Mamiya 6 folder - new bellows & early Ikoflex II

absalom1951 · Jun 8, 2019

Here's a couple of photos of my Mamiya 6 with its new bellows installed . Got the bellows from
http://www.sandehalynch.com , . The new bellows are thicker than the originals.

Had my Ikoflex out so I had to photo it also !

JPD · Jun 8, 2019

The Mamiya 6 looks better than the Super Ikonta III it was based on. Beautiful camera. The lever focusing on the Ikoflex was probably a way to get around Franke & Heidecke patents. Voigtländer did the same, with even more unusual solutions for their Superb. I don't own any Ikoflexes, but you are making me want to get one of these early models! What's the diameter of the Tessar? Is it 28,5 mm?

absalom1951 · Jun 9, 2019

You have a very good eye. It is 28.5 mm , or anyways that what my worn out linear calipers come up with. The shutter needs a CLA , T & B do not work and the 1 second is most likely 1 1/2- 2 seconds. Other than those small bugs the camera functions pretty darn good for being 80-90 years old. I looked up the Voigtländer Superb and its a very interesting camera. I'd sure like to handle one. With its horizontal film loading and focusing systems , a very cool looking camera.

JPD · Jun 9, 2019

absalom1951 said:
You have a very good eye. It is 28.5 mm , or anyways that what my worn out linear calipers come up with.

Good. It's the same diameter the lenses on the Rolleis of this period, so they can use the same accessories.

StanMac · Jun 11, 2019

That is one nice looking Mamiya 6! I have a Mamiya 6V and am currently running a roll through it. My version doesn’t have strap lugs, nor do I have a case for it so I’m extremely careful in handling it while using it.

Stan

Daire Quinlan · Jun 12, 2019

How easy was it to replace the bellows ? I started creating a new set for one Mamiya 6 I have that was riddled with holes in the bellows. They're glued in at the back which is a PITA, and I couldn't get exact dimensions after hacking them out so it's sitting there waiting for another try. Also, yes I never understood that temporary mania for not putting strap lugs on cameras. I have a strap-lug-less version too, and an ever ready case but it's cumbersome and bulky so I generally use one of those yokes that screws into the tripod socket and hang it off that.

absalom1951 · Jun 17, 2019

The only real problem I had while replacing the bellows was removing old bellows and glue from the back where it was glued . I worked very, very slowly for I had never replaced a bellows before. I took a few pictures of the procedure but it was so straight forward I took only a couple , plus I used a website which I'll add to this post. I don't understand why manufacturers omitted strap lugs - makes no sense to me. I found an older model Mamiya 6 case which I modified for my model . Here's a photo showing how I used paper towels to prevent debris from falling into the channel around the back mount.

https://tinkeringwithcameras.blogspot.com/2016/03/mamiya-six-restoration.html this website shows the Mamiya 6 restoration but I just replaced the bellows . Any more questions I'll be happy to try to answer. Sorry for the delayed answering -- was on a trip to Eastern Tennessee .

Daire Quinlan · Jun 17, 2019

No worries. Yeah it was just a pain trying to get them out from underneath those two focusing cams (and getting the new bellows back in), I was wondering if there was a trick to it other than completely disassembling the camera. IIRC those things were riveted or punched in or something.

Hilo · Jun 18, 2019

I wonder about the strap lugs on your Mamiya 6. I had one, it did not have them and I missed them a lot. Now I had a look at many images online, they're all without the strap lugs.

Which model do you have? Has this been addressed anywhere? I even wonder if they're custom made on yours . . .

absalom1951 · Jun 18, 2019

My Mamiya 6 is the Automat model. After reading your post I started wondering myself. I also looked at many images online and none of the Automats had strap lugs, nor did any of the other models. The strap lugs on my Mamiya 6 look to be professionally fitted. maybe they were either custom ordered at the factory or they were custom fitted at a camera repair shop ? Whoever and where ever they were fitted to the camera they done an excellent job.

tom

Hilo · Jun 19, 2019

Yes, probably a repair man. Really makes sense too.

The Automat's film transport is coupled with cocking the shutter, right? Does that means you no longer can make double exposures?

absalom1951 · Jun 19, 2019

Yes, multiple exposures on one frame are possible . One can cock the shutter manually and not advance the film.

Mamiya 6 folder - new bellows & early Ikoflex II

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