Mamiya-Sekor 55 f/1.4 (Burgundy?)

[matthewm]

Hello all,
My fiancee surprised me with a Mamiya 1000DTL for my birthday (a quick thrift store find) and it works wonderfully. I'm just curious, though as I'm having lots of trouble finding information about it, does anyone know anything about the lens included with the camera? It's a Mamiya-Sekor 55 f/1.4, but the lens is kind of a burgundy color. The writing on the lens is the chunkier, lower-case font. I'm actually really surprised with the results from this lens but haven't found much on the net about it.

I was just curious about it because of the color more than anything else. I think she only paid abotu $12 for the camera with the 55/1.4 lens and a 135/2.8 Vivitar lens so I'm guessing it's nothing too special, but just curious.

Any thoughts?

 

[kuzano]

I've used the older mamiya's 500 and 1000dtl

I've used the older mamiya's 500 and 1000dtl

Later also used the Mamiya ZE, ZE2, ZM, all with Mamiya Sekor lenses. Then I moved on to the Mamiya Press cameras.

Mamiya lenses have always been surprizingly good, certainly as newer users of the Mamiya 6 and 7 cameras will attest.

Polaroid also contracted Mamiya to build the Mamiya-Sekor lenses and helicals in breech-lock focus helicals modified specifically for the 600 and 600SE series.

As far as I am concerned Mamiya-Sekor is some of the best glass going and has been for years. The good news is that the old Mamiya 500/1000 cameras are a dime a dozen and many are still functioning well.

 

[former member]

The coating is a bergundy color?

If so, it is multi-coated. I remember The Nikkor-SC 50/1.4 in F-Mount is also that color on some of the surfaces.

 

[matthewm]

No, the lens itself is a weird burgundy color. The glass coating is the kind of warm, yellow like you see in some of the Takumar lenses.

The coating is a bergundy color?

If so, it is multi-coated. I remember The Nikkor-SC 50/1.4 in F-Mount is also that color on some of the surfaces.

 

[Chris101]

No, the lens itself is a weird burgundy color. The glass coating is the kind of warm, yellow like you see in some of the Takumar lenses.

Cool. Please take a color picture of the lens with your Canon and post it. I have seen Mamiya lenses for 35mm cameras, and I have never noticed them being anything except black. A purple lens would be a real bonus!

 

[matthewm]

It doesn't look quite as pronounced as it does in person (and the photo is a tad blurry), but if you compare the focus ring to the actual lens barrel, aperture ring and rear mount, you can clearly see it's a brown/burgundy color compared to the black of the other parts. It's weird. I'm sure it's just dirty or something and probably worth less, but I like to think I got a rare gem. 🙂

 

[isorgb]

I heard about black or silver lenses and questions of some people "which one, which one..." Now you can tell "easy easy man, take burgundy" 😉

and seriously look for something about Tomioka 55/1.4 lens. Your lens may be Tomioka series.

 

[willie_901]

I got a Mamiya-Sekor 500TL in 1970. I still use it occasionally, The 50/2 kit lens is a very nice lens. I did not know a 55/1.4 lens existed.

 

[pakeha]

more info at link below, regards

http://herron.50megs.com/history.htm

 

[Neare]

I really want a lens in burgundy now. Could it of been a DIY job?

 

[matthewm]

Thanks for all the responses and info.

I don't think it could have been a DIY job, Neare, because all of the aperture numbers and scale readings, etc are still showing up and that would have required some very meticulous work. Perhaps a cyborg did it! We're probably under attack. Burgundy lenses. What's next!? Orange Leica M8's? RUNNN!!!