Mamiya Press G - Wista backs?

[Baipin]

For a year or so, I chipped away at putting together a Graflok-compatible Mamiya Super 23. I finished it several months ago, and have been shooting ever since with it; a lot of fun, in a surprisingly compact package!

Being that it has interchangeable backs, I figure I might as well take advantage of this. I've been looking for something to compliment my current 6x8 Mamiya back (essentially the same negative size of typical a 6x9 Graflex/Singer, but with an additional 9th frame). I've also considered buying something with a bit more negative area - true 6x9.

The Horseman and Wista backs are attractive options, and I know the former works on mini-Graflok, but what about the latter - the Wista? As far as price is concerned, the Wistas are fantastic value, but do they fit a mini-Graflok back, such as that on a RB67, Century Graphic, or in my case - a Mamiya Press G interface? I can't find much information on the Wista backs beyond a "user manual" of questionable authenticity and anecdotal stories of "this back fits X, but not Y", or vice versa. :bang:

Some help would be much appreciated. Thank you! 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

I'm not sure I understand what you are after here. Did you convert a 23 to Graflok? I don't think they made an adapter to do that, but iirc there was a 23 just for Graflok. I think the Universal also had an adapter for Graflok.

Wish I could help for sure on Horseman or Wista backs, but unless you made something yourself that will take them, I don't think the Mamiya would likely mate to them, and if they did, I don't know what kind of offspring they would produce.

 

[Baipin]

I'm not sure I understand what you are after here. Did you convert a 23 to Graflok? I don't think they made an adapter to do that, but iirc there was a 23 just for Graflok. I think the Universal also had an adapter for Graflok.

Wish I could help for sure on Horseman or Wista backs, but unless you made something yourself that will take them, I don't think the Mamiya would likely mate to them, and if they did, I don't know what kind of offspring they would produce.

Sorry to not clarify. I took a Press G apart, removed its tilting Graflok standard, and replaced the original one on a Super 23 with this Graflok standard. Now my Super 23 takes Graflok-compliant backs as opposed to Mamiya's (I found those S-shaped backs way too large and cumbersome). The registration is the same, so the rangefinder works well.

Basically, I'm wondering if Wista's backs fit with the miniature Graflok interface found on this Super 23 and other 2x3 cameras like it - a Horseman 980, or RB67, for instance. For the record, I do know that Horseman backs work on this camera; there are other examples online. It's the Wista backs that I'm most concerned with though, especially since they're easier on my wallet than a Horseman.

 

[graywolf]

Since the RB67 roll film holders fit the Universal Press's Graflok adapter, I would guess that they would fit your converted camera.

In fact that is the reason for the Graflok, so you could use the same roll film holders on your RB67 in the studio, and on the Press for weddings and the like.

 

[besk]

Horseman backs will NOT fit without modifying the Graflok back. Two modifications need to be done.

First, facing the back of the camera the "light baffle" on the left is too high and must be filed down. This piece is removable on the two I have modified and made the work much easier.

Second, the slide locks interfere with the Horseman back. I filed notches in mine to eliminate the interference.

By the way, on mine I did away with the side grip and instead installed a walnut grip on the side of the camera with a provision for a cable release. The camera is much more compact now.

 

[Baipin]

Thanks for the comments, both of you

Horseman backs will NOT fit without modifying the Graflok back. Two modifications need to be done.

First, facing the back of the camera the "light baffle" on the left is too high and must be filed down. This piece is removable on the two I have modified and made the work much easier.

Second, the slide locks interfere with the Horseman back. I filed notches in mine to eliminate the interference.

By the way, on mine I did away with the side grip and instead installed a walnut grip on the side of the camera with a provision for a cable release. The camera is much more compact now.

That's very helpful to know. Looking elsewhere online, it seems that all of Wista's 6x9 backs are either obviously for 4x5, or for their own, unique interface (used on a sliding/rotating 4x5 to 6x9 adapter). Even if someone can manage to fit a Wista 6x9 into a Graflok interface, the registration/centering will be off. Can anyone confirm this?

Should I choose a Horseman back and modify the Super 23's Graflok interface, will that cause problems (e.g. lightleaks) with my current Mamiya 6x8 back, or will it continue to work just fine?

In any case, Besk, I did something similar with my Mamiya. The idea was to make a multiformat camera with movements and a rangefinder, that could easily fit within my backpack. I removed the left-hand grip, covered it with new leatherette, and added a grip to the right-hand side:

Using this, I can hold the camera steadily - even with with one hand. A cable release slips through the grip too, and rests where my thumb sits! Just yesterday actually, I bought a generic L-bracket and machined it to fit the bottom/left sides of the camera.

 

[dagbb]

I tried mounting the Horseman 6x9 back, as described in another thread..

Even after filing the tabs, and the black spacer/light baffle on the left of the adapter, I still had problems with the right side of pictures being slightly out of focus. It could possibly be related to the lens, but I think it was due to the back not being completely flat against the adapter. Adjusting the adapter took some time to do, so I gave up rather than proceed with further testing. Would be interested to hear if you can get it to work.

The 6x8 back does not work with the spacers set for the Horseman 6x9 back. There are no light leaks, but the 6x8 is not tight/flat on the adapter, and will be slightly out of focus. I just removed the spacers, and now the 6x8 back works again.

Btw. I recommend the Mamiya grip for 645 cameras. It fits perfectly, and aligns with the holes on the bottom of the camera. It's a bit lighter, and can be changed to a right hand grip, which I much prefer to the large left hand grip. Just remember to get the version with the flash socket bent slightly upwards. The one with the straight flash socket does not fit.

_DSC4774 by dagr, on Flickr