Mamiya 6 in today's mail

[MattKing]

Well, color me flabbergasted. Came in to work this morning, and found the missing knob/screw sitting on one of the tables in the break room. That's far from what I expected, but I'm very happy it occurred. I left the camera home today, but it'll be back in service a few minutes after I get there.

Clearly, the screw needed a break and went for a coffee.
Glad the lost has now been found.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Thank you, all. The knob/screw has been returned to its proper location, and tightened firmly (but gently) in place. The camera is loaded once again (XP2 Super this time, intended for bleach bypass so EI 800). and is in my coat pocket. The first roll, expired Portra 400NC, is waiting for processing.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I got a Fuji RF shipped to my door from Tokyo in less than 18 hours a couple months ago. No extra charge. FedEx Air Freight.

 

[Donald Qualls]

There was a semi-serious proposal years ago for "rocket freight" -- VTOL suborbital flights (in those days, envisioned with the Delta Clipper design, today most likely to finally happen with Starships), maximum an hour port to port, and it was pointed out that for the first time in human history, it would become practical to ship between certain origins and destinations, and have a package shipped early arrive late the previous day (at least according to local calendars). Looks like FedEx is ready...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Donald, please post pics soon. I've been humming and hawing over purchasing same camera.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I've got the first roll from the camera in queue to be processed this weekend, then it'll take a few days to get it scanned. Working full time sucks...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've got the first roll from the camera in queue to be processed this weekend, then it'll take a few days to get it scanned. Working full time sucks...

Tell me about it! For more years until retirement!!

 

[MattKing]

Tell me about it! For Four more years until retirement!!

One mark deducted for spelling error.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Tell me about it! For more years until retirement!!

I could collect my Social Security benefits in just over a year -- but I'll probably decide I need to work at least a few more years first, since I'll probably want to try to live on them, and the longer I wait (up to around ten years) the bigger each monthly check will be.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

One mark deducted for spelling error.

It's my phone trying to spell for me.... I should pay more attention.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I could collect my Social Security benefits in just over a year -- but I'll probably decide I need to work at least a few more years first, since I'll probably want to try to live on them, and the longer I wait (up to around ten years) the bigger each monthly check will be.

My pension will be slightly reduced, unless I hang on for 8 more years. No thanks. The two cheques from the government will help, too! If things get bad, I can always substitute teach.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Blast! I couldn't wait so I ordered one. The exchange rate sucks, and my wife is going to give me that look... oh well, I've wanted one for quite a while. It'll be a Christmas prezzie for myself! Hope mine comes as quickly as yours did... AND THE KNOB DOESN'T FALL OFF!

 

[Donald Qualls]

Hope mine comes as quickly as yours did... AND THE KNOB DOESN'T FALL OFF!

When you get it, grab the inside end of each spool pin with pliers and tighten the knob by hand. It's a regular thread, just screwed into the inside pin. Get it hand tight and it ought to stay; spool movement will tend to tighten it (else Mamiya would have put a left hand thread on, I'm sure).

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

When you get it, grab the inside end of each spool pin with pliers and tighten the knob by hand. It's a regular thread, just screwed into the inside pin. Get it hand tight and it ought to stay; spool movement will tend to tighten it (else Mamiya would have put a left hand thread on, I'm sure).

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Was just notified by the seller in Japan that parcel service to Canada has been suspended due to covid. He can send it surface, which is three months, then brought to my door by UPS. As soon as I saw those three letters UPS, I said forget it! They always charge exorbitant brokerage fees. So, he's going to send it to my sister in law in Japan and I'll pick it up when I'm over there, probably Spring 2022 (or earlier!). I'm in no hurry to get the camera. I refuse to do any business with UPS. Can't wait for the vaccines to start!

 

[Donald Qualls]

Can't wait for the vaccines to start!

Yeah. With luck, your sister in law will be able to ship it to you DHL or FedEx or Japan Post sometime next year -- because most people who want it should be able to get a vaccine by the end of next year, and that should pretty much break the back of all this disruption.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yeah. With luck, your sister in law will be able to ship it to you DHL or FedEx or Japan Post sometime next year -- because most people who want it should be able to get a vaccine by the end of next year, and that should pretty much break the back of all this disruption.

It would be great to get my hands on it ASAP! Can't wait to see the photos from yours, Donald!

 

[MattKing]

I refuse to do any business with UPS. Can't wait for the vaccines to start!

It is worthwhile to look into UPS again for shipments from the USA.
The Trump initiated changes to NAFTA appear to have eliminated the need for brokerage services on a lot of smaller purchases.
I have no opinions about UPS from Japan.

 

[rgeorge911]

I love my Mamiya-6 folder so much. I find the film plane focusing works great and the film is held very flat. The lens is wonderful.

If anyone is still on Flickr, I started a group called “Mamiya-6 Folding Cameras Owners (Only)” some time back. Feel free to stop in and see what others are doing with theirs.

As for me, I need to use mine and start contributing there again. Too many cameras. I’ve been actively reducing, but the Mamiya-6 stays. It’s a definite keeper,

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I love my Mamiya-6 folder so much. I find the film plane focusing works great and the film is held very flat. The lens is wonderful.

If anyone is still on Flickr, I started a group called “Mamiya-6 Folding Cameras Owners (Only)” some time back. Feel free to stop in and see what others are doing with theirs.

As for me, I need to use mine and start contributing there again. Too many cameras. I’ve been actively reducing, but the Mamiya-6 stays. It’s a definite keeper,

That's great to know. Maybe you should start a Mamiya 6 folder thread here. I'll follow and contribute once I get my hands on mine.

 

[Donald Qualls]

It would be great to get my hands on it ASAP! Can't wait to see the photos from yours, Donald!

Negatives developed and hanging; I'll scan that roll first (of the five I processed in the past five hours), so you should see some results later this week. I didn't wait to reload; I've got a roll of XP2 Super loaded now that I'm shooting at EI 800, with bleach bypass intended. The lens isn't fast enough to shoot 400 indoors without flash, reliably (say the underexposed negatives on the first roll), but XP2 Super has plenty of latitude to overexpose a couple stops if needed and still get good negatives; if it weren't for cost I'd just shoot that in bleach bypass all the time in this camera (and get some Portra 800 to intersperse).

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I look forward to seeing your results.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Okay, here's what I can show for the moment.

My first exposure, ever, with the Mamiya 6 (it's a folding rangefinder, how hard could it be?).

Well, aside from keeping the camera level... All of these are on Portra 400 NC that probably expired around 2005, processed in Flexicolor LORR chemistry (replenished color developer).

Late day -- first of December, give or take, after work, so about 3:45 when sunset is not much after 5:00. Around f/8 and 1/100.

Last frame on the roll. The big scratch in the middle is on my scanner glass. Once again, late day, early December.

This was 16 frames, masks in. One of the things I like most about the Mamiya 6 -- the versions that had dual format always have the masks, because they're permanently attached. There's either no provision to change the viewfinder format, or I can't see it with my glasses between my eye and the eyepiece, and it's surely possible to set the red window selector mismatched to the frame masks (shoot 12 frames at 6x4.5, or 16 overlapping frames of 6x6) -- but the masks themselves will always be there.

I need to get the camera on a tripod to really see what the lens can do; the shutter speeds only go to 300 (which is probably closer to 200, given this shutter is older than I am), so it's hard to really eliminate motion blur hand held. Also, there's no provision for a strap, unless you have the camera in a case, and the cases are apparently much less common than the cameras.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Okay, here's what I can show for the moment.

My first exposure, ever, with the Mamiya 6 (it's a folding rangefinder, how hard could it be?).

View attachment 261146

Well, aside from keeping the camera level... All of these are on Portra 400 NC that probably expired around 2005, processed in Flexicolor LORR chemistry (replenished color developer).

View attachment 261147

Late day -- first of December, give or take, after work, so about 3:45 when sunset is not much after 5:00. Around f/8 and 1/100.

View attachment 261148

Last frame on the roll. The big scratch in the middle is on my scanner glass. Once again, late day, early December.

This was 16 frames, masks in. One of the things I like most about the Mamiya 6 -- the versions that had dual format always have the masks, because they're permanently attached. There's either no provision to change the viewfinder format, or I can't see it with my glasses between my eye and the eyepiece, and it's surely possible to set the red window selector mismatched to the frame masks (shoot 12 frames at 6x4.5, or 16 overlapping frames of 6x6) -- but the masks themselves will always be there.

I need to get the camera on a tripod to really see what the lens can do; the shutter speeds only go to 300 (which is probably closer to 200, given this shutter is older than I am), so it's hard to really eliminate motion blur hand held. Also, there's no provision for a strap, unless you have the camera in a case, and the cases are apparently much less common than the cameras.

Thanks for posting, Donald. In regards to the cases, I found one on ebay and was going to snag it until I saw what they wanted for shipping. It was way more than the cost of the case! I'll probably by one of those wrist/neck straps that screw into the tripod mount. Speaking of MY Mamiya 6, it's sitting at my sister-in-law's house. She opened it up and took some snaps of it for me... It looks pretty good. I asked her to open up the front to reveal the lens, as well as the back. She's a bit unsure how to do that, so I sent her a video (in Japanese) that I found on youtube. ONE of these days I'll get my hands on it!

 

[Donald Qualls]

I had contacted the seller of mine about the missing knob, and he had one he'd have listed for me -- but I found mine before he could. He also asked if I was interested in a hood or case, and I said I was -- but he listed them sooner than I had money, and the case was gone almost immediately. Don't know if it went to someone for whom shipping would be less than the $35 to USA, but that was more than twice the price of the listed case (he assured me he could and would combine shipping, but I didn't have the money for both immediately). I also made an offer on an Auto-Up close-up device -- RF correction as well as diopter for the lens -- but the seller wouldn't come down to a figure I was comfortable with. They seem relatively common (there were multiple examples of the one specific to the Mamiya 6 when I looked) so I saved the search.