Mamiya Six question

[sfphoto]

What it the small round orange 'window' above the lens?
photo

https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/P1000972-1024x684.jpg

Am planning on selling my M/S Six IV and wanted to be able to answer this potential question.

 

[reddesert]

I have never been certain about this, but I think on mine there is a flash sync pin on the back side of the lens standard behind that orange-red circle (subject's upper right, photographer's upper left). There may have been some kind of flash connector that clipped over it.

 

[Dustin McAmera]

Ther's a page at Camera-wiki showing some variations in the design of the Mamiya Six (it's incomplete - a work-in-progress that's been in progress for some years). It seems clear the red dot thing does have something to do with flash synchronisation with some of the shutters; and in at least one variant it incorporates a double-exposure prevention mechanism.

Mamiya Six Design Variations - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

camera-wiki.org

 

[Donald Qualls]

FWIW, my example (dual yellow window film advance for 6x6 and 6x4.5) doesn't have that red dot...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Is it not the double exposure prevention system?

 

[Paul Howell]

Yep, I think it shows when the shutter has been armed when user cockes the shutter.

 

[OAPOli]

I think OP refers to this red disc.

If you remove the screw on the other side of the lens, under the plate you'll see something that really looks like a flash sync contact, actuated by the returning cocking ring. And behind the red disc is a sort of connector. For which type of flash is a mystery.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I believe it shows red when the shutter has been fired... There's only one way to find out, OP. Cock the shutter and see what happens. Trip the shutter, see what happens...

 

[mshchem]

Is it not the double exposure prevention system?

Yep

 

[StrangestStranger]

On mine, the red dot is not a double exposure indicator, always shows red. It has a post on the back that looks like it is for some flash connector.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

It's a red LED to help autofocus in dim light!
Those Mamiya 6 ers were advanced for their time!

LOL

Yes I believe it was for a flash connection.

 

[sfphoto]

With my model (4?) the red warning flag is only in the finder. The colored window on the lensboard does not change. Plus there is no physical connection between the lensboard and the camera other than the release cable.

Found this:
reddit.com/r/vintagecameras/comments/nrclmu/mamiya_folding_six_assistance_what_are_these/
"Locking pin for stability when the camera is folded in"
However I do not see any female port to receive such.

and...
The [English] owners manual shows a bulb flash unit. Could well have had a proprietary connector for the pin on the back of the lensboard.


Still does not explain the colored translucent window. The manual diagrams do not seem to reference the window/post on the front.


The Japanese owners manual does reference the window but legibility presents an issue:


NOTE: later models have a different front standard which included a PC terminal on the shutter:

https://c41.kpraslowicz.com/media/full/2017-05-10/mamiya-6-automat.jpg?v=1.0.0