Identifying Mamiya 7 Rangefinder Upgrade ?

GDI · Aug 26, 2022

Is there anyway to tell if a Mamiya 7 has had the rangefinder upgraded ?

I have two bodies and one was upgraded for sure (RF parts, but not the obsolete Blue glass), but I’m not sure about the second- though it has held alignment for several years. Neither camera has the blue, high contrast glass.

Any tips on determining if the second was upgraded?

Thanks!

Mamiya_Repair · Aug 27, 2022

Here is an IG post I did on the rangefinder differences of the Mamiya 7/7II that may help you: Mamiya 7 rangefinders

Basically, by October 1995, all the internal changes on the rangefinder (bright frame lines) were made.

itsdoable · Aug 27, 2022

The upgraded rangefinders used polarizers, where as the original did not. When you look through the upgraded viewfinder at an LCD monitor and rotated the camera, the LCD screen would darken like crossed polarizers.

GDI · Aug 28, 2022

Mamiya_Repair said:
Here is an IG post I did on the rangefinder differences of the Mamiya 7/7II that may help you: Mamiya 7 rangefinders

Basically, by October 1995, all the internal changes on the rangefinder (bright frame lines) were made.

Thanks!! I just checked it out, Bill. Very informative.

So there are are no upgrades to the RF mechanism itself, just the bright lines ? I understood there was an upgrade to help hold alignment. Also - the yellow window is evident in your photos, but I’m I have seen that blue in color on the 7ii. Is that a different upgrade?

Also, I assume the polarizing test for an upgrade is not really valid?

GDI · Aug 28, 2022

itsdoable said:
The upgraded rangefinders used polarizers, where as the original did not. When you look through the upgraded viewfinder at an LCD monitor and rotated the camera, the LCD screen would darken like crossed polarizers.

I didn’t realize that - I was using the one I know was upgraded today and noticed I had to remove my polarized sunglasses to see much. I’ll check the other one tomorrow!

Thanks

Mamiya_Repair · Aug 29, 2022

GDI said:
Thanks!! I just checked it out, Bill. Very informative.

So there are are no upgrades to the RF mechanism itself, just the bright lines ? I understood there was an upgrade to help hold alignment. Also - the yellow window is evident in your photos, but I’m I have seen that blue in color on the 7ii. Is that a different upgrade?

Also, I assume the polarizing test for an upgrade is not really valid?

There is only one upgraded window and it allows yellow light through the filter and reflects blue light so it will look blue looking at the outside of the camera.

There is no polarizing test as both the Mamiya 7 and 7II used a polarizing beam splitter.

GDI · Aug 29, 2022

Mamiya_Repair said:
There is only one upgraded window and it allows yellow light through the filter and reflects blue light so it will look blue looking at the outside of the camera.

There is no polarizing test as both the Mamiya 7 and 7II used a polarizing beam splitter.

Thanks!

itsdoable · Aug 29, 2022

Mamiya_Repair said:
....There is no polarizing test as both the Mamiya 7 and 7II used a polarizing beam splitter.

Thanks for correcting that! I'll update my file... but its in my head, so prone to some file rot. It's been some 20 years since I looked into my M7 finder upgrade...

Identifying Mamiya 7 Rangefinder Upgrade ?

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