The Mamiya ZM was introduced in October 1982 and represents the last model that Mamiya produced in the field of 35mm SLR cameras.
The camera ended an era for the Japanese company, which thereafter focused almost exclusively on medium format cameras. The withdrawal from the 35mm sector was accelerated by the bankruptcy of the worldwide distribution partner J. Osawa in 1984, which prematurely ended production of the entire Z series.
The camera body differs from its direct predecessors like the ZE and ZE-2 by a pronounced grip bulge on the right front side. This design change provides better ergonomics and a more stable hold when shooting.
The body is largely made of plastic, resulting in a relatively low weight of about 480 grams. Despite the use of plastic, the design appears clean and functional. The controls are classically arranged, so photographers accustomed to other systems can quickly find their way around.
Technically, the Mamiya ZM is based on electronically controlled exposure. It features aperture-priority autoexposure, where the photographer selects the aperture on the lens and the camera automatically determines the appropriate shutter speed. The exposure metering is center-weighted through the lens.
The quartz-controlled metal focal-plane shutter operates in automatic mode from 4 seconds to 1/1000 second. In manual mode, the user can select speeds from 2 seconds to 1/1000 second, as well as a B setting for long exposures. The exposure meter is activated by lightly pressing the shutter release, whereupon LEDs in the viewfinder indicate the determined shutter speed.
The camera's viewfinder is equipped with a split-image rangefinder and a microprism ring, facilitating manual focusing. The lens mount is the Mamiya Z bayonet. The Mamiya Sekor E and EF lens series were developed for the camera. These optics transmit aperture values electronically to the body. Since the system was discontinued after 1984, suitable lenses are now rarer on the used market than products from competitors.
The camera is powered by 2 LR44 (eBay / Amazon*) or SR44 (eBay / Amazon*) button cells with a voltage of 1.5 volts. Additionally, the Mamiya Winder ZE can be attached for automatic film transport.
Films for the Mamiya ZM
The Mamiya ZM is designed for 35mm film. These are still easy to obtain and are still developed. Available photographic films for the Mamiya ZM that can be easily purchased online are the Kodak Gold 200* for charming color shots and the Ilford FP4 Plus* for brilliant B&W shots.
