Rank Mamiya

[pete63uk]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and have, at long last, finally won an ebay auction for a Rangefinder without getting into silly money. The camera is a Rank Mamiya and I think it's a 4D. Not the best but a start in my Rangefinder journey. I'm really looking forward to it as I have never even held or tried a Rangefinder before. I just hope it works.

My past photographic life has included doing my own b&w d&p which was fun, until I moved house and lost my darkroom. Now kids and things mean there isn't the space. I'm a collector of Olympus, currently have OM1, OM2, OM4, OM10, OM20, OM30, OM40, Trip 35, EC Elecon and possibly soon, an OM3. (I have a wife to appeaze). I am totally hooked on the idea of a family of Olympus Rangefinder cameras and to be honest, some of these cameras are trading at between £50 and £80 and it seems to be in the lap of the gods if it works. Then you have to take into account a possible service and/or the mod for the higher voltage. Unfortunately, I can't have a camera sitting in my collection and knowing it's not in full working order. A bit like having your Aunty in the corner sitting on a chair, but dead. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that way.

So, I'm looking forward to the Mamiya and seeing what this rangefinder lark is all about. I'll run a b&w and a colour film through it and see what comes back.

Bye for now.

 

[ludoo]

I can't have a camera sitting in my collection and knowing it's not in full working order. A bit like having your Aunty in the corner sitting on a chair, but dead.

A bit on the dark side, but very well put (except for poor Aunty). 🙂

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that way.

I'm a relative newbie here, but I think you'll fit in perfectly.

As for batteries, zinc-air hearing aids batteries are ultra-cheap and work well in place of the old mercury batteries. If your camera uses the larger PX625, you can buy an adapter or fashion one from rubber/tape/small metal discs, etc. Or just get a WeinCell, they are more expensive but last longer. No need to spend for a mod.

BTW, the camera in my avatar is a nice little Mamiya 135EE.

Edit. I think the traditional welcome for a well-known headphile site applies here too: welcome, and sorry for your wallet!

 

[pete63uk]

Does anyone know where I can get a manual for this camera. I believe it's a D4, but I'm not sure as it says nothing on the camera but Rank Mamiya.

 

[pete63uk]

Well, I put a film in, Kodak T-Max 100, and went out and about and took a few pics. I am not used to using rangefinders or 35mm non SLR cameras as of late. I therefore have the embarrasing duty to report that I forgot to remove the lens cap. How stupid is that? I can't believe it myself. Has anyone else done this or am I the only one? Has anyone got a method to remind them of this? Pretty dum eh.

 

[johannielscom]

Not to worry, you're in good company here😀 I'll gladly confess...

Pretty sure we're not alone on this one too!

C'mon guys & dolls, confess! 😛

 

[vbarniev]

I don't have enough to buy a cap!

 

[ludoo]

It happens to me too every few rolls, usually after a couple of pictures I notice the cap is still on. In fact, today I was tidying up some negatives my grandfather shot about 70 years ago -- with a Leica probably -- and noticed the same thing, on some rolls there are one or two blank shots where he obviously forgot to take off the cap. 🙂

 

[btgc]

Rangefinders are all about fun and involvement, so taking lens cap off is purely optional 🙂

sure, anyone who still has lens cap has done this.

 

[mikeinlagardette]

It was called a Mamiya 4B by Mamiya, but was marketed by the Rank Organisation as a Mamiya Ranger in the UK and Commonwealth countries, and by the Sears Corporation in the US as a Tower 4A. In the US they were normally fitted with a Mamiya Kominar lens, and elswhere with a Mamiya Sekor lens, both versions having f2.8/40mm specs. and a Seikosha shutter. A few final versions had a CDS lightmeter in lieu of the selenium cell originally fitted, and these were made in Korea, rather than Japan.

They are delightful little cameras, with a wonderfully precise feel to all the controls, a sharp, contrasty lens, an almost silent shutter, and a bright, distinctive rangefinder. I confess to a certain bias, since I own two of them, and if I could just work out how to post pictures within posts, I'd be happy to show them!

 

[Robin P]

I have the later model with CDS cell, labelled as "Rank Aldis".
Although the lens on my Konica Auto S2 is far better I've kept the Mamiya because I like it so much - just the right size & weight, very easy to use and ideal for those occasions when you don't want to be carrying something "too precious".
Sample image here
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1071828&highlight=ranger#post1071828

Cheers, Robin

 

[pete63uk]

Bad news on my Rank Mamiya. The button you push in for film rewind seems to have locked in. Does anyone know of an easy fix or has any experience? It seems a lot more complicated to get into than the Olympus RF's I have. Thanks.