it found an appreciative owner. Whether it is or not, I hope we'll be seeing some shots from it posted on RFF!

 

[JeffGreene]

Wow! Like Jan said, it does look mint! Please post some photos when you get the chance. 6 X 6 is a great format! Love that square!

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I saw one of these somewhere that wasn't in quite as good cosmetic shape, but worked. $75 was what I would have paid to have it. Declined. Never should have done that. I think they're interesting cameras.

 

[Abbazz]

So, is that the one that was on eBay several times with a Buy It Now price that dropped $20 each time it was re-listed?

Yes, I got this one from eBay recently. The seller has the habit of listing a bunch of overpriced items and dropping the price every week for the items that don't sell. He often offers Norita 6x6 SLRs (some day, I have to get one of these). I had been monitoring the Mamiya for a few weeks, because I knew it was the not-so-common Automat 2, although it was not described as such. I was waiting for the price to come down. A some point, I realized I had to do press the trigger before someone else grabbed the camera...

The leatherette on these cameras doesn't seem to be very good. It has peeled off in places on this Automat 2, although the camera is in very good shape. I don't think the previous owner used it a lot, because the film guides look mint. I might get a kit from Cameraleather -- no red lizard for sure 😱

I will post some pictures as soon as I get my first roll developped.

Cheers,

Abbazz