Mamiya Universal vs Super 23

[John Wiegerink]

Yes, I have a shelf queen Mamiya Press Standard with the non-collapsible 90mm f3.5. My newer Super 23 sure looks more advanced, but also a little bigger.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Real quick question! I found my sheet film/ground glass back for my Press Standard and was wondering if using it would allow me to precisely calibrate my rangefinder to my 90mm f3.5 or 100mm f3.5 lens when I get it. Is that how most folks calibrate the rangefinders?

 

[ags2mikon]

Yes. You must start with the 100mm or 90mm and adjust the camera rangefinder and all the other lenses adjust to the camera. The more accurate you are with the 100mm the better all the others are. I use a Nikon F with the 6x mag finder and my 180mm P lens set to infinity to view the ground glass through the normal lens like a collimator. I take a pencil and place a mark on the ground glass to focus on at infinity. You need to make sure that infinity is infinity first.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Yes. You must start with the 100mm or 90mm and adjust the camera rangefinder and all the other lenses adjust to the camera. The more accurate you are with the 100mm the better all the others are. I use a Nikon F with the 6x mag finder and my 180mm P lens set to infinity to view the ground glass through the normal lens like a collimator. I take a pencil and place a mark on the ground glass to focus on at infinity. You need to make sure that infinity is infinity first.

Gotcha! I have used a camera+tele for collimating camera lens focus before. I think I'll just wait for the 100mm f3.5 since it will be my main lens and forgo messing with the 90mm and rangefinder adjustment. Thanks for your help!

 

[jimgalli]

Mamiya Universal was my first medium format system back in the '90's. We would put Fujichrome Velvia in a Nikon FE and the Mamiya and both cameras shared a twin camera platform on a tripod. Whatever the Nikon landed on we just set the Mamiya to the same exposure. With good lenses we could get to 16X20 prints with the Nikon and 20X30 with the Mamiya. I have a black Mamiya Universal with 6.3 50mm with the finder and Mamiya 6X7 RB roll film back on it if anyone wants it, contact me off line in messenger here. Old foam seals are gooey. Doubt I'll ever use it. Too busy with the sheet film.

 

[campy51]

I am trying to decide if I should buy a Universal with the 100mm f2.8 lens for $350. What do you guys think?

 

[John Wiegerink]

For what I see the 100mm f2.8 lenses going for, I'd say it sounds like a pretty fair deal to me. That is, if both are in real good condition. I'll eventually get the 100mm f2.8 for my Super 23, but want the 50mm wide-angle first. I already have a 90mm f3.5 and a 100mm f3.5 so the normal range is already pretty covered. I also found that I can mount the front and rear groups from my 90mm f3.5 Hexanon that belongs on my Koni-Omega Rapid. I know that 90mm Hexanon is pin-sharp with excellent contrast. I'm sure the Mamiya 90mm is probably just as good.

 

[campy51]

I ordered it shortly after my post. I'll give it a try and if it's not for me I'm sure I can sell the kit for what I paid for it. The back has 645,6x6 and 6x9. I wish it was 6x7 since I don't have that format. The only 6x9 I have is a Medalist but no 645.

 

[Paul Howell]

You can find 6X7 back without much trouble, I have both the 6X7 and 6X9, I use the 6X9 on occasion but prefer the 6X9 ratio.

 

[gordrob]

I am trying to decide if I should buy a Universal with the 100mm f2.8 lens for $350. What do you guys think?

If the lens is in good shape and the shutter speeds are close to acurate I would consider it a steal. Since getting the 100mm f2.8 it is my go to lens with a 6x9 back. I am not a fan of the 6x7 format. The back that you are getting is one of the early multi format backs. Hopefully the masks are included with the back. You can not go wrong with that camera and lens combination

 

[jimgalli]

It’s a Zeiss Planar copy and you can’t touch the zeiss lens for that money. I’d rather have the Japanese version. Look for the black lever wind late 6X9 back. I never liked the knob wind early multi backs. But if 6X6 and 645 are something you want it works.

 

[campy51]

I received the camera today and it's all packaged ready to go back. The lens had stiff focus and aperture, the flash didn't work and didn't focus right. I focused on a house about 150 feet away with a ground glass and the focus ring said it 1.7 meters.

 

[gone]

I just bought a Super 23 from Robert's Camera

Congratulations. I have a high regard for them. They're honest and reputable. Always got reasonable prices and great customer service, sorta like KEH in the Golden Days.

 

[ags2mikon]

I've never had problems with Robert's Camera. Good people.

 

[gordrob]

Have a look at this Youtube video. It shows you how to check your Super 23 out and how to clean up and calibrate your rangefinder. Hopefully this will help you get your camera back in shape.

Calibrating range finder in Mamiya Press Universal

I just bought a Mamiya Press Universal, and I'm quite happy with it except that the range finder is off. I took some pictures of meter sticks at 45 deg to the film plane to figure out what's wrong. It looks like the distance markings on the lens are OK, but the range finder doesn't agree with the...

www.photo.net

 

[europanorama]

Yes. You must start with the 100mm or 90mm and adjust the camera rangefinder and all the other lenses adjust to the camera. The more accurate you are with the 100mm the better all the others are. I use a Nikon F with the 6x mag finder and my 180mm P lens set to infinity to view the ground glass through the normal lens like a collimator. I take a pencil and place a mark on the ground glass to focus on at infinity. You need to make sure that infinity is infinity first.

means when you block the 100mm at infinity-whereever this is at inf or below one can adjust rangefinder to infinity. but what if lens doesnt reach infinity. it must be overhauled by a guy with collimator. i have some data about rangefinder-calibration also lens.
NB: G-adapter isnt universal. get the one aaron smith on FB made. its ultraprecise. i adjusted blades to take MRB 67/70. was also a big mess with Zone Z1. better forgetting. they have now a new design. with int. mag.

 

[campy51]

Does one have a better viewfinder or are they the same?

 

[Neil Genower]

I have a universal with a 75mm lens 6x7 and 6x9 backs. This set up is exactly what Sir Don McCullin uses for his landscapes see here
Probably the most cost efficient entry to medium format available today. They are heavy but if McCullin can use one into his 80's then most of us can.

 

[reddesert]

Does one have a better viewfinder or are they the same?

The viewfinders in the Super 23 and Universal are the same. Both of these later rectangular-top models have better viewfinders (projected framelines, greater eye relief) than the older Press 23 model (gray-green, tapered top).

The difference between the Super 23 and Universal is in the back and how film backs attach.

 

[halfaman]

Does one have a better viewfinder or are they the same?

Both use the same viewfinders and I found them not very nice. They have a huge distorsion that makes levelling an impossible task, the only way to frame accurately is with the focusing screen accesory.

 

[campy51]

Well all the talk about these cameras made me buy one. It's a Super 23 and looks to be in excellent condition. Coming from Japan so it will take a couple of weeks. Any idea where to get light seals for the backs?

 

[John Will]

Any idea where to get light seals for the backs?

Plenty available from ebay.

 

[campy51]

My Super 23 arrived from Japan in 2 days. It's in excellent condition other than a few small dimples on top of cover, but it's so thin it wouldn't take much to put dimples in it. Ordered light seals for the back.

 

[Richard Lee]

I have a universal with a 75mm lens 6x7 and 6x9 backs. This set up is exactly what Sir Don McCullin uses for his landscapes..
Probably the most cost efficient entry to medium format available today. They are heavy but if McCullin can use one into his 80's then most of us can.

Neil,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can find no reference to Sir Don favouring the 75 over the 65mm lens. I was under the impression he toted the latter, but I'd be more than happy to be proven wrong. Thanks.

 

[jimgalli]

The 75mm lens is much more modern in design and it was driven by Polaroid who wanted a wide field lens for their 3X4 backs. Much more sought after now than the decades earlier 65mm. The S curved backs are renowned for film flatness because they literally bend the film in 2 directions which helps it flatten at the platen. I tried to make the 75mm cover a 4X5 format. Don't bother. It doesn't. But the cell threads mount perfectly in a Copal 0 if you want to have a play with one on 3¼X4¼