Mamiya-16 Automatic*

Overview

The Mamiya-16 Automatic is a classic "spy-style" subminiature camera produced by Mamiya in Japan, released around 1959. It is part of the successful Mamiya-16 series but stands out because it was one of the first in the line to incorporate a built-in light meter.
Key Characteristics:

Subminiature Format: The camera uses 16mm film, which is much smaller than standard 35mm. This allows the camera to be tiny enough to hide in a palm or a pocket, fitting the "detective camera" aesthetic of the mid-20th century. Subminiaturformat:
The "Automatic" Name: The name refers to the built-in selenium light meter. While not "automatic" by modern digital standards, it features a match-needle system. You adjust the settings until a needle aligns in a window on top of the camera, helping you achieve the correct exposure without an external meter.
Lens: It is equipped with a 25mm f/2.8 Mamiya-Sekor lens. For such a small format, this was a high-quality, sharp lens capable of producing surprisingly good images if handled correctly.
Shutter: It features a leaf shutter with speeds ranging from 1/2 to 1/200th of a second, plus a "B" (Bulb) setting for long exposures.
Focusing: Like many cameras of this size, it uses zone focusing. There is a sliding scale on the front (or top, depending on the specific revision) that allows you to set the distance to your subject.
Built-in Filter: A quirky and useful feature of the Mamiya-16 series is the built-in yellow filter (and sometimes others) that can be slid in front of the lens using a small dial—perfect for adding contrast to black-and-white landscape shots.
Film Cassettes: It uses proprietary Mamiya 16mm film cassettes.

In summary, the Mamiya-16 Automatic is a premium Japanese subminiature camera from the late 1950s. It features a high-quality 25mm f/2.8 lens and an integrated selenium light meter, making it a more advanced version of the "spy cameras" popular at the time.

Evaluation

TBD - Kamera system not yet ready to use.

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27.04.26

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