Mamiya Press Super 23
Users Guide

Shutter Operation

Keeping the shutter open with 100 mm f/3.5 lens

Cock the shutter by moving the shutter cocking lever (#14). Screw the end of the cable release (#24) which extends from the hand grip into the cable release socket (#11).

To release the shutter, press the shutter release trigger (#22) of the hand grip with the left forefinger; or the shutter can be released by tripping the shutter release lever (#9).

Keeping the shutter open for focusing by focusing screen

With 100 mm f/3.5 lens:

  1. Cock the shutter regardless of the shutter speed.
  2. Pull out the press focus lever (#12), and the shutter will remain open. After focusing, return the lever (#12) to close the shutter, readying it for immediate shutter release.

PRECAUTION: Do not pull the press focus lever (#12) before cocking the shutter.

With 50 mm f/6.3 lens:

Keeping the shutter open with 50 mm f/6.3 lens
  1. Set the shutter speed dial on B.
  2. Push up the shutter cocking lever and cock the shutter.
  3. By depressing the shutter. release button and turning the button clockwise, the shutter will remain open.

To close the shutter, release the finger from the button after turning the release button counterclockwise; then the button will return to its original position and, at the same time, the shutter will close.

With 65 mm f/6.3, 100 mm f/2.8, and 150 mm f/5.6 lenses:

Keeping the shutter open with 65 mm f/6.3, 100 mm f/2.8, and 150 mm f/5.6 lenses
  1. Turn the shutter speed dial (#13) to "B".
  2. Cock the shutter.
  3. Pull the time lever knob (L1) outward, and the shutter will remain open. Depress the time lever knob to close the shutter.

With 250 mm f/5 lens:

Keeping the shutter open with 250 mm f/5 lens
  1. Turn the shutter speed dial to "B".
  2. Cock the shutter.
  3. Move the time lever knob (L2) fully toward the letter O (open), and the shutter will remain open. To close the shutter, move the time lever knob to the letter C (closed).

When the shutter has been opened by T-setting, turning the shutter speed dial is impossible.

The time lever (L2) can be moved only when the shutter speed dial is set at "B".

Focusing by Focusing Screen

Focusing by Focusing Screen

F1. Back Cover
F2. Opening Angle Adjustment Slide
F3. Focusing Screen Release Lever
F4. Back Cover Catch Button

Opening the back cover:

To observe the ground glass image, open the back cover (F1) by moving the back cover catch button (F4) in the direction of the arrow. By pulling out the back cover opening angle adjustment slide (F2), the cover will fully open; by retracting the angle adjustment slide, the cover will open to the horizontal line.

Focusing

For focusing by the ground glass image, keep the shutter open and the lens at its fullest aperture; then focus by rotating the focusing ring (#15). The depth of field can be observed on the ground glass screen through stopping down the diaphragm by turning the aperture control lever (#10).

Full size of the focusing ground glass is for 6×9 cm format and the vertical lines slightly in from each side on the ground glass indicate the ideal format or the 6×7 cm size.