Mamiya Standard 23 preferred back 6 X 9 or 6 x 7

R

RBruceCR

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I got this (bench) press camera of a bygone era from dad. It's backs, two of them have three sizes: 6 X 9, 6 X 6 and 6 X 4.5. I started shooting in 6 X 4.5 but the backs leaked, I repacked them and have to test now!

I longed for a 6 X 7 back and bought it on eBay, but it came in the correct vintage cardboard box but it was a 6 X 9 back but I decided to keep it! Now there is the correct 6 X 7 back on eBay with the red tag stating 6 X 7, albeit at a steep price.

It's 10 frames vs 8 frames of the 6 X 9. Is the 6 X 7 such a sweet format that they (Mamiya) built a camera system around it called the Mamiya 7?

Regards,

Robert
 
I like to shoot 6X9 with my Universal. The aspect ratio is similar to 35mm - which I print full frame. Also have a 6X6 back for portraits where I don't need the square inches of film
area.
 
The most modern shutter coupled among my backs are all 6x9, so that is what I shoot. Besides, I don't see that much point in carrying a huge 6x9 camera for 6x7.
 
Same as sevo (above). If you are going to carry this big camera body, might as well have the largest negative area you can. Thus, 6x9. Crop can always give you 6x7 when you want that aspect ratio.
 
not sure i'd want to cook one of our Universal bodies in my GTS's "pet carrier" or do you have a top box?

also prefer 6x9 with such a friendly lummox of a camera & yet to use our 6x7 back (Super 23)

post some photos!:)

best
alex
 
Alex I carry her in the cubby underneath the seat, however, it get's hot in there and this is an issue, specially with E6 transparency film!
 
Always preferred the 6x9 -- though I use a Fuji, the only problem was back in the day, the pro processor could not handle the size, so I ended up printing myself-- great sizes.

Not much of a problem today as most things are scanned, but I have my carriers and lenses in the darkroom.

Regards, John
 
Get a bag and sling it over your shoulder, works for me (on my motorcycle) with my medium format gear,maybe not all day,but certainly for a few hours. Peter
 
when i had mine, i had a color roll in 6x9 and a b&w roll in the 6x7. the backs are not expensive, and really this is a great, high quality way to shoot multiple format. youd be surpised at how differently you see a scene via 6x9 and 6x7, and to have them both easily available is great. i mean these units were made for easy switching of backs in the middle of rolls. just make sure you have your 'black slide' in before removing with film!
tony
 
If I were buying a back, I would get the 6x9 with the lever advance. I have the roll 6x9 which is the format I like to use. I also have the 6x7 with the lever advance. I really like the lever advance but I don't like the 6x7format as well.
 
I found I printed most of my 6x9 negatives full frame, though I recall cropping one in half for some prints, and still had a lot of negative to produce a good size print.

Regards, John
 
Film backs 6 x 7

Film backs 6 x 7

Hello Chapa it’s been a while since I grab the trusty old Standard 23!

I loaded it with Rollei Infrared 400 wth a 720 Nm filter and went out and shoot some old trees perhaps an oak and a couple of Guanacaste trees!

The a Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) is our national tree. It’s endemic to the Northwestern province of Guanacaste and it’s a dry climate tree. We get many here in the Canton of a Santa Ana in the Pozos District as we enjoy a dry microclimate. I do however suspect, they are soon due to get cut to give way to more housing where I leave.

I used the 6 X 7 back and will be processing tomorrow at my preferred lab in Costa Rica called CODIFO.

I shot mostly at ISO 25 and 1 second at f/8 at 17:10 hours in the midst of our dry season!

Warm regards from Costa Rica!
 
Film backs 6 x 7

Film backs 6 x 7

Hello Chaps! It’s been a while since I grabed the trusty old Standard 23!

I loaded it with Rollei Infrared 400 wth a 720 Nm filter and went out and shoot some old trees perhaps an oak and a couple of Guanacaste trees!

The a Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) is our national tree. It’s endemic to the Northwestern province of Guanacaste and it’s a dry climate tree. We get many here in the Canton of a Santa Ana in the Pozos District as we enjoy a dry microclimate. I do however suspect, they are soon due to get cut to give way to more housing where I live!

I used the 6 X 7 back and will be processing tomorrow at my preferred lab in Costa Rica called CODIFO.

I shot mostly at ISO 25 and 1 second at f/8 at 17:10 hours in the midst of our dry season!

Warm regards from Costa Rica!
 
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