The Mamiya 6 was the camera that started the Mamiya company back in 1941. This is a medium format folding rangefinder camera that produces 6 cm by 6 cm images on 120 film. It should not be confused with the modern, interchangable-lens, non-folding Mamiya 6 that was recently replaced by the 6x7 Mamiya 7.
I came across one in my local photo store for what seemed to be a good price, so I snapped it up. I have been dying to have a Mamiya 7 rangefinder, but the some $2500 for a body and lens is hard to swallow. This camera would let me play with a medium format rangefinder without the cash outlay.
Photos of camera to come
Researching the Mamiya web sites, mine appears to be what they call the Mamiya 6-iii, which was produced in 1943, so it is one of the early models. Although the leather covering is scuffed and there is some pitting on the metal, the camera is in great condition for something almost 60 years old, and functions perfectly.
Following are the images from the first roll of film I shot through it. Any smudges, fingerprints, scratches and spots are my hasty processing and not the fault of the camera. The camera takes nice images, but, as would be expected of an uncoated lens, is prone to flare if you get a light source directed at the lens.
Melbourne Harbor. This was taken into the sun, and shows a little flare.
Ibis and Melbourne Causeway. See the Ibis in the forground? Around here, we call them "Florida Chickens." I don't recall that it was that hazy, so I credited the haziness of the bridge due to not having a UV filter on the camera.