Mamiya C Camera Guide Reference guide

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                            I
How to Operate the Mamiyo C


   The Mamiya  C Professional  is the only  twin-lens  reflex camera,
using standard  120  roll  film,  which has a  full  range  of interchange-
able lenses, ranging  from  wide  angle through  telephoto. An  inter-
changeable lens set consists of both the taking  lens and the viewing
lens, both of identical  focal length. Each interchangeable  lens set has
 its own Seikosha shutter with speeds ranging  from   I  sec. to I/500
and bulb;  each is separately synchronized for combustible and elec-
tronic flash.
   The exceptional sturdiness of the camerae together with  its lens
 flexibility, has made  it a popular  choice of  portrait  photographers,
fashion photographers, news photographers and others.
   A  full  range  of accessories makes  it convenient  to take close-up
 pictures with  full parallax correction as well as to take sports, action
and outdoor  pictures  generally  with  the convenience  of  eye-level
 viewing.

     In  this chapter we will  cover:
       1.  Loading and unloading  film.
       2.  Focusing the camera.
       3.  Adjusting  the shutter and diaphragm.





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Figs.  | -1,  I -2. Nomencloture of Momiyo C2, Fron| ond Side Views.
   | . Focusing Knob                    7. Exposure Counfer Diol
  2. Focusing Knob  (left)             8. Shuffer Bu|ton
  3. lens Chonge Lever               9. Coble Releose Socket
 4. lens locking Spring                     I 0. Shuffer Cocking lever
 5. Filmwind Knob                          Il.  M-X Adiustment
  6. Filmsfop Releose                          I 2. S)rnchroflosh Tip
      4. Taking the picture.
      5. Advancing the film a{ter each exposure.
      6.  Interchanging lenses.
      7. Interchangingviewfinders.
      8.  Interchanging film backs.
   More detailed instructions for making the best use of the camera
are contained in other chapters.Numbers in parenthesesthroughout
the book refer to identifying numbers of camera parts in Figs. I-I
to l-6 for the C2 and I-7 to I-II  for the C3.
            tooding c,nd Unloading Film
   Loading the Mamiya C is a  little easier than with other twin'

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     Figs. I -3, l-4. Nomenclotureof Momiyo C2, Bock Views.
  '13.     Front Cover, Focusing Hood 18. FocusingHood lock Screw
  14. Mognifying Gloss           19. PressurePlate
  15. Bo;klid-                    20. Film Spool Chomber
  16. BocktidCotch Button      21 . Take-Up Spool Chomber
 17. Red Window Cover         22. Film-SpoolCotch
lens reflex cameras because the film does not have to be wound
around a 90o bend. This gives you greater control over the film as
it is being loaded into the camera, becauseboth the new spool of film
and the take-upspoollie in the sameplane, as shown in Fig. l-12.

looding ond Unloodingthe C2
   Openinglhe Comero
      l.  Push the film stop release(6). Turn the film wind knob (5)
until  it turns freely and then stop.
    2. Push the backlid catch button (16)  to the right.  This will
releasethe camera back (16).

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Figs. t -5,  I -6. Nomenclolureof Momiyo C2, Hood ond Bose Views.
  23. Toke-lJpSpool Cqfch        28. Bocklid Releose
 24. Stort Mork                 29. DistonceScole
  25. ExposureCorrecfion Scole  30. FromeFinder AuxiliorylMosk
 26. AccessoryClip                  Sfuds
 27. Filn Rofing lndicator        3I .  Auxiliory Mosk


   Loodingthe Film

      l.   If you are using the camerafor the first time, a take-upspool
will be in the take-upspool chamber (21).   If you have already used
the camera, it will be necessaryfirst to remove the empty spool from
the lower film spool chamber (20). To insert the empty spoolin the
take-upchamber,first pull out the take-up spool catch (23), giving
 it about r/4 t\rn  in either direction so that  it remains out until you
have fully inserted the empty spool. The slot on the right-hand end
of the spool should be aligned properly with the turning knob. The
spool will then fall into place easily, after which the take-up spool
catch can then be turned back to its original position.

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Figs.  l -7,   l -8. Noinenclsture of Momiyo Ca, Front and Side Vrews.
   l.  FocusingKnobs                    6. Cob/e Re/eoseSocket
 2. Filmwind Cronk                 7 . Focusing Hood Front
  3. Shutfer Button                     8. Frame Viewfinder Lid
 4.  Film Counfer W indow                     I  . Mognif ying G/oss
 5.  Multiple Expo sure/ Filmstop    1 A. Frame Viewfinder Mosk Studs
     Selector                      1 1 . Fc:using Hood Lock Screw
    2.  Place the new roll of fih.r in the lower chamber (20).  To do
this you  r,vill need to pull ou[ thc film spool catch (22)   ir  the same
manner as described in the precedirg paragraph.

    3.  Pull out the paper leader of the  roll  of  film  far enough to
permit you  to insert  it  into the longer  of the tr,vo grooves of the
empty spool (21)  . Be careful not to let the roll of film unloosen too
much or  it may become light-fogged.
    4.  With the camera back open, turn the film wind knob (5 ) until
the starting marks on the edges of the paper are lined up with the
red dots on both sides of the film  rail  of the camera  (21\.  This
alignment is shown in fig.  I-12.
    5. Close the camera back by snapping it shut.

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Figs.  I -9,  I -l 0. Nome nclature of Momiyo Ca, Back Views.
 | 2.  Backlid Cofch Button         T9. Shuffer Cocking leYer
13. Red Window Cover            20. S)rnchroflosh M-X Selector
14.  Film Chqmber                    2I  . S)rnchroflosh TiP
15. FilmSpool Cofch Stud         22.  lens-shuffer AssemblY
 I 6. Toke -up Spool Chamber         Chonge Knob
17. foke -up Spool Cofch Stud      23. lens-ShufterCotch lock
18. Sforf Marks                       Button

    Advoncingfo fhe FirstPicture
   Push the film stop release(6) to the left, then turn the film wind
knob until  it stops mechanically. The exposure counte. (7) should
show the figure  I oppositethe indicator mark. The first film frame
 is then in position, ready for the first picture to be taken.
looding ond Unloodingfhe C3
  Opening fhe C3
      I.  Turn back lid catch button (12) so that red dot is on top (at
T2 o'clock position) .

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F i g .   l - l I .  N o m e n c l o t u r e  o f
Mqmiyo C3, Bose View.

24. lens-ShufferAssembly Cotch
25. DisfonceSco/e
26. ExposureCorrecfionsScole
27. FilmspeedDiol
28. Accessory C/ip
29. Sfrop Eyelets
30. Tripod Sockef
3l . Bqcklid Hinge Re/eose





      2. Push back lid catch button to right. Back lid will spring on""
   slightly.

    looding the Film
     Note: Before loading roll film, make sure that the multiple expo-
   sure/film stop selector (5)  is turned to "Roll Film."
     The insertion of a roll of film in the C3 is carried out in very much
   the sameway as with the C2. Follow the instructions for the C2 under
   this heading, paragraphs I  through 5, with these differences: The
  procedurefor paragraphs I  to 3 is identical. The one difierence in
  paragraph4 is that instead of turning the film wind knob, you turn the
   film wind crank for the C3. After snappingthe cameraback shut, with
   the C3 you turn the back lid catch button so that the red dot now points
   to the 9 o'clock position.

    Advancingfo FirstFrome
     Turn film wind crank (2)  in clockwisedirection until it stops.The
    first frame of film will be in correct position for exposure.This will

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Fig. l -l 2. Film is in posifion
when fhe two arrows qre
Iined up with the red dofs
on both sides of  the  filrn
 roll.





lre indicated lry the number   l appearirg in the film counter window
 ( 1.). Then, turn the crank counter-clockwiseuntil  it stops.W'hen it does,
fold it out of the wa_v.

               Focusing the Comerq
    lfhe llamiva  C i*s sold with a standard focusing hood as regular
equipment. This section explains how to focus the camera with  this
hood in place. Interchanging this hood with others which are avail-
able is explained later  in  this chapter.  Suggestions for  using the
various focusing and vieu'ing hoods are contained in Chapter 12.

Opening the Hood
    1. To open the hood,  lift  the cover   t 13 )  at the back  of  the
camera. W.hen fully  erected, the back and sides will  spring up  to
form an enclosure around the focusing glass.
    2. To  bring  the magnif ying  glass into  position, press in  the
f ront cover insert  until  the magnifying  glass flips up.  The   f ront
cover insert will spring back to its original position if  it is not pushed
all the way in.
FocusingProcedure
       l.  The focusing glass is a   f resnel-type field lens which  gives
ertraordinarv brightness over the entire field for faster focusing and

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for easier composing even under dim  lighting  conditions.  The  fo'
cusing glass has engraved parallax  compensation indicators whose
use will be described in a subsequent section.
    2. You may focus with  or without  the magnifying  lens in  posi'
tion, as you prefer,  but the magnifying  lens will  give you more  cri'
tical focusing, especially for  close-up work  or when you are using
telephoto lenses.
    3.  Actual  focusing  is done by  rotating  either  of  the  foeusing
knobs  ( I  and 2 )  located  on both  the  right  and  left  sides of  the
camera.  This  permits you  to use either hand, whichever  is most
convenient.
    4.  You can focus on the focusing  glass itself  or you can set the
correct distance by reference to the appropriate  distance scale (29)
on the side of the camera. Distance scales are provided  for  all lenses.
The 65mm lens must be focused through the glass focusing screen only.

         Adiusling  the Shuffer ond Diophrogm

ShufterSeffings
      I.  Shutter speedsare engravedon a rotating ring at the edge of
the taking lens. To set the desired shutter speed,you turn this outer
ring until the desired speed appears opposite the triangular indicator
mark.
    2. The shutter is independent of the film advance mechanism of
the camera and  it must be cocked before taking each picture. To
cock the shutter, push downward on the shutter cocking lever (C2'10;
c3-re).
    3. To releasethe shutter, push downward on the shutter button
 (C2-B;C3-3).
    4. A cable release may be used;  it  is inserted into the cable
releasesocket (C2-9; C-3-6) just above the shutter button.

 Seffing fhe Diop hrogm
    1. The lens apertures or diaphragm openings, technically called
 f/stops, are engraved on the lens mount on the left side of the lens.
 The standard B0mm lens has a range oI l/2.8 through I/ZZ.  Other

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                                              Fig.  t -t 4. The new light-
                                          weight  Porroflex  EYelevel
                                          Finder provides on  erect,
                                              correct right-to'left imoge,
                                              giving  oll fhe odvantoges
                                                 of  c, prism.





    4.  After exposure 12 is made, release the film stop and then con'
tinue winding  until  you  feel the paper  trailer  pull  loose from  the
original spool of  film.  Continue turning  the film wind knob several
times more to make sure that the film  is fully wound up.
    5. Open  the back  of  the camera;  pull  out  the take-up spool
catch (23)  ; remove the film.  Seal the roll of film.

Momiyo C3

      I.  Before each new exposure, advance the film by winding  the
film crank  until   it stops. The next frame number  will  automatically
apear in the film counter window.
    2.  Double exposures are automatically prevented when the mul-
tiple exposure/film  stop selector (5)  is set at "Roll  Film."  With  this
setting, the shutter button (3 )  is operable only once with each forward
cranking of the film.
    3.  Never forget to operate the shutter cocking lever (19)  before
each shot. Failure  to do so results in the shutter button  being locked

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without any action of the shutter. If you should inadvertently forget to
cock the shutter before pressing the shutter button, you can still save
the unexposedframe of film by operating the shutter, after cocking,
by meansof the shutter trip lever on the shutter itself, or by temporarily
shifting the multiple exposure/frlm stop selector (5) back to SHEET
or "Multi-E*p." This will enableyou to releasethe shutter button. After
you do so, set the selectorback to ROLL FILM.
    4. To make sure the film  is turning  (or that there is film in the
camera): lou can open the red window (I3). This is donemerely by
sliding the little button downward.

    5.  After exposure12 is made, continue cranking the film until you
feel the paper trailer pull loose from the original spool of film. Turn
the crank several times more to make sure that the film is completely
wound up. Then, openthe back of the camera,pull out the take'up spool
catch (L7\, and remove the film.


              Interchonging Viewfinders

   The following procedure applies to each of the several focusing
hoods and viewfinders which are available.
      l.  Loosenthe focusinghood lock screw (C2-lB; C3-I1). Lift up
the rear end of the folded focusing hood. It will readily disengageitself
from the camera body.
    2.  Slip on the interchangeable mirror  finder or Porroflex finder
and tighten the lock screw.This completesthe hood-changingoperation.


              lnlerchonging Film Bocks

SingleExposurePhotogrophy

   A  special back attachment is available for making single ex'
posureson individual pieces of film. See Fig. l-16. For this purpose'
standard6x9cm  (2t/axlt/n  inch) film must be used.

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    FiS.  I -l 5.  fhe  folding hood  of the Momiyo C2 kighil may
    be removed qnd replaced by the mirror finder ilefil.

       l.  Remove the standard backlid by  first opening the camera in
the normal way. Then squeeze inward the two protruding ends of the
backlid hinge pivots (C2-28; C3-3I). The pivots should be locked into
their open position by turning them upward  into the two slots of the
hinge. The backlid  will then slide off easily.
    2. Remove the empty  film  spool.
    3.  Attach the special single exposure back by slipping  it into po-
sition in place of the standard backlid.  Push the hinge pivots down-
ward, out  of the slots, and they  will  automatically  lock the single
exposure back  in  position.
    4.  Individual   plate  or  cut-film  holders  are  inserted  into  the
single exposure back by sliding them into the parallel grooves (see
Fig.  1-lB).  When the film  holder  is pushed all the rvay  ir,   it  will
be secured by u spring catch.
    5.  To take individual  pictures, remove the dark slide, lift up tab
on rear of film holder, twist 90o so that  it slips into the holder per-
mitting  the film  carrier inside to make contact with the camera film
plane guides. After  exposing, reverse the procedure and reinsert the
dark slide. Remove the individual  film holder and insert another  if
you wish  to  take additional  pictures. Fig.  1-19 shows the camera
with an individual  film holder fullv  inserted.

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                                                 Fig.   I -l 6. fhe  speciol
                                         bock  attochment    f or
                             ff:I:":::;i^exp.





Fig. I -17 . fhe single
exposure film holder
being  slipped   into
ploce.





Fig. I-l8.  After fhe sfond-
qrd  backlid hos been  re-
moved , the single exposure
back is puf info posifion.





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                                            Fig.   I -l 9.  The Momiya  C2
                                       reody  for use with fhe single
                                      exposure bock in ploce.





    6.  The  letter E on the back of the individual  film holder should
be covered when the film has not been exposed, so that the number
of the film  holder  will  be plainly  visible.  After  the  film  has been
exposed the number should be covered so that the E may be seen.





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f
n

   Tips on I{andling the Mamiyo C
*.

           This chapter contains additional suggestions for making the most
         flexible use of  the Mamiya C under a variety  of conditions.

                     Hclding ond Viewing

          While  the material which  follorvs contains suggestions for using
        the Mamiya  C with  the  standard  focusing hood,   it  also includes
        material  on use of  the  mirror  focusing  hoods.  Additionally,   this
        section includes information  on making  parallax adjustments, eitherxthrough use of the Paramender or the parallax adjustment marks on
        the focusing glass itself.
      Woisf-LevelViewing ond Focusing
             In  the normal  holding  position, the camera  is held cradled  in
       both hands at waist level, as follows.
                       I.  Hold the camera at a comfortable height, with both arms
          snug against the sides of your body.
                2.  Let  the camera  rest  comfortabll   in  your  two  hands,
t*         using them as a cradle. The thumb and forefinger  of one hand
                                                        2 l





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   should be on the knob in order to rotate it forward or back-
   ward. You may find  it convenient to hold both knobs simul'
   taneously.
        '  3. To focus without the magnifying  lens, bend the head
   forward at a comfortable viewing distance from the glass fo-
   cusing screen.
      4. To focus with  the magnifying lens, it  is necessary for
   you to hold your eye right over the magnifying lens.
      5. To make an exposure, lift  the right thumb and rest  it
   on top of the shutter button  (B).  To release the shutter,
   squeeze down gently but  firmly on the shutter button  until
    there is an audible "click,"  which will  tell you that the ex'
   posure has been made. Do not do this abruptly or you will
   tend to shake the camera and thereby obtain a blurred picture.
    Train yourself to hold the camera steadily with the finger still
   on the shutter button for a moment after its release. This will
   tend to assurethat you do not jar the camera.
      6. You may also use the grip handle for taking pictures at
   waist level, if you prefer, although this accessoryis best suited
    for eye-levelviewing.  If you should use it at waist level, attach
      it to the camera so that either the right or left hand is free,
   as best suits your personal convenience.Focusing can then be
   done only with one hand while the other hand holds the grip
   handle.

Eye-Level Focusing ond Viewing
      t.  The camera may be used at eye level with the standard fo-
cusing hood but  if you want to focus critically you must first hold
it  at waist level for focusing in the normal manner as described
above. Assuming that you want to take pictures of sports or action
events,it should be unnecessaryto focus on the ground glass because
at the distancesinvolved you should have a sufficientmargin of safety
by focusing with the use of the appropriate lens distance scale (29).
    2. To use the standard focusing hood at eye level, you must first
press the front cover insert (3I)   all the way down until  it catches
and remains in place. You  will now be able to sight through the
                                                           'osports"rear peep-hole,looking through the opening of the eye-level
finder.

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    3. To close the frame finder, press the right  flup of the focusing
hood, just above the film-wind  knob, so that   it comes into  contacl
with  the depressed inserts. When  you  release this  flap,  the   f ront
cover insert will spring back to its original  position. See Fig.  2'L.
    4.  In  order  to focus, compose and view simultaneously at eye
level, you should obtain one of the two mirror  finders. The standard
mirror  finder  gives you an inverted  reverse image so that ob jects
are seen upside down from  left to right as though they were actually
facing from  right  to left  (and vice versa).  To overcome this slight
disadvantage, you  can  obtain  a  Porroflex  image-erecting  mirror
finder. Both of these finders interchange with  the standard focusing
hood as described in ChaPter  I.
Ihe Grip Hondle
    1. The Mamiya  grip handle is particularly  useful for active users
of the Mamiya  C, especially for photography  "on  the move." The
sturdy handle  is designed for comf ortable holding  while  a leather
strap provides  additional  support and security  against having  the
camera accidentally dislodged from one's hand. The grip handle has





Fig.  2-1 .  Closing  the  sPorts
frame  finder.  First sfeP  is to
depress fhe  right side  of the
hood.





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a built-on  additional  accessorv shoe to which  a flash unit  or  ex-
posure meter can be attached.
    2.  You can attach the grip handle so that   it may be held on
either side of the camera, although  it  is best suited for use in  the
left hand.  This permits the right hand to be used freely for making
adjustments and taking the picture. See Fig. 2-2.
Porollox Correcfion
       l.  The term  "parall ax"  refers to the difference between what
you see through the viewing lens and r,vhat is transmitted to the film
by  the taking  lens. Since there  is a physical separation between
these two, tops of heads or other objects may be cut off when takirg
pictures at close distances. The clear lines drawn across the upper
part of the ground glass are used for correctirg  the parallax  error.
    2. When the exposure correction scale (25)  indicates a factor
of  1.5, then the upper  line defines the upper  limit  of the subject
matter as  it  will  appear on the  film  surface. Use the appropriate
exposure correction scale for the particular lens you are using. When
the exposure must be doubled, the parallax error  is such that the
lower line defines the upper limit.
    3. When using the B0mm lens at ranges closer than 2.7 feet, as
shown on the distance scale on the other side of  the camera, the
upper limit  of the subject matter  lies at about half-way down the
ground glass.





                                        FiS. 2-2. The Momiyo C grip
                                        holder, ideol for sfeadying the
                                      camerct, espe cially  when  the
                                       longer lenses ore  in use.





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FiS. 2-3. The hlomiyo C Pqro-
mender  is used to moke odjusf-
menfs in porollox when you ore
working of close disfonces.





    4. A more certain method  for  assuring precise correction  f or
parallax is to use the Paramender with the camera on a tripod. The
Paramender is shown in  Fig. 2-3. The image is focused and com-
posed with  the Paramender  in  its lowered position. When you are
ready to take the picture, the camera is raised the full length of the
Paramender extension.  It  is then locked in place by tightenitg  the
knob on the side of the Paramender.  The picture you obtain  will
             vou originallvcomposed'eventhoughsomeof it
:1'J Lill":Ji[]r

           Speciol Picture-fqking Technigues

S/ow ShufferSpeeds
       l.  Under some conditions, such as in  dim  light  or when you
want to use the smallest lens apertures with  relatively slow films, you
will need to use shutter speeds that are too slow to permit hand-held
exposures. For any exposure less than L/30  sec., the camera should
be held on a solid support or mounted on a tripod.  F ven an ex-
posure at I/30  sec. is risky, unless you are absolutely sure you are
holding the camera steady. Still,  it would be helpful to lean against

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a solid support, if available. With the camera supported by a sturdy
tripod  or resting on a solid support, you can release the shutter  in
the normal way, through the shutter button,  or you can use a cable
release. A cable release is a  little  safer on slow shutter speeds, b"'
cause there is less likelihood  of jarring  the camera at the moment
of exposure. W'hen making time exposures of a duration longer than
 I  sec., the shutter must be set at B.  The shutter  will  then remain
open as long as the shutter button  is held down or as long as the
cable release plunger  is held in without being released. A cable re-
lease, preferably, should be used which has a locking knob.  With
such a cable release the shutter can be held open as long as desired
without your having  to exert pressure on the plunger.  When you
are ready to close the shutter, fou  simply  release the knob  or catch
and the shutter  will  close.
    2.   If you are taking pictures from atop an automobile or other
non-flat surface, a handy expedient is to use a small sack of sand or
salt. The camera is pressed down into the sack so that  it makes its
own sturdy base.

Deloyed Exposures
      If you want  to get into the picture yourself or  if you want the
camera shutter to be activated mechanically, without hand or cable
release pressure, you can use a "self-timer."  This accessory?available
from most photo dealers, screws into the cable release socket. When
you are ready to take the picture, you cock the activating mechanism
of the self-timer and then you release it.  This  will  permit  you  to
walk  into  the picture  area  or  to  step aside long enough  for  the
geared mechanism to  click  the shutter when  its working  time has
expired.
Ever-Reody Seffings
      t.  An ever-ready setting is one at which the shutter speed, lens
diaphragm and distance settings are all predetermined so that you can
take pictures on the spur  of the moment without  having  to make
these adjustments.  If the camera is carried in an ever-ready leather
case, it  will  not be possible to have the distance scale pre-set be-
cause the camera will  be carried  in  its closed position, focused at
infinity.  The "ever-ready"  technigue  is useful, however, when  the

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