MAMIYA Universal - Question on Advance and RF focus

[behhl]

Just acquired the above with 100/f3.5 with 6x9 roll back

Trying to test a roll through it and have two questions:-

1. Advancing the film, as I went from No.1 frame to the next, it seemed to go to 3, obviously I probably press the advance button once to many time and it went beyond 2.
My question is can I roll it back to 2? and if so how?

2. My RF focus spot seems very dim - I assume this is not normal? or is it? If it isn't is there anything I can clean to assist to bright the RF? Thanks!

I'm used to Leica M2 RF !

Thanks in advance.

 

[oftheherd]

The only way to rewind the film is in a dark room or changing bag, then start over again. 120 film is not made to rewind as it is roll film. In this case, I would just move on and give up the shot, then see what happens on the next wind and next roll.

As to why it went to frame 3, I can only guess that you did indeed push the tab twice, or there is a problem with the frame counter. It's most likely the former. The Mamiya Press models are actually pretty robust.

I can only really talk about the Super Press 23 from personal experience, but the Universal uses the same lenses and backs. If you have more questions about the accessories, I will try to help.

 

[sevo]

You cannot rewind 120 film, not even in the darkroom, at least not without creating havoc with the film planarity and transport - rewinding to start (or by any longer distance) will create bulging between film and cover paper.

And even rewinding one frame in the darkroom will not do - frame position problems aside, opening the back door will reset the frame counter to S, so that you would lose around two or three more frames to the initial wind-on, in addition to the one you hoped to salvage.

The RF is not Leica bright, but should not be dim either. The camera is easy to open and much of the finder (except for the front group of the viewfinder, whose disassembly requires readjusting the entire camera) can be cleaned quite easily - some how-tos can be found on the net, and the usual out-of-print manual publishers have copied service manuals as well. But be careful what you do - in my experience Press rangefinders often have already had their mirror wasted by excessive cleaning, probably because they are so unintimidatingly big and accessible, and in that state any further cleaning might take off the last remains of the mirror silvering, leaving yours in a even worse condition.

 

[oftheherd]

If one is careful, the film can be taken out and rewound in a dark room. Care is needed to prevent problems as mentioned by Sevo, but it can be done. Bulging is more likey the farther into the roll you are. I haven't had a problem in the first two or three frames.

Replacing it in the Mamiya Press backs is not a problem as one winds it on to a mark on the film and back matching up. It then measures the amount of film that passes and sets the frame counter based on that. A different mechanism, but accurate just like the Rolleiflex. However, as I said before, I would just give up that frame and move on, watching that the same doesn't happen again, or if it does, you can discover the reason.

 

[behhl]

thanks @sevo and @oftheherd - i will just give up that frame then ... i'd probably ruin it by trying to rewind from the looks of it

really apprecaite your pointers!

 

[oftheherd]

thanks @sevo and @oftheherd - i will just give up that frame then ... i'd probably ruin it by trying to rewind from the looks of it

really apprecaite your pointers!

Glad if I helped. BTW, you mentioned the viewfinder. There is a trick of putting a black circle in the middle of the RF window or VF window (I forget which), that is reputed to work wonders. You might want to experiment with that. Hopefully, some one will jump in and refresh my memory if it is put over the viewfinder window or the RF window. I have heard of it being used on several types of RF cameras, including the XA. Something like electrician's tape should work.

Hope that helps.

 

[behhl]

i may try that - i know what you mean - i believe its to darken the position of the spot in the VF and it obscures the view through that, making the reflection from the RF clearer ...

 

[oftheherd]

Let us know if that helps.

 

[behhl]

i will, i just haven't found time to sit down and do it patiently ! will report here how it goes! thanks!

 

[behhl]

enhancing the focus spot

enhancing the focus spot

ok, as a trial to see if anything improves, i cut a very small piece of electrical tape approx 3mmx3mm or so and stuck it on the viewfinder corresponding the position of the spot ... and yes, it does improve the ability to see the rangefinder focus!

so i'm quite happy with that for the time being ... i may tidy it up a little with a neater cut of tape

 

[oftheherd]

That's great news! Now I look forward to seeing some of your photos from that camera. They really are great photo takers.

 

[behhl]

hi, well it took some while to get going on this ... getting 120 film was an issue by itself!

a trial run with lomography 400 film. i took this with the 65mm f/6.3 at the qing ming festival ongoing at the moment. the sekor lens is quite impressive, and coming from 135 format, the size of the 6x9 and detail available even on my cheap desktop scanner is mind blowing awesome.

i thought i'd just post it here to thank you guys for helping me to get going on this camera! 🙂

cheers!

 

[shadowfox]

Now isn't that picture worth all the hassle? 🙂

6x9 images are awesome. Even flatbed scanners can pull decent details from it and the result always is mind-boggling. The Mamiya Press line is about as robust a system as you'd want when it comes to 6x9.

Qing-ming festival eh? is that the one where people visit tombs of their loved ones?

 

[behhl]

yes, Will ... i certainly am sold (lock stock and barrel!)

the mamiya looks 'unsophisticated' but thats what i like about it as well as the fact that its really bare bones minimal mechnically and everything ... just like the first cameras in a way - just the lens, a finder and the film box. thats all i want and need!

yes, qing ming is the chinese festival when we visit the tombs/graves/colabariums etc of the ancestors

thanks!

 

[oftheherd]

I have looked at your photo both on my monitor at work and at home. Somehow it just doesn't look as sharp as I would expect. I don't know if that is focus, bad air, scanning, or what. But from your enthusiasm, I am guessing the negative looks great?

 

[behhl]

ok, i'm happy to hear that it can be sharper!

coming from 135 frames it certainly is a vast improvement for me. i'll look into your points and see if i can see where the drop off is most significant.

thanks oftheherd

 

[oftheherd]

Everything looks somewhat hazy to me, so the air or possibly the lens. The cars seem more in focus than the cemetary. So it could be focus, or even camera shake if you had a slow shutter speed. Again, things scanned and presented here (I understand Flickr is bad at this also) often lose sharpness. I just think (well, actually I know) the Super Press 23 is capable more sharpness. They are great cameras and have great lenses when all is in order. Just something to consider, don't panic yet. 😛

EDIT: It could even be the film. I looked at your Flickr site and I don't think it is the camera, as it seems it is delivering some good photos.

 

[behhl]

hi I must admit I haven't had time to re-examine the hegatives

and i will need to order 'proper' 120 film, as i used the lomography films only because i could get them off the shelf here (other 120 films are harder to come by off the shelf )

i'll certainly update or make a new post here once i have shot a roll of 120 slides to compare.

THANKS!