Mamiya Six
This article is about the camera made in the 1940s and 50s. For the 1990s camera, see Mamiya 6.
The Mamiya Six is a series of 6×6 folders with a coupled rangefinder, made by Mamiya from 1940 to the 1950s. All of them are focused by moving the film plane. Some have Zuiko lenses.
Contents
Evolution
The Mamiya Six I, II and III were wartime and immediate postwar models, and had both eye-level and waist-level finders. The coupled rangefinder was combined with the eye-level finder. As a result, there were three windows at the front of the top housing. The Mamiya Six III added an exposure counter with double exposure prevention.
Model l came in two versions, One for size "O" shutters with three struts and (eyelets for a strap) a model la for the larger sized shutter "OO" , with two struts. Both used a K.O.L. Special 7.5cm/3.5 lens and is pre war in nature, well built back focusing plane design. Shutters were the buyers choice, Common with a NKS Torio T,B, 1-200.
Model ll came in the wars years in two versions as above. This time the "Eyelets" are no longer on the camera for a strap. Serial #'s found in the 6,xxx range, F:8 D.O.F. scale and a simple unscrewing knob on front standard. camera Shutters as above and often found with a Patent Mars T,B, 1-250.
Model lll came in the war years also and differs in that it has a complex flash delay on the front standard of the lens and serial No,s often in the 22,xxx range. Lenses and shutters found as in model l, and ll. The special version for 'OO" sized shutters was discontinued. Late war years cameras suffer from chrome quality thinness.
All Mamiya Six models l,la,ll,lla,lll have three windows up front, and three screws in the accessory shoe. Early versions D.O.F. scale goes to F:8 only. Top reflex viewer on model One is larger 12x12mm, whereas later model ll, lll are 11x11mm. Model lll has a F:22 D.O.F scale. Exposure counting scale also comes in many shape changes. it's best to refer to Dirk HR Spennemann's, "Mamyia Six Design Variations web page because there were many changes too numerous to list here. It is stated that; the K.O.L. Sola Special lens 7.5cm F:3.5 was a early four element design and of course all model l,la,ll,lla,lll lenses are Uncoated.
With the Mamiya Six IV, introduced in 1947, the waist-level finder disappeared. It remained the sole model until 1953. The Mamiya Six V added the dual 6×6 and 4.5×6 format capability, with an exposure counter functioning with both formats. The Mamiya Six K was a simpler model, with film advance via red windows.
In 1955, the Mamiya Six IVB introduced a squarer body design, easily recognized by the square rangefinder window. Its features were similar to the model IV. The Mamiya Six K2 was similar to the model K with the new body. The body design was slightly modified again for the Mamiya Six IVS and simpler Mamiya Six P.
From 1955, the Mamiya Six Automat and the later Automat 2 added a coupling between the shutter cocking and the film advance.
Pictures
  
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| Mamiya Six III no.23875, Compur shutter (T, B, 1–300), Nikkor 7.5cm f/4.5 lens no.75183. Pictures courtesy of eBayer badman664. (Image rights) |
  
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| Mamiya Six IV no.35446, Zuiko 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.38265. Pictures courtesy of Adrian Gotts. (Image rights) |
Further reading
In Japanese:
- Kitano Kunio (北野邦雄). Mamiya Shikkusu no sho (マミヤシックスの書, The book of the Mamiya Six). Tokyo: Kōgasō, 1942.
- Ōba Eiichi (大場栄一). Mamiya Shikkusu no tsukaikata (マミヤシックスの使い方, How to use the Mamiya Six). Tokyo: Kōgasō, 1956.
Links
General links
In English:
- Mamiya history page at Ron Herron's Mamiya 35mm site
- Mamiya Six III, formerly at Robert Monaghan's Medium Format Photography website (archive copy dated 8 May 2006, at the Internet Archive); brief notes on the camera, and archived bulletin-board discussion.
- Mamiya Six IV in English and in Japanese at Cosmonet Classic Camera
- Mamiya Six IV among other cameras at Cameras Downunder
- Mamiya Six Automat II at Silverbased
In Swedish:
- Mamiya Six, lot no.120 of auction no.31 (2 November 2008) by LP Foto
In Japanese:
- Mamiya Six I in Ranzōsha's camera pages
- Mamiya Six I and more pictures in Miyazawa Noriyuki's camera site
- Mamiya Six K2 at Japan Family Camera
- Mamiya Six IV at Aya's camera site
- Mamiya Six IV at Itō Sadanobu's camera collection
- Mamiya Six IV at doraDD's clacamera blog
- Mamiya Six K at Minosan's blog
- Mamiya Six K at Tak's Page
- Mamiya Six KII at Awane-Photo's camera museum
- A page about folders with a Mamiya Six Automat (archived), at Nekosan's website (archived)
- Mamiya Six at kosaka's site
- Mamiya Six Automat at Hayata Camera Laboratory
- Mamiya Six (non original grey finish) in SCR's camera website
- Mamiya Six at Shashin wo tanoshimu
Instructions
In English:
- Mamiya Six IVB on this and the following pages at Guide to Classic Cameras
Original documentation
In Japanese:
- Advertisement for the Mamiya Six I and III dated 1942 or later, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page of old Japanese advertisements by Toshio Inamura
Repair notes
In French:
In Japanese:
