Dave, I have had two Universal Press cameras, the first had the 3.5, the second had the 2.8. In both cases I had 2 6x7 backs for negative film, a 6x9 for chromes, and a Polaroid for proofing and event photography. Never had anything other than the normal 100mm lens.
You have to know that they are all manual press cameras. Nothing but he rangefinder & focusing is interconnected. That means you have to cock the shutter manually. Advance the film manually. Those are not connected like most modern cameras. There is a dark slide that has to be pulled when you mount the filmholder. If you forget any of that you mess up the shot. Or two shots in the case of forgetting to advance the film. Despite all that, I would buy another instantly if I had the money. I only sold them because I got in a bind and needed the money desperately. They make superb photos. And I have made more money with them than any other camera I have ever owned. These things are big, heavy, and rugged, sort of the Mack Truck of cameras. The black (later) model makes everyone think you are a "PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER" (yep, in caps with quotes). Some things to watch out for: If it looks like the front has been removed (missing cover plates loose coverings) don't buy it, there are stacks of super thin shims at each of the 6 mounting bolts that are used to alight the lens to the back, if they have not been put back exactly as they were the camera is junk unless you have the equipment to realign it. The rangefinder is sometimes knocked out of alignment. Viewfinder/Rangefinder is often very dirty, but can be cleaned. Backs often have sticky devolved foam light traps. The 2.8 lens needs the factory lens shade because it will flare terribly without it, but the quality is so good it is worth having despite that. The top is often bent because someone has put a flash on the accessory shoe the top of the camera. That shoe was intended for accessory viewfinders, the shoe on the grip should be used to mount a flash. A Vivitar 283/285 works perfectly with them though I used a 400WS Lumedyne with the first one, and either a 283 or a Norman 200B (200WS) with the second one depending on how much light I felt I would need, as I quite often used them at night events outdoors. Ciao, Graywolf http://pages.prodigy.net/graywolfphoto ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Brooks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 8:29 PM Subject: Re: 14mp IS NOT 6x7 Quality > Tom. > I'm looking at some Mamiya Press cameras on Ebay and elsewere for a > start to up grade of the current Y-M. > Any comments re this set up. > Thanks in advance > > Dave > ---- Begin Original Message ---- > > From: "T Rittenhouse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > I'll take that challenge. I have printed two of the tiff files from > the > Kodak site. I have several prints that were made from 6x7 negatives > (Mamiya > Universal Press w 100mm/2,8 lens) develop & print 8x10 by a pro-lab > about > 1995. > > > Pentax User > Stouffville Ontario Canada > "Art needs to be in a frame.That way we know when the art > stops and the wall begins"--Frank Zappa > http://home.ca.inter.net/brooksdj/ > http://brooks1952.tripod.com/myhorses > Sign up today for your Free E-mail at: http://www.canoe.ca/CanoeMail >
