NC 1000 S

Mamiya NC 1000 S Camera Body

Based on the information I have so far, the black version of the NC 1000 S was the first model of this series which was introduced by Mamiya in 1977. The NC 1000 S has a couple of features which the NC 1000 doesn´t have: interchangeable focusing screens and a film memo pocket on the back cover. Otherwise, the two camera models are the same.

According to a technician at Mamiya in Munich, Germany, the design of the shutter speed control has changed at one point during production of the NC 1000 S. This improved control gives supposedly more stable and precise shutter speeds over a longer period of time. You can see this difference only when you open up the bottom part of the camera. You can find out more details about the differences further down on this page.

The improved version can also be recognized by the serial number of the camera. Serial numbers lower than K150848 have the old design and serial numbers higher than K152262 have the new design.


	The Mamiya NC 1000 S is available in black and in silver. The silver version is not seen very often and is worth a little more. The value on the used market is depending on the condition of the camera (as with all collector´s items).

Every once in a while you can still find some basically new Mamiya NC series equipment in its original box on the market (i.e. eBay). Below is a picture of such an example, a mint Mamiya NC 1000 S in black with the Auto Mamiya-Sekor CS 50 mm 1:1.4 lens and an Auto Mamiya-Sekor CS 28 mm 1:2.8 wide-angle lens, both items still in their original boxes. The camera is a relatively late model (ca. 1980) with the serial number K229694. When the NC series was introduced in 1977 the boxes were still red (and sometimes yellow as well). The price sticker on the box of this NC 1000 S with the 50 mm 1:1.4 lens says 585 DM (German Marks), which is the equivalent of approx. 300 Euros or US$ 280. On the box of the Auto Mamiya-Sekor CS 28 mm 1:2.8 wide-angle lens is a price sticker which says 398 DM (this equals approx. 200 Euros or US$ 185).




		Mamiya NC 1000 S with the 1:1.4 standard lens and a CS 28 mm 1:2.8 lens, both with their original boxes.

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			Specifications of Mamiya NC 1000 and NC 1000 S Camera Models

Camera Type	35 mm SLR with shutter speed priority AE (automatic exposure) and manual override
Lens Mount	Mamiya NC bayonet mount (three-flange, 49 mm) for use with dedicated Mamiya-Sekor Auto CS lenses (multi-coated) only
Shutter	electronically controlled rubberized silk focal plane shutter with range of 1/1000 sec. to 1 sec. and bulb; flash sync speed is 1/60 sec.
Self Timer	variable time delay of approx. 4-9 sec. with its own activating button (which can be by-passed)
Flash Connection	hot shoe (no TTL metering) plus X- and FP-terminal (for standard PC cord connection)
Exposure Meter	ultra sensitive center-weighted CdS meter with exposure measurement range of EV 2-18 (100 ASA with f/1.4 lens)
Film Speed Range	ASA 25-3200, DIN 15-36
Viewfinder	large, brilliant pentaprism SLR viewing; exposure meter indicator needle, aperture scale, and stop-down metering index mark visible in the viewfinder; magnification of 0.94x with 50 mm lens set at infinity
Focusing Screens (they are only interchangeable with NC 1000 S camera model)	No. 1: matte screen (fresnel lens) with central 45° split-image rangefinder spot with microprism collar (supplied with camera) No. 2: matte screen with central (horizontal) split-image rangefinder spot No. 3: matte screen with central microprism spot No. 4: all matte screen (used for lenses with small aperture of f/3.5 or smaller) No. 5: clear transparent screen with fresnel lens and cross-hair central spot (gives incorrect meter reading, for special purposes)
Mirror	quick-return mirror; coated for increased reflectance
Film Advance Lever	single-action type with short 130° throw and stand-off angle of 15°; double-exposure prevention; meter-off button incorporated into lever (doubles as shutter release button lock in off-position)
Exposure Counter	additive type with automatic reset
Film Memo Pocket	built-on the back cover (NC 1000 S camera model only)
Power Source	two 1.5 V silver oxide batteries (Eveready S-76, Ray-O-Vac RS-76, Mallory MS-76 or equivalent) supply the pwoer for the electronic shutter and exposure meter
Dimensions	136 mm x 83 mm x 50 mm (camera body only) 136 mm x 83 mm x 89 mm (with f/1.4 lens) 136 mm x 83 mm x 81 mm (with f/1.7 lens)
Weight	510 g (18 oz.) for camera body only


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Nomenclature of Parts and Controls

1 = Film Speed Ring Lock Button
2 = Flash Sync Terminals (X and FP)
3 = Self-Timer Activating Button
4 = Self-Timer Lever

5 = Depth-of-Field Preview Button
6 = Alignment Dot for Lens Mounting (Body)
7 = Mirror
8 = Interchangeable Focusing Screen


	9 = Film Rewind Knob and Back Cover Release 10 = Film Plane Reference Mark 11 = Battery Check Lamp 12 = Hot-Shoe (with Safety Cover) 13 = Film Advance Lever 14 = Meter OFF Button 15 = AE Button 16 = Shutter Speed Ring 17 = Shutter Release Button 18 = Exposure Counter 19 = Battery Check Button 20 = Film Memo Pocket 21 = Viewfinder Eyepiece 22 = ASA Window 23 = Lens Release Button 24 = DIN Window




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25 = Film Speed Setting Ring
26 = Tripod Socket (1/4”)
27 = Battery Compartment Cover
28 = Film Rewind Button

The illustration pictures are taken from a German Mamiya NC 1000 S brochure (September 1977) and are copyrighted by Mamiya. Please do not copy them without permission.

Design Change of Shutter Control Mechanism

I finally got my hands on an older NC 1000 S camera and the shutter speeds seem to be very instable. Most of the times when I trigger the shutter (with batteries inserted) the mirror locks up (remains in the upper position) and the shutter stays open. I then have to take the batteries out to release the mirror and to get the focal plane shutter closed again.

I thought this camera would be a good example to really find out what the difference in the shutter mechanism is between older NC 1000 S cameras and newer ones. I decided to open the bottom of the camera (no big deal, simply remove the three little screws and carefully take the bottom cover off).

The serial number of this older Mamiya NC 1000 S camera is K105238. I also opened up a newer version of the NC 1000 S camera for comparison (serial number K228955). Below you can see the difference (see red arrow).


	This picture on the left shows the older NC 1000 S camera (serial no. K105238). The red arrow points to a lever (linking arm) which is in contact with the magnet (the magnet is the yellowish part mainly covered by another large lever). Please note that the pictures are taken with the shutter cooked since the difference can be noticed much easier that way.

	The picture on the left shows the newer NC 1000 S camera (serial no. K228955). The red arrow points to a lever (linking arm) which is in contact with the magnet (the magnet is the yellowish part partly covered by another lever). This picture is also taken with the shutter cooked. I assume that most of the NC 1000 S cameras have this newer shutter control design.

I mentioned earlier on this page that you can tell the difference by the serial number of the camera, where serial numbers lower than K150848 have the old design and serial numbers higher than K152262 have the new design. I don´t know exactly with which serial number the design of the shutter has changed. If you happen to own a NC 1000 S with a serial number in between these two numbers, it would be cool if you could find out about the design of the shutter of your camera.

It would be great if you could open the bottom of your camera and compare the design to the above pictures and e-mail me your findings (old or new design, serial number). I will then add it to the table below and make the results available for other Mamiya NC series collectors. Your support is greatly appreciated and will help making this website more comprehensive. Thank you!

Disclaimer: Even though it is very easy to take the bottom cover of your NC 1000 S camera off and back on (nothing is falling out etc.), you do this at your own risk.

Serial Number Survey: Mamiya NC 1000 S and NC 1000 Cameras

Here´s a list of several NC series cameras which have been checked for the shutter design so far. At this point, I would like to greatly thank Joachim Pototzky - another German Mamiya NC series enthusiast - who was the one to help me find out these details (my initial assumption that the new shutter design was introduced with serial numbers starting with K2... was wrong). I would be happy to add more cameras to this list, and I would appreciate your input.

I have now several reports of NC 1000 cameras with low serial numbers (old shutter design), so it appears that the NC 1000 was introduced at about the same time as the NC 1000 S (or possibly even before the NC 1000 S). I am very interested in finding out more about these low serial numbers models.

Serial No.	Model	Color	Shutter Control
K100710	NC1000	black	old design
K102075	NC1000	black	old design
K103587	NC1000	black	old design
K105152	NC1000S	black	old design
K105238	NC1000S	black	old design
K106056	NC1000S	black	old design
K106668	NC1000S	black	old design
K112483	NC1000S	black	old design
K113935	NC1000S	black	old design
K115362	NC1000	black	old design
K119849	NC1000	black	old design
K120799	NC1000	black	old design
K122533	NC1000	black	old design
K122701	NC1000S	black	old design
K126480	NC1000S	black	old design
K131453	NC1000S	silver	old design
K134394	NC1000S	black	old design
K134921	NC1000S	black	old design
K139871	NC1000S	black	old design
K141250	NC1000S	black	old design
K142161	NC1000S	black	old design
K143767	NC1000	black	old design
K145025	NC1000	black	old design
K145428	NC1000	black	old design
K145474	NC1000S	black	new design
K150213	NC1000S	silver	old design
K150848	NC1000S	silver	old design
K152262	NC1000	black	new design
K154127	NC1000S	black	new design
K157270	NC1000S	black	new design
K158395	NC1000S	black	new design
K158611	NC1000	black	new design
K159217	NC1000S	black	new design
K159874	NC1000S	black	new design
K163376	NC1000S	black	new design
K163817	NC1000	black	new design
K165115	NC1000S	black	new design
K167205	NC1000S	black	new design
K167466	NC1000	black	new design
K167593	NC1000S	black	new design
K167676	NC1000S	silver	new design
K168513	NC1000S	black	new design
K169455	NC1000S	black	new design
K170044	NC1000	black	new design
K172994	NC1000S	silver	new design
K173530	NC1000S	black	new design
K178089	NC1000S	black	new design
K180089	NC1000S	black	new design
K180880	NC1000S	black	new design
K182530	NC1000	black	new design
K183555	NC1000	black	new design
K184155	NC1000S	black	new design
K186030	NC1000S	black	new design
K186824	NC1000S	black	new design
K188375	NC1000	black	new design
K188934	NC1000S	black	new design
K191760	NC1000	black	new design
K192651	NC1000	black	new design
K194575	NC1000S	silver	new design
K196665	NC1000S	black	new design
K197164	NC1000S	silver	new design
K200214	NC1000S	black	new design
K200599	NC1000S	black	new design
K204627	NC1000	black	new design
K207697	NC1000S	black	new design
K208651	NC1000S	black	new design
K212259	NC1000	black	new design
K214184	NC1000S	black	new design
K221275	NC1000	black	new design
K223948	NC1000	black	new design
K225592	NC1000S	black	new design
K227392	NC1000S	black	new design
K228415	NC1000S	silver	new design
K228955	NC1000S	silver	new design
K229694	NC1000S	black	new design
K229758	NC1000	black	new design
K231728	NC1000S	silver	new design
K237943	NC1000S	silver	new design
K242996	NC1000S	silver	new design
K253054	NC1000S	silver	new design
K255721	NC1000S	silver	new design
K257003	NC1000S	silver	new design

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I decided to start a survey on the serial numbers of the NC series cameras. This can be interesting for several reasons:

It can approximately tell how many NC series cameras were produced in total (so far, the data shows that there were at least 166,000 NC cameras produced by Mamiya).

Is it correct that the NC1000 was introduced together with the NC1000S from the very beginning?

Once enough data is collected (> 100 cameras) it is quite safe to start some statistics on what the percentage of each model is.

Narrow down the serial number with which the new electronic shutter control was introduced (so far it is down to a little less than 1,500 cameras).

If you would be so kind to help me with this survey and e-mail me the serial number, model, color, and - when in question - old or new shutter control design that would be appreciated very much.

Thank you for your interest and support!

Mamiya NC Series Camera Statistics

I have now access to enough data to start some statistics about the Mamiya NC series cameras. This chart is showing the approximate share of each model.




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