Mamiya Film Cameras

Mamiya Film Cameras

Seiichi Mamiya started Mamiya in Japan in May 1940; however, the company did not make its first film camera until 1949. The company produced numerous models, lenses, and accessories in Japan. If you are considering a Mamiya film camera, here are answers to common questions.

Mamiya made many different types of cameras, including:

• 16mm cameras
• 35mm rangefinder cameras, single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, fixed-lens SLR cameras, and viewfinder cameras
• 6 x 4 1/2cm format manual-focus cameras
• 6 x 6cm format twin-lens reflex (TLR) cameras and rangefinder cameras
• 6 x 9cm format cameras

One way to choose a Mamiya camera body is to consider the subject matter that you would like to shoot. If you like to take photos of a variety of subjects, including sports, events, and landscapes, then consider a 35mm. If you are more likely to capture portraits, then a medium format is an option. Street photographers use both 35mm and medium-format cameras. Medium-format cameras provide a perspective of a scene without the distortions that may be experienced in 35mm photography. Unlike a point-and-shoot camera, these cameras generally use manual settings for focus, finders, lenses, and to meter and mount film.

The company's prominent medium-format 6 x 4 1/2 format model was the Mamiya 645, which they started producing in 1975. They sold versions of the M645 model until the year 2000. This model uses preloaded film inserts, and it features interchangeable lenses and inserts. Photographers could choose from shutter speeds ranging from eight seconds to .002 seconds. Users had the choice of using a shutter on the front or on its top. This model features a mirror-lockup knob. The company produced many lenses for this medium-format M645 camera, including three zoom lenses, and 24 prime lenses with fisheye lenses, shift lenses, apochromatic lenses, and soft-focus lenses. This model shoots in a 4 1/2 x 6-ratio format, so photographers can shoot 6 x 4 1/2-, 6 x 6-, 6 x 7-, 120-, and 220-film magazines.

The Mamiya RZ67 and its successors are a series of medium-format cameras meant for studio use. The RZ67 featured interchangeable ground glasses, film winders, viewfinders, and film backs. Photographers can choose different backs, allowing them to choose horizontal or vertical compositions. The company made several lenses for this series of medium-format camera, including three wide-angle lenses, three prime lenses, eight telephoto lenses, and seven specialty lenses.