Focusing a Mamiya 7

marcmarc · Oct 31, 2014

Hi Everyone,
I'm going to be renting a Mamiya 7II this weekend. It will be my first time using this or any kind of rangefinder. It appears that focusing is fairly straight forward: One simply turns the barrel on the lens until the double image in the viewfinder becomes one. However, as I recall the double image appears in the center of the viewing area. What if I want to focus on a object that is not quite in the center? Do I have to make sure my subject is the same distance as something else in the center I can focus on? This seems like it would be problematic for me as I'm not the greatest at judging such things. I hope there is a way around this. Thanks for replies. After this weekend I'll write back with my impressions of the camera.
Regards,
Marc

contaxg2 · Oct 31, 2014

Focus on the object you want to be in focus and recompose as you want.

mweintraub · Oct 31, 2014

WOHH, where are you renting this camera?

marcmarc · Oct 31, 2014

I am renting this from Keeble and Schchat in the bay area CA.

EdSawyer · Oct 31, 2014

yeah. focus and re-compose. Easy.

Sirius Glass · Oct 31, 2014

contaxg2 said:
Focus on the object you want to be in focus and recompose as you want.

Wot he said!

Steve Goldstein · Oct 31, 2014

If you have trouble seeing the double image, don't panic, it just means your eye isn't centered on the eyepiece. Rangefinders are just a little different

Keith Pitman · Oct 31, 2014

You don't have to use the split image. You can also focus by observing if the image in the viewfinder is sharp.

David Allen · Oct 31, 2014

Keith Pitman said:
You don't have to use the split image. You can also focus by observing if the image in the viewfinder is sharp.

??????????

David.
www.dsallene.de

vpwphoto · Oct 31, 2014

Always wondered too..

I have thought about the OP's question. Little matter if your are going to f8 and at moderate distances. But if I were doing a photo close up. I would tip the camera up at the eyes, then re-compose, if I were at f4 or whatever wide-open is this could be problematic. Problem is don't do critical stuff with equipment of any kind without being familiar and sure of your practice.

shutterlight · Oct 31, 2014

You wouldn't be particularly stopped down at f8. I've gotten shallow depth of field at moderate distances with f11 on my 80/4, let alone f8.

To the OP, you hit on something that I don't think anyone else picked up on, which is that it does sometimes help to pay attention to what's approximately the same distance as what you're focusing on. The 7 is my primary (more like my only these days) camera and I've relied several times in the past on nearby objects.

parkpy · Nov 1, 2014

Ignore the person who incorrectly mentioned to focus until everything in the entire viewfinder is clear

John Koehrer · Nov 1, 2014

Focus on the primary & adjust for composition. If the primary doesn't move, neither will the focus.

marcmarc · Nov 1, 2014

Well, I have the camera now and loaded it with a roll of Acros. The tiny square in the center of the field is what is used to focus but it's so small that I thought it provided a lager double image for easier and faster focusing. I'll have fun with it this weekend, but I don't see how I could use this for street photohraphy and other applications where there is moving objects.

skysh4rk · Nov 1, 2014

marcmarc said:
Well, I have the camera now and loaded it with a roll of Acros. The tiny square in the center of the field is what is used to focus but it's so small that I thought it provided a lager double image for easier and faster focusing. I'll have fun with it this weekend, but I don't see how I could use this for street photohraphy and other applications where there is moving objects.

There are a number of options for focusing in street photography with a Mamiya 7, including pre-focusing, scale focusing (Mamiya 7 lenses should have distance and DOF markings to assist in this), etc.

marcmarc · Nov 1, 2014

I don't trust my ability to judge distances too well. I mean I could get to a point where it might be good enough but I won't know for sure until after I develop the film. Anyway, I shot three rolls and I feel I'm getting used to it. Even with the small square if I have clearly defined edges I feel I can focus well. I'm going to shoot two more rolls tomorrow. I'm just sticking to shooting stationary objects around a nearby college campus.

shutterlight · Nov 2, 2014

It's interesting that you feel that the square is small. I think it's rather large.

brian steinberger · Nov 2, 2014

Ah yes rangefinders.. You either love em or you just can't seem to make them work for you. I am of the former. I love rangefinder photography. It's an extension of me. Good luck with the camera!

CatLABS · Nov 2, 2014

marcmarc said:
Hi Everyone,
I'm going to be renting a Mamiya 7II this weekend. It will be my first time using this or any kind of rangefinder. It appears that focusing is fairly straight forward: One simply turns the barrel on the lens until the double image in the viewfinder becomes one. However, as I recall the double image appears in the center of the viewing area. What if I want to focus on a object that is not quite in the center? Do I have to make sure my subject is the same distance as something else in the center I can focus on? This seems like it would be problematic for me as I'm not the greatest at judging such things. I hope there is a way around this. Thanks for replies. After this weekend I'll write back with my impressions of the camera.
Regards,
Marc

The easiest way to focus a mamiya 7 is to rent a reflex camera instead .

Sirius Glass · Nov 2, 2014

CatLABS said:
The easiest way to focus a mamiya 7 is to rent a reflex camera instead .

+1

Focusing a Mamiya 7

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