Mamiya Press

The Mamiya Press is a medium format rangefinder camera system designed to accept interchangeable backs and lenses. Mamiya made a number of variants to the basic body design, including one model, the 600SE, That was licensed to be marketed under the Polaroid name. The camera body itself is a simple affair, with a single-window combined range- and view-finder that couples to the lens for focusing. It has tripod mounts in both vertical and horizontal positions, a mount for a handgrip for the left hand, and cold shoes on both the body and the handgrip.

Lens System

The lens system incorporates a mount unique to the Mamiya Press, and each lens is mounted in a Seikosha leaf shutter. Lenses of fixed focal lengths from 50mm to 250mm were produced, all of which covered up to 2x3 film sheets. Lenses produced include:

• 50mm f/6.3
• 65mm f/6.3
• 75mm f/5.6
• 90mm f/3.5
• 100mm f/3.5
• 100mm f/2.8
• 127mm f/4.7
• 150mm f/5.6
• 250mm f/8
• 250mm f/5

Film Backs

Two separate types of back exist for the Mamiya Press, the Graflex back, and the Mamiya Back, or G- and M-types. The backs are incompatible with each other, though cameras with the G-type back can be fitted with an adapter to mount M-type backs. Film backs include 2x3 sheet, 6x9, 6x7, and Polaroid packfilm backs.

Iterations

Mamiya Press

This was the first iteration of the camera. It lacked brightlines in the finder, came standard with a 90mm f/3.5 lens, and was produced with a G-type back. Other models were produced, such as the Press G, with the Graflex back system, and the Press S with a fixed 105mm lens.

Mamiya Super 23

Mamiya Super 23, with 100 f/3.5 lens. Picture courtesy of Apocaplops. (Image rights)

This upgraded version was capable of using up to 2x3 sheet film, and came with a rear tilt and swing device to allow for close focus and tilt effects. It also added a brightline display to the finder, with automatic parallax compensation, and framelines for 100mm, 150mm, and 250mm lenses.

Mamiya Universal

This revision allowed for use of Graflex backs, including the Rand Polaroid back, but eliminated the Super 23's rear bellows device. This model was also marketed as the Polaroid 600SE.

Bibliography

• Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 1594–7.
• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P. 645.
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 6070–6.

Links

In Japanese:

• The Mamiya Press models at the Mamiya official history site