Mamiya Universal

[Photoemulator]

Has anyone much experience shooting with this camera in a method like a view camera? That's the only way I've shot with this; I've never used the rangefinder and am more scared that I would get the focus off as I like to shoot big negatives. I've got a 6x7 and a 6x9 back as well as a couple of sheet film holders. Do you cut 4x5 film down for the film holders? And can you make 2 from 1 sheet? I've never tried.

 

[chuckroast]

I have owned several of these with the G back. I shot both with RH rollfilm backs, using the built in rangefinder, as well as the 2x3 sheet film back.

Both methods work fine (assuming the rangefinder is calibrated for the rollfilm case).

It is possible to cut down 4x5 film to fit the 2x3 sheet film holders. The issue is avoiding dust and scratches but it can be done. You pre-mark your paper cutter with tape at the two dimensions. Cut the film with the emulsion side up to avoid scratching.

You can still buy 2x3 sheet film from Arista and Ilford. Sometimes it shows up on eBay as well.

 

[thinkbrown]

I've shot on the glass occasionally, but the rangefinder is good enough that I almost never bother with the glass.

 

[aconbere]

I have used the glass infrequently, often to avoid carrying a myriad of accessory finders, sometimes for closeup work, sometimes for complex compositions, but more often than not if the work requires it I’ll just got use a 4x5 field camera.

More often I use the rangefinder, with proper adjustment it is very accurate and I haven’t had any issues with it coming out of true.

If you’re worried about the accuracy I recommend testing it. You already have a ground glass so get the camera on a tripod and get your loupe out and start checking the focus at various distances when focused with the rangefinder.

If you discover there are issues the process of adjusting focus is as follows.

1: With the 100mm/3.5 (or 90mm/3.5) on the camera adjust the rangefinder to match the lens. Adjustment screws are under the top plate, some came with easy access ports.
2: With each of the other lenses check focus and adjust the lens’ cam so that lens focus matches the rangefinder.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have the standard ground glass back, not the Graflock back so I need to use 6X9 film not 2 1/4 X 3 1/4. Freestyle carries both, but it is as expensive per sheet as 4X5 and only a few emulsions are available. The rangefinders on both my Universal and Press are spot on, the Universal has paralex (sp) correction. There are U tube videos that demonstrate how to calibrate the rangefinder. I would use the ground glass back to test the rangefinder. Set up a target at a known distance. Use the ground glass back to focus, then the rangefinder to see if they match. Of there the rangefinder is off have it calibarted or attemp to do it youself. When I use MF sheet film it is because I'm in Zonal mood and what to develop each shoot rather than the roll.

 

[Donald Qualls]

If you have a Graflok back, another reason to use sheet film is the Grafmatic. It's faster to operate than a roll back (unless the roll back is lever advance) and more compact than most roll backs. They're not expensive these days, with few folks shooting sheet film in 2x3 format -- and it'll be a true 2x3, I don't think there was a 6.5x9 Grafmatic, certainly not on a 2x3 Graflok mount.

 

[reddesert]

I have the standard ground glass back, not the Graflock back so I need to use 6X9 film not 2 1/4 X 3 1/4. Freestyle carries both, but it is as expensive per sheet as 4X5 and only a few emulsions are available. The rangefinders on both my Universal and Press are spot on, the Universal has paralex (sp) correction.

There are different single-sheet film holders for the standard ground glass back, type J take 6.5x9cm (not 6x9) cut film and type A take regular 2.25 x 3.25" cut film. There is a good guide here: https://www.6x7.cz/mamiya-press-super-23/users-guide/cut-film-plate-holder.html

I agree that the rangefinder works fine and there is no reason to avoid it. You can do a simple test just by focusing on objects at known distance (infinity and 10-15 feet) and checking that it matches the lens distance scale. If you have a Super 23 or Press with back movements, the movements have to be zeroed, of course.

 

[chuckroast]

If you want something closer to true view camera operation, the Super 23 with Graflok back was the thing to own. It has some limited rear movements.