© Ronald Herron Unauthorized use of images or text violates International copyright laws Site last updated on 06/12/08 |
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Welcome Mamiya Collectors!
The Purpose of This Site
This site began more than seven years ago,
from my personal interest in old Mamiya 35mm cameras. It's come a long
way since the original site, which was a simple listing of camera types.
Mamiya USA could not answer my production inquiries about their 35mm cameras.
Mamiya Japan did provide some valuable photo references, for which I thank them,
but that was all they could find. They simply didn't have production references
available any more.
But I finally realized my own collecting had provided a great deal of data. So,
this web site was born!
Of one thing I am certain. You will find
information here about Mamiya 35mm cameras that you will not find anywhere
else, not even from Mamiya Corporation itself or the recently formed Mamiya
Digital Imaging! (see "Transfer" story in the next column).
About Mamiya
The company was founded in May 1940,
by engineer Seichi Mamiya (pronounced ma-MEE-yah) and businessman Tsunejiro
Sugawara (pronounced su-ga-WAR-a) as Mamiya Koki Seisakusho.
Over the years, Mamiya made major technological advances in the science of
photography, and produced popular equipment for both the medium-format and
35mm amateur and professional markets. Mamiya is still a strong brand name
in the medium-format professional film market, and a strong presence in the
developing digital camera market.
Click here for More Mamiya
History!
Tsunejiro Sugawara (left) and
Seichi Mamiya (right); c.May 1940
Mamiya Instruction Manuals
Instruction and service manuals for Mamiya
35mm cameras are increasingly difficult to find. There are a few other
online sources, but none as dedicated to the output quality you will find
here. Quality reprints of these hard-to-find original operating instructions,
service manuals, period articles, critical reviews and other references are
now
available here!
Mamiya Lens Pricing
The results of my ongoing lens pricing study
can be seen on my Lens
Auction Prices page. There is also a
tips page to help you find your own
pricing answers.
My first Mamiya camera. The Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL, c. July 1968.
Mamiya Camera Pricing
I receive many requests for appraisals on old Mamiya cameras (and many other camera models, for some reason). I'm sorry, but it is just not a service I offer. I seldom have time to send a personal answer and it's always a hard question for me, for several reasons.
One, I'm not a camera dealer. Collecting them is my only connection with prices. Two, it is virtually impossible to appraise a camera without seeing, holding and trying to use it. Lastly, I truly believe the actual value of a vintage camera has little to do with its book value.
Every seller needs a buyer before his/her camera has anything more than a sentimental value. Which means, the value of any vintage camera is always the price agreed upon by a particular seller and buyer at any given moment in time!
However, since I have followed sale listings and auctions long enough, I can deduce an average price for each model from my notes. I have tried to answer your value questions with my Auction Prices page.*
Mamiya Transfers Camera Division
On September 1, 2006, Mamiya transferred its entire Optical Equipment Division to Cosmo Digital Imaging Company, Ltd. Cosmo acquired all the Mamiya Optical assets including inventory, property, trademarks and patents. The new enterprise is called Mamiya Digital Imaging. The Mamiya camera nameplate is expected to continue, and service for Mamiya cameras, lenses and accessories will also continue, in the existing Mamiya distribution network.
In November 2006, Mamiya Digital Imaging introduced two new medium-format lenses: an f/4.5 autofocus 75-150mm compact zoom lens (ideal for weddings or portraits); and the world's first medium-format, super wide-angle AF 28mm f/4.5 aspherical lens. The AF 28mm is ideal for a wide range of use, including commercial, architecture and outdoor photography.
Read the review of the Mamiya ZD, a stunning new 22-megapixel medium-format digital camera!
* Price references listed are derived from several sources, including "McKeown's Price Guide to Antique & Classic Cameras," © 2005; "McBroom's Camera Bluebook," © 2000; the "Camprice" online pricing subscription service; and my own extensive experience. For the many reasons discussed, any actual buy-or-sell price could be considerably different from one listed, and the table should be used only as a benchmark of the market.
