Any Omega/Mamiya Rapid shooters?

[hither]

Some might have seen me posting elsewhere looking for users of these cameras; thought I would drop a line here, too.

I'm enjoying the camera, more or less, so far, and have included some recent work through the 90mm. I am STILL curious, VERY curious to see examples from the 58/60mm, the 135mm, and the 180mm. If you own this stuff and have good examples of what those lenses are capable of, please post here or post links to work elsewhere.

While the RO200 is looking to be a fine outdoor camera, the 90mm is too loose for portraits. Really interested in seeing some tight portraits from the 135 or 180.

Thanks for reading, hope to hear from some I haven't heard from yet.

Best,
Craig Nelson
NelsonFoto.Com


Recently:


This is tight as I can get with the 90mm. Acros (HC110B), handheld: 1/15 f4



Tripod exposure: f11, 160 seconds, HC110B



APX100, green filter (2 stop), ancient Rodinal at 1:25 for 8 minutes





And this last one, Acros @ 100 in HC110E (12.5ml/600ml) or 7 minutes:

 

[Lachlan Young]

I have played about with one of the Koni-Omegas and it impressed me greatly, however, I have not seen one for sale in the UK for about 18 months or so. The range of lenses may be small but they are stunning!

Lachlan

 

[Paul Howell]

The Mamyia Press and Unversial are not make by Konica, the last manufacture of the rapid, different lens set: 55 65 90(for the press) 100 150 and 250, as well a few lens from the Polorid model, backs that allowed 4.5 6X6 6X7 as well as 6X9, a ground glass back as well.

 

[hither]

It's my understanding that the RO200 backs/lenses are interchangable with the Mamiya. This is false?

 

[Dan Fromm]

Koni-Omega made by Konica = Rapid Omega made by Mamiya <> Mamiya Press. Clear?

 

[Konical]

Good afternoon, Craig,

Dan's comment above is accurate. I have used both a Mamiya Super 23 and the Koni-Omega system. The Mamiya Super 23 (100 mm lens on mine) gives fine results, but is a bit heavier and somewhat more awkward. (Mine also has a lens locking ring which has frozen up for some reason, so I haven't acquired any other lenses to try on it.)

The Koni system may be about twenty-five or thirty years out of date, but its results match up extremely well with newer MF equipment and easily run rings around virtually anything done in 35mm. The three lenses I have (58mm, 90mm, 180mm) are all excellent performers; the film backs can be a bit iffy and shouldn't be treated roughly, but they are certainly designed for rapid shooting.

I recently acquired a Koni-Omegaflex which uses the same backs as the RF system and has very close focusing for a TLR. I haven't used it much yet, but it seems to give excellent results also.

There doesn't seem to be any particular shortage of Koni equipment available on E-Bay, but, of course, condition can be problematic.

Konical

 

[hither]

Yep, I see my goof now. So I've got a Rapid Omega, by Mamiya, not Konica.

The 90mm is extremely sharp at f11. Kinda freaked me out. I heard and read in the affirmative, but had to experience with my own eyes.

I'll keep looking for images made with the 135 or the 180, specifically tight portraits. The 58 seems neat, too.

Thanks all,
Craig

 

[Konical]

Good Evening, Craig,

It may take a while for you to find images made with the Koni 135 lens; it's rather rare and usually sells for a high price when available. Wish I had one!

Konical

 

[Paul Howell]

Yep, I see my goof now. So I've got a Rapid Omega, by Mamiya, not Konica.

No the other way around, you have a Rapid Omega by Konica, Mamiya made the Mamiya Press, Mamiya Universal, and for Poloroid the 600. I have a Universial, but the Rapid is an excellent camera and it is much faster to operate than the Press or Universal.

 

[mgb74]

I used to use one with the 180mm for aerial photography. Very functional for that type of work. Lens quality was never an issue. But one common issue with these cameras is the frame spacing on the backs. Commonly attributed to overly aggressive use of the pull/push film advance.