C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Mamiya ZE-2 Quartz (introduced ~1982) is a CS-mount 35mm SLR built on the ZE-2 chassis with two additions: a quartz-crystal-controlled electronic shutter for more precise timing, and an integrated date-imprinting back that records date or time data in the lower corner of the frame. The exposure system carries over from the ZE-2 - aperture-priority AE and full manual mode via TTL open-aperture silicon metering - making this the most feature-complete variant of the ZE-2 family at its introduction. It represents the last significant update to the mid-tier CS-mount body before Mamiya consolidated the line into the ZM Quartz.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
Used prices are slightly higher than the base ZE-2 due to the quartz and date back additions; expect working examples in the $60-180 range.
About this camera
1982 CS-mount SLR combining manual exposure, quartz shutter timing, and an integrated date back.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Mamiya CS bayonet |
| Years | ~1982-~1984 |
| Shutter | 8s - 1/1000s + B, electronic vertical metal (quartz-timed) |
| Flash sync | ~1/125s |
| Meter | TTL open-aperture silicon |
| Modes | Aperture-priority, manual |
| Battery | 2x AA |
| Mechanical fallback | No |
| Date back | Integrated |
The ZE-2 Quartz appeared after the base ZE-2 and the ZE Quartz, synthesising the ZE-2's manual mode capability with the ZE Quartz's quartz timing and adding the date-imprinting function. The sequence of CS-mount consumer bodies in the early 1980s was:
By 1982 quartz timing had become an expected differentiator at the consumer tier, and date backs were being offered both as integrated options and as clip-on accessories across the Japanese SLR market. Mamiya wound down its 35mm SLR programme by approximately 1984, and the CS mount was left without further development or third-party support.
The ZE-2 Quartz is the most complete expression of the mid-tier ZE-family body. It addresses each of the principal criticisms of the original ZE - AE-only operation, standard RC oscillator timing, no date documentation feature - and consolidates them into a single model. In practical terms the improvements are modest: quartz timing is more accurate than RC oscillator at slow shutter speeds, and date backs record information that users often wish they had. Neither feature fundamentally changes the photographic experience.
The broader constraint remains the CS lens ecosystem. Mamiya CS-mount lenses are substantially scarcer than Nikon F, Pentax K, or Canon FD glass; the mount attracted no third-party production, and bodies without confirmed lens access are of limited use.
Mamiya CS bayonet mount. Native Mamiya-Sekor CS lenses include:
A separate autowinder accessory was available for CS-mount bodies; compatibility with the ZE-2 Quartz should be verified before purchase. M42-to-CS adapters exist but restrict metering to stop-down operation.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →C41
Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Mamiya ZE-2 Quartz
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