MAMIYA 300 RESPONSE

Bill Broadhurst kindly responded to the comments Dennis O’Connor made in his article on his Mamiya 300 Medium Format camera in CRCN111. Their correspondence is published below — a timely reminder as to what the CRC is all about.

Just a comment or two re the article from Dennis O’Connor and his Mamiya 300. Surely, not even since the days of home coating huge glass plates has it been necessary to have a darkroom to change lenses? I think that either Dennis has a faulty camera or perhaps does not have or follow an instruction book. My own well0used is the slightly later Mamiya 330. It is not possible to remove a lens without switching in the dark slide. The lens clamp, the spring at the top of the lens cannot be moved without first operating the lens lock knob. This is situated on the left hand side of the camera in the centre of the parallax correcting dial. I change lenses many times and never lose a shot. If Dennis has an email address or you could put us in touch in some way I feel pretty sure I can help him.
Many thanks and best wishes,
Bill.

Dennis O’Connor’s reply:

Hi, Bill.
Many, many thanks for your email to CRC about my Mamiya 300.
I purchased the camera secondhand with only the 80mm lens fitted and without a user manual. I was told that the blue knob that you describe was only for close-up work to correct parallax error! Since the camera had only the single lens I assume that the seller never had to change it.
Consequently I was never told about the other use of the knob.

When I took the camera body to a photo shop to purchase two other lenses, the assistant depressed the “small pivot that locks the main spring in place” with his finger!! Consequently this is how I was told to change the lenses. No mention of a dark slide, or the knob. Since I do not take close-up pictures I had no need to investigate its uses further.
I did look to see if there was a dark slide inside the body, but could not see anything obvious. Now that I have read your email I now have the following:

1. A dark slide,

2. No need to try and press the pivot manually to release the main spring.

I cannot thank you enough for the information you gave me. That’s one of the things I like about CRC. The willingness to provide information and help.
All the best for the future.
Dennis O’Connor

Dear Dennis,
Glad to have been of use. I use Hannah Wholesale for film supplies, 120 not being easy to get in Warrington. Bill Reid asks to see our correspondence in case he can make copy for the mag out of it. Yes, he is desperate. Glad I extracted your email address; the one Bill gave stretched almost across my screen.
Best wishes,
Bill.