Difference between revisions of "Mamiya/Sekor TL/DTL series"

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(added info on meter switch operation)
(Undo revision 187473 by Sevesteen (talk) deleted much more than I intended)
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The later DTL dual-metering models introduced a switch beside the lens mount which allowed the photographer to select between an averaging meter pattern and a "spot" meter (actually a square area marked at the bottom of the viewfinder), with a viewfinder indication of the mode selected. This was a unique innovation for its day which was protected by U.S. Patent No. [http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=3612703 3,612,703], filed February 29, 1968. Interestingly, the single metering mode offered by the TL models was the "spot" mode, not the averaging mode one might expect. Thus it was the Mamiya TL and not [[Pentax]] who implemented the original meaning of Pentax's [[Spotmatic]] brand.
 
The later DTL dual-metering models introduced a switch beside the lens mount which allowed the photographer to select between an averaging meter pattern and a "spot" meter (actually a square area marked at the bottom of the viewfinder), with a viewfinder indication of the mode selected. This was a unique innovation for its day which was protected by U.S. Patent No. [http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=3612703 3,612,703], filed February 29, 1968. Interestingly, the single metering mode offered by the TL models was the "spot" mode, not the averaging mode one might expect. Thus it was the Mamiya TL and not [[Pentax]] who implemented the original meaning of Pentax's [[Spotmatic]] brand.
  
−
As with other SLRs of the era, these cameras had no linkage between the light meter circuit and the f/stop selected; thus the lens needed to be stopped down to shooting aperture in order to take an accurate exposure reading. But it may be less than obvious at first glance how one is intended to activate the meter on a TL/DTL body. Mamiya made an interesting choice to have the film-wind lever also double as the stop-down lever and meter switch. The user pulls the lever away from the body until it clicks; after which, pressing the lever inwards against spring pressure stop.  The actual internal operation is also unusual, rather than typical switch contacts operating the lever tightens the band around the battery to complete the circuit.
+
As with other SLRs of the era, these cameras had no linkage between the light meter circuit and the f/stop selected; thus the lens needed to be stopped down to shooting aperture in order to take an accurate exposure reading. But it may be less than obvious at first glance how one is intended to activate the meter on a TL/DTL body. Mamiya made an interesting choice to have the film-wind lever also double as the stop-down lever and meter switch. The user pulls the lever away from the body until it clicks; after which, pressing the lever inwards against spring pressure stops down the lens and activates the meter circuit. To put the camera away without risking accidentally draining the single 1.5v silver-oxide meter battery, one stows the wind lever in its "off" position by clicking the round cap atop its axis.   
 +
 
 +
Even by the SLR standards of their day, the TL and DTL models were at the large and heavy end of the spectrum. A 1000 DTL with its original 50mm f/1.4 lens weighs 1,077g (2 lb. 6 oz.) and measures 150 x 94 x 100 mm (W x H x D).
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
 +
{{Flickr_image
 +
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/clicks_1000/458003503/in/pool-camerawiki/
 +
|image=  http://farm1.staticflickr.com/178/458003503_b04be90dd8_n.jpg
 +
|image_align= left
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|image_text= 500 TL
 +
|image_by= clicks_1000
 +
|image_rights= wp
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Flickr_image
 +
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/95350889@N05/8915894483/in/pool-camerawiki/
 +
|image=  http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/8915894483_b4bf20d867_n.jpg
 +
|image_align= left
 +
|image_text= 500 DTL
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|image_by= Levi Zinser
 +
|image_rights= wp
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Flickr_image
 +
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/s58y/13624900344/in/pool-camerawiki/
 +
|image=  http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2900/13624900344_9b629eddc7_n.jpg
 +
|image_align= left
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|image_text= 1000 TL
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|image_by= s58y
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|image_rights= wp
 +
}}
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{{br}}
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== Models ==
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{| border="1" cellpadding="2" style="margin: 0.5em 2em; text-align: center; border-collapse: collapse;"
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! scope="col" width="70" |
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! scope="col" width="100" | 500 TL
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! scope="col" width="100" | 1000 TL
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! scope="col" width="100" | 500 DTL
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! scope="col" width="100" | 1000 DTL
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! scope="col" width="100" | 2000 DTL
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|-
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| Year|| colspan="2" |1966||colspan="2" |1968 || 1969
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|-
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| Shutter|| 1/500 || 1/1000 || 1/500 || 1/1000 || 1/2000 
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|-
 +
| rowspan="2"| Meter ||colspan="5"| Spot
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|-
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| colspan="2"| X || colspan="3" |Average
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|-
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| Self-timer || X || O || X || O || O
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|-
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| rowspan="2"|  Body || colspan="4" | chrome||X
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|-
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| colspan="3"| X || black ltd.||black
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|}
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{{br}}
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==Links==
 +
In English:
 +
 +
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya/mamiya_tl/mamiya_tl-splash.htm Mamiya TL Manual] in HTML at Michael Butkus' [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/index.html Orphan Cameras] (donation suggested)
 +
<!--Commented out link, page no longer present/available, please remove if not returned by 11/2016 * [http://eddy.uni-duisburg.de/joerg/allerlei/mamiya/tl.html The Mamiya TL Family] at Joerg Krueger's [http://eddy.uni-duisburg.de/joerg/allerlei/mamiya/mamiya.html Mamiya 35mm SLRs Homepage] -->
 +
*Documents (PDF) uploaded at the Apple Mac forum [http://macgui.com/index.php Mac GUI] by user [http://macgui.com/blogs/?u=2 Dog Cow]:
 +
**[http://dserver.macgui.com/mamiya/Mamiya%20Sekor%201000%20DTL%20Series%20Owners%20Operating%20Manual.pdf Mamiya Sekor 1000 DTL Series Owner's Operating Manual]
 +
** [http://dserver.macgui.com/mamiya/Test%20Report%20Mamiya%20Sekor%201000%20DTL%20-%20Photography,%20November%201968.pdf Test Report Mamiya Sekor 1000 DTL - Photography, November 1968]
 +
** [http://dserver.macgui.com/mamiya/Tests%20Mamiya%20Sekor%201000%20TL%20-%20Photography,%20May%201967.pdf Tests Mamiya Sekor 1000 TL - Photography, May 1967]
 +
** [http://dserver.macgui.com/mamiya/The%20Big%20Show%20Ron%20Spillman%20reports%20on%20Photokina%201968%20Mamiya%20Sekor%202000%20DTL%20-%20Photography,%20December%201968.pdf The Big Show Ron Spillman reports on Photokina 1968 Mamiya Sekor 2000 DTL - Photography, December 1968]
 +
** [http://dserver.macgui.com/mamiya/The%20Century%27s%20Greatest%20Developments%20in%20SLR%20Cameras%21%20Mamiya%20Camera%20Co%20-%20Camera,%20October%201968.pdf The Century's Greatest Developments in SLR Cameras! Mamiya Camera Co - Camera, October 1968]
 +
* [http://macgui.com/blogs/?e=468 Refurbishing the Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL]
 +
 
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In German:
 +
*[http://www.artaphot.ch/historische-kameras/361-mamiya-500-dtl Mamiya 500 DTL] at [http://www.artaphot.ch artaphot]
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[[Category:Japanese 35mm SLR]]
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[[Category:Mamiya|TL/DTL Series]]
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[[Category:42mm screw mount]]
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[[Category: M]]

Revision as of 01:29, 30 August 2018

1813825333_21be5a25d9.jpg
Mamiya-Sekor 1000 DTL
image by Voxphoto (Image rights)

In the latter half of the 1960's, Mamiya sold a series of SLR cameras using the popular 42mm threaded lens mount.

  • Mamiya/Sekor 500 TL
  • Mamiya/Sekor 1000 TL
  • Mamiya/Sekor 500 DTL
  • Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL
  • Mamiya/Sekor 2000 DTL

The TL models were introduced in 1966, the 500 and 1000 DTL in January 1968, and the 2000 DTL was introduced at Photokina 1968.

These models may be grouped together, as they all share the same basic body; their differences are clearly reflected in their model designations. The numeral represents the highest shutter speed (1/500, 1/1000 or 1/2000 of a second); the letters TL or DTL signified Through the Lens or Dual Through the Lens light metering. The "500" models typically lack a self-timer.

The later DTL dual-metering models introduced a switch beside the lens mount which allowed the photographer to select between an averaging meter pattern and a "spot" meter (actually a square area marked at the bottom of the viewfinder), with a viewfinder indication of the mode selected. This was a unique innovation for its day which was protected by U.S. Patent No. 3,612,703, filed February 29, 1968. Interestingly, the single metering mode offered by the TL models was the "spot" mode, not the averaging mode one might expect. Thus it was the Mamiya TL and not Pentax who implemented the original meaning of Pentax's Spotmatic brand.

As with other SLRs of the era, these cameras had no linkage between the light meter circuit and the f/stop selected; thus the lens needed to be stopped down to shooting aperture in order to take an accurate exposure reading. But it may be less than obvious at first glance how one is intended to activate the meter on a TL/DTL body. Mamiya made an interesting choice to have the film-wind lever also double as the stop-down lever and meter switch. The user pulls the lever away from the body until it clicks; after which, pressing the lever inwards against spring pressure stops down the lens and activates the meter circuit. To put the camera away without risking accidentally draining the single 1.5v silver-oxide meter battery, one stows the wind lever in its "off" position by clicking the round cap atop its axis.

Even by the SLR standards of their day, the TL and DTL models were at the large and heavy end of the spectrum. A 1000 DTL with its original 50mm f/1.4 lens weighs 1,077g (2 lb. 6 oz.) and measures 150 x 94 x 100 mm (W x H x D).

Gallery

458003503_b04be90dd8_n.jpg
500 TL
image by clicks_1000 (Image rights)
8915894483_b4bf20d867_n.jpg
500 DTL
image by Levi Zinser (Image rights)
13624900344_9b629eddc7_n.jpg
1000 TL
image by s58y (Image rights)


Models

500 TL 1000 TL 500 DTL 1000 DTL 2000 DTL
Year 1966 1968 1969
Shutter 1/500 1/1000 1/500 1/1000 1/2000
Meter Spot
X Average
Self-timer X O X O O
Body chrome X
X black ltd. black


Links

In English:

In German:

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