Mamiya/Sekor 500TL (c.1966)  R. Herron Collection


Mamiya/Sekor 1000TL (c.1966)  R. Herron Collection

To view the Mamiya lenses available for the TL & DTL, Click Here!

Mamiya/Sekor TL Series
The Mamiya/Sekor 500TL and 1000TL cameras were introduced in October 1966. Fully mechanical, they came with a wide variety of interchangeable lenses (all designated as "Auto Mamiya/Sekor"). The lens mount was the same 42mm threaded mount developed for the Praktica and popularized by Pentax. The TL-series was the first Mamiya 35mm with CdS through-the-lens (TTL) metering. It was powered by one MS-76 or equivalent 1.5v battery, and provided a spot meter that measured approximately 10% of the viewfinder area.


Mamiya M42 lens series (photo courtesy R. Stauber, Germany)
With a horizontal, mechanical focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains, it has an ASA range from 25 to 800, with shutter speeds from 1 sec. to 1/500 (1/1000 on the 1000TL), with a Bulb setting. The flash would synch at 1/60 and both cameras originally came with an optional flash mount (cold) that attached over the prism housing via the rear finder (it is visible in the 500TL picture above). The 1000TL model added a self-timer.

Like many Mamiya 35mm cameras, the TL series was also sold with rebranded names, particularly in Germany, where the retailing powerhouse Porst (Porst went out of business in the 1980s) demanded house-brand cameras that could be sold for less than the "original" brand name! The Mamiya 500- and 1000-TL cameras were sold as the Porst Reflex 500c and the Porst Superflex 1000c, respectively.

Note: Information on MAMIYA/SEKOR 528TL or 528AL cameras can be found on the Fixed Lens SLR page.

Mamiya/Sekor DTL Series
The Mamiya 500- and 1000-DTL series cameras were introduced in July 1968. Along with the TL series, these Mamiya/Sekor cameras were the popular backbone of the Mamiya line in the mid-to-late 60s. They were sturdily built, with excellent optics. The lenses were virtually identical to those on the TL-series. They still used the universal "Pentax type" 42mm screw-on mount, although later DTL lenses are identified by the black lens ring which replaced the earlier chrome version. Either lens ring can be found on each series of these cameras today.

The major difference in the newer DTL series was the addition of dual metering patterns, where both spot meter (10 percent of the field) and average readings were possible. The DTL's are also capable of measuring over a wider ASA range (25-3200), and the 1000-series again provided a self-timer that was not included on the 500 DTL.

The Mamiya 500- and 1000-DTL were the only cameras of their day to offer these dual metering patterns! This metering feature, which would eventually become an important marketing feature for all cameras, did not become generally available on SLR's from other manufacturers for several years after the introduction of the Mamiya 500- and 1000-DTL!

An "A" and "S" switch, near the lens mount on the DTL camera body, is used to choose between the average- and spot-meter utility. The light meter itself is activated by pulling the film advance lever slightly away from the camera body. Readings are taken by pushing the lever back toward the body, and reading the result through the viewfinder. The meter is designed to be entirely deactivated by depressing the round button on top of the film advance lever.

DTL Average/Spot Meter Switch


A schematic of the DTL, showing the relationship of its metering components.

An extremely sturdy camera, both the TL- and the DTL-series are still widely available today. They are often sold as "a completely mechanical camera, great for students" at reasonable prices. Although they now often require repair to the light meter, if the lenses are clean it is an extremely worthwhile investment to buy and fix for everyday shooting, even without the meter. The entire TL/DTL series uses one MS-76 or equivalent 1.5v battery, still readily available.