Mamiya Prismat NP

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The Prismat NP is an early interchangeable lens 35mm SLR camera from Mamiya released in 1961. The body does not have any markings with the model name.[1] Compared to the original Prismat, the NP's conventional shutter release, rectangular nameplate, and evenly spaced shutter-speed settings lend a more modern appearance.

The NP has a horizontally-traveling cloth focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1 to 1/1000, plus B. It has FP and X synchronization terminals on the rear, and a self timer. The lens has an Exakta bayonet mount. This has been modified with a sort of "reverse PAD" mechanism where firing the shutter causes a small pin to emerge from the camera body and engage with a stopdown release on a lens outrigger. Some examples come with a Canon OM 50 mm f/1.9 lens[2] with a semi-automatic diaphragm, as illustrated below.

Versions of this camera were also distributed by Sears as the Sears 32B, Tower 32A, Tower 32B, Tower 37A and Tower 37B.

In 1962 this camera would become the basis of the Argus SLR (with a different lens mount) and the Nikkorex F (restyled and with a new Copal shutter). The Nikkorex F also had a second life as a rebadged and modified camera sold by various department stores.

Notes

  1. The name "Prismat model NP" is seen on the cover of the manual linked below.
  2. At Ron L. Herron's site he attributes this to both brands being distributed by Osawa, and thus "Canon OM" refers to "Osawa-Mamiya."

Links