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| A Brief Personal History
I have a BA degree in advertising, an MBA from a prestigious program, and an almost insatiable desire to learn new and creative things. Years ago, I spent a lot of time outdoors coaching soccer. I was also a certified FIFA soccer referee, until my knees decided they were finally too old to continue (even though the rest of me was still willing). I've spent over 38 years in the advertising and publishing industry...a business life that's often been hectic. I find balance by spending my favorite times with my friends and family. My sons have all grown into great young men (obviously a glowing tribute to their mother), and my grandchildren are more precious than you can imagine. I also have a spectacular and beautiful wife, an absolute angel, who has somehow tolerated me for more than 37 years (which is one miracle I can guarantee I will absolutely never question)! |
Yes, that's me! |
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About This Site
My first new camera was a Mamiya 1000 DTL, purchased in 1968 (still have it, and it still works). I have been collecting Mamiya 35mm cameras for a long time, and think they are often overlooked as interesting photographic equipment. I was surprised a few years ago at how little information was available about Mamiya's 35mm history (there is a bit more now, but not much). Not even Mamiya itself had anything to say about that portion of their heritage, apparently preferring not to detract from the marketing efforts for their mid-size film and digital brands. I don't expect that to change now that Mamiya has transferred all its photo assets to Cosmo Digital (Sept. 2006) forming the new Mamiya Digital Imaging company. However, I have gathered a lot of Mamiya 35mm data for myself over the years. About seven years ago I decided to make that information available. Now, I've never built a web site before, so this has been a many-years-long creative learning experience for me. I certainly hope it has become an information forum to each Gentle Reader for what I think are some truly neat old cameras! I say that knowing full well Mamiya made some "clunkers" along the way. But Mamiya introduced many new features into 35mm photography. They were in the forefront of SLR design (see Mamiya Prismat prototypes); had the first production 35mm camera with a removable back (Mamiya Magazine 35, c.1957); the first dual metering system (Mamiya 500 DTL, c.1968); unquestionably the most technologically advanced 35mm SLR of its day (Mamiya Auto XTL, c.1971) and they still produce (as Mamiya Digital Imaging) medium-format film & digital cameras and lenses of superb clarity. Few people realize Nikon's Nikkorex F camera, featuring the first Copal S vertical-travel metal focal-plane shutter, was actually produced for Nikon by Mamiya! Similarly, few people realize other well-known and well-respected cameras (like the Rollei 35) used lenses (Rolleinar) that were actually made by Mamiya! Other Things My wife and I have been fortunate to have done a lot of traveling in our years together. In the USA, we've been from Casco Bay in Maine to San Diego; Seattle to Miami; and even the Bahamas (although I have to admit we've never seen the Grand Canyon). We've spent weeks in Germany, Austria and Hungary, and made brief stops in Shannon, Ireland and Amsterdam. We've been to Venice, Naples, Rome and Florence in Italy; Athens and Santorini in Greece; Paris, Eze and Nice in France; Barcelona in Spain; and Dubrovnik, Gruda and Cavtat in Croatia! We've also been lucky enough to have seen the far side of the world, spending weeks in Tokyo, Kyoto, Fuji and Osaka in Japan, and both Beijing and Shanghai in The People's Republic of China. And, as wonderful as that all sounds (and yes, I do realize exactly how fortunate and blessed we have been) there's still no place like home! Something You Think Should Be Added? Join my Collecting Mamiya 35mm Forum and tell us about it! 
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Herron All Rights Reserved. Legal