C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Mamiya ZM (1982) is a consumer-level 35mm SLR using Mamiya's proprietary CS bayonet mount. It offers aperture-priority automatic exposure and manual override, a TTL center-weighted SPD meter, and an electronic vertical-metal-blade shutter running to 1/1000s. The ZM is the base-specification sibling to the Mamiya ZM Quartz, which added quartz crystal timing to the same electronic shutter mechanism for higher accuracy. Both models share the same body shell, CS-mount lens compatibility, and brief production window: Mamiya exited the 35mm SLR market entirely by approximately 1984 to focus exclusively on medium-format (RB67, RZ67, and 645 series). The CS mount was orphaned at that point, leaving ZM bodies lens-limited to whatever Mamiya-Sekor CS glass survives on the used market.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
1982 consumer CS-mount SLR: aperture priority, electronic shutter, the base model to the ZM Quartz.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Mamiya CS |
| Years | ~1982–~1984 |
| Shutter | 8s – 1/1000s, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/60s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted SPD |
| Modes | Aperture priority, manual |
| Weight | ~560 g |
| Battery | 2x SR44 (required; no mechanical fallback) |
By 1982 Mamiya had produced 35mm SLRs for over a decade under the CS-mount system, progressing through the DTL series (1960s), the NC1000 (late 1970s), and the ZE/ZF/ZM consumer family. The ZM was introduced alongside or just after the ZM Quartz as the entry point of the final ZM generation. Mamiya's CS mount never gained the broad third-party lens support that Pentax K, Canon FD, or Nikon F enjoyed, which limited consumer adoption and contributed to Mamiya's decision to exit 35mm entirely. After 1984, Mamiya's entire 35mm SLR line was discontinued and the CS mount closed. No further 35mm bodies or CS-mount lenses were produced.
The ZM sits at the end of a longer lineage:
The ZM is a minor historical artifact: the base model of Mamiya's last 35mm SLR generation. For collectors, it represents the endpoint of a CS-mount lineage that lasted roughly 15 years. For shooters, its practical value is limited by the orphaned mount: there are no modern CS-mount lenses, no third-party glass, and the pool of surviving Mamiya-Sekor CS optics is small and narrowing.
Where the ZM Quartz justifies a slight premium for its more accurate quartz-timed shutter, the base ZM's standard electronic timing is adequate for general shooting but lacks that refinement. Used prices of $50-150 reflect the limited demand for a camera whose primary constraint is lens availability, not body quality.
For anyone committed to shooting the CS mount, the ZM is the most affordable body entry - but the ZM Quartz is preferable if budget allows. Neither is a rational choice over a Pentax K, Olympus OM, or Nikon F body unless the buyer already holds CS lenses.
Mamiya CS bayonet mount. Mamiya-Sekor CS lenses known to exist ():
No third-party CS-mount lenses were produced in quantity. Adapters from CS to modern mirrorless mounts are rare. No motor drive or data back accessories documented for ZM specifically.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Mamiya ZM
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