Mamiya Super 23 Press Camera
Photo courtesy of Fred Sherfy - [email protected]
Visit Fred's Pentax Collector and Photo Home Pages

Mamiya Super 23

Related Links:
Mamiya 23 Pages

First Look Harvey Zucker, p.116, June 1968, Pop. Photography.


Photo Courtesy of Bob (Tessar) Hunter
[email protected] - WWW.CAMERASTORE.COM

Test Report - Mamiya 23 Press

  • weight 4 1/2 pounds
  • die cast aluminum body
  • painted grey, partly covered with grey leather-like plastic
  • top houses combined viewfinder and rangefinder
  • double image focusing spot rangefinder
  • shoe on side of camera to hold separate 65mm wide angle lens viewfinder
  • built-in sliding mask adapts viewfinder for 150mm tele-lens
  • eyepiece slides up/down to correct parallax (scale 3.5, 4, 5, 7, 15 feet and infinity)
  • some parallax scales will be encountered when making vertical handheld shots as hard to get eye next to viewfinder with backs in the way
  • viewfinder is reverse telescope type, so subject appears 2/3rds normal size
  • mamiya sekor hard coated anistagmat lenses on helicoid focusing mounts:
  • lenses feature Seikosha-S Zero size shutters
  • ten shutter speeds 1 to 1/500th second plus bulb
  • lenses have depth-of-field preview and distance scales
  • M and X flash settings
  • time lever to open and hold (and shut) shutter when on Bulb
  • match coupling marks and twist-lock the barrel clockwise 60 degrees to mount lenses
  • pull out standard lens (only) 3/8ths inch and twist-lock clockwise to set in infinity position
  • diagonal stripes over viewfinder warn if this isn't done
  • why a retractable standard lens? so you can use it when back is swung to correct distortion
  • back mount allows 15 degree in all direction swing and tilts
  • four thumbscrews loosen to provide this correction facility
  • for closeup photography, the back can be pulled out 1 7/32nds of an inch
  • accessory extension rings let 65mm photograph 1 7/8'' area, 90mm for 2 1/2'' and 150mm for 4 '' area
  • flashgun mount on right side
  • tripod socket on base and in center of flashgun mount
  • hinged support plate can be used on flat level surfaces for added support
  • 6x9 exposure rollfilm holder for 8 exposures
  • 6x7 roll film holder for ten exposures
  • masks provided with 6x9 holder to 6x6cm or 6x4.5cm
  • match arrows on back of film to marks on roll film holder
  • once loaded, an automatic fiolm wind stop takes over
  • trip a release on the camera before you can advance film to next shot
  • warning: if trip this lever after last film, you have problems, and have to advance takeup knob by hand thru 8 or 10 exposure cycle to reset
  • note: automatic film advance can't be used when reduction masks are in use in the holder
  • a red window in back is provided to see exposure numbers on the film
  • accessories include 2 plastic lens shades for normal and tele lens
  • lens shades can be reversed and placed over lens for protection
  • no shade for wide angle lens
  • plate holder for film (one sheet per holder)
  • film pack adapter
  • sports type finder
  • film cutter
  • carrying bag
  • camera performed well in closeup, available light, and aerial work tests
  • $309.50 with standard 90mm lens, trigger grip, and cable release
  • Graflok back costs slightly more
  • 65mm f6.3 lens is $179.50
  • 150mm f5.6 lens is 169.50
  • the roll film back is $65
  • the plate film holder is $8.50
  • the film pack adapter is $15.95
  • Distributor is Mamiya Division of EPOI

    Reviewed by Nils Lindquist, Pop. Photography, May 1964, pp.98-99.

    Mamiya Chronology from 1960-70s
    Thanks to Mamiya UK Site for Mamiya Super 23 GIFs

    Photo Notes: This is the Mamiya Super 23 medium format rangefinder camera that takes a roll film back for 120 & 220 film. This camera comes with the Super 23 body (SN A12740), 90 f/3.5 Mamiya lens (SN1026987), 6 X 7 120/220 roll film back, and handle grip with cable release, original lens hood, and dark slide. This camera is the one where you loosen the four keys on the side and pull out a little back bellows for rear movements. The system has many lenses and accessories available. The finder has a built in adjustment for 100, 150, and 250mm lenses. This camera seems to work great. The rangefinder is smooth, the shutter speeds seem nice and snappy, the flash sync works, the roll back worked properly. The viewfinder window is clean and nice. The rangefinder works perfectly. The lens is clean and clear. The four back lock keys work smoothly and they allow the back bellows to be extended. The bellows look perfect. If you want a nice medium format camera, this is it.

    From: [email protected] (Gary Helfrich)
    Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
    Subject: Re: New to MF - help me select?
    Date: 24 Sep 1998

    Anne Canfield ([email protected]) wrote: 

    : I'm exclusively a 35mm user but I'd like to add MF to my selection. My
: primary use would be for landscape photography and some macro. My biggest
: question is what size MF to go with.

    If you are willing to buy used, the Mamiya Super 23 is a system that you might want to consider. It has not been made for a few decades, but the lenses and accessories are easy to find second hand. For landscape it has a few advantages that I have not found combined in more modern cameras. 

    Good Points:

1) It is inexpensive

2) Mamiya made an extensive range of lenses and accessories for this system

3) One of the only interchangeable back 6x9 format cameras ever made.  There
are also backs available for 6x4.5, 6x6, and 6x7.

4) The camera is a rangfinder, but has ground glass backs and reflex viewers
for through the lens focusing and composition.

5) The 50mm lens is one of the best bang for the buck wide angle setups
available. The 50, 100 f/3.5 and the 250 f/5 lenses are as sharp as the best
modern glass.

6) It is a heavy camera with leaf shutter lenses.  This means that you can
use a lighter, and less expensive tripod

7) The back is on a bellows that extends up to 35mm and allows for tilts and
swings.

Bad Points:

1) Heavy.

2) No status or style points for owning one.

3) Slow to use.  Everything is manual, so double exposures, studies of black
bear in cave, etc. is easy to do.  If you do much large format, the 23 feels
like a quick camera.  If you are used to a modern 35mm camera, it will take
some getting used to.

4) Foam seals on film backs need attention on a regular basis or they tend
to leak light.  This is more of a problem with 220 than 120 film.

5) While many of the lenses like those mentioned above are world class, there
were also some real dogs like the 90mm f/3.5 and the 250 f/8.  The stuff is
cheap enough (example: 90mm lens was $87. from KEH a few months ago) that it
is not that expensive to make a mistake or two.


6) Bulky.  A Toyo large format kit will fit in less space than the Super 23.
The shape of the camera is just not conducive to efficient packing.

Gary Helfrich