Mamiya 6/7 or Makina 67?

[J Durr]

OK, let's here the Goods and the Bads for the Mamiya 6 or 7 and the Makina 67.
I am trying to decide whether to get another Hasselblad 500 or give a MF rangefinder a try.
What say you?

Thanks

 

[Pieter12]

Mamiya has interchangeable lenses, and they are really good. The Plaubel has a fixed 80mm Nikkor, another great lens. And I suspect the Mamiya is more serviceable (more parts and technicians). I don't know much more about the Mamiya, but I have a Plaubel and the meter wiring is a weak point.

 

[J Durr]

Mamiya has interchangeable lenses, and they are really good. The Plaubel has a fixed 80mm Nikkor, another great lens. And I suspect the Mamiya is more serviceable (more parts and technicians). I don't know much more about the Mamiya, but I have a Plaubel and the meter wiring is a weak point.

I had the chance to shoot a roll thru my friends Makina 67 recently. Have not processed yet, but it was fun shooting with it. He said that the meter was not working when he got it. The rangefinder seemed a bit off so I may not have anything to judge when I see what I shot.
I almost bought a Mamiya 6 years back, but never did.
Thanks for you input.

 

[itsdoable]

I've been lucky to own all 3 (simultaneously!), obtained back when their prices were more reasonable, and I was single, working in the field with no expenses. That, along with GAS, was a perfect storm.

They all have quality lenses, but the Mamiya has telephoto options.

The 2 Plaubel's with the 80mm and 55mm is smaller, but not lighter than the Mamiya-7 with 2 lenses. The M-7 is probably more robust, but that's not saying much. The 43mm lens on the M-7 is the closes thing to the Hasselblad-SWC, only better. The Mamiya-6 is... well, square, not a 4:3. And the lens collapses into the body. A little, anyways. The Plaubels are not battery dependent. The Mamiya's have automatic exposure.

The format, and lens choice are probably more important to consider, that and the rangefinder experience. I much prefer SLR viewing, but you cannot discount to speed of rangefinder in the field, if that is important.

Note that the meter on the M-6 is center weighted and works well for shooting quickly, the M-7 has a weird off center spot meter that requires more care. The Plaubel is also a spot meter, but at least you know where the spot is.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I've been lucky to own all 3 (simultaneously!), obtained back when their prices were more reasonable, and I was single, working in the field with no expenses. That, along with GAS, was a perfect storm.

They all have quality lenses, but the Mamiya has telephoto options.

The 2 Plaubel's with the 80mm and 55mm is smaller, but not lighter than the Mamiya-7 with 2 lenses. The M-7 is probably more robust, but that's not saying much. The 43mm lens on the M-7 is the closes thing to the Hasselblad-SWC, only better. The Mamiya-6 is... well, square, not a 4:3. And the lens collapses into the body. A little, anyways. The Plaubels are not battery dependent. The Mamiya's have automatic exposure.

The format, and lens choice are probably more important to consider, that and the rangefinder experience. I much prefer SLR viewing, but you cannot discount to speed of rangefinder in the field, if that is important.

Note that the meter on the M-6 is center weighted and works well for shooting quickly, the M-7 has a weird off center spot meter that requires more care. The Plaubel is also a spot meter, but at least you know where the spot is.

Did you keep any of them? If so, which one?

 

[itsdoable]

Did you keep any of them? If so, which one?

I sold the Mamiya-7, which I sort of regret, but I was not using it.

I still shoot a lot of 6x6 on the M-6.

I could not sell the Plaubels, they are... just... really ... nice!

 

[Arthurwg]

I have both the Mamiya 6 and 7. Booth are great cameras. I've traveled widely with the 6 and made great pictures with it over many years. Very easy to hand hold, even at slow speeds. I shoot mainly the 50mm lens with that camera. The Mamiya 7 is also wonderful, and the 43mm lens is astounding. I usually shoot the 7 with a 60mm lens. I'd call that perfect. And I might add that the Mamiya lenses are the best MF lenses that I've ever used. I do think the main question is, do you want square or rectangle? As for the Makina 67, it's a much older camera and could have issues that are difficult to repair, among them the bellows. And the one (normal) lens would not make it for me.

 

[J Durr]

Thanks guys. I have shot with a Makina 67....... seems really cool, but like most have said, he has already had to have it repaired.
How does the Mamiya 6 and 7 compare in size to the Makina 67?
Thanks

 

[J Durr]

Thanks guys. I have shot with a Makina 67....... seems really cool, but like most have said, he has already had to have it repaired.
How does the Mamiya 6 and 7 compare in size to the Makina 67?
Thanks

 

[Pieter12]

They are about the same size in use. However the Makina's lens collapses into the body, making it a few inches shallower than the Mamiya and a very easy camera to carry in a bag. The Mamiya has a nice grip built in, only a feature on later Makina 67s. I think you can buy an aftermarket one, though. It does make handling the rather heavy camera a little nicer.

 

[Pieter12]

You might want to take a look at this review, there are shots of the 2 cameras side by side. https://www.35mmc.com/04/11/2019/mamiya-7-vs-makina-67/

 

[J Durr]

You might want to take a look at this review, there are shots of the 2 cameras side by side. https://www.35mmc.com/04/11/2019/mamiya-7-vs-makina-67/

THANKS

 

[moto-uno]

Something else you may wish to consider ,( if you like to shoot infra red film) you can still easily focus with a Mamiya rangefinder ,
much harder with the filter over the lens of an SLR ! (Those IR 720 filters are a bitch to focus through). Peter

 

[36cm2]

Faced with a similar choice years ago I purchased a Makina 67 (and later a W67) over the Mamiya. Of all my MF cameras, the Makina is my favorite if i want one camera/one lens for a journey where i wont likely be packing a tripod. No other camera bests it in that regard for me. The Rolleiflex is similarly awesome, but the 6x7 format, rangefinder vs tlr, and internal meter of the Makina edge it out over the Rolleiflex for me. If I want multiple lenses, or I’m going to have a tripod and/or need extremely precise framing then the Hasselblad gets the call. If I have unlimited time, solitude and no space/weight restrictions, then the 4x5 or 8x10 is the call. For me, the Makina 67 is the ideal shoulder satchel camera to have along when you want a medium format film camera with you capable of amazing prints with the smallest footprint, best ease of carry, and intuitive effortless handling. As compared with the Mamiya, which I am less familiar with, the more compact nature of the Makina and the Nikkor lens signature were the two determining factors for me.
Hope it helps.

 

[J Durr]

THANKS

 

[xya]

as i'm into folders, I cannot say anything about the mamiyas. but the makina is a class of its own. it's heavy, but what a pleasure to hold a precision machine. and that sound of the shutter! the lens is beyond doubt. just a beautful piece of craftmanship. I have made a page about the makina here https://www.120folder.com/makina_67.htm

 

[Grim Tuesday]

as i'm into folders, I cannot say anything about the mamiyas. but the makina is a class of its own. it's heavy, but what a pleasure to hold a precision machine. and that sound of the shutter! the lens is beyond doubt. just a beautful piece of craftmanship. I have made a page about the makina here https://www.120folder.com/makina_67.htm

I am always shocked to find out how heavy the Makina 67 is. 1360g makes it slightly heavier than the Kodak Medalist!

 

[GG12]

Back about 20 years ago had the chance to use both the Makina 67 and the Mamiya 6. Foolishly didn't keep either. While the Makina is totally cool and more compact, its the 6 that really sticks for me. Not so much the changeable lenses, but the metal collapsing lens mounting- its robust (or more than bellows), fast and easy to open up. Its for this reason the 7 doesn't work for me... would love a 6 again.

 

[Arthurwg]

They are about the same size in use. However the Makina's lens collapses into the body, making it a few inches shallower than the Mamiya and a very easy camera to carry in a bag. The Mamiya has a nice grip built in, only a feature on later Makina 67s. I think you can buy an aftermarket one, though. It does make handling the rather heavy camera a little nicer.

The lens mount on the Mamiya 6 also collapses, making the camera somewhat more compact. But the mount can also jam in the collapsed position and require professional attention. Another problem with the 6 is that the film advance can fail and parts are reportedly no longer available to fix it .

 

[Toasty]

The Makina is also not immune to issues and has commonly broken meters. I wouldn't trust the bellows system to hold up to long term use without extreme care.

 

[xya]

The Makina is also not immune to issues and has commonly broken meters. I wouldn't trust the bellows system to hold up to long term use without extreme care.

did you ever own one? no camera is immune to issues. I doubt about "commonly" broken meters, there are a lot of makinas for sale with working meters. and as far as I know, makina bellows were never a special problem in opposition to agfa bellows. I bought a battered makina for cheap and it worked for another 10 years. I gave it to a friend and it still works fine. IMHO they are like tanks, heavy and reliable.

 

[Pieter12]

I doubt about "commonly" broken meters

The wiring for the meters is prone to damage (after all it has to flex with the folding mechanism and it is a 40-year-old camera). And the battery compartment can get damaged by bad cells. However, the camera works fine without batteries and a hand-held meter is no big deal to use.

 

[campy51]

Speaking of Makina. No affiliation. Beware new member so be careful.
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1692223

 

[Trask]

Faced with a similar choice years ago I purchased a Makina 67 (and later a W67) over the Mamiya. Of all my MF cameras, the Makina is my favorite if i want one camera/one lens for a journey where i wont likely be packing a tripod. No other camera bests it in that regard for me. The Rolleiflex is similarly awesome, but the 6x7 format, rangefinder vs tlr, and internal meter of the Makina edge it out over the Rolleiflex for me. If I want multiple lenses, or I’m going to have a tripod and/or need extremely precise framing then the Hasselblad gets the call. If I have unlimited time, solitude and no space/weight restrictions, then the 4x5 or 8x10 is the call. For me, the Makina 67 is the ideal shoulder satchel camera to have along when you want a medium format film camera with you capable of amazing prints with the smallest footprint, best ease of carry, and intuitive effortless handling. As compared with the Mamiya, which I am less familiar with, the more compact nature of the Makina and the Nikkor lens signature were the two determining factors for me.
Hope it helps.

+1. I’ve used a W67 for years, especially as a travel camera. I look at my SLRs and lenses, but usually wind up with the w67, a Leica IIIa with small LTM lenses and I’m ready to go. Am I careful when opening and collapsing the W67? Yes, but that’s no hardship; just good stewardship of my equipment.