J. Smith
Newbie
Over the weekend I picked up a Mamiya SD 48 1.5 at a antique/junk shop. Collectors condition? NOT, but everything works and the glass may as well be mint. Gaffers taped it for a roll of acros (needs seals) and was impressed by how sharp it is. So it's to the shop for seals, battery conversion and rangefinder cleaning. The camera was only 10$ so it's in the budget.
Does anyone Know where I can get a manual or more info on this camera. I found that Mamiya 35 site. Would love to know how many were made. My repairman said he had never seen one. Thanks!
Does anyone Know where I can get a manual or more info on this camera. I found that Mamiya 35 site. Would love to know how many were made. My repairman said he had never seen one. Thanks!
NickTrop
Veteran
Consider yourself lucky. This is a very rare camera, and supposed to be a gem. It has the second fastest lens of any fixed lens rangefinder (Lynx 14 has an f1.4 vs. Mamiya 1.5 - negligible difference). This is one of those ones where it's unlikely you'll find much info. But its operation should be self-explanatory, as I'm sure you know. Enjoy your lucky (and dirt cheap) find.
bmattock
Veteran
I thought I had read something from Dante Stella on that one, but I guess not, I can't find it, anyway.
I have the same model (of course - I have one of everything in fixed-lens rangefinders of a certain age) and it is a nice camera, prone to shutter stickage as many are, but easily fixed. I noted it has a weird circular bokeh when shot wide-open, but it is sharp even wide open, so that's nice. I tend to like the Lynx 14 more, but as NickTrop said, the Super Deluxe is rarer and nice too.
Sorry I don't have more info for you on it. It was made with a variety of lens combinations, a 2.0 and a 2.8 as I recall. I have an old busted 2.8 and the 1.5 which works well.
NickTrop
Veteran
You have one of these too? Damn, you got all the toys! I love weird swirly bokeh (it's a lens aberration, has a name, forget what it's called). (I will not hunt any more camera, I will not hunt any more cameras, I will not hunt any more cameras...) Yeah, there's really nothing out there about this one, I checked too before posting.
bmattock
Veteran
I got sucked in by RFF a long time ago, and also got addicted to Steven Gandy's CameraQuest classic rangefinders site. I'm really a guy who has to see it to believe it, so over the years, I've tried to get my hands on just about every fixed-lens rangefinder he's listed - or Karen Nakamura, for that matter.
But I am also incredibly cheap. I'll wait and wait for the right deal on eBay, and sometimes I get lucky. About the only fixed-lens compact classics that Steven listed that I never managed to get my hands on were the Konica S3, the Rollei 35's (hate 'em), Minolta 7sII, and the Petri Color 35. Just never found one at the price I wanted to pay. I have owned and sold the Oly 35 SP and the Yashica 35 CC. Don't regret selling either one - loved 'em but didn't use 'em.
My favorite remains the Oly RD. RC is a classic go-anywhere camera of great capability, and my personal quirky favorites are the Ricoh 500 series (especially Five-One-Nine) and the Agfa Karat IV. And of course the Lynx 14.
If I could only keep one fixed-lens rangefinder, it would probably be the Oly 35 RD. One of the few I spent money on to have the shutter overhauled because I could not finagle it into working with q-tips and lighter fluid. But I'd sure miss the others.
Because I spent $20 at a time on many cameras, I never had money for a Leica M or a Bessa past the R, which I love. I suppose I could sell them all and buy one M4, but what's the fun in that? Besides, carrying huge crates of 1950's and 1960's steel cameras up and down steps and into and out of storage as I move from NC to MI builds up the muscles.
Then we go into M42 SLR territory, and it's the same sad addiction there. There is no hope for me, alas.
J. Smith
Newbie
Thanks for looking guys, sort of what I thought on the lack of info. Dropped the camera off today to be worked on, should be back to play soon.
bmattock
Veteran
I'm sure you'll enjoy it - look forward to seeing the photos you make with it!
NickTrop
Veteran
I'm with ya on all counts. I think you "spend money" on one or two samples you really like. For me, this was the Konica Auto S3. But even that was a patient deal. That one was auctioned by a camera shop who set a reserve of $99 for a serviced sample with a 6mos warranty. Guess what? No bidders due to the reserve. I bit, don't regret it.
bmattock, this camera has a lens that's just wonderful. But then, you reach a saturation point and a level of gluttony and say "enough". Like you, I've got some great deals on eBay. I wait and watch and wait and watch... However, I will send a camera out to get professionally CLA'd. I did this with my Lynx, and I sent my Iskra to Oleg, and then to Certo6. (I was determined to get a working sample of that camera...)
I would LOVE to get my hands on an RD. I'm sure it's wonderful. But unless I find one at a garage sale for $10, I'm happy with the ones I have. Most recently, I got a great deal on a serviced Fujica Compact Deluxe, thanks (x1000) to another RFF member. I think that's my "RD". Always just liked that one. Might be the best at wide open apertures and just like the look of that lens.
I also have the M42 bug. Only problem with M42's is few wides, wider than 35mm.
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ErnestoJL
Well-known
Two and a half years ago I found one in Rosario, it is 300 km north of Buenos Aires, and I went there with my girlfriend to buy it. Of course shutter was stuck as the meter nnfunctional.
I had to do an extensive CLA but t was worth the trip and also the time spent.
I prefer the Mamiya SD 1.5 over the Linx 14 because it feels more solid as well as the camera has a better RF. Bokeh is strange for a five bladed iris, but this is perhaps due to a particular calculation of the lens design which is of the Gauss type.
Another nice feature is that the filter size is 55mm instead of 58mm, meaning cheaper and easier to find filters and hoods.
Cheers
Ernesto
I had to do an extensive CLA but t was worth the trip and also the time spent.
I prefer the Mamiya SD 1.5 over the Linx 14 because it feels more solid as well as the camera has a better RF. Bokeh is strange for a five bladed iris, but this is perhaps due to a particular calculation of the lens design which is of the Gauss type.
Another nice feature is that the filter size is 55mm instead of 58mm, meaning cheaper and easier to find filters and hoods.
Cheers
Ernesto
oftheherd
Veteran
I hope you mean you just haven't acquired any wider yet? I have a couple of 35mm that I just don't use. I also have 28mm's and they can be found all over the place. I have a 24mm and an 18mm. That's primes, forgot the 35mm-85mm Series 1. Now that's a monster, but nice photo taker. All are in M42 mount. There is a Russian mount 12mm or 15mm or thereabouts in several mounts, including M42.