Question on Mamiya Press Bellows & Ground Glass

[raytoei@gmail.com]

Hi,

i was reading up on using the bellows, and my understand is to use the bellows, I would need a ground glass focusing screen holder.

This screen holder would be able to hold a single cut film/plate holder or a FIlm Pack Adapter.

Question regarding Cut film/plate holder: How do i get the film in there? Do i buy special film to fit this holder ? Do I manually cut from 4x5 film or 120 film to fit into the holder ?

Lastly, Assuming the film pack holds a pack of film, How does the Film Pack work ? Is it for polaroids only ?

thanks

raytoei
( i am reading up here, http://6x7.cz/mamiya-press-super-23/users-guide/cut-film-plate-holder.html )

 

[sevo]

Hi,

i was reading up on using the bellows, and my understand is to use the bellows, I would need a ground glass focusing screen holder.

This screen holder would be able to hold a single cut film/plate holder or a FIlm Pack Adapter.

Question regarding Cut film/plate holder: How do i get the film in there? Do i buy special film to fit this holder ? Do I manually cut from 4x5 film or 120 film to fit into the holder ?

Lastly, Assuming the film pack holds a pack of film, How does the Film Pack work ? Is it for polaroids only ?

You need a ground glass holder to have a ground glass - which you'd need to focus with the bellows. But the film plane is the same as for the roll film holders, so you may also use these - a bit less comfortable as you have to swap the entire back where you'd slide the cut film holder into the ground glass back.

You need proprietary Mamiya sheet film holders - these came in two versions, Type J (presumably J for Japan) for (European/Japanese) 65x90mm film (plus ancient 59×81.5mm) and Type A (America) for US style 2¼×3¼" film. Colour film in either size might be gone, but black and white still exists. Hereabouts there is more variety in the former than the latter, but that might be the other way around in the US. Loading of either holder is easy and comfortable - these are pretty much the most luxury small sheet film holders I own.

Separating Polaroid packs indeed were a variation on the film packs common from the thirties to fifties - but a different size (Polaroids came/come in 4x5" and quarter plate), and requiring a holder with processing rollers. So no, Polaroid won't fit, and there haven't been any film packs made for decades. Once in a while you can run into some pack on ebay that expired more than thirty years ago, but that's it.

 

[oftheherd]

sevo pretty much has it right. If you haven't already, go to http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya/mamiya_press_super_23/mamiya_press_super_23.htm and look at the three different PDF files. Especially the first one which shows most of the accessories. There were two other ground glass accessories. One was a magnifying holder, but not reflex. The other was a ground glass only, which didn't take the cut film holders. I have a couple or three of the ones labled '30' and the non-cut film ground glass. It is smaller of course, so if you don't want to use the cut film holders but a roll film holder instead, it is a little easier to get off without moving the camera. I also seem to recall that there were a couple more cut film holders, one of which was a double as I recall.

Remember that the bellows have 15 degrees of tilt if you wish to use that for perspective control, or more usually for DoF control. Without the tilt, it can be used for closeup shooting, to include with the extension tubes.

Cut film is harder to get these days. I haven't used my Mamiya cut film holders in a long time. If I did, I would either buy precut film in whatever flavor available, or cut down 4x5 which is what I normally do for my 9x12 cameras.

All in all a very versatile and fun camera to use.

EDIT: I meant to mention that the cut film holders are getting harder and harder to find, and more and more expensive when you do. I only have about 10 or so myself, and several need new light sealing. But there is no reason you could not use a roll film back unless you are considering zone system work.

 

[bsdunek]

Freestyle has Arista and Ilford 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 cut film.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/category/2-Film/Black-and-White-Film?attr[]=1-50

All the above responses are good. I also, using a sturdy tripod, do my focusing and then remove the ground glass and put on a roll film back. It works fine, but you have to be careful not to move the camera, especially for close-ups.

I love my old Super 23. Does great work, and, builds up your muscles carrying it around.

 

[hamradio]

This is a good thread. I've also had an interest in this for my Super 23, though I've never wanted to throw down $80 for the back/film holder. As far as I can figure, the ground glass back for these things functions much in the same way as a ground glass on graflex, etc., where the actual piece of ground glass is spring loaded and moves out of the way when one shoves a film holder in, no?

I've heard these guys will cut their 4x5 xray film down to 2x3, if one requests it.

http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/fpp-super-blue-x-ray-4x5-20-sheets

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

thanks much for the responses. i will now slowly read and re-read the postings here.

 

[oftheherd]

This is a good thread. I've also had an interest in this for my Super 23, though I've never wanted to throw down $80 for the back/film holder. As far as I can figure, the ground glass back for these things functions much in the same way as a ground glass on graflex, etc., where the actual piece of ground glass is spring loaded and moves out of the way when one shoves a film holder in, no?

I've heard these guys will cut their 4x5 xray film down to 2x3, if one requests it.

http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/fpp-super-blue-x-ray-4x5-20-sheets

Sorry I didn't see your question before. Yes, there is a spring loaded lever that is used to help move the ground glass out of the way so the cut film holder can be inserted. Releasing that the holds the cut film holder in snug.