Mamiya Super 23: Love at First Light

<p>Louis,</p>

<p>Why do you post such photos? The complete set is only making me want to look for one here in Japan. It is not like I cannot come across one. Jeez! I have not even complete my Pentax 67 kit and you got me thinking `Oh, a Mamiya Super 23 looks good too!`</p>

<p>Lovely photos as usual. <strong>Farm Scene with a Pond</strong> is stunning to say the least!</p>

<p>Mike</p>

<p>Super system and photos Louis, always look forward to your posts. Was your system a one shot deal or did you painstakingly put it together over time?<br>

I just acquired a Koni Omega 100 and was very pleased with the results(6x7 Rangefinder). The accessories for it are hard to come by but worth it in my book.</p>

<p>Again thanks for a fine post.</p>

<p>Absolutely spectacular photos Louis.<br>

I particularly like the look of the block buildings and Farm scene with pond.<br>

Nice informative view on the Super 23. Looks like a very versatile camera. a bit too modern for my tastes, but still.. ;)</p>

 

<p>All I can say is: Waouw!<br>

Ok, that's not a constructive comment ;-)</p>

<p>I bought one of these on impulse a couple of years ago just to have the 50mm lens. I must get out with it again. Too many cameras and too little time!<br>

Very nice work Louis. You seem to always squeeze the best out whatever kit you happen to be using.</p>

<p>Louis, great camera and all, but the proof is in the pudding, or a picture is worth a thousand words, or whatever idiom you prefer :-) Great photos!</p>

<p>Thanks for the posts and the photos Louis -- it was really interesting to read about this camera and see your work with it! I have the <br />you'll pry it from my cold dead hands" feeling about my Mamiya 7II, it's cool to see what kind of systems they were using in the decades previous. </p>

Yes Indeed .. Great Photos.. I have sen this model and lusted after it.. I also felt this was the way to go..just never came across one! Two similar models that did cross my path.. are the Koni Omega 100 and the Graflex XL. It is amazing that you'Ve managed the whole kit or at least most every useful item. Your photos are stunning and your kit too!!

<p>Thanks Louis, for both the photos and the very detailed post.<br>

Here's a thought - there have been several excellent posts on this site providing details on some fantastic and rare cameras. Perhaps we should start creating an index of such posts?</p>

<p>Oh, the GAS! It's killing me...</p>

<p>What a beautiful system, and I love the format / aspect ratio. If I can have one more camera in life, let it be this one.</p>

<p>Louis, is the extra "grip" (w/cable release provision) for the 2X3 back available separately - or was this an integral part of a "special version" of this back? I have the chrome version of this back (just as in your photo), and it would be great if I could add this grip so I could hold and activate the shutter with my right hand.</p>

<p>I'm also looking for a lens mount off of a Mamiya Press camera, and if you or anyone else you know may have this, or perhaps a non working body from which I could salvage this, I'd truly appreciate knowing about this.</p>

<p>Thanks again - and as always, its truly a pleasure to see your work!</p>

<p>Louis -</p>

<p>Zowee, beautiful gear and outstanding photos. I would love to see the print of "Daisies," I'll bet the colors and dimension really display well. Thanks for a great post and photos.</p>

<p>Patrick</p>

<p>Louis, senasational results on the farms and landscapes. The belows that allow perspective correction is the best you can get on MF. What a great post, thank you.</p>

<p>I miss the tilts and swings on the back of the Press 23 I once owned -- and loved the the 2:3 aspect ratio of the 6x9 rollfilm back. Sure was easy to get perfect 8x10s with those large negatives. Traded mine in because it wasn't very well sealed against the dust I encountered backpcking with Press 23 & Tiltall tripod (too heavy a combo for long treks).</p>

<p><strong>Thank you all, good forum members, for your kind feedback.</strong><br /> <strong><br /></strong><br /> <strong>Minh and Ralf</strong> - It is very hard to find this camera and parts here in the US. I don't know why. I assembled my kit over a four month period using mostly several reliable eBay vendors based in Japan. Not a single used camera outlet in the USA, including KEH, had anything outside an odd bit or two. You do see some private parties selling items on ebay from time to time. The basic kit is not too expensive but the good glass, in good condition, can be pricey. The Universal is a very similar camera, sans the bellows, and seems to be easier to find. It also accepts a Polaroid back where the super 23 does not. The film backs, lenses and other accessories are otherwise mostly interchangeable. Sometimes you'll see a "flat top" conversion of the Super 23 where a dedicated landscape shooter will cut the top rangefinder off to save weight and bulk. Also you may find one with an adapted Graflex back and a reverse curl film holder (Horseman, etc) is used. I've not tried these but the scuttlebutt is, while less bulky, they don't hold the film as flat as the Mamiya "S" backs on the Super 23.<br /> <strong></strong><br>

<strong>John</strong> - Yes, the "grip" with the trigger cable release on the type 3 back is an integral part of the back. The back fits very securely to the body and you simply hold the back, with the rt. hand, and cradle the body and focus with the left hand from underneath. You'll pay about 30%-50% more for a type 3 back depending on condition. As you noted, I have both kinds and keep different films in each. Also an nice feature is that both styles of back accept both 120 and 220 film. Just a twist of the pressure plate is all that is needed.</p>

<p>Very nice photos. </p>

<p>It's amazing a camera that is 40 years old is in such good shape, too.</p>

<p>Louis, Louis, Louis...your posts always amaze and inspire me, but this is a <em>really</em> cool camera system that looks like it would be a lot of fun to use. The farm with pond shot is beautiful, but I really like the shot of the daisies and the "Leaves in a log" equally as much. Thanks for another wonderful post with great information and outstanding pictures. Oh, and a pretty cool camera too!</p>

<p>Absolutely first class post as always. That is a lovely system you have there, makes us all jealous!<br>

I used a Super 23 way back in the seventies, it had the 100mm 3.5 lens and a wide...65mm if my memory serves me correctly...and I remember the pictures being critically sharp. Don't recall why I sold it, don't know why I sell anything!</p>

<p>To quote Martin. "WOW!!!" The camera kit is outstanding as are the photographs. Where did you ever fin a kit like that in such pristene condition. I have always been a fan of the Sekor lenses, as I have a pretty good RB kit. I also went with a Koni-Omega rapid mainly for the great deal I got.</p>

<p>To quote Martin. "WOW!!!" The camera kit is outstanding as are the photographs. Where did you ever fin a kit like that in such pristene condition. I have always been a fan of the Sekor lenses, as I have a pretty good RB kit. I also went with a Koni-Omega rapid mainly for the great deal I got.</p>

Jeez Louis....why are u doing this to us...i'm betting the number of ebay searches for this camers has spiked since u

posted this!

<p>Thanks for all the comments and contributions to the thread.<br>

<br /> <strong>Ed</strong> - The whole kit came from eBay. I waited till I found a clean one that fit into my budget. I saw quite a few nice chrome ones but I wanted a black one. I brought the entire outfit to Clarence Gass, in Mission, Kansas for a full CLA of the body, backs, lenses and shutters. I got back a completely dialed in system. There is a large wedding/ school portrait company here in Kansas that used only Super 23's and Universal's for it's staff for many years (they've gone digital now). Clarence was their primary repair person. He has years of experience working with these cameras and still has some of parts.</p>

<p>Louis, thanks for this great posting and the inspiring images. Congratulations on the terrific kit.</p>

<p>I'll add a bit for others interested in the Mamiya Press system.</p>

<p>I second the recommendation for the two excellent Japan-based sellers of Mamiya Press, camera.japan (*BiG PiX*), and ginotokojapanusa. Both are completely reliable. When you are ready for something exotic, ask them to find it for you and they can usually do so. </p>

<p>I started with the graflok adapter on a Universal and I do not recommend the graflok approach. It will take modern Horseman backs, but they don't fit quite right. You have to cut some material off the adapter to make the Horseman fit, the back gets in the way of the finder eyepiece, and the Mamiya Press backs are great.</p>

<p>Specifics on the graflok back problem are here: <a href="../medium-format-photography-forum/00PNFM">http://www.photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00PNFM</a></p>

<p>The "Type-3" back and related grip/release cable are very hard to find. I did find one, but the double exposure prevention interlock on mine is unreliable. I've returned to the standard back/grip thinking "simpler is better," and this is working for me.</p>

<p>All the Mamiya lenses are very good, and the top glass (100mm f/2.8, 75mm, 50mm) are really great. The large negative is nice for scanning. The large camera is quite a bit to carry. I'm enjoying mine.</p>

<p>I keep going back and looking at 'farm scene with pond'. What a fantastic image!</p>