6x6 MAMIYA 6 Automat. My latest Folding Camera. Classic!

[@hanklowandslow4839]

The image shown at 8:48 shows a classic example of "bromine drag" caused by improper agitation during development. The lighter streaks over the pilings.

[@georgeosier5459]

I hopefully will have one soon !!!! .... maybe putting in the pressure plate before the arrow lines up :)

[@sergeykolbinsky5940]

Buddy, your channel is one of the two things that motivates me to keep experimenting in the dark room. The second thing is 100 sheets of Ilford mgfbwt paper 😁 in my frige.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Cheers Sergey.

[@santoshpareek9031]

Dark room printing and method is marvellous

[@TrashTheLens]

The advert at 1:47 is for an Olympus, not a Mamiya. You thought we wouldn't notice, eh? :D

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Damn! Lol

[@TheSchnauzie]

A great classic camera

[@RetroGlass]

I've been lusting after this camera for some time now. I finally ordered one that's supposed to be in top shape. Pretty excited to shoot It. I have the C330 and it's amazing but it's just so big to haul around.

[@robertordonez9242]

So no parallax correction or frame lines on these?

[@renemies78]

I know this video is old but I'm looking into purchasing this camera and of course I had to check if you made a video concerning this camera and I'm so glad you did! One question I have is did you use a light meter? I didn't see you take one out using this camera. Thanks so much and take care.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I would have done so 👍

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

wow. Darkroom printing and everything!

[@tonyb2760]

I love folding cameras. Thanks for sharing

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Cheers Tony.

[@chronicfish]

*"all tickety boo"* 💙 📸

[@radosawhuawei6186]

I have this one. Great camera.

[@B3D5X]

I’ve had one of these for several years and it’s excellent! The lens is superb! Super sharp with great color rendition. Actually fits in a coat pocket or easy to sling over the shoulder. Quiet leaf shutter. Mine is quirky with flashbulbs though. There was either a short or the metal to metal of the cold shoe/flashgun was popping them off in my fingers as I replaced them. Ouch!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Ha ha. Pop, fizzzz... Ouch

[@Sanjiocom]

Nice. How do you scan the negs?

[@DavidMurtaghdeeva]

I have bought a Mamiya 6. It seems a little different to yours. It doesn't have the counter on the camera. It has the red window on the back. I have loaded a roll of Ilford XP2 Super. It's slightly out of date so I will lower the iso speed to compensate. I won't develop it myself because I got rid of my darkroom years ago. Watching your channel gives me a taste for getting back into developing and printing. Keep up the good work.

[@m00dawg]

Wow, those stairs! Those turned out soooo lovely!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Cheers Tim.

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

What an interesting mechanical wonder! And you are treating it with due respect. Plus you do the wet part yourself. You are for real.

[@Quark.Lepton]

Great run-down on this camera! Thanks Roger-some nice photos you took with it as well. Cheers

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Thanks for watching

[@thomashilmersen711]

Cool camera and pics. Can't find it on eBay in the EU, unfortunately.

[@snapsnappist4529]

Another Mamiya Six Automat owner here. I was looking for a high quality folder, but couldn't afford a Super Isolette, so I went for the Mamiya instead. It really is a great camera - simple to use, portable, and has a nice sharp lens. That said, there are a couple of minor problems. The automatic cocking mechanism on mine doesn't work properly, so I need to cock the shutter manually before I advance or else I waste a frame. The camera doesn't have any frame lines in the viewfinder, so be prepared to crop in the darkroom/photoshop. Lastly, the lens is quite prone to flare, either because it's not recessed far back enough, or because of the coating. A way around this is to use the lens bed/front cover as a 'hood' of sorts, and orient the bottom of the camera towards the light source when shooting. Think I might take mine out today...

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Thanks. I did read about lens flare online when researching. I'll watch out for that!!

[@snapsnappist4529]

@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss Cool. Also, forgot to mention - don't try and change shutter speed when the shutter is cocked. It'll damage the mechanism.

[@PictureSizeDoesMatter]

Hi, does it have a filter ring?

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Not a thread. You can get filters for it and they go over the lens

[@fredryder7995]

I noticed the color of your developer as you were pouring it out of the developing tank. Did you do a presoak? And remove the antihalation layer. Maybe that's why you had streaks in your negatives. Just a thought.

[@innstikk]

Thanks! Definitely one to consider for medium format travelling when the Autocord is to big to bring 🙂Need to read up on it.

[@SomebodySomwhere]

What's the best practice for metering your shots with this camera? You seemed to be taking the shots quickly without using any kind of light meter. The reason I ask is because I'm thinking of purchasing one.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I can't remember the conditions but usually I'll shoot these cameras outside where the light doesn't change so I can meter up once and shoot away. I know if the light has got darker or lighter so I either meter again or judge it by eye. But mostly I shoot them on a day where the lights is even all day.

[@chronicfish]

some of my favourite photos you've taken , in this episode

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Thanks. I wasn't out long either. Couldn't wait to finish the roll as I stupidly was only wearing that hoody without a t shirt under and got cold.

[@tadeusz11000]

Good to see you with one of my favourite cameras, Rog. Unless I am mistaken, the bellows look like the original ones, so I would be interested to see if regular opening and closing creates light leaks at the creases. That was my experience and had to get a new bellows made and fitted by an experienced camera repair guy, who knew what he was doing. Also, important to ensure that the pressure plate is not put in upside down, as that will cause scratches on the film!

[@PictureSizeDoesMatter]

This or the Franka Solida I'm in the market for a 6x6? Thank you.

[@robbysmusic8507]

Well Roger, after watching many of your videos, i decided to get a Mamiya 6 Automate from eBay. Should be about 2 weeks from Japan. Hope the camera is in good shape. I will let you know how i like it. Thank you for your videos. Robby.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

That's awesome

[@welshmotorcyclerides350]

Very nice results. Lens looks sharp.

[@257squadron]

Super camera Roger. Worth a few bob too.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Yeah it's a nice one Neil!

[@SilntObsvr]

I've got one of those, a slightly older model. I was planning to get an Ensign Commando (same focusing setup) but for almost twice the money, I got one that had been dropped, and the top cover caved in. Mine requires use of the red window, and I have to manually cock the shutter -- but it has a pair of flaps inside that let me switch between 6x6 and 6x4.5 formats. Lately, though, I've been using my Daiichi Zenobia more. Smaller and lighter.

[@aman681]

Nice video mate. How does it handle flare in backlit situations?

[@mrN3w7]

I love the Mamiya 6 - have on myself as well. I love the lenses on these things. The tab that you slide to hold the film spool in place is suppose to have a small thing that holds it in place, I guess is gone on yours, but should not stop the function of the camera :). As always, enjoyed your video... keep them coming :).

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I did have a feeling something was missing there.

[@petercooper9054]

I'm in the middle of stripping down two mamiya six cameras and they have the same metal plate. The first one just rests there and can swing out freely as yours is doing. The second one at first I thought metal corrosion but it's not. The company changed it by cutting the metal to form tension on the removable screw it rests against. One side worked the other was lose. Bending it slightly with pliers has put the tension back and it now holds in place. I'm surprised the automat has that fitting as my model IV which has everything the automat has expect auto cocking the shutter has the normal circles at the base of the camera which you pull out and they go back in place once the film is loaded.

[@mvonwalter6927]

A Mamiya Six is what I had with me living in Switzerland for a summer. Really doesn't get any smaller than that camera for a 6x6. The lens was never as sharp or contrasty as my Minolta Autocord but a few of my favorite images ever were taken with it.

[@dannyb5874]

gets little bit smaller...Voigtlander Perkeo ;)

[@Rosla178]

My experience with the Mamiya 6 Automat is that most have fogged lens.

[@lensman5762]

Lovely photos. Your mate Martin Henson is quite familiar with this camera if you needed advice.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Yes we been talking about it. *Martin, sorry to bother you, one more question... Ha ha"

[@deej807]

Nice video Roger. You’ve inspired me to take mine with me this week when I come down to Winchester. Mine isn’t an automat version so I have to use the window and my shutter only goes to 1/300. Seems like a lot of versions of the 6 including some that shoot 6x4.5 as well as 6x6.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Very confusing all these models when researching. They couldn't stay still back then.

[@jessekrol]

Great video! How is the viewfinder in terms of parallax?

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I've never actually cared too much for parallax on this camera. Just point and shoot and get roughly what I've seen. So no exact precise compositions

[@khanscombe619]

Brilliant. Id like to try 1. But what later folding 6x6 of the modern 1960s and maybe 645 switchable? Good rangefinder? How would you rate this rangefinder & back focusing compared to a voigtlander?

[@iaincphotography6051]

Now you know I they didn't take 500 shots at a wedding back in the day Lol. That and the cost. Good to see people having a go with Film. If you get a chance to shoot with a Zorki 4, give it a go.

[@evanspaulding672]

I swear you're a camera magnet! You seem to have a new photography item every episode

[@simon.revill]

Nowt wrong with that! 😀

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

It's the Buddha in the darkroom. They bring good fortune lol.

[@GeorgeStar]

Nice darkroom setup. I miss the smell of the fixer & stop!

[@largophoto]

Awesome 👍 ..noticed you have been using the Pyro..I have ordered some ..being Stateside it ..love the sand on stairs ..lol you mentioned it

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Yes I've been getting good results. A few blips on this film but I'll get it ironed out.

[@jonahhuang_film]

Sorry to ask, what are the red buttons "M, S, X" next to the lens used for?

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Flash guns back in the day

[@jimgraves4197]

That pressure plate is fiddly until you figure out the method. The images look great too. :)

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Gives me confidence going forward. Cheers Jim

[@GeorgiosKalaydjian]

Very good Roger, I liked the Negative archive you are using, May I kindly ask you from where do you get them? Thank you.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

They are from Kenro Georgios

[@cogspace]

I have got to pick me up one of these. Beautiful shots. Love that focusing mechanism, even if the film loading seems a bit fiddly.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Just make sure the speeds work all through. Mine appears to need a bit of CLA.

[@SourcePhotography]

Had to subscribe after I heard you say, "all tickety-boo." Cheers!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Ha ha, thanks.

[@pietjekarbonkel2710]

Very nice Mamiya six Roger . I have also a Mamiya Six with a very clean D-Zuiko lens and perfect shutter , but sadly the rangefinder focusing point is not visible anymore . The reflecting coating in the finder has gone ..... Best regards Peter .

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I've noticed that with my zeiss. Very hard to see the focus point.

[@RonEMarks]

Surprised how close it can focus. My folders can't get that close like it appears you did in the "stairs" photo. Nice

[@richardstollar4291]

I see you used the Pyro 510 - obviously you like it now - love to hear more on this developer.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Still getting used to it. Had a few issues on this one.

[@mueslimuncher1950]

That's one I don't have in my collection. I'd like one, but they tend to be on the pricey side. I do have an Ensign Comando which is an English made camera from the late 40s, with a similar focusing arrangement.

[@inikphoto]

Hey great images! I just got one, late model with Sekor lens and I love it! I have a quick question, are you able to change the shutter speed to 500th after the shutter is cocked? Because I can’t seem to? Once uncooked it’s fine to change. I can change all speeds while shutter is cooked but not to 500th? Cheers in advance!

[@JanneRanta]

I have the previous version of this that doesn't automatically cock the shutter. Got it cheap in really rough condition from japan. Had to change the bellows, clean the insides from cigarette tar and still have to replace the leatherette. But it's still an awesome camera.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Glad it's quit smoking!

[@tonyhayes9827]

Rangefinder medium format. Nice! I notice you have your Buddha head in the darkroom. Has it been banned from the house since it broke? I think it loos quite artistic. I thought you bought it like that!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

No I broke it twice. Its glued back and keeps good luck in my darkroom.

[@richardstollar4291]

A nice camera... try putting the pressure plate in before you wind the film to the start arrow. I know you're a B&W shooter but do these folding cameras work OK with colour film? Any fogging from the frame window on the back?

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Yes I've realised that would make it easier. Not noticed any fog

[@Lemmispeak]

I love this camera the bellows broke on mine I had another one like this too and a spider decided to live inside the bellows when I was doing a long exposure at night

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Ha ha ha interesting effect Josh.

[@espenbjrkvold5119]

Thats a Nice camera. Never tried one before, just held one in my hand at some point. It’s interesting to see all those creative patents on older cameras, like the focus-system on that one. Thanks for another video, I am looking forward to your next one.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

It's relatively heavier than it looks.

[@Mercsss111]

Great video and some great results👍👍

[@robhosailor]

Great camera and very nice pictures. The camera can be desired by every fan of traditional photography - I would also like to have one, but they are expensive with us. I am afraid that I will not return to my traditional darkroom work, and I was already getting ready for this adventure- my old allergy to chemicals has renewed, unfortunately.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Shame to hear that Robert. Wish you the best.

[@Resgerr]

Googled it it seems you move this after you’ve taken a shot to prevent double exposures and overlapping of images on the film. A little red flag appears in the viewfinder

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Nothing happens. That's what Martin Henson said. But I get no red window in my viewfinder. Thanks for taking the time.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

And it's impossible to take a double exposure with this one. It won't let me fire unless I advance the film.

[@Resgerr]

@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss Funny why you have to move the switch if the camera won’t let you take a picture anyway. Suppose it’s like I found out that you need to move it to stop overlapping 🤷‍♀️

[@arty2917]

This is a great camera with a great lens. I wish you wouldn’t tell anyone about it!

[@suwakomoria]

I have early version of Mamiya 6, but it became kinda useless because of the hole in a bellows. So, uh, a good camera, but be careful with bellows, they are fragile. Also wanted to thank you. Your videos are amazing and got me into b&w printing and made me shoot more b&w film in general.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Thanks Keine. Bellows can be replaced on these old folders. Not that I've ever needed to.... Yet

[@souldigital8148]

Im looking for a new folder, which would you recommend the most out of the ones you own, thanks

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

So many out there various price ranges too and a verity of shutter speeds. The zeiss ikon are a good price

[@Astyanaz]

The film plane focus was not a Japanese Idea. I was also used on the Ensign Commando.

[@MisterBo88]

This video is extremely useful! I'm struggling to find a 6 in good conditions. I've seen the lenses you can find it with are the Olympus, the Sekor S or the Kominar. Do someone know if there is a lot of difference between them?

[@user0x015]

Hi! Have you found the answer? I'm also trying to find the difference...

[@MisterBo88]

@@user0x015 hi, I bought one with the Sekur lens in the end. I've shot just two test rolls so I cant judge its quality yet, but it seem quiet good

[@danieldijo]

Do you find the shutter speed dial/switch hard to adjust? I have to use two fingers and quite a lot of for to move the shutter speed. Wondering if normal and if not let me know any advice.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Not really. No more than any other cameras. It's not stiff.

[@danieldijo]

@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss Thought so. Any suggestion on how to lubricate it?

[@jellekoiter]

what about Photograms, have you ever tried that? if not, it could be a very fun experiment to share. Would love to see witch what you can come up with 👻

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I have dabbled with paper clips and bits and bobs. I find it hard to think of something interesting and different...

[@greggreaves1727]

question... do you have those 3d printed adapters to put 35mm rolls in a medium format camera? I've been doing it on my mamiya 645 and yashicaflex A. I'm looking at picking up a Mamiya 6 Automat but only if the film canister with the adapters actually fits in one. Thanks

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I don't Greg. Sorry mate

[@greggreaves1727]

@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss no problem - love the channel

[@Martin_Siegel]

@@greggreaves1727 Sorry to barge in like that, Greg. But I guess the pressure plate will scratch film that has no backing paper (or it will not really lay flat) so I would not use it with adapted 35mm. But that's just me.

[@thomaschipman]

i noticed the streaking when you showed the digital scans during the video and was wondering if it was bromide drag from stand development, but then you developed normally with pyro and i scratched my head. perhaps pyro just has a hard time with sharp contrast transition point like the groins?

[@user-ti9zc1xv2b]

Pyro is a very active developer, it almost needs constant agitation to get streak-free development

[@jameslane3846]

@@user-ti9zc1xv2b not necessarily true, 510 Pyro works well with semi stand usually

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

The developer is recently new for me so it's trial and error time. The drag started from the groins and the top of the port marker. Baffled me

[@santoshpareek9031]

Surprising Mamiya camera is fitted with olympus zuiko lens instead mamiya sekor lens, please clarify,the reason,,?? Santosh.K.Pareek. Bhawanimandi, Raj India

[@TangoDJAnthonyCronin]

This has given me GAS for these Automats .... Interesting to see an Olympus Lens on a Mamiya ...

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Yes I was also surprised

[@DavidGriffin]

I'm like number 1000

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

So you got GIVEN a Mamiya 6 Automat, and you already have 2 other folders? Sigh. For those of us on a budget who have to buy our own cameras, that's hard. Sorry to be negative but the price of old film cameras is getting really challenging. PS, I thought the sand on steps image was the pick of them too and the darkroom print looks really good.

[@imvisier9925]

You can litterally get run of the mill 120 folders on ebay for like 5 to 10 quid. Same for some pretty common 35mm cameras. Cameras with provenance are getting up there in cost true, but price of entry is still very very cheap.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

The zeiss cost me £20! The Solida cost me £50. Some bargains out there on the folders. Grateful for the new one.

[@user-ti9zc1xv2b]

Mate, you wanna wear gloves with that Pyro... that stuff is extremely toxic for humans and gets absorbed trough the skin easily

[@lensman5762]

Can't handle Pyro willy nilly. It is highly toxic, all types of it.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I had one on. Thanks for the nudge.

[@user-ti9zc1xv2b]

​@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss You did, on one hand, the other hand not. Not the be an ass or anything but we care about your health. Pyrogallic acid is extremely damaging to the kidneys and intestine tract & it's a known carcinogen.

[@otc-analogvintagetechnology]

Japanese, What strange people....! 🤣

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Gotta love the Japanese culture and tech