Mamiya 500TL (c.1966 or c.1968)
A 35mm SLR camera with spot metering and M42 screwmount, introduced at Photokina 1966
Overview
The Mamiya 500TL is a 35mm SLR made by Mamiya / Sekor. It was first shown at the 1966 Photokina. Mamiya named the models in this series for their fastest shutter speed. The 500TL was sold with the AUTO E.E. Mamiya-Sekor 50mm f/2 lens. It has a mechanical focal-plane shutter and a built-in CdS spot meter, with the metered area marked in the viewfinder.
Specifications
| Lens Mount | Pentax/Praktica screwmount (M42) |
| Shutter | Focal plane shutter, horizontal, mechanical, cloth curtains |
| Shutter Speeds | 1 sec to 1/500 sec, Bulb, X-sync = 1/60 |
| Metering System | CdS, spot-metering (spot marked in viewfinder) |
| Film Type | 35mm |
| Included Lens | AUTO E.E. Mamiya-Sekor 50mm f/2 |
Design
The shutter is a horizontal, mechanical focal-plane type with cloth curtains. The meter is a CdS spot meter, and the metered area is marked in the viewfinder. The lens mount is the 42mm threaded M42 mount, so it works with Pentax and Praktica lenses.
Context
The 500TL was first shown at the 1966 Photokina. It belongs to a series of Mamiya SLRs named for their maximum shutter speed - this one tops out at 1/500 second.
Market
Reported problems include light meters that don't work and shutter timing trouble on the first frame, and it comes up again and again. Some owners swapped their 500TL for cameras like the Pentax Spotmatic because of reliability concerns.
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