Mamiya U – Junk Store Cameras

Seriously? He was ALL HANDS!

Mamiya U camera as “Hand Sam”?

Super HANDy to use. If you’re not too picky about making decent images, the Mamiya U might be for “U”. Maybe I’m just not all that good with the zone focus? Sporting a 2.8 Mamiya Sekor 35mm lens, it’s a bit picky on the closer focus increments. My infinity shots were great!

I think this particular camera was built in 1981. The ISO setting goes from an impressive 25 to 400. It’s got a self timer and a built in, pop-up flash. It take 2 AAA batteries.

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, Nevada.

I like these first three shots, but don’t get your hopes up. I will return to my usual dull and inconsequential shooting in a minute here.

My boy, Hawkeye. I miss him.

I’m not kidding, the guide number on this flash is probably about 3, and that’s on a good day.

I wonder if I could HANDicap the flash by setting the ISO lower whenever I needed to use it? I doubt that would make a difference as the lens aperture is fixed. Hmmm…

I hear the shutter button cover is disintegrated on nearly every example of this camera and mine is no exception.

Ok. So, we’re skirting the elephant in the room. What’s with that absurd stand? Frankly, I have no fucking clue. I found a vague reference to one for sale on Depop, a fashion website. (Don’t go there looking for it though. The seller wants $888.99. A HANDsome sum!) On the other HAND, truth often overcomes facts and a 2006 edition of McKeown’s lists it’s value at $30-$40. Granted, in 2006 1980s point and shoot cameras were exactly all the rage.

The stand (for lack of a better term) fits the camera’s body perfectly and screws into the tripod mount.