Best 6x7 Camera

SimonSutcliffe · Jan 14, 2012

Hi I posted a thread a while back about a portable medium format, I ditched that idea and decided that I want a 6x7, I am looking for the sharpest most contrasty lenses that have brighter aperture so I can use in darker situation. I was thinking pentax 67, mamiya 7 and rb67 or the gs-1. Which one has the best lenses for fine art photography, landscapes and interesting things. I am printing my photos up to 20x30, and bigger.( these are for clients)

MDR · Jan 14, 2012

The Mamiya 7 has supposedly the sharpest lenses in the MF world your forgot the RZ67 that would get the second place the Mamiya 7 is a rangefinder camera though. Landscape work usually doesn't require the fastest lens for close ups an slr works better. The RB67 and Pentax will be cheaper than the RZ67 and the Mamiya 7. Both the RZ67 and RB67 allow close focussing thanks to their built in bellow. If I were you I'd buy the RB67 SD good lenses not battery dependant and cheaper than the RZ.

Good Luck

Dominik

keithwms · Jan 14, 2012

These are many different kinds of subjects you mention. I would advise looking at the mamiya rz, it has the versatility you seem to need.

garysamson · Jan 14, 2012

I have used the Pentax 6x7, Mamiya RB and RZ and Mamiya 7 systems extensively and and in terms of contrast and resolution the Mamiya 7 system would be my first choice.

MattKing · Jan 14, 2012

There is no single "Best" option.

The SLRs (Pentax 67, Bronica GS-1, Mamiya RB67 or RZ67) are the most versatile, with the Mamiya versions having the advantage of being current. They are all quite large though.

The Mamiya 7 has wonderful lenses and is relatively portable, if a rangefinder will fill your needs.

A Fuji 670 or the Voigtlander equivalent also features a wonderful lens. If you have money for two, there is a Wide version as well.

A Koni-Omega offers a range of excellent lenses and will attract attention in a crowd.

A Plaubel Makina will take excellent photographs, and attract the envy of collectors.

All of these choices are capable of great results if used to their strengths.

Tony-S · Jan 15, 2012

I guess "best" is relative. I considered all three 6x7 SLRs and settled on the GS-1. The 50mm, 100mm and 200mm are exceptionally sharp and control flare quite nicely. The 65mm and 150mm are pretty good, too. The 110mm macro is nice and sharp but doesn't give the 3D or bokeh or whatever you want to call it, as the 100mm. The GS-1 is also the smallest of the three - I routinely carry mine while hiking in the mountains (and will be in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park tomorrow). I wish the lenses had better MFD (need extension tube for head shots) and that the back rotated like the RB/RZ. None of the lenses are faster than f/3.5.

I think you'll need to sort out what's most important for you then choose the camera that best fits those needs.

Jeff Kubach · Jan 15, 2012

I like my RB67, inexpensive. No batteries. It is a little on the heavy side.

Jeff

Katie · Jan 15, 2012

The mamiya 7 is pretty hard to beat, unless you are a portrait photographer.

Roberto · Jan 15, 2012

I love P67, it is a balanced mix of all the best performances of a medium format system.
Perhaps not as sharp as a rangefinder M7 but very sharp and contrasty for a SRL design .
Very handholdable and yes, heavy but not the heaviest, bulky but not the bulkiest.
And with all the versatility of a SLR..

RobertLunak · Jan 15, 2012

I love my Makina 670 the rz67 holds up quite well too

papagene · Jan 15, 2012

I really like my Fuji GW670 II (and GSW690 III)... very handhold-able and sharp lens.
All the cameras you list will give you the images you desire. You have to figure out which one works best for you and feels best in your hands.

Pumalite · Jan 15, 2012

Jeff Kubach said:
I like my RB67, inexpensive. No batteries. It is a little on the heavy side.

Jeff

+1

Poisson Du Jour · Jan 15, 2012

There is no "best" 6x7 camera, but there are a number of stand-outs as populate this thread thus far.
You have to get what is best for you, not what others have found best for themselves. It all comes down to experience and limits.

Though heavy and clunky with a "what the heck was that 'thwank!' noise!?" presence, plenty of Pentax 6x7 and later 67 bodies and a swag of decent lenses are on offer. The old Takumars put in a credible imaging experience for what they but later models are known for the sharp and contrasty Distagon designs. True, many of these stellar performers are f4 designs, but some 2.4 gems exist. Like old Mamiyas and RBs, any of these require thorough checking out because the cameras are now quite old and many have been subject to heavy professional use before being ditched for digi. AND, best of all, a P67 kit can halve one's membership to the gym: weight training, arm strength, dexterity and gusto are all taken care off wrangling daily a P67!

David A. Goldfarb · Jan 15, 2012

Linhof Technika V 23b

All the cameras you mention, and just about any camera that shoots 6x7 is a professional camera that is capable of making excellent images. Because 6x7 requires a mechanical frame counter and can't rely on the red window, I don't think it's ever been an amateur format.

This is what I use for 6x7 these days, but it can also shoot 6x6 and 6x9 rollfilm formats and 2x3" and 6.5x9cm sheet film with the right backs or sheet film holders. In practice I use either 6x7 or 2x3" sheet film. It gives me most of the view camera movements of my 4x5" Tech V, but the whole kit takes up half the space, and I can also use the rangefinder to shoot handheld press-camera style.

SimonSutcliffe · Jan 15, 2012

I was considering a 2x3 century graphic with a 6x7 back a grip like yours and a wider lens but the lenses seem very expensive

David A. Goldfarb · Jan 15, 2012

The lenses are as cheap or as expensive as you can afford, really. There are many fine older lenses that are very reasonably priced, like f:8 Super-Angulons, and normal to longer lenses like Symmars from the 1970s and 80s. The latest designs are more expensive and sharper with better contrast, but the main thing they offer is more coverage, and you can't necessarily use all that coverage on a press camera, which has more limited movements than, say, a dedicated wide-angle camera or a monorail, so you wouldn't necessarily need to spend that much on a wide lens, unless you were also planning to use it on a larger format or on a camera with more extensive movements.

Hatchetman · Jan 15, 2012

You can get set up with a Pentax 6x7 and a lens for about $500. A Mamiya is going to be double that if not more. Depends on your budget.

Danielle · Jan 15, 2012

Jeff Kubach said:
I like my RB67, inexpensive. No batteries. It is a little on the heavy side.

Jeff

I think thats +2 now.

If you fall in love with them, you likely won't care that they're big.

Darkroom317 · Jan 15, 2012

+3 The rotating back is really nice. I like not having to the tripod head or the camera when using it hand held. Yes, it is heavy but I've used it hand held and it isn't that cumbersome.

Kris

MattKing · Jan 15, 2012

Hatchetman said:
You can get set up with a Pentax 6x7 and a lens for about $500. A Mamiya is going to be double that if not more. Depends on your budget.

I better get my two extra RB67s into the Classifieds quick .

tomalophicon · Jan 15, 2012

The best ever 6x7 camera, hands down, no question, is the RB67.

Note: I haven't used any other 6x7 cameras

Hatchetman · Jan 15, 2012

MattKing said:
I better get my two extra RB67s into the Classifieds quick .

I should have said one of the rangefinders, 6 or 7.

tnabbott · Jan 15, 2012

agfarapid · Jan 15, 2012

+4 Another vote for the RB. I've had mine for about 2 years now, paid about $350 for the Pro S with 90mm 3.8. had to replace the seals on the back to eliminate some light leaks (very simple job). Even with the older glass, the optics are outstanding. Despite the weight, easily hand holdable at lower shutter speeds. Beautiful viewing image. I don't use it for everything but for still life and nature haven't found anything to beat it (including my 500c with 80 2.8 Planar). Not as quick and light as the Mamiya 7, but then again it's less than half the price. If it fits your shooting style, try one. This is an example of a cropped image, hand held at about 1/125 .

keithwms · Jan 15, 2012

I have 2 rb bodies and love them. But I also have an rz that I like a lot, and I recommended the rz because it can take rb lenses as well as two rz lenses not in the rb lineup: the 50 uld and the 110/2.8. The latter is a lot of cheap thrill.... and unfortunately there isn't anything that fast in the rb lineup.

I have two mamiya 6es as well and adore them, but they are not versatile for portraits and closeups. But they are fantastic for travel, scenic, landscape, documentary, that kind of thing.

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