Mamiya 16 Camera

[Donald Qualls]

I searched up a manual that wasn't on Butkus and found two different versions of the manual, implying two versions of the Automatic camera. The 1/2 second shutter speed may be the biggest difference, or perhaps the upgrade model had a more sensitive selenium cell. I do note that the meter calculator in the photo above has 2, even though the shutter speed dial doesn't...

 

[Flighter]

Looking at http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/mamiya/index.htm my tentative conclusion is that the earlier models had the extra 1/2 shutter speed, as far as I can tell it is only the last two cameras on the page that don't have it and they have the highest serial numbers, 2457032 and 2495996. My Automatic has a serial number in between those, 2468710.

 

[Flighter]

I do note that the meter calculator in the photo above has 2, even though the shutter speed dial doesn't...

I had never noticed that (the picture is of my camera) until you mentioned it - good job I never became a detective!

 

[Flighter]

My manual has a silver cover…

…whereas the one on Butkus is red and white.

 

[Donald Qualls]

And the one I found on SubClub was blue and white (though the pages were separated and scanned flat, making it hard to read).

 

[Donald Qualls]

the earlier models had the extra 1/2 shutter speed,

Well, that would explain the ones without 2 on the shutter speed dial still having it on the exposure guidelines. Makes some sense, anyway; 1/2 second is easy to do with a cable release, so having the camera time it is redundant.