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PAGE ONE -- MAIN ENTRY FOR MAMIYA-SIX

This article is about the spring-folder camera made by Mamiya 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, rather than the more common front-cell focussing of other folders of the time.

History

The brain behind the development of the Mamiya Six was the inventor Seiichi Mamiya. His camera design departed from the common method of front cell focussing. In order to be able to control the camera when looking through the rangefinder while maintaining a steady hold, he designed a method that allowed the film plane to move in relation to the lens. He filed his invention on 1 July 1939 in Japan, on ¶¶ 1940 in the United Kingdom and on 5 June 1940 in the U.S.A. The U.S. Patent (nº 2,305,301) was granted on 15 December 1942, but, because of the state of war between the USA and Japan, was vested in the Alien Property Custodian.

Evolution

Prototpye of the Mamiya Six Image in Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) July 1951, p. 88 Scanned by rebollo_fr. (Image rights)

The first model (Mamiya Six I) was advertised in September 1940 and first went on sale in December 1940. Until the end of the World War II, the Mamiya Six was significantly modified at least three times: first in early 1941 (model Ia) with two additional improved models introduced in the next two years. Erratically, model III was released in 1942 before model II appeared in 1943. All pre-war and war-time models have a twin set of range finder windows as well as a small, seperate Brillant-type waist-level viewfinder, resulting in three windows at the front. All units have a single red film frame counter window counter on the back with a horizontal slider opening to the left. The Mamiya Six III added an exposure counter with double exposure prevention. The pre-war and war-time models were all 6x6 format cameras.

Production of the Mamiya Six was restarted after World War II. The first cameras to be sold were Mamiya Six III. It is not clear to what extent these units were assembled from existing spare parts, or whether all are totally new construction. The official Mamiya history states that ¶¶¶ These post-War Mamiya Six III were fitted with which was introduced in Takatiho Tokio Zuiko f/3.5 75mm lenses, which debuted in 1946. The first new model to appear was the Mamiya Six IV, introduced in 1947, which dispensed with the waist-level finder. 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.

Chronology of Models

Given the quite erratic nature of model numbering that occurred over the years, the chronology of the thirteen major Mamiya Six models is set out in Table 1. The characteristcs of the individual models, as well as the variants within these models, are described further below. If in doubt about some of the features mentioned in the type descriptions, please refer to the visual documentation of the critical elements which provides a dichotomous key as well as a series of illustrations showing the model-specific details.

Table 1 Chronology of Mamiya Six Cameras

	Release Date	Model/Variant
pre-War Production	1940, September	Mamiya Six I
	1941, January	Mamiya Six Ia
War Production	1942, January	Mamiya Six III
	1943	Mamiya Six II
	1943?	Mamiya Six IIa
	1945	Production Ceased
post-War Production	1946, November	Mamiya Six III
	1947	Mamiya Six IV
	1953, November	Mamiya Six V
	1954, August	Mamiya Six K
	1955, May	Mamiya Six IVb
	1955, December	Mamiya Six Automat
	1956, March	Mamiya Six K2
	1957, October	Mamiya Six IVs
	1957, December	Mamiya Six P
	1958	Mamiya Six Automat 2

 
 

Dichotomous Key to aid identification of models

The Mamiya Six comes in a bewildering range of variants. The interactive, dichotomous key provided below provides an avenue at identifying the types of Mamiya Six. Once you have identified your model, click on the model name to be taken to a full description. If you are unclear about any of the criteria, either click on the criterion name or jump to this page for visual identification guides.

Use this interactive key to help identify your Mamiya Six model
How many viewfinder windows are on the front?
Two        Is there a horizontal bar underneath the lens?       Yes           The right hand, square viewfinder window is...          - Flush with the casing→Mamiya Six Automat          - Surrounded by a small back rim → Mamiya Six Automat 2         No             The right hand, square viewfinder window is...             • Flush with the casing                                           Film Advance knob is                          Solid with film speed on top                      → Mamiya Six P                  Mushroom shaped                              Depth of Field Indicator is                    in a small raised ring → Mamiya Six IVb                    flush with top housing → Mamiya Six K2             • Surrounded by a small black rim                                     → Mamiya Six IVs             • Surrounded by small rectangular plate                       Viewfinder housing to the left of the              shutter release is         v            Curved → Mamiya Six IV                         Straight → Mamiya Six K             • Surrounded by a large rectangular plate                     that encompasses the left round window as well → Mamiya Six V
Three      Does the body have triangular neckstrap lugs?    Yes         How many Struts ?          Two → Mamiya Six Ia          Three → Mamiya Six I      No         Is there a Flash Contact?          Yes               The cold shoe for the flash is fastened with                two screws, set diagonal → Mamiya Six III post-War production                   front door release is                   single raised button → Variant A                   twin set of buttons → Variant B                three screws → Mamiya Six III war-time production            No               How many Struts ?                Two → Mamiya Six IIa                Three → Mamiya Six II

NON INTERACTIVE DICHOTOMOUS KEY

START : How many viewfinder windows are on the front?

TWO Windows Is there a horizontal bar underneath the lens? Yes The right hand, square viewfinder window is: Flush with the casing→Mamiya Six Automat Surrounded by a small back rim → Mamiya Six Automat 2 No The right hand, square viewfinder window is: Flush with the casing Film Advance knob is Solid with film speed on top→Mamiya Six P Mushroom shaped Depth of Field Indicator is in a small raised ring → Mamiya Six IVb flush with top housing → Mamiya Six K2 Surrounded by a small black rim → Mamiya Six IVs Surrounded by small rectangular plate Viewfinder housing to the left of the shutter release is Curved→ Mamiya Six IV Straight → Mamiya Six K Surrounded by a rectangular plate that encompasses the left round window as well → Mamiya Six V

THREE Windows Does the body have triangular neckstrap lugs? Yes How many Struts ? Two → Mamiya Six Ia Three → Mamiya Six I No Is there a Flash Contact? Yes The cold shoe for the flash is fastened with two screws, set diagonal → Mamiya Six III post-War production front door release is single raised button → Variant A twin set of buttons → Variant B three screws → Mamiya Six III war-time production No How many Struts ? Two → Mamiya Six IIa Three → Mamiya Six II