mamiya7 : half circle on frames & cable release

[salmacis]

hi!

since a couple of weeks i have a mamiya7 ii with 80mm lens, and i noticed a very small half circle on the bottom of each frame (on the contact sheets) - not a problem at all, but i'm curious whether this is normal? someone told me it might be kind of a 'trademark' ? 😉

and 2nd question:

i have bought a nikon ar-3 cable release for the camera, but can only screw it in maybe 1,2 turns - although it seems to be stable, i'm wondering if it is supposed to be screwed in 'fully' - or are there 'slimmer' release cables that are a better fit for the mamiya7?

thanks!
salmacis

 

[hans voralberg]

I don't think it's normal, sounds like a light leak to me. No camera put trademark on their photos, pro photogs would sue hell out of them if they do that

 

[35mmdelux]

Some cameras have owner cut edge into the picture frame of the camera to designate which camera the film was shot with. This is okay as long as it does not intrude into the image area.

 

[sevo]

Many later medium format cameras have such a indent in the frame mask - usually there is some way to attach a small strip of developed lith film to that area, so that you can superimpose your text or logo onto the margin of each frame.

It seems to have started with roll film backs for LF cameras (sinar holders had in by the late seventies), which copied these identification areas from sheet film holders, where sheet/holder and user marking zones have a long history. Grafmatics featured both a automatic sheet counter and a user inscribable lith film strip area sixty years ago.

 

[Bob Michaels]

4
and 2nd question:

i have bought a nikon ar-3 cable release for the camera, but can only screw it in maybe 1,2 turns - although it seems to be stable, i'm wondering if it is supposed to be screwed in 'fully' - or are there 'slimmer' release cables that are a better fit for the mamiya7?

thanks!
salmacis

Cable releases are the most basic of photo tools. If they work, they work perfectly. If they don't work, they just don't . I shoot with a Mamiya 7 and have a bunch of low price 2nd hand cable releases. Not all of them work with the Mamiya 7. I just use the ones that do work.

FWIW, if your camera is notched to show what body was used, that is OK. It is just no big deal either way. Just ignore it and make good photos.

 

[rphenning]

it's absolutely normal. mine does it too.

 

[rphenning]

and I just checked, the half circle is on the upper left hand side of the frame when you open the back and check out where the film comes across the plane to be exposed. There's not way it's man made, ie a user marking his camera. It's definitely from the factory.

 

[grainy_shadows]

hasselblad has those triangles on each frame. and hexar rf has some half circle on the right hand side.

 

[jvan01]

my Fuji GA645 has a weird indent on the lower left area seen here:

 

[salmacis]

thanks to all for the replies.

yes, it's absolutely normal. i checked and one can see the small circle on the upper left of the frame mask inside the camera (which results in being lower right on film...). our mamiya rep said it's to distinguish which camera was used.

cheers!

 

[salmacis]

Cable releases are the most basic of photo tools. If they work, they work perfectly. If they don't work, they just don't . I shoot with a Mamiya 7 and have a bunch of low price 2nd hand cable releases. Not all of them work with the Mamiya 7. I just use the ones that do work.

the cable release works, yes. it's just that i don't want to damage the threads of the camera (because the release cannot be screwed in very far, only 2, 3 turns...) it's a bit strange to me that although cable releases are 'standardised', some work and some not...

cheers

 

[Jamie123]

the cable release works, yes. it's just that i don't want to damage the threads of the camera (because the release cannot be screwed in very far, only 2, 3 turns...) it's a bit strange to me that although cable releases are 'standardised', some work and some not...

cheers

They're not really 'standardised'. Yes, they're all the same thread but the size can vary. My two cable releases worked perfectly on my Hasselblad but not on the Bessa III I have now as the shutter release (and consequently also the hole for the cable release) is much smaller.

Best thing to do is to take the camera to a store and see which of the releases works best.