Another SLR that RFF could love

[DrTebi]

Bucking the trend of going more expensive and "betterer" cameras,
I find myself drawn to the lower rung of the ladder (price-wise).

I have been on a similar hunt lately and discovered the Mamiya ZM Quartz. I like the features, and especially the "grip". It came with three lenses, the Mamiya f2.0 50mm, a Osawa f2.8 28mm, and a Omestar f3.8 75-150mm zoom. Got it all for about $70.

While the lenses all looked quite good, the camera was a bit beat and the ISO dial didn't register correctly. This was quite a disappointment, as I wanted the camera for it's AEL exposure. After a roll of sunny 16th tests, which came out so-so, I played around about 10 minutes with the ISO dial and it finally registered again.

Now it's working great. I really like the little LED dots in the viewfinder for the shutter speed, and find the warning beep for slow shutter speeds rather helpful than annoying. My first Provia 100F roll came out perfectly exposed. The lenses all did really well, except for the Omestar, which is very soft.

Nevertheless, on my day out shooting, suddenly one of the camera strap attachment "nuts" came off! I was able to hold on to the camera, but started worrying about the built quality a bit... the batteries also tend to drop out on their own at times, but a bit of tape may fix that problem...

Overall I really like the ZM Quartz, especially for the little money I paid for it. Here is a shot that shows of the great working lightmeter. I uploaded the full size scan to flickr, check it out to see what great resolution this Osawa lens can deliver.

[shadowfox]

Not bad.
Keep the Mamiya 35mm SLR experiences coming.

I'm developing the second roll.
Let's hope something decent will turn out.

[shadowfox]

To close the loop, here's a link to the shots I posted in a new thread:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...d.php?t=120101

[kuzano]

I posted a web site for collectors of the Mamiya nc1000 and Z series cameras. Posted it on the second thread you started on your nc1000.

I seem to recall something about an adaptor for K mount pentax on that site related to the Mamiya 35mm.

[ChrisPlatt]

Older and uncommon SLRs are great - when they work.
But repairs can be hard to come by, and very pricey.

I run with the Pentax crowd. We have Eric Hendrickson!

Chris

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by kuzano

I posted a web site for collectors of the Mamiya nc1000 and Z series cameras. Posted it on the second thread you started on your nc1000.

I seem to recall something about an adaptor for K mount pentax on that site related to the Mamiya 35mm.

Not K-mount, but M42.
I have two on order.

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

Older and uncommon SLRs are great - when they work.
But repairs can be hard to come by, and very pricey.

I run with the Pentax crowd. We have Eric Hendrickson!

Chris

Chris,
I ended up with four NC1000 bodies (in search of the rarer 200mm and 35mm lens).

Two are just fine.

I have my local camera repair shop work to combine the other two. One has perfectly clean viewfinder and focusing screen, but weird shutter that refused to work when set to 1 second. The other has perfectly working shutter and meter, but has the worst balsam separation on the viewfinder I've ever seen.

When he's done, I'll have a good CLA'd NC1000 body. In the end I'll probably keep one and sell the remaining two. People need to be introduced to this camera, it's that good.

[Steve M.]

Neat little camera. I found this on the web. The guy apparently designed an adapter to mount the lenses on Canon EOS cameras, as well as a replica of the Mamiya NC1000 P mount M42 adapter.

http://www.shapeways.com/model/34450...ount-quot.html

[pakeha]

Originally Posted by davidtan

I didn't use to think much of Mamiya's 35mm offerings, as I was only familiar with their bulky M42-mount TL and DTL series. More recently, I've read up on their other SLRs and found them rather interesting. I'm currently courting the idea of buying a Mamiya ZE2; however, the NC1000 looks rather attractive. If the ZE2 turns out to be more plastic than metal, and not very compact, I'll try to get an NC1000 instead. Did your set come very cheap?

ZE2 is a good camera , mix of metal and plastic but feels quite solid.Weak point is the speed change disc. But all cameras have cons.I have one and four ZM bodies.The ZM is also a good option overlooked by many.Paid between $12.50 and $40.00 for them.Big downside is that lens choice is limited to E and EF series Mamiya lens unless you can find adapters for CS lens/tamron/P adapter, and an adapter that allows 645 lens to be used i believe.Ergonomically the ZM is best.

[shadowfox]

The 135mm and 28mm lenses (both f/2.8) for this camera arrived yesterday. Sweet!!

The 135mm is small, maybe smaller than even Zuiko 135/2.8 and has a very cool looking built in hood.
The 28mm looks... like any other 28/2.8 lenses I've seen
We'll see if its optics are as good as its brethren.

[Aristophanes]

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

Older and uncommon SLRs are great - when they work.
But repairs can be hard to come by, and very pricey.

I run with the Pentax crowd. We have Eric Hendrickson!

Chris

The Pentax MZ-S has to be the most RF-like 135 SLR ever made. With the FA 43mm on (sans AA battery grip...nice to have that option) it is barely larger than my Canon QL 17 III and smaller than my Yashica GSN.

Hendrickson does fine work. He's

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Aristophanes

The Pentax MZ-S has to be the most RF-like 135 SLR ever made. With the FA 43mm on (sans AA battery grip...nice to have that option) it is barely larger than my Canon QL 17 III and smaller than my Yashica GSN.

Hendrickson does fine work. He's

You must be thinking of Pentax MX (or MV).
MZ-S is not barely larger than a Canonet

[Greyscale]

Originally Posted by Aristophanes

The Pentax MZ-S has to be the most RF-like 135 SLR ever made. ...

I don't know about that. The Zenit 3 probably gets that honor.
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Zenit_3

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by Greyscale

Didn't Fujica make a tiny little m42 mount camera?

Fuji built Fujica cameras with M42 mount, yes. Several.

[DrTebi]

Originally Posted by pakeha

ZE2 is a good camera , mix of metal and plastic but feels quite solid.Weak point is the speed change disc. But all cameras have cons.I have one and four ZM bodies.The ZM is also a good option overlooked by many.Paid between $12.50 and $40.00 for them.Big downside is that lens choice is limited to E and EF series Mamiya lens unless you can find adapters for CS lens/tamron/P adapter, and an adapter that allows 645 lens to be used i believe.Ergonomically the ZM is best.

Yes, the ergonomics of the ZM are really nice, a camera that´s easy to hold with one hand. I actually bought it because of it´s ergonomics, and my curiousity of 35mm Mamiya lenses (since the MF rangefinder ones are highly praised).

[DrTebi]

Originally Posted by shadowfox

The 135mm and 28mm lenses (both f/2.8) for this camera arrived yesterday. Sweet!!

The 135mm is small, maybe smaller than even Zuiko 135/2.8 and has a very cool looking built in hood.
The 28mm looks... like any other 28/2.8 lenses I've seen
We'll see if its optics are as good as its brethren.

I also just recently got the 135mm lens, small and feels really good. I am on the road right now, but will post some results when I come back. Make sure to post your images!

[shadowfox]

I think the 135mm is as sharp as its bigger brother the 200mm.
It does feel very well made.

[DrTebi]

Here are some shots from the Mamiya ZM with the 135mm f/2.8 lens. Shot on Fujifilm Superia 200, which I really like for it's colors, contrast, and sharpness.

I started hunting down more Mamiya "Z" things... one of the most interesting lenses is the 50mm f/3.5 Macro. It has half-life size without any extension rings, and 1:1 with the ring that came with the lens. I will post those shots soon (film is in the lab).

[BlackXList]

Originally Posted by davidtan

I didn't use to think much of Mamiya's 35mm offerings, as I was only familiar with their bulky M42-mount TL and DTL series. More recently, I've read up on their other SLRs and found them rather interesting. I'm currently courting the idea of buying a Mamiya ZE2; however, the NC1000 looks rather attractive. If the ZE2 turns out to be more plastic than metal, and not very compact, I'll try to get an NC1000 instead. Did your set come very cheap?

I just picked up an almost mint ZE2 with 50 1.7 and the (insanely loud) power winder & cases etc for £22

First impressions, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it at all, but I'm not attached to it yet, like some others, going to give it time though.

Viewfinder seems a little dim, but to be fair I'm comparing it to Pentax and Konica both of which are wonderfully bright, (I think my inability to take to it is partially down to being spoiled by my other options)

[DrTebi]

Originally Posted by BlackXList

I just picked up an almost mint ZE2 with 50 1.7 and the (insanely loud) power winder & cases etc for £22

First impressions, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it at all, but I'm not attached to it yet, like some others, going to give it time though.

Viewfinder seems a little dim, but to be fair I'm comparing it to Pentax and Konica both of which are wonderfully bright, (I think my inability to take to it is partially down to being spoiled by my other options)

Interesting. I have a Mamiya ZM and a ZE-2, and two times the same lens (50mm f/2.0), and made a little comparison in regards to the "dimness" of the viewfinders. It turns out that the ZM is actually quite a bit brighter than the ZE-2. When comparing the ZM to my Pentax Super Program with the 50mm f/1.4 lens attached, hardly any difference can be noticed. The Pentax may have a slight advantage, but this may also be due to the faster lens(?).

Nevertheless, I really like the ZM because of the early style ergonomic grip. It's built quality is not too great, however all the lenses I have from the E/EF series are very nice.

[tunalegs]

I have the Argus version of that early Mamiya. Unfortunately it is broken. Worse still the Argus uses a totally different lens mount than any other camera. What were they thinking?

[BlackXList]

Originally Posted by DrTebi

Interesting. I have a Mamiya ZM and a ZE-2, and two times the same lens (50mm f/2.0), and made a little comparison in regards to the "dimness" of the viewfinders. It turns out that the ZM is actually quite a bit brighter than the ZE-2. When comparing the ZM to my Pentax Super Program with the 50mm f/1.4 lens attached, hardly any difference can be noticed. The Pentax may have a slight advantage, but this may also be due to the faster lens(?).

Nevertheless, I really like the ZM because of the early style ergonomic grip. It's built quality is not too great, however all the lenses I have from the E/EF series are very nice.

Just as an aside the Pentax viewfinder I was comparing it to was the one in my ME Super, which is wonderful, it's a tough act to follow for many cameras, and not neccesarily a slight on the other cameras, it's just great.

I'm quite sure the ZE2 is more than usable, and I intend to give it a go, I'm just spoiled with the ME Super

[awbphotog]

I bought a Mamiya ZE-2 a while back that was listed as mint condition. I paid $65 for it whilst on a hunt for the 'perfect' 35mm SLR. When the camera came to me (no returns!) the lens was frozen onto the camera and the meter was not functioning at all. I got burned but it was a good learning experience, and the camera is sure pretty to look at. From what I've seen it's a well made camera, just has some issues that the previous owner(s) failed to mention.

That being said, I own two ME Super's and an MV-1. Pentax 35's are my favorite so far, though I have yet to handle/shoot an OM. I'm surprised that anything can be smaller than the ME Super, which is truly a SUPER camera. Love it!

Andy

[rbelyell]

Originally Posted by Greyscale

Didn't Fujica make a tiny little m42 mount camera?

i have the fujica st605 m42 mount (as well as contax 137 quartz) and its one of the smallest slrs ive seen. cant imagine this is noticeably smaller. for THE most compact/lightweight slr with m42 capability, take a look at the konica tc-x, for use with AR lenses, but also easily obtainable m42>AR adapter. oh, and talk about cheap, both the fujica and the tcx can be had for between $25-40usd.
tony

[gliderbee]

Frist time I hear about another SLR with the shutter controle around the lens! I never understood why no other manufacturers did this. It feels SO natural to me !

Stefan