Mamiya 23 Standard - How to load old magazines?

klaus123

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Hello

I haven't found a section, where new members can introduce theself - so I do it in my 1St posting:

My name is Klaus, living in Germany and SLRs for app. 40 years. Today I use Pentax DSLRs and Pentax MF cameras using mainly B&W film. Now I got my 1ST RF-Camera: A Mamiya 23.
I present my pictures @ Klaus-macht-Bilder.de.

Now to my Question: My new RF-camera has 2 old magazines (6x7 & 6x9 w/o tranporting lever) and I am not sure how to load the film correctly including proper counter operation. All Manuals I found in the web are related to the newer lever type.

Can anybody please explain how the films are loaded in my old magazines (or mail a old manual copy) - Thank you.

Greetings from Germany
Klaus
 
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Thank you for this fast answer - looking at the manual it seems that mine are different than the discribed one.

For clarification I attach a picture of my 6x7-magazine (6x9 looks the same - but counter only up to 8)

PS: The winding wheel blocks at each image and is released by the small metal lever for the next picture.
 

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Odd. That type is not even mentioned in the Super 23 and Universal manuals.

That is my problem ;)

A description how it may work:
- - Rotate progress wheel until it blocks
- - Release for next picture
- - Rotate again until last picture is taken – after last picture the wheel is not blocked.
- - The counter points to an arrow mark – this is the condition where a new film has to be loaded
- - Load the new film until the mark on the Film is at the mark of the film housing
- - Close housing and release lever
- - Progress until wheel is blocked again (Counter at “1”)
- - Now the pictures can be taken.
 
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Meanwhile I got a copy of the maual from the former owner - It seems I was not that wrong :)

AUTOMATIC FILMWIND STOP
By operating the filmwind stop release lever (1), the filmwind knob (2) can be freely turned. Turn exposure counter indicates the triangle start Position. Open backlid by pulling out both ends of the backlid catch (3).
Place unexposed film in film chamber. Secure end of paper leader to empty take-up spool. Commence winding carefully, hold the roll of film tightly äs illustrated, so that the strip is taken up evenly. When the start mark on the paper leader appears, align it with the camera start mark (7). " Close backlid. When ciosing backlid, the pressure plate may cause the film and camera start marks to go out of alignment. This is quite in order.
When securing end of paper leader to slit of take-up spool, exercise the greatest care to effect a good junction. If fitting is poor, the take-up action will not be even and straight, causing distortion of the film surface.
Operate filmwind stop release lever (1) once, then
wind until filmwind knob locks. The first frame of the rollfilm is now in position for picture-taking. Attach rollfilm holder to camera, then pull out slide cover.
After each shot, operatc film wind stop release lever (1) to permit winding and transport of film to next frame. When removing rollfilm holder from camera with unexposed film remaining inside, always insert slide cover (5), then push in safety catch (4) so that slide cover cannot be pulled out inadvertently after rollfilm holder has been removed.
 
Well, first, welcome to RFF. Also welcome to Mamiya Press cameras.

I have the Super Press 23 and have had it for some 35 years. I don't use it as much as I used to but still like it. I am surprised as apparently was sevo. I never heard of such a back. At first I thought it might be a frankenback where all the mechanisms had been changed out, if that is even possible. I would guess it is somewhat uncommon.

I am sure you will enjoy the camera and winding in that fashion isn't as hard as some people might think, but using a regular back with a crank is easy. Still, I have a lot of folders and that is the way they work.

What lens do you have with your camera, and which model 23 is it?
 
Hello

The lens is a 90/3,5 w/o the possibility to move it (infinity for tilt/shift) as the camera does not have a rear bellow too.

The camera housing says "Mamiya 23 Standard"
 
Hello

The lens is a 90/3,5 w/o the possibility to move it (infinity for tilt/shift) as the camera does not have a rear bellow too.

The camera housing says "Mamiya 23 Standard"

I think that is one of the early Mamiya 23s. I have seen them on ebay, but I am not familiar with them. I wouldn't worry too much about not having the bellow on the back. That is a feature I have found not too useful other than perhaps for close ups. And of course, the extension tubes are best for that. You don't get any tilt/shift on any model that I am aware of, only added focus control as you would on a 4x5 when moving the back. No matter, I think you will enjoy the extra real estate with those backs, and the lens should be good.
 
Thank you - I do not realy target for macros with my new Mamiya because I have a Pentax 67 with a 135/5-Macro plus extension tubes - for that segmant I think a SLR has some advantages - on my Pentax 645 this lens even works TTL with my Sigma Ring Flash.
 
I am surprised as apparently was sevo. I never heard of such a back. At first I thought it might be a frankenback where all the mechanisms had been changed out, if that is even possible. I would guess it is somewhat uncommon.

It's the basic back that came with the original (cream or grey top shell) Mamiya Press as shown here: http://photography-matters.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/mamiya-press.html. The back shown on that page is the multi-format version.
 
Hello

I exposed the 1ST film - genarally it looks not too bad, but picture 1,2 and 6 out of 8 (6x9-Magazine) show a significant ingress of ambient light :bang: (see attachment).
All pictures have been taken at quite low light (400ASA-1:4,0 -1/250) without reattaching the slider or changing the magazine.

Does anybody have a clue where the source of this effect is?
 

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Hello

I exposed the 1ST film - genarally it looks not too bad, but picture 1,2 and 6 out of 8 (6x9-Magazine) show a significant ingress of ambient light :bang: (see attachment).
All pictures have been taken at quite low light (400ASA-1:4,0 -1/250) without reattaching the slider or changing the magazine.

Does anybody have a clue where the source of this effect is?

Probably missing or flattened foam. The Mamiya backs depend on foam for sealing, used ones generally need a foam replacement unless that has already been done recently.
 
Probably missing or flattened foam. The Mamiya backs depend on foam for sealing, used ones generally need a foam replacement unless that has already been done recently.

Thank you - I looked to all elements of the camera and have not neen able to find foam at all - it looks more like a light labyrinth has to do this work.
Further I tried to find a light gap by using a tourch in a dark room - but I have not found any thing so far.

Enclosed as crops from all effected shots - the sharp, strait verical line indicates that it might be light from the slider slot - but so far I was not able to confirm that.
 

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