A Brief Personal History
My undergraduate degree was a BA in advertising. I
also have an MBA from a prestigious program, and an almost insatiable
desire to learn new and creative things. Many years ago, I spent a
lot of time coaching soccer, and was also a certified FIFA soccer
referee. I kept at it until my knees decided they were finally too
old to continue, even if the rest of me was still willing. I recently
retired from the corporate side, after almost 40 years in the advertising
and publishing industry, to pursue projects that let me enjoy what
I was doing again. My business life was often hectic, and I'm looking
forward to pursuing interesting things again. Either way, I always
find balance by spending my favorite times with my family and
friends.
My grown sons are all great young men (obviously a glowing tribute
to their mother), and my lovely grandchildren are more precious than
you can imagine. I also have a beautiful wife who has put up with
me now for over 39 years (a miracle of tolerance I can guarantee I
do not question)! |
 Yes, that's really me!
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About This Site
My first new camera was a Mamiya 1000 DTL,
purchased in 1968 (I still have it, and it still works). I have
been collecting Mamiya 35mm cameras for a long time, and think they
are often overlooked as interesting photographic equipment. I was
surprised a few years ago at how little information was available
about the 35mm portion of Mamiya's history (there is a bit
more now, but not much). Not even Mamiya itself has anything
to say about their 35mm heritage, apparently preferring not to detract
from their current marketing efforts for their mid-size professional
film and digital brands. I didn't expect that to change after Mamiya
transferred all its photo assets to Cosmo Digital in September 2006,
forming the new Mamiya Digital Imaging company ... and I
was right.
However, I have gathered a lot of Mamiya 35mm data myself over the
years, and about nine years ago decided to make my information available
to everyone. I'd never built a web site before, so this has been
a many-years-long creative learning experience for me, and I certainly
hope it has become an information forum, for what I think are some
truly neat old cameras, to each Gentle Reader!
I say that knowing full well Mamiya made some "clunkers" along the
way. But Mamiya introduced many new features into 35mm photography.
They were in the forefront of SLR design (see
Mamiya Prismat prototypes); had the
first production 35mm camera with a removable back (Mamiya Magazine
35, c.1957); the first dual metering system (Mamiya 500 DTL,
c.1968); unquestionably the most technologically advanced 35mm SLR
of its day (Mamiya Auto XTL, c.1971) and they still
produce medium-format film & digital cameras and lenses of superb
clarity. The new Mamiya Digital Imaging Company also produces an
extraordinary medium-format digital camera.
Also, few people realize Nikon's Nikkorex F camera, featuring
the first Copal S vertical-travel metal focal-plane shutter, was
actually produced for Nikon by Mamiya! Other well-known and
well-respected cameras (like the Rollei 35) used lenses (Rolleinar)
that were actually made for them by Mamiya!
Other Things About Me
I've been fortunate to have done a lot of traveling
over the years. I've been from Maine to California, Seattle to Miami,
and even the Bahamas (although I have to admit I've never seen the
Grand Canyon).
My wife and I spent weeks in Germany, Austria and Hungary, and made
brief stops in Shannon, Ireland and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
We've been to Venice, Naples, Rome and Florence in Italy; Athens
and Santorini in Greece; Eze, Paris and Nice in France; Barcelona
in Spain; and Dubrovnik, Gruda and Cavtat in Croatia! We've also
been lucky enough to have spent several weeks in both Japan and
The People's Republic of China.
And, as wonderful as that all sounds (and yes, I do realize
exactly how fortunate and blessed we have been) there's still no
place like home!
Something You Think Should Be Added?
Join my Collecting
Mamiya 35mm Forum and tell us about it!
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