An ode to the utilitarian charme of Mamiya's TLR and 6x4.5/6x7 SLR cameras

Shaps · 2025-10-18T13:00:39-0400

When I was a photographer major in college in the early ‘60’s and looking for a medium format camera the two considered choices were Rollei and Mamiya. The versatility of interchangeable lenses was the deciding factor. I used my C2 with three lenses all the way through graduate school and into a teaching job in a university. A bit on the bulky side but the versatility of the system never dissapointed me.

I only switched to Hassleblad when a student offered to trade me his Hassleblad for my C2 setup. I explained to him the Hassleblad was better, but he needed a longer lens than his 80mm. I had a 180 for the Mamiya C2.

RezaLoghme · 2025-10-18T13:17:48-0400

Owners! Let's see some pics of your gear!

Paul Howell · 2025-10-18T15:11:29-0400

Mid 70s to late 70s the Konica Rapid was the standard Air Force camera for most base level work. It was quick, self cocking, the ratchet advance was on the noisy side by as the name says, Rapid. As noted Konica lens were some of best glass available. I quite liked it, but decided to buy a Mamiya Universal for the larger selection of lens. I would be careful with cameras 50 years on, the ratchet is prone to wear.

mshchem · 2025-10-18T20:12:15-0400

Paul Howell said:
Mid 70s to late 70s the Konica Rapid was the standard Air Force camera for most base level work. It was quick, self cocking, the ratchet advance was on the noisy side by as the name says, Rapid. As noted Konica lens were some of best glass available. I quite liked it, but decided to buy a Mamiya Universal for the larger selection of lens. I would be careful with cameras 50 years on, the ratchet is prone to wear.

I knew a fella who made a darn good living shooting weddings with Koni Rapid cameras. Ex navy man, terrific photographer. I had one for a while, great cameras, I went on to a Mamiya 6x9, then messed around with everything else.

John Wiegerink · 2025-10-18T21:31:08-0400

mshchem said:
I knew a fella who made a darn good living shooting weddings with Koni Rapid cameras. Ex navy man, terrific photographer. I had one for a while, great cameras, I went on to a Mamiya 6x9, then messed around with everything else.

Shooting weddings with a Koni-Omeqa actually saved ratchet gearing on the backs since you had to be fairly silent and unseen at wedding, which meant pulling and pushing the advance knob very slow so as not to make a sound. Press and news folks work differently and that is hell on those film advance gears.

mshchem · 2025-10-18T21:57:47-0400

John Wiegerink said:
Shooting weddings with a Koni-Omeqa actually saved ratchet gearing on the backs since you had to be fairly silent and unseen at wedding, which meant pulling and pushing the advance knob very slow so as not to make a sound. Press and news folks work differently and that is hell on those film advance gears.

I was "gifted" a bunch of old photo stuff several years ago. Some big old hot lights with wonderful huge reflectors. Also there were 5 or 6 Koni magazines, I think maybe some 220, I can't remember, I took these to a junk shop, eventually they sold, probably to another nut

Paul Howell · 2025-10-18T22:35:45-0400

The very odd Konica MF was the Omegaflex. 6X7 TL not really a TLR, it was a direct view, with the 45 degree attachment it become sort of a reflex. Used the same backs as the Rapid. My parents bought me one when I graduated from college, never fell in love with it. I did not have the 45 degree attachment, so it was more like a view camera, upside down and backwards on the ground glass. My largest issue was shooting in landscape mode, there was a tripod plate, which when I did not have. I traded it in a Mamiya C33 which in turn was sold when I bought a Kowa SL66.

An ode to the utilitarian charme of Mamiya's TLR and 6x4.5/6x7 SLR cameras

Shaps

RezaLoghme

Paul Howell

mshchem

John Wiegerink

mshchem

Paul Howell

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