Want to Buy Mamiya 6 or Makina 67

[J Durr]

I want to buy a nice Mamiya 6 or a nice Makina 67

Somebody please talk me into or out of it!

What are y'alls impressions?

Thanks

 

[punkzter]

I do not have one for sale, but am happy to discuss my impressions of the camera (they are largely very positive). Send me a pm. Also, be very careful with the responses that you will get from this thread. There are many scammers who monitor the WTB thread.

 

[J Durr]

Thanks PM sent

 

[4season]

I want to buy a nice Mamiya 6 or a nice Makina 67

Somebody please talk me into or out of it!

What are y'alls impressions?

Thanks

If you're talking about the 1990s electronic camera, yes I owned a Mamiya 6 + 75 mm lens and have fond memories of it. Very much liked how it collapsed with lens shade in place, into a flat package which fit into the front pocket of my Domke satchel. Collapsing mechanism felt sturdy and I'd expect maintenance requirements to be pretty minimal, thanks in part to Seiko electronic shutter. Seem to recall that light meter was averaging-type and non-TTL, so plan accordingly.

But whether it's a fair deal at typical 2022 asking prices is something only the prospective buyer can decide!

 

[J Durr]

You are so right. Thanks

 

[campy51]

I have a Mamiya 6 and and choose it over my Hasselblad that's up for sale.

 

[Pieter12]

I can't speak to the Mamiya, but I have a Plaubel Makina 67. It is all-metal, and weighs a bit more than you might expect. Unlike the Mamiya, it is a fixed-lens camera with a collapsible bellows. Usually, that means the wiring from the meter to the body will eventually need repair if you want to use the meter. However, the camera does not need a battery to function. The Nikkor lens is superb, and I believe a stop brighter than the Mamiya's. Also, from what I have read, the viewfinder is brighter and the rangefinder patch is more visible. Another point is you are asking to compare a 6x6 to a 6x7. Unless you have a particular affinity for the square format, the printable negative area of 6x7 is larger and prints with less cropping.

 

[Trask]

Like Pieter12, I can't assess the Mamiya but I do have a Plaubel 67 Wide with the 55mm Nikon lens -- as I've mentioned before on other threads, it's a great travel camera. I bought mine from Frank Marshman years ago; he'd just gone through it and it was (and still is) in great condition. He warned me to treat the camera with care; to extend the lens you have to push a button release that frees the lens to move out, and some people like to let the lens fall into extended position under its own weight -- look at me, I have a switchblade, ka-chunk. Don't do it, Frank said, and be gently returning the lens to the collapsed position, making sure you move the focus dial to infinity before doing so. The meter works well; focusing is easy. IMHO either model of the modern Plaubel is a fine camera.

 

[nanthor]

Well, I've had several copies or sets of both and currently have the Mamiya 6 set. I like the rendering of the PB67 better as well as the format a little better. The Nikon lens is superb and my pics from both the PB67 and the wide version are something I always look at with wonder, wondering why I ever sold. The Mamiya 6 is, IMO a bit sharper and it has the AE function so you just shoot away and the pics will be great but I find the bokeh from the 75mm lens a bit nervous and I like calm bokeh, like zeiss lens bokeh, so the standard lens leaves a little to be desired as far as rendering, IMO. It could also be said that with the square format you don't have to decide your framing and composition as crucially but that's a matter of each individual's taste. If I could trade my complete set of Mamiya 6 for the 67 and the 67W, I would do it, but I think they are more costly now than the Mamiya 6 set.

 

[brian steinberger]

I’ve been using the Mamiya 6 for 16 years now. It’s an amazing camera. I highly recommend it. If you get one send it to Bob at precision camera for a CLA and it will be good to you for years. KEH.com actually has two bodies for sale right now. I like buying from them as they have a 14 day no questions return policy plus their gear is warranted for 180 days I believe. With that said the prices for these cameras is a bit high right now. Good luck.

 

[J Durr]

Thanks to All for your input and advice. I am just starting my search and this will help a lot!

 

[guangong]

I can't speak to the Mamiya, but I have a Plaubel Makina 67. It is all-metal, and weighs a bit more than you might expect. Unlike the Mamiya, it is a fixed-lens camera with a collapsible bellows. Usually, that means the wiring from the meter to the body will eventually need repair if you want to use the meter. However, the camera does not need a battery to function. The Nikkor lens is superb, and I believe a stop brighter than the Mamiya's. Also, from what I have read, the viewfinder is brighter and the rangefinder patch is more visible. Another point is you are asking to compare a 6x6 to a 6x7. Unless you have a particular affinity for the square format, the printable negative area of 6x7 is larger and prints with less cropping.

Ditto.!

 

[Arthurwg]

I have a Mamiya 6 bought new and used extensively. Best travel camera that I own. I only have one lens, the 50mm, which is superb. I did have the 75mm but sold it for lack of use as the 50 seems perfect for just about everything. This camera is very easy to hand-hold at low shutter speeds, making it very useful in low-light situations.
More recently, however, I've switched to Hasselblad. But I'm keeping the M6 for travel.

As for 6x7, I'd go for the Mamiya 7 if you can afford it. Absolutely wonderful camera with a great variety of super-sharp and contrasty lenses. Much more versatile than the Makina. I printed some pictures from that camera yesterday and they were extraordinary.

 

[Arthurwg]

BTW, Mamiya 6 prices today make it a great bargain, IMHO.

 

[J Durr]

BTW, Mamiya 6 prices today make it a great bargain, IMHO.

Thanks

 

[Arthurwg]

If you do go for an M6, be careful of the film advance. Weakest point on the camera and no parts are available to fix.

 

[J Durr]

If you do go for an M6, be careful of the film advance. Weakest point on the camera and no parts are available to fix.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[GregY]

JD, I've used the Mamiya 6, several Plaubel Makina 67/670, as well as the Mamiya 7. The 6 & PB 67 are wonderfully compact. The 67 has the advantage of being a mechanical camera. The 7 is well accepted but i found it quite unwieldy after the 6 & got rid of it quickly. I'm not sure what ArthurW means by Mamiya 6 being 'a great bargain' .... was a time when you could buy the body & 3 lenses for $2k on the used market....now they're $2-2.4k with just the 75mm....& yes parts for the film transport are impossible to find if it fails....but i loved the Mamiya 6 & got some great photos with it.

 

[J Durr]

Thanks JD....I really don't need any more headaches! I want to enjoy shooting. Still thinking ......

 

[gone]

I had a Mamiya 6 and a 7. The 6 was the one that got the most use, and I preferred to shoot it to the 7. 6x7 is an odd size to me, so it always ended up being cropped to square or like a 35mm neg. The body felt "loose" on the 7 too, it's hard to describe.

Don't expect Rolleiflex quality on the camera build, but the lens IQ is easily as good or better. Mine imaged very much like Leica lenses, often giving a 3-D look.

These are both expensive cameras and getting a bit old. I would buy one from Sammy's/National Camera/KEH, etc to get some form of warranty and return privileges.

People love him, hate him and tolerate him, but good 'ol Ken has some ideas on the 7.

Mamiya 7

 

[bags27]

I love my Mamiya 7 which pretty much creates the same images (in different aspect ratio) as the Mamiya 6. But I also think the glass is sometimes too clinical. So, I have an HB 500 c/m and a Cord Vb(ii). Zeiss glass seems to me somewhat warmer, and Schneider glass may be the best compromise. That's why I love all my children differently but equally!

 

[gijsbert]

I have never used a Mamiya so I can not compare, but I do love using the PM67, very good tactile feel, the focus on the top dial is a bit funky but you get used to it fast. Meter works well.
Shutter noise is a bit funky, I imagine the M6 is more silent.
If you want the 50 or 150 lens then the M6 looks like a winner. I've traveled with a PM67 and PMW67 and that gets pretty heavy fast - love the negatives though!

 

[GregY]

I have never used a Mamiya so I can not compare, but I do love using the PM67, very good tactile feel, the focus on the top dial is a bit funky but you get used to it fast. Meter works well.
Shutter noise is a bit funky, I imagine the M6 is more silent.
If you want the 50 or 150 lens then the M6 looks like a winner. I've traveled with a PM67 and PMW67 and that gets pretty heavy fast - love the negatives though!

Just about any MF gets heavy..but you've got to love a camera that packs away the size of a paperback book!

 

[MTGseattle]

I've bounced around photography systems a lot as well. My first medium format was a Mamiya 645proTL. While I had that, a teacher had the Mamiya 6 and we traded cameras for a half day. I sold the 645 soon after and went 6. I had to sell my first 6 during a rough patch 20 years ago and regretted it ever since. In the interim, I tried a Bronica RF645 (great lenses, but the vertical 645 was weird to me), A Mamiya 7II (I bought a "broken" one and had it repaired). I then sold that to fund something else (at about half the price that they are fetching today). I now own a slightly rough 6mf. I've been running some rolls through to check for any obvious issues, but I love it. It's the camera I am most comfortable with, and like people above have said, the 50mm is a dang fine lens.
I've handled a Plaubel PM67, and thought about sourcing one here and there, but never have. For me, I think what I have been trying to deny all these years is that I am a "square" guy.
I have never called an industry person to verify this, but the rumor mill states that the 6MF has an updated and/or strengthened film advance mechanism over the M6. You also get the multi-format frame lines to deal with in the range finder window. Give and take.

 

[J Durr]

Interesting read and information. thanks I keep hearing about the film advance problem and it worries me at bit.
I will check more into your note about the 6MF updates.
Thanks