Difference between revisions of "Mamiya"

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|image_text= July 1950 advertisement
 
|image_text= July 1950 advertisement
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The first Mamiya 35mm SLR was the Prismat, launched in 1960. The same year Mamiya introduced the [[Mamiya Press]], a medium format press camera inspired by some [[Linhof]] models. Mamiya dropped the 35mm rangefinders around the mid 1960s, and the range at the end of the 1960s was formed by the Press, the Mamiya C and the 35mm SLRs.
 
The first Mamiya 35mm SLR was the Prismat, launched in 1960. The same year Mamiya introduced the [[Mamiya Press]], a medium format press camera inspired by some [[Linhof]] models. Mamiya dropped the 35mm rangefinders around the mid 1960s, and the range at the end of the 1960s was formed by the Press, the Mamiya C and the 35mm SLRs.
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51883006384_213d4a9c0a_n_d.jpg
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|image_text= "Oh Mama mia!"<br/><small>fun with Mamiya cameras</small> ;-)
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}}&nbsp;</div>
 
The [[Mamiya RB67|RB67 Professional]] 6×7 SLR in 1970, the [[Mamiya M645]] 4.5×6 SLR in 1975 and the [[Mamiya RZ67|RZ67 Professional]] 6×7 SLR in 1982 confirmed Mamiya's orientation towards the medium format professional market. Mamiya made a last attempt towards the amateur market at the end of the 1970s with some rangefinder and point and shoot 35mm cameras, together with their continuing series of 35mm SLRs, but following the collapse of its international distributors,  the company went bankrupt in 1984.<ref>''Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary''. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. iv</ref> As part part of the restructure, Mamiya stopped producing 35mm cameras and terminated a number of its medium format offerings (such as the [[Rapid Omega]]).
 
The [[Mamiya RB67|RB67 Professional]] 6×7 SLR in 1970, the [[Mamiya M645]] 4.5×6 SLR in 1975 and the [[Mamiya RZ67|RZ67 Professional]] 6×7 SLR in 1982 confirmed Mamiya's orientation towards the medium format professional market. Mamiya made a last attempt towards the amateur market at the end of the 1970s with some rangefinder and point and shoot 35mm cameras, together with their continuing series of 35mm SLRs, but following the collapse of its international distributors,  the company went bankrupt in 1984.<ref>''Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary''. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. iv</ref> As part part of the restructure, Mamiya stopped producing 35mm cameras and terminated a number of its medium format offerings (such as the [[Rapid Omega]]).
  
 
After that, Mamiya continued as a specialized medium format camera maker, with new 4.5x6 [[SLR]] models beginning with the [[M645 Super]] from 1985, new versions of the RB67, RZ67 and Mamiya C, the new [[Mamiya 6]] 6×6 format rangefinder from 1989 and its successor the [[Mamiya 7]] 6×7 rangefinder from 1995. In 1993, the company name was changed to '''Mamiya-OP K.K.''' (マミヤ・オーピー{{kabu}}).
 
After that, Mamiya continued as a specialized medium format camera maker, with new 4.5x6 [[SLR]] models beginning with the [[M645 Super]] from 1985, new versions of the RB67, RZ67 and Mamiya C, the new [[Mamiya 6]] 6×6 format rangefinder from 1989 and its successor the [[Mamiya 7]] 6×7 rangefinder from 1995. In 1993, the company name was changed to '''Mamiya-OP K.K.''' (マミヤ・オーピー{{kabu}}).
  
−
During the 1990s, the first digital backs began to be available (mostly from electronics companies, not camera makers. Mamiya introduced the autofocus 645 AF 4.5×6 SLR in 1999, and made this compatible with third-party digital backs as the 645 AFD in 2001. Mamiya collaborated with [[Leaf]]; the DL28 'camera system' is the Mamiya 645 AFDIII with Leaf's Aptus-II 6 28-MP back. Mamiya offered their own  22-MP ZD digital backs (using sensors made by the Canadian firm Dalsa<ref>[http://www.teledynedalsa.com/corp/news/news.aspx?itemID=96 News item about the ZD] on [http://www.teledynedalsa.com/ Teledyne Dalsa website].</ref>) and the integrated Mamiya ZD 22 "digital medium format camera" in 2005.
+
During the 1990s, the first digital backs began to be available (mostly from electronics companies, not camera makers. Mamiya introduced the autofocus 645 AF 4.5×6 SLR in 1999, and made this compatible with third-party digital backs as the 645 AFD in 2001. Mamiya collaborated with [[Leaf]]; the DL28 'camera system' is the Mamiya 645 AFDIII with Leaf's Aptus-II 6 28-MP back. Mamiya offered their own  22-MP ZD digital backs (using sensors made by the Canadian firm Dalsa<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111010215658/http://www.teledynedalsa.com/corp/news/news.aspx?itemID=96 News item about the ZD] (archived) on [http://www.teledynedalsa.com/ Teledyne Dalsa website].</ref>) and the integrated Mamiya ZD 22 "digital medium format camera" in 2005.
  
−
Nevertheless, Mamiya's traditional market was increasingly taken by makers of smaller-format digital SLRs, especially [[Nikon]] and [[Canon]]. In 2006, Mamiya sold all its camera activities to an IT company, Cosmo Digital Imaging (コスモ・デジタル・イメージング{{kabu}}); the company now operates as Mamiya Digital Imaging Co. Two more models of the 645 AFD have been produced. Mamiya collaborated with [[Phase One]], and in 2009 Phase One made a significant investment in Mamiya. As at summer 2011, the Mamiya global website describes Mamiya as 'a Phase One company'; the Mamiya USA site uses instead the slogan 'powered by Leaf and Phase One' (Leaf was also bought by Phase One). The 645 DF body (essentially the 645 AFDIII but dedicated to digital) can be seen branded as either a Mamiya or Phase One product, while the Phase One 645 AF is identical to the Mamiya 645 AFDIII, and both are available.
+
Nevertheless, Mamiya's traditional market was increasingly taken by makers of smaller-format digital SLRs, especially [[Nikon]] and [[Canon]]. In 2006, Mamiya sold all its camera activities to an IT company, Cosmo Digital Imaging (コスモ・デジタル・イメージング{{kabu}}); the company subsequently operated as Mamiya Digital Imaging Co. Two more models of the 645 AFD were produced. Mamiya collaborated with [[Phase One]], and in 2009 Phase One made a significant investment in Mamiya. As at summer 2011, the Mamiya global website described Mamiya as 'a Phase One company'; the Mamiya USA site used instead the slogan 'powered by Leaf and Phase One' (Leaf was also bought by Phase One). The 645 DF body (essentially the 645 AFDIII but dedicated to digital) can be seen branded as either a Mamiya or Phase One product, while the Phase One 645 AF is identical to the Mamiya 645 AFDIII, and both were available for a time.
 +
 
 +
As of 2023, the Mamiya Leaf website has disappeared, and Phase One's site makes no mention of the Mamiya name, though Phase One's XF studio camera still bears some similarity to the 645 AF.
  
 
== Digital ==
 
== Digital ==
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* [[Mamiya C|Mamiya C330f]] (1972-82)
 
* [[Mamiya C|Mamiya C330f]] (1972-82)
 
* [[Mamiya C|Mamiya C330s]] (1983-94)
 
* [[Mamiya C|Mamiya C330s]] (1983-94)
 +
 +
=== 6×6 Folder ===
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|image= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8059021908_b113712e18_m.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Mamiya Six III
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}}
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* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six I]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IA]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six II]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six III]]
 +
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IV]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IVB]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IVS]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six V]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six K]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six KII]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six P]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six Automat]]
 +
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six Automat 2]]
  
  
  
 +
=== 6×4.5 SLR ===
 
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedunne/4199309748/in/pool-camerawiki/
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedunne/4199309748/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
−
 
−
=== 6×4.5 SLR ===
 
 
* [[Mamiya M645]]
 
* [[Mamiya M645]]
 
* [[Mamiya M645|Mamiya M645 1000S]]
 
* [[Mamiya M645|Mamiya M645 1000S]]
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* [[Mamiya RZ67|Mamiya RZ67 Professional IID]]
 
* [[Mamiya RZ67|Mamiya RZ67 Professional IID]]
  
−
=== 6×6 Folder ===
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six I]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IA]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six II]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six III]]
 
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|image= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8059021908_b113712e18_m.jpg
 
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|image_align= right
 
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|image_text= Mamiya Six III
 
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|image_by= yalluflex
 
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|image_rights= (C)
 
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}}
 
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* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IV]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IVB]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six IVS]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six V]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six K]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six KII]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six P]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six Automat]]
 
−
* [[Mamiya Six|Mamiya Six Automat 2]]
 
  
 
=== 6×6 Rangefinder ===
 
=== 6×6 Rangefinder ===
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===SLR===
 
===SLR===
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| image= https://live.staticflickr.com/7337/11728543005_ff4e2ca56b_m.jpg
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| image_align=right
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| image_text= Mamiya Family, Auto-Lux 35 and 528TL
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| image_by=Jörg Krüger
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| image_rights=with permission
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}}
  
 
==== Fixed Lens Mamiya ====
 
==== Fixed Lens Mamiya ====
−
* Mamiya Auto-Lux 35
+
* [[Mamiya Auto-Lux 35]]
 
* [[Mamiya Family]]  (a.k.a. Mamiya Korvette, Mamiya Saturn)
 
* [[Mamiya Family]]  (a.k.a. Mamiya Korvette, Mamiya Saturn)
 
* [[Mamiya 528TL]]
 
* [[Mamiya 528TL]]
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* Mamiya Prism Flex
 
* Mamiya Prism Flex
 
* Mamiya Pentaflex
 
* Mamiya Pentaflex
−
* Mamiya Prismat
+
* [[Mamiya Prismat]]
 
* [[Mamiya Prismat NP]]
 
* [[Mamiya Prismat NP]]
−
* Mamiya Prismat PH
+
* [[Mamiya Prismat PH]] (also sold as PCA Prismat V-90)
−
* Mamiya Prismat CPH
+
* [[Mamiya Prismat CPH]]
 
* [[Mamiya/Sekor CWP|Mamiya Prismat CWP]] (Mamiya/Sekor CWP)
 
* [[Mamiya/Sekor CWP|Mamiya Prismat CWP]] (Mamiya/Sekor CWP)
  
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* [[Mamiya/Sekor Auto XTL]]
 
* [[Mamiya/Sekor Auto XTL]]
 
* [[Mamiya Auto X-1000]]
 
* [[Mamiya Auto X-1000]]
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{{Flickr image
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| image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/95742794@N05/33744351338/in/pool-camerawiki/
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| image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33744351338_17a19ddbde_m.jpg
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| image_align=right
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| image_text= Mamiya DSX 1000
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| image_by=Jörg Krüger
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| image_rights=with permission
 +
}}
  
 
==== Mamiya SX-Series ====
 
==== Mamiya SX-Series ====
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* [[Mamiya MSX 1000]]
 
* [[Mamiya MSX 1000]]
 
* [[Mamiya DSX 1000]]
 
* [[Mamiya DSX 1000]]
 +
* [[Mamiya DSX 1000 | Mamiya DSX 1000B]]
  
 
==== Mamiya NC-Series ====
 
==== Mamiya NC-Series ====
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=== Fixed lens rangefinder ===
 
=== Fixed lens rangefinder ===
−
* Mamiya 35 I
+
* [[Mamiya 35 I]]
 
* Mamiya 35 II (f:3.5 and f:2.8)
 
* Mamiya 35 II (f:3.5 and f:2.8)
 
* Mamiya 35 III (f:2.8 and f:2)
 
* Mamiya 35 III (f:2.8 and f:2)
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* Mamiya 35 S2 (f:2.8 and f:1.9)
 
* Mamiya 35 S2 (f:2.8 and f:1.9)
 
* Mamiya 35 Crown
 
* Mamiya 35 Crown
−
* Mamiya Elca
+
* [[Mamiya Elca]]
 
* Mamiya 35 Metra
 
* Mamiya 35 Metra
 
* [[Mamiya 35 Metra 2]]
 
* [[Mamiya 35 Metra 2]]
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* Mamiya M Autofocus
 
* Mamiya M Autofocus
 
* [[Mamiya U]]
 
* [[Mamiya U]]
−
* Mamiya EF2
+
* [[Mamiya EF2]]
  
 
=== Wide angle fixed lens ===
 
=== Wide angle fixed lens ===
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=== AF point and shoot ===
 
=== AF point and shoot ===
−
* Mamiya 135AF
+
* [[Mamiya 135AF]]
 
* Mamiya M
 
* Mamiya M
 
* Mamiya M Time Memory
 
* Mamiya M Time Memory
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=== 18×24mm format ===
 
=== 18×24mm format ===
 
* [[Mamiya Myrapid]]
 
* [[Mamiya Myrapid]]
 +
 +
=== Medical and scientific ===
 +
* [[Mamiya X-30]] 1950s X-ray machine recording camera
  
 
== 16mm film ==
 
== 16mm film ==
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|image_rights= non-commercial
 
|image_rights= non-commercial
 
}}
 
}}
−
* [[Mamiya 16]]
+
* Mamiya 16 family of cameras:
−
* [[Mamiya Super 16]]
+
** [[Mamiya 16]] (original)
−
* [[Mamiya Super 16|Mamiya-16 Super II]]
+
** [[Mamiya Super 16]]
−
* [[Mamiya Super 16|Mamiya-16 Super Model III]]
+
** [[Mamiya Super 16|Mamiya-16 Super II]]
−
* Mamiya 16 Automat
+
** [[Mamiya Super 16|Mamiya-16 Super Model III]]
−
* [[Mamiya 16 Automatic]]
+
** [[Mamiya 16 Automatic]]
−
* Mamiya 16 Deluxe
+
** Mamiya 16 Deluxe
−
* Mamiya 16 EE Deluxe
+
** Mamiya 16 EE Deluxe
  
 
==Lenses==
 
==Lenses==
  
−
* Tōwa Kōki Neocon f/3.5 75mm (July 1947— ) used in Mamiyaflex,<ref>With a Stamina shutter: [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/japanese/Mamiya.html].</ref> [[Mamiya Six]]
+
* Tōwa Kōki Neocon f/3.5 75mm (July 1947— ) used in Mamiyaflex,<ref>With a Stamina shutter: [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/japanese/Mamiya.html at TLR-Cameras.com].</ref> [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Setagaya Kōki Sekor T f/3.5 silver face (1948— ) used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Setagaya Kōki Sekor T f/3.5 silver face (1948— ) used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Setagaya Kōki Sekor S f/3.5 black face used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Setagaya Kōki Sekor S f/3.5 black face used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Mamiya Kominar f/3.5 used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Mamiya Kominar f/3.5 used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Mamiya Sekor f/3.5 used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 
*Mamiya Sekor f/3.5 used in  [[Mamiya Six]]
 +
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 
In English:
 
In English:
−
* [http://www.mamiya-usa.com/ Mamiya USA official website]
+
* Ron Herron's [https://web.archive.org/web/20170729201916/http://herron.50megs.com/manuals3.htm Collecting Mamiya 35mm Cameras] (archived) and his follow up website [https://web.archive.org/web/20161202120508/http://mamiya35collectors.com/index.html mamiya35collectors.com] (also archived)
−
* Ron Herron's [http://mamiya35collectors.com Collecting Mamiya 35mm Cameras]
+
Ron Herron's site is still active, but missing the index page.  You can visit it via [http://www.herron.50megs.com/related_links.htm Ron Herron's Mamiya page]
 
* Joerg Krueger's [http://web.archive.org/web/20080506090806/http://eddy.uni-duisburg.de/joerg/allerlei/mamiya/mamiya.html Mamiya 35mm SLR homepage] (the site is dead, and the link points to the most recent version at web.archive.org)
 
* Joerg Krueger's [http://web.archive.org/web/20080506090806/http://eddy.uni-duisburg.de/joerg/allerlei/mamiya/mamiya.html Mamiya 35mm SLR homepage] (the site is dead, and the link points to the most recent version at web.archive.org)
−
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya.htm Mamiya instruction manuals] at [http://www.orphancameras.com/ Orphancameras.com]
+
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya.htm Mamiya 35mm, 2 1/4 TLR, large format and their accessories instruction manuals in PDF format] at [http://www.orphancameras.com/ Orphancameras.com]
 +
* [http://mamiya-nc-m42.mflenses.com/index.htm R. Stauber's Mamiya NC page part of MFLenses website]
 
* [http://www.photo-manuals.com/manual/mamiya Mamiya instruction manuals] at [http://www.photo-manuals.com/ photo-manuals.com]
 
* [http://www.photo-manuals.com/manual/mamiya Mamiya instruction manuals] at [http://www.photo-manuals.com/ photo-manuals.com]
 
* [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Mamiya/ Mamiya price guide] at [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/ CollectiBlend]
 
* [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Mamiya/ Mamiya price guide] at [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/ CollectiBlend]
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In French:
 
In French:
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeM_imagettes.php#Mamiya Cameras] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste_notices.php user manuals] at Sylvain Halgand's [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/ www.collection-appareils.fr]
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeM_imagettes.php#Mamiya Cameras] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste_notices.php user manuals] at Sylvain Halgand's [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/ www.collection-appareils.fr]
−
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app_mamiya.php Mamiya page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even]
+
* [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/902 Mamiya page] at [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/ Collection G. Even]
−
In Japanese:
 
−
* [http://www.mamiya-op.co.jp/ Mamiya official Japanese website]:
 
−
** [http://www.mamiya.co.jp/home/camera/museum/top3.htm/index.htm Mamiya Camera Museum], with subpages on all past Mamiya cameras
 
−
** [http://www.mamiya-op.co.jp/company/history History outline]
 
−
** [http://www.mamiya.co.jp/home/camera/museum/rekishi/rekishi1.htm Detailed chronology]
 
  
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]
 
[[Category: Mamiya|*]]
 
[[Category: Mamiya|*]]

Latest revision as of 18:43, 4 March 2024

33444607548_530d560997.jpg
July 1950 advertisement (Image rights)

Mamiya is a Japanese camera maker founded in 1940, that progressively specialized in professional medium format cameras.

Company history

5269415577_2d8e6945bd_m.jpg
Mamiya Logo (two crossed lenses)[1]
Top Plate of a Mamiya Six
image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

Mamiya was founded in May 1940 by Mamiya Seiichi (間宮精一)[2] and Sugawara Tsunejirō (菅原恒二郎)[2] as Mamiya Kōki Seisakusho (マミヤ光機製作所, Mamiya Optical Works).[3] It was based in Tokyo, Hongo[4], and its first camera was the Mamiya Six, a 6×6 folder with coupled rangefinder that was focused by moving the film plane. There were many versions in the Mamiya Six series, but it was the only Mamiya model for eight years. Despite the war breaking out a year after the release of the first model of the Mamiya Six, the company continued to thrive, expanding production facilities in February 1942 and again, to three times the size, in February 1944, then employing 150 staff.[5] By March 1944 a secondary factory was opened at Tokyo University for the manufacture and assembly of lenses.[6] The company closed its doors in Tokyo in March 1945 and was relocated. As early as October 1945, a month after Japanese surrender, Mamiya was the first Japanese company to receive a substantial order from the Central Purchasing Office of SCAP,[7] which allowed the company to resume full-scale production in January 1946 at new facilities in Tokyo.[8]

To ensure a reliable supply of lenses, Mamiya bought on optical company at Setagaya, Tokyo.[9] Mamiya began to make its own Stamina shutters and Neocon ('new con[struction][10]) lenses from 1947 in the Setagaya (世田谷) plant. In 1950, the Setagaya plant became the depending company Setagaya Kōki K.K. (世田谷光機㈱), making the shutters and lenses. The name Sekor that appears on most Mamiya lenses comes from Setagaya Kōki, with r probably for renzu (レンズ, lens). Setagaya Kōki was again merged into Mamiya Kōki in 1963.

From 1948 the Mamiya range became more diversified, with the introduction of the Mamiyaflex series of 6×6 TLRs in 1948, the Mamiya 35 series of 35mm fixed lens rangefinder in 1949 and the Mamiya 16 series of 16mm film subminiature cameras in the same year. Together with the Mamiya Six, these four series were the basis of the Mamiya range throughout the 1950s. In 1950, the company name was changed to Mamiya Kōki Kabushiki Kaisha (マミヤ光機㈱, Mamiya Optical Co., Ltd.). The last Mamiya Six version appeared in 1958.

In 1957 Mamiya introduced two innovative designs, the Magazine 35, a 35mm camera with interchangeable backs, that only met a limited success, and the Mamiyaflex C, a 6×6 TLR with interchangeable lens pairs, that would be the first of a long series.

The first Mamiya 35mm SLR was the Prismat, launched in 1960. The same year Mamiya introduced the Mamiya Press, a medium format press camera inspired by some Linhof models. Mamiya dropped the 35mm rangefinders around the mid 1960s, and the range at the end of the 1960s was formed by the Press, the Mamiya C and the 35mm SLRs.

51883006384_213d4a9c0a_n_d.jpg
"Oh Mama mia!"
fun with Mamiya cameras ;-) (Image rights)
 

The RB67 Professional 6×7 SLR in 1970, the Mamiya M645 4.5×6 SLR in 1975 and the RZ67 Professional 6×7 SLR in 1982 confirmed Mamiya's orientation towards the medium format professional market. Mamiya made a last attempt towards the amateur market at the end of the 1970s with some rangefinder and point and shoot 35mm cameras, together with their continuing series of 35mm SLRs, but following the collapse of its international distributors, the company went bankrupt in 1984.[11] As part part of the restructure, Mamiya stopped producing 35mm cameras and terminated a number of its medium format offerings (such as the Rapid Omega).

After that, Mamiya continued as a specialized medium format camera maker, with new 4.5x6 SLR models beginning with the M645 Super from 1985, new versions of the RB67, RZ67 and Mamiya C, the new Mamiya 6 6×6 format rangefinder from 1989 and its successor the Mamiya 7 6×7 rangefinder from 1995. In 1993, the company name was changed to Mamiya-OP K.K. (マミヤ・オーピー㈱).

During the 1990s, the first digital backs began to be available (mostly from electronics companies, not camera makers. Mamiya introduced the autofocus 645 AF 4.5×6 SLR in 1999, and made this compatible with third-party digital backs as the 645 AFD in 2001. Mamiya collaborated with Leaf; the DL28 'camera system' is the Mamiya 645 AFDIII with Leaf's Aptus-II 6 28-MP back. Mamiya offered their own 22-MP ZD digital backs (using sensors made by the Canadian firm Dalsa[12]) and the integrated Mamiya ZD 22 "digital medium format camera" in 2005.

Nevertheless, Mamiya's traditional market was increasingly taken by makers of smaller-format digital SLRs, especially Nikon and Canon. In 2006, Mamiya sold all its camera activities to an IT company, Cosmo Digital Imaging (コスモ・デジタル・イメージング㈱); the company subsequently operated as Mamiya Digital Imaging Co. Two more models of the 645 AFD were produced. Mamiya collaborated with Phase One, and in 2009 Phase One made a significant investment in Mamiya. As at summer 2011, the Mamiya global website described Mamiya as 'a Phase One company'; the Mamiya USA site used instead the slogan 'powered by Leaf and Phase One' (Leaf was also bought by Phase One). The 645 DF body (essentially the 645 AFDIII but dedicated to digital) can be seen branded as either a Mamiya or Phase One product, while the Phase One 645 AF is identical to the Mamiya 645 AFDIII, and both were available for a time.

As of 2023, the Mamiya Leaf website has disappeared, and Phase One's site makes no mention of the Mamiya name, though Phase One's XF studio camera still bears some similarity to the 645 AF.

Digital

  • Mamiya ZD
  • Mamiya ZDb
  • Mamiya DL28
  • Mamiya 645 DF (also sold under the Phase One brand)

Medium format

6×6 TLR

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Mamiyaflex C2
image by Gerard Vogels (Image rights)

6×6 Folder

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Mamiya Six III
image by yalluflex (Image rights)


6×4.5 SLR

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M645 1000S
image by Dave Dunne (Image rights)
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Mamiya RB67
image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

6×7 SLR


6×6 Rangefinder

6×7 Rangefinder

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Mamiya Press Super 23 with 50mm
image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

6×9 Rangefinder

See also Polaroid 600 and Polaroid 600SE.

35mm film

SLR

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Mamiya Family, Auto-Lux 35 and 528TL
image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

Fixed Lens Mamiya

Mamiya Prismat

Mamiya TL/DTL-Series

Mamiya X-Series

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Mamiya DSX 1000
image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

Mamiya SX-Series

Mamiya NC-Series

Mamiya Z-Series

Fixed lens rangefinder

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Mamiya M Autofocus
image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

Fixed lens viewfinder

Wide angle fixed lens

  • Mamiya Wide (with rangefinder)
  • Mamiya Wide E (no rangefinder)

AF point and shoot

24×24mm format

  • Mamiya Sketch

18×24mm format

Medical and scientific

16mm film

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Original Mamiya-16 film cartridges (left)
with an aftermarket reproduction
image by Andrea Wiggins (Image rights)

Lenses

  • Tōwa Kōki Neocon f/3.5 75mm (July 1947— ) used in Mamiyaflex,[13] Mamiya Six
  • Setagaya Kōki Sekor T f/3.5 silver face (1948— ) used in Mamiya Six
  • Setagaya Kōki Sekor S f/3.5 black face used in Mamiya Six
  • Mamiya Kominar f/3.5 used in Mamiya Six
  • Mamiya Sekor f/3.5 used in Mamiya Six

Notes

  1. ↑ The logo (designed by the Japan Fine Arts School in Tokyo) represents two lenses, a biconcave and a biconvex set at 90 degrees, with the Initials S and M. Common folklore wrongly claims it that this represents Seiichi Mamiya (in Japanese his name would be written Mamiya Seiichi). Rather, it represents the two partners of the company Sugawara Mamiya
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The name is given in the Japanese order, with family name followed by the given name.
  3. ↑ As a partnership between the inventor and designer Mamiya Seiichi and the investor Sugawara Tsunejirō (Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. ii).—The significance of the role played by Mamiya's financier becomes obvious if we consider that his initials comes first in the Mamiya Logo (which was designed by the Japan Fine Arts School in Tokyo).—Also, according to the official company history (cited earlier), Mamiya Seiichi was 'Chief Engineer' (retired December 1954; † 6 January 1989; p. 7; 15), while Sugawara Tsunejirō was 'President' (retired June 1966; † April 1988; p. 10; 14).
  4. ↑ Its address in 1943 was Tōkyō-to Hongō-ku Higashi-Katamachi 180 (東京都本郷区東片町180). Source: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943.—A pre-war instruction sheet lists the address as: nº 7, 1 Chome, Hongo, Hongo Ka, Tokyo
  5. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4
  6. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4
  7. ↑ Supreme Command of the Allied Powers in Japan
  8. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p.4
  9. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4.
  10. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 5
  11. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. iv
  12. ↑ News item about the ZD (archived) on Teledyne Dalsa website.
  13. ↑ With a Stamina shutter: at TLR-Cameras.com.

Bibliography

Links

In English:

Ron Herron's site is still active, but missing the index page. You can visit it via Ron Herron's Mamiya page

In German:

In French:

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