Vintage Mamiya / Mamiya-Sekor Cameras

Founded in 1940, the Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan,  is most famous for its large-format cameras such as the Mamiyaflex, bit also made 35mm cameras and indeed sub-miniature cameras such as the Mamiya 16.  Cameras are still produced under the ‘MamiyaLeaf’ brand.

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Mamiya 500TL

Date: c.1968
Country of origin: Japan
Type: SLR
Meter: CdS, spot-metering (spot marked in viewfinder)
Shutter: FP, horiztontal cloth
Speeds: B, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, /125, 1/250, 1/500
Focus: Manual
Modes: Manual
Misc: 1/60 sync speed, FP and X flash contacts
Lens mount: Interchangeable M42
Standard lens: Auto Mamiya-Sekor 50m f/2, – 6 elements in 4 groups.

The 500TL was the first of a small series of SLRs made by Mamiya, all introduced in 1968.  The models were designated by the fastest shutter speed (500, 1000, 2000), and either Through the Lens metering (TL), ot Dual Through the Lens metering (DTL) – the later offering either average or spot metering.

The lens fitted to this camera is the excellent Mamiya-Sekor 50mm f/2, which when acquired had a jammed iris – easily fixed.

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