The Mamiya Press G (1968) is a medium-format rangefinder press camera producing 6x9 cm negatives on 120 roll film. It occupies an intermediate position in the Mamiya Press lineage between the original Press 23 (1964) and the Press Super 23 (1967/68) - a transitional variant distinguished primarily by a refined viewfinder with improved bright-line framing and clearer rangefinder patch. Like all bodies in the Press family, it accepts the full range of Mamiya-Sekor Press bayonet lenses, interchangeable film backs (6x9, 6x7, 6x4.5, Polaroid), and relies on in-lens Seiko leaf shutters for all-speed flash synchronization. There is no built-in meter; exposure requires an external light meter.
Reference
Find film for your Mamiya Press G
Recommended film stocks for the — format your camera takes.
**Bellows** - the body focus bellows age and crack; test for light leaks in direct sun before shooting a roll.
**Rangefinder calibration** - drifts over decades; verify focus accuracy at both 1m and 5m.
**Leaf shutters** - test all speeds on each lens individually; CLA recommended on any used Mamiya-Sekor Press lens.
**Film back foam seals** - universally degraded on cameras of this age; replace before shooting.
**Back coupling** - verify the back locks positively and the darkslide operates without binding.
**Rarity caveat** - the Press G is less common than the Press 23 or Super 23; verify model designation against body markings before purchasing, as misidentification in listings is common.
Service: independent repairers familiar with Mamiya Press / Universal systems; parts increasingly sourced from spare bodies.
About this camera
1968 transitional Press body with a refined bright-line finder, bridging the Press 23 to the Super 23.
Mamiya-Sekor Press; 50, 65, 75, 90, 100, 150, 250 mm
Shutter
1s – 1/500s + B, Seiko leaf, in each lens
Flash sync
All speeds
Meter
None
Modes
Manual
Weight
~2,150 g (body + 100mm + back)
Battery
None
History
Mamiya introduced the Press 23 in 1964 as a professional 6x9 roll-film camera for news, commercial, and industrial work. The Press G appears in approximately 1968 as a transitional refinement - the viewfinder optics were revised to improve bright-line clarity and rangefinder patch contrast, addressing a known practical complaint from working press photographers. The Press Super 23, which added rear tilt and swing movements for perspective control, overlapped with or closely followed the Press G; the exact production boundary between the two is unclear in surviving documentation.
The Press G was short-lived. By 1969 the Press Super 23 was the mainstream model, and the Universal (1969) followed as a refined body targeted at the North American market. The entire Mamiya Press system was eventually superseded by the Mamiya RB67 (1970) for studio use and the Mamiya 7 (1995) for field rangefinder photography.
Why It Matters
The Press G is among the rarest Mamiya Press variants and is primarily of interest to Mamiya Press system collectors completing a full production lineage. For working shooters, its practical significance is lens and back compatibility: all Mamiya-Sekor Press lenses and backs function identically across every Press body, so the Press G body is interchangeable with Press 23, Super 23, and Universal bodies in a mixed system.
The finder improvement, if genuine, represents a meaningful ergonomic refinement for hand-held field use - the Press 23's rangefinder patch was widely described as dim by field photographers. A brighter, higher-contrast finder reduces the time required to confirm focus in low-contrast or low-light scenes.
For 2026 buyers, the Press G is harder to find than the Press 23 or Super 23 due to its brief production window. It commands similar used prices to the Press 23, slightly below the Super 23 (which adds the tilt/swing back). Neither has the movements of the Super 23; for view-camera-style perspective control, the Super 23 is the correct choice.
Lenses & Accessories
Mamiya-Sekor Press lenses fit all Mamiya Press bodies without modification. Known range: 50/6.3 Fish-Eye, 65/6.3 wide, 75/5.6, 90/3.5, 100/3.5 (standard workhorse), 150/5.6, 250/5. Film backs: 6x9 (8 exp), 6x7 (10 exp), 6x4.5 (16 exp), Polaroid pack-film (FP-100C discontinued; modern Fujifilm pack-film incompatible). Ground-glass back available for studio focus confirmation.
The Press G body does not have rear tilt or swing movements; for those, use the Super 23.
Sample Photographers / Notable Use
Late-1960s Japanese commercial and press photographers transitioning from 4x5 sheet film to roll-film 6x9 for faster turnaround.
Industrial and documentary photographers requiring wide-angle 6x9 coverage (65mm lens) with Polaroid proofing capability.
Fujifilm Fujichrome Provia 100F (RDPIII) is a professional E6 reversal (slide) film in 135 and 120 formats, known for its natural, balanced color reproduction, very fine grain, and moderate saturation. It remains in production as of 2026 and is one of the last professional slide films available.