mamiya six folder film advance/load question

[imajypsee]

HI... I searched for an answer to this inquiry, but have not been successful, so....
I have a Mamiya Six folder and I need some help with the film loading and advance.
This camera has the little tab that releases the film advance so I know HOW to advance the film. but I don't have any idea where to stop for the first frame to line up. I put a roll of C41 BW in the camera and will use that as a test roll, but any help for the next go-round would be swell. At present it seems that the film should be advanced with the door open to some point because once the door is closed the frame numbers engage (I think the film is loaded incorrectly due to the way I loaded the film and then closed the door after guessing where the frames begin on the roll).
Here's some photos of the camera if it helps with my question to see it...

 

[kuzano]

Use the ruby window for the first frame...

Use the ruby window for the first frame...

Load the film. The film goes under the edges of the film opening and onto the takeup spool. Once it's on the take up spool, slide the pressure plate into place (the separate piece with the springs on it) to hold the film flat over the opening. Then with the door still open, wind the film forward until the start arrows on each side of the film come up on the right side of the camera (before going under the pressure plate). Close the door. Now, to position the first frame to the counter, you open the slide on the ruby window and use the winder to roll the film forward until you see the number one. If you watch the film backing, you will see small dots getting increasingly bigger until the first number comes up. Usually there are two 1/s stacked vertically. NOW is the part I am having trouble recalling. I think that in order to register the numbers correctly for frame 0, you hold the tab back both while taking up film on the take up spool and after you close the door and roll until you see the 1's in the ruby window. To assure this is true, the number in the tiny square window should not move while winding on. You may want to try this NOT holding the tab after you close the door. However, if the counter unter the windon knob moves while positioning the first frame, the registering will be off. Once you close the ruby window, you will not use it again until you put a new roll in. It's tricky until you get it the first time, but it works rather well on a camera that has been cared for.

If the windon knob takes any kind of severe hit, the finely tuned gearing inside can be damaged. On two of these Automats, both of which had been hit on the windon, I took out the counting/positioning gears and just used the camera ruby window to position all shots. Folders have used ruby windows for years this way. Taking out the counter still leaves the automatic shutter cocking in place. There is also a shutter cocking lever on the top front of the lens in case you do want to double expose a frame.

I also presume you know you cannot use 220 film in this camera. There are no numbers on 220 to position the first frame, and the counting mechanism only goes to 12... the number of 6X6 frames you get on 120.

 

[kuzano]

Boy did I mess up...

Boy did I mess up...

I thought your camera was the later Automat. For the most part my instructions are the same, but you do not have the frame count window under the winder, and you may have to use the ruby window to position all ensuing frames. The initial load is the same, roll to the start arrows with the back open. Then close the door tightly and use the ruby window to position film. The little lock tab on your back does throw me, because it implies some automatic stopping, which means you may have a frame spacing and locking mechanism.

In any event, here is a link to instruction manuals for both the camera you have and the later Automat with the frame count and stops.

It's a great camera, and the greatest part of that lens is the near perfect round aperture, resulting in very nice bokeh.

Here for the manuals. Pretty far down the page:

http://herron.50megs.com/manuals3.htm

 

[kuzano]

OK.. yes, you do have frame counting

OK.. yes, you do have frame counting

Looking at the pics again, your frame counter is just different from the counter on my Automats. So, you should only need to position the first frame with the ruby window and then watch that the counter moves up one frame each time. I still think you disengage the tab until you get to frame 1 in the ruby window. Then the window is left closed for the roll.

Sorry for all the confusion. I've had about 4 of your style and 3 of the automats and it gets confusing.

 

[Mackinaw]

The automatic frame positioning is unreliable in my Mamiya 6 folder so I hold the "little tab" to the left while advancing the film with the back window open. Stop winding when the next number comes up and you're in business. A bit clumsy a times, but it's worked well the few years I've owned the camera.

Jim B.

 

[imajypsee]

Oh.. thank you so much!!

Oh.. thank you so much!!

I had an idea that I was supposed to use the ruby window, but there's also a frame counter on the top of the camera. My first few frames were way off, but I think I'm in business now.
When I was a kid I had one of these type cameras (click the photo for a larger version)



so, I'm excited to use this.. I'll post photos and keep y'all updated if you don't mind...
thanks again!!

Mary in Fort Myer, Florida

 

[Abbazz]

When I was a kid I had one of these type cameras (click the photo for a larger version)

Mary, is that you with your Mamiya? Great picture!

Your Mamiya Six seems to be a late version of the Six-IV with a Copal shutter. I guess it is from the early fifties.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[imajypsee]

hi Abazz

hi Abazz

I'm not sure what camera that is; it was my dad's camera and he died many years ago. My ma wouldn't know one camera from another 😀 The negatives from those days were burned up and I only have the photo and the photo above is a crop. My dad was more interested in Hickock's (sp?) grave than getting a closeup of his curly haired daughter ( a Toni perm if there are women of my age reading this 🙂)

I used that camera and another that my dad carried with him in WW2; and DON'T I wish I had those negatives! My film days started about 1955 and I had the usual Brownie waistlevel camera and some years later a little Agfa Rapid 24. My dad let me use his fascinating folders on occasion.

Anyhow, after getting the film loading figured out, I made some photos. The Kodak BW400 CN actually came out better than the Tmax 100 roll. And, the shutter is so quiet that I made several double exposures before I realized I need a hearing aid!!

Here's some from the Tmax 100 roll (it was just about expired and I hate that stuff so I'm using it up)







click any photo for a larger version; it was foggy all morning here on New Year's Day, so I actually got some fog photos!!

thanks to you swell folks who helped me figure out my new folder... I have a big RB67, but it takes three men and a boy to lift it so it doesn't go out much....

 

[kuzano]

Nice!!

Nice!!

Now, I am a bit more motivated to get my Mamiya Automat 6 back together. I sent the rangefinder pieces to Jurgen Kreckel to get the mirro resilvered.

Some nice pics, both sharp and nice fog effect.