Mamiya 6 folding camera (ca 1950)

[ndnbrunei]

I have just purchased a 1950's Mamiya 6 folding camera (with the Olympus lens)and would like to know more about them. I have gleaned a little from the internet - a paragraph here and there at best.

Does anyone know of a good site/s or other reference materal?

What is more important, I need a user's manual. They are for sale from the 'Oldtimer' site for the princely sum of GBP 9.00 which seem excessive for a 15 - 20 page booklet. In the true spirit of the internet, someone somewhere must have copies available for vintage camera users to access. Has anybody come accross a site offering manuals for these intriguing cameras?

Finally, does anyone know of a good camera technician who is familiar with these folders. I am anticipating a CLA in the near future and would rather find someone who is familiar with the camera.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer!


ndnbrunei

(Andrew in Brunei Darussalam)

 

[jlw]

I don't know of any reference sites, but congratulations on having bagged an excellent medium-format RF camera. The earliest Mamiya 6 models date from before the Second World War; the last ones (I believe) appeared in the early 1960s and packed sophisticated features such as lever advance and auto shutter cocking. I vaguely recall a Bob Shell article on them in "Shutterbug" several years ago, but have no idea how you'd go about tracking this down.

As you've probably noticed, one of this camera's best features is its unusual system of coupling the rangefinder to the focusing mechanism. Normally this is a huge problem on folders, since the coupling system has to be rugged and precise, yet still able to fold out of the way when you want to close the camera. There have been a lot of approaches to this over the years, most of them somewhat less than 100% successful. Zeiss-Ikon, for example, on its Super Ikonta B series, used a precise and rugged optical coupling system -- but this forced them to use front-element focusing, which at least in theory isn't quite as good as moving the entire lens (unit focusing.) Other manufacturers retained unit-focusing lenses and used systems of jointed levers and arms to couple the lens movement to the RF optics, with varying degrees of success.

Mamiya brilliantly sidestepped the whole problem by not moving the lens at all! Instead, the 6 focuses by moving the film plane, which already is conveniently close to the rangefinder system and so doesn't require a long, complex, jointed coupling linkage. This film-plane focusing system also puts the focusing control on the "shoulder" of the camera in the form of a handily located thumb wheel, which is tremendously convenient to operate.

The only downside to this clever film-plane focusing system is that film loading is a bit more complicate -- but not much. The film is clamped in place at the gate by a slide-off cover which you must remove before loading. Then you thread the spools normally and slide the cover back on. The 6 has a simple but workable form of automatic film stop via an internal notched wheel that clicks into place for each frame. All this mechanism is well designed and uncomplicated, so it's unlikely to need service if the camera is undamaged.

The shutter may well need a CLA by now, but I don't think you'll need to find a specialist to do the work -- it's undoubtedly a very standard type of Japanese leaf shutter (mine had a Seikosha, but I believe some might also have come with a Copal) and any repair person who knows about leaf shutters in general should be able to clean it up for you with no problems.

Gee, all this writing about the Mamiya 6 makes me wish I still had mine. There have got to be some other owners out there in RFF land... anyone want to weigh in with advice or a copy of the manual for our new 6 owner?

 

[dbseney]

Hello:

I have a copy of the manual for the Mamiya 6 you are interested in. Just supply an address and I'll send a copy along to you. I also have the camera. If anyone is interested in buying it, let me know. It's in great shape.

Donald

 

[lubitel]

http://www.certo6.com/

this guy repairs folders, never used his services though. Got a very nice site though.

 

[lubitel]

Donald how much do you want for your folder?

 

[RJBender]

Check out Mamiya's website:

http://www.mamiya.com/About2.asp?id=6&id2=141&id3=144

R.J.

 

[wakarimasen]

Hello Folks,
I've just bought one of these - the 'V' model from what I can tell - and am trying to find any kind of manual. Can anyone help?
Best regards,
RoyM

The camera arrived:

 

[wakarimasen]

I think it's a Six V - can anyone confirm this, and point me in the right direction for more information regarding use etc?
Best regards,
RoyM

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

Hello folks,
I know this thread has been inactive for a while, but I was lucky enough to score a Mamiya 6 Automat II camera for a good price, and I was wondering if anyone might be able to email me a PDF copy of the user manual - I'd be very grateful for your help.
Many thanks,
Raj