did you replace Leica with a 120 rangefinder?

[TheFlyingCamera]

If you're thinking of medium format rangefinders, the Mamiya 6 or Mamiya 7 are great choices, but with the caveat of limited close focus, as with most rangefinders. This isn't so terrible on the wider lenses, but with the 150mm lens, your minimum focus distance is 6 feet, which is not close enough for a tight head shot. If you think along these lines, look at the Mamiya 7 instead - there are five lenses available for it, instead of three, and it gives you the 6x7 aspect ratio which you can always crop if you want back to square. With any medium format rangefinder you're not going to get the fast lenses you have with 35mm. Why not just stick to your Rolleiflex? There's no reason you can't use it for family photos as well as work.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Hi revdocjim,

I was casting around for an easily recognizable sports car name and Maserati popped into my head. I could have said Corvette or many others. Couldn't afford the insurance let alone the car price itself.

Jerry

 

[pbromaghin]

That's my point. A 120 rangefinder can't be smaller than an M3.

According to Wikipedia, the dimensions of an M3 are 138 × 77 × 33.5 mm.

I just measured my Voigtlaender Bessa 66 and it is 124 x 73 x 32 mm with the view finder down.

 

[AOCo]

According to Wikipedia, the dimensions of an M3 are 138 × 77 × 33.5 mm.
I just measured my Voigtlaender Bessa 66 and it is 124 x 73 x 32 mm with the view finder down.

But the Bessa 66 isn't a rangefinder, is it ?

 

[pbromaghin]

But the Bessa 66 isn't a rangefinder, is it ?

It'a a viewfinder. What would a rangefinder add to the height? 15 mm? The length and depth would not need to change, so it would still be pretty darned close.

 

[okto]

That would make it, once again, bigger than an M3. The Bessa isn't a rangefinder, so it's totally moot as a counterexample. Horseshoes and hand grenades.

My statement stands: a 120 rangefinder almost certainly can't be smaller than an M3. The claim that someone switched from an M3 to a 120 rangefinder because it was smaller is delusional and potentially way confusing to people reading this thread in a year or five or ten.

I own and use both, I've got no horse in this race except the containment of misinformation.

 

[Bigdaddyg]

Im thinking of selling my Leica M6 TTL and my Hasselblad 500cm for a mamiya 7ii. I just cant seem to let go of the leica although I dont shoot much 35mm at all.

 

[kcham16]

I sold off my Leica M4-2 a couple of years ago to invest in a digital system for work. I had always regretted doing so, until I picked up my Mamiya 7. It is such a joy to use, is simple, fast, and the picture quality crushes my M4-2 with a summicron 50mm f/2.

The only thing I don't get anymore is the occasional jealous looks from folks when I had my Leica- the Mamiya doesn't get those same stares, which is probably a good thing.

Don't get me wrong- the Leica was and is a great camera. but for less than the price of a Leica lens, you can pick up a whole Mamiya system that outshoots it.

I do miss shooting with the Leica, as it has a great feel, but I am super content with the Mamiya decision, and don't miss anything else about it.