Mamiya Myrapid

[Viatka]

Hi I just found a Mamiya Myrapid camera in fair condition. The selenium light meter appears to be working properly. I wanted to ask if anyone can help me find a copy, even in digital format, PDF, of the machine's user manual. I searched online for a long time without success. I hope someone can help me. Thank you

 

[xkaes]

Sorry, no manual, but here's all you need to know. You'll find out if the meter is OK with a couple of sample shots -- and if it does, keep the camera in the dark when not in use. If it's not accurate, try tests adjusting the ISO -- of course that means using different Rapid cassettes, or modifying the ones you have.

Unlike other camera companies, Mamiya never really jumped on the half-frame bandwagon. They only made one attempt --- into the consumer market -- but it was well-worth the price of admission. In 1965 they produced the Myrapid. The "rapid" part comes from the fact that this camera used the Agfa Rapid cassette which was popular at the time. These 35mm cassettes automatically set the film speed when dropped into the camera -- well ahead of their time. But this camera's claim-to-fame was its super-fast, 32mm, manually-focusing (f1.7) lens. It had close focusing to 2.5 feet and a 52mm filter thread. As in the Olympus Pen E series of cameras, this lens was surrounded by a selenium cell which sets the correct exposures -- aperture from f1.7 - f16 and shutter speeds from 1/30 - 1/800 in a programmed fashion. The set shutter speed is displayed in the viewfinder -- as well as over- and under-exposure areas. It had the standard touches like a built-in tripod socket, cold shoe and PC contact. Oddly, the camera lacks a cable release connection despite having a B shutter speed setting. At the B setting the f-stop is automatically set at f1.7 -- great for extreme low-light shooting -- except for the lack of a cable release connection. This camera is designed to be used in AUTO mode, but manual mode can be used by taking advantage of the FLASH mode setting. Selecting an f-stop sets the camera shutter speed to 1/30 for flash use. But the camera can be used without a flash -- with slow speed film in bright light or fast film in low-light conditions. Built-in self timer. Now this is what you call a CLEAN body.

 

[Viatka]

Hello

Thank you for your reply.
The Myrapid I found seems fine as far as light metering goes. I haven't used film yet. The only magazine I have is marked E and therefore from what I found online it should be recognized by the machine as a 64 ASA. I'm looking for magazines that can use and recognize 125 or 200 ASA film. If I can't find them I will try to change the thickness on the charger to vary the sensitivity. In any case, I would be happy to find a copy of the instruction manual and it seems strange to me that no one has published it until now. Maybe I should try looking for an original copy in Japanese.

Thanks again