Want to Buy Mamiya 6 or Makina 67

[brian steinberger]

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.

I read this a lot and it’s simply not true. Bob at Precision Camera Works, now located in Texas has all the winder parts. When you send a Mamiya 6 in for service he will replace the parts on the winder as most of them need it at this point. I would not worry about the winder being an issue, unless you’re overseas and don’t want to ship the camera halfway around the world.

 

[Arthurwg]

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.

Yikes! You're right. Those prices have gone up dramatically since last I looked. But Ebay prices are inflated and you can still buy that camera for less if you keep looking. And compared to the M7 they are much less expensive. BTW, the only reason to own an M7 is if you must have that format.

 

[Arthurwg]

I read this a lot and it’s simply not true. Bob at Precision Camera Works, now located in Texas has all the winder parts. When you send a Mamiya 6 in for service he will replace the parts on the winder as most of them need it at this point. I would not worry about the winder being an issue, unless you’re overseas and don’t want to ship the camera halfway around the world.

Good to know.

 

[xkaes]

I'm surprised you've limited your interested to those two -- very nice -- cameras, and more surprised that no one has mentioned that FUJI has made more cameras in these formats than anyone else -- from 6x45 to 6x9, with fixed lenses and interchangeable lenses. Prices of course are all over the place, too.
You might want to check them out, although it will take some time.

Fujifilm GF670 - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

camera-wiki.org

 

[Dani]

Don’t get the Mamiya 6 that has symbols on the shutter speed dial. Either get the one with letters of the 6MF! Newer and those have revisions.

Also don’t get the Makina 67, get the Makina 670. Mamiya took over production and made improvements.

I owned, at the same time, a Fuji GF670, Makina 670, and Mamiya 7. I wanted to see which one I’d like the best and the Mamiya 7 won over those two. The Makina 670 needs the grip in order to be more ergonomic. Other than that is a fine camera but if you get one, get one with a recent CLA.

Cant go wrong with the Mamiya 6, I wanted one but prices are so high that I decided that I wouldn’t buy a Mamiya 6 because i kept the 7 and have all the lenses now.

 

[brian steinberger]

Yikes! You're right. Those prices have gone up dramatically since last I looked. But Ebay prices are inflated and you can still buy that camera for less if you keep looking. And compared to the M7 they are much less expensive. BTW, the only reason to own an M7 is if you must have that format.

I agree, the only reason to get the Mamiya 7 is the format. I love square so I have the 6. I actually don’t care for 6x7 ratio at all. I much prefer 645 for rectangle and do own the wonderful Bronica RF645 as well.

And prices are super high right now. Even at KEH who I highly recommend, you would end up spending about $2500 just for a Mamiya 6 body and 75. If you want a camera with just a fixed lens I would pass on both Mamiyas as you are paying for the ability to switch lenses. Fixed lens camera are more bountiful at better prices.

 

[bags27]

I agree, the only reason to get the Mamiya 7 is the format. I love square so I have the 6. I actually don’t care for 6x7 ratio at all. I much prefer 645 for rectangle and do own the wonderful Bronica RF645 as well.

And prices are super high right now. Even at KEH who I highly recommend, you would end up spending about $2500 just for a Mamiya 6 body and 75. If you want a camera with just a fixed lens I would pass on both Mamiyas as you are paying for the ability to switch lenses. Fixed lens camera are more bountiful at better prices.

Aspect ratio and price aside (ha! ha!), there are reasons to prefer the 7: 1. it has a spot meter, which is pretty remarkably accurate; 2. it has a choice of 6, rather than 3, lenses--though whether the temptation to own them all (I have one to go) is a good thing is up to the owner.

 

[brian steinberger]

Aspect ratio and price aside (ha! ha!), there are reasons to prefer the 7: 1. it has a spot meter, which is pretty remarkably accurate; 2. it has a choice of 6, rather than 3, lenses--though whether the temptation to own them all (I have one to go) is a good thing is up to the owner.

I will say, having owned the 7 years ago that to get the best results with either the 6 or 7 a handheld meter should be used. I found the 7 meter only slightly better than the not-so-great 6 meter. This is something the OP might want to think about as well.

Your comment about 6 lenses compared to 3 is something to consider as well. I would argue that the frame lines for all 3 lenses for the Mamiya 6 are in the VF. With the 7 some have external finders which can be a hassle sometimes.

 

[Arthurwg]

Just printing some M7 pictures, hand-held with 60mm lens. Really astonishing sharpness and contrast. Rivals 4x5, at least in smaller enlargements.

 

[bags27]

Just printing some M7 pictures, hand-held with 60mm lens. Really astonishing sharpness and contrast. Rivals 4x5, at least in smaller enlargements.

No question. I just yesterday got a 4'x3' print from Bay Photo of El Capitan from a distance taken with my 43mm lens that is crystalline clear. Trees at top are perfectly detailed.

 

[alanbradford]

Mamiya 6 is a very nice camera and the 50mm Lens is really stunningly sharp, the 75mm excellent. The 150mm is very difficult to focus accurately. I had my 6MF for 10 years or more and had to have the winding on mechanism replaced twice (about EUR 160 ish) , it slipped even when being very gentle on film wind on's. Perfect for IR work as you still maintain a non red view of subject and can load 35mm with panoramic adapter.

 

[Paul Ozzello]

With the mamiya 7/7ii, you can use a rangefinder coupled equivalent of a Hasselblad SWC 38mm biogon lens - which some claim is even better than the original zeiss design.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I bought a Mamiya 6 body from KEH for $775 about three weeks ago -- a bargain I have been literally waiting years to hop on. Proof that bargains can still be found in vintage cameras! It came without a lens, so I am in the market for a 75mm and am posting in this thread for that reason. If anyone has one for sale or trade, please let me know!

 

[brian steinberger]

I bought a Mamiya 6 body from KEH for $775 about three weeks ago -- a bargain I have been literally waiting years to hop on. Proof that bargains can still be found in vintage cameras! It came without a lens, so I am in the market for a 75mm and am posting in this thread for that reason. If anyone has one for sale or trade, please let me know!

That’s kind of amazing considering there’s a “bargain” one on there now for $1400.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

That’s kind of amazing considering there’s a “bargain” one on there now for $1400.

I believe I've cracked the code to KEH, which is that they rate condition of cameras much more conservatively than lenses. An "ugly" lens is barely usable and usually has some huge haze, scratch or fungus, so deserves a very compelling price. An "ugly" camera tends to have cosmetic wear that has no effect on the workings inside or image quality produced. But I think because it is "ugly" it gets a large price discount in their price list, as if it were ugly like one of the lenses they sell. At least that's my theory. I've always had good luck buying camera bodies from them, and am often disappointed with lenses, so it tracks in that dimension.

 

[cptrios]

I believe I've cracked the code to KEH, which is that they rate condition of cameras much more conservatively than lenses. An "ugly" lens is barely usable and usually has some huge haze, scratch or fungus, so deserves a very compelling price. An "ugly" camera tends to have cosmetic wear that has no effect on the workings inside or image quality produced. But I think because it is "ugly" it gets a large price discount in their price list, as if it were ugly like one of the lenses they sell. At least that's my theory. I've always had good luck buying camera bodies from them, and am often disappointed with lenses, so it tracks in that dimension.

Well first of all, even for an as-is 6 that would be a fantastic price, so congrats on that one. I'm not sure, though, that buying UG cameras from them is always going to work out well. Ages ago, I bought a Pentax K2 in UG condition just to have a backup parts body. Scratches all over the mirror and fungus in the VF. Didn't bother me, but it definitely would have bothered someone looking to use the camera!

 

[sfphoto]

So to me 6x6 and 6x7 are like apples and oranges.

Just like a Rolleiflex 6x6 waist level viewing compared to rangefinder eye level viewing. IMO both have their place and many will own both if they love the square format.

Since the OP did not allude to access to other than normal lenses, I would suggest this for a BUDGET entry into medium format film photography:

Square: Ikonta 6x6, 75mm Tessar Coated lens
Rectangular: Fuji 6x4.5 60 or 75mm lens models

 

[bags27]

I believe I've cracked the code to KEH, which is that they rate condition of cameras much more conservatively than lenses. An "ugly" lens is barely usable and usually has some huge haze, scratch or fungus, so deserves a very compelling price. An "ugly" camera tends to have cosmetic wear that has no effect on the workings inside or image quality produced. But I think because it is "ugly" it gets a large price discount in their price list, as if it were ugly like one of the lenses they sell. At least that's my theory. I've always had good luck buying camera bodies from them, and am often disappointed with lenses, so it tracks in that dimension.

I bought a Mamiya 7 65mm lens from KEH that they described as less than perfect and so around $200 below market for "mint." Figured I could always return it. Turns out to be probably the best lens I've ever owned. Simply jaw-droppingly sharp and rendering beautifully, and I own a couple of current Leica M Luxes. I look at that lens and can't find a single reason why it's not labeled mint.

 

[Arthurwg]

The 65mm lens on my Mamiya 6 is fantastic. As you say, super sharp, great contrast and easy to handhold at slow shutter speeds.

 

[RoboRepublic]

The 65mm lens on my Mamiya 6 is fantastic. As you say, super sharp, great contrast and easy to handhold at slow shutter speeds.

Think you mean the mam7..

 

[Mark Layne]

I don't think there is a sharper lens than the 80mm Nikkor on the Makina 67. I have been using mine for 34 years with no problems

 

[Arthurwg]

Think you mean the mam7..

Yes, of course the M7. On the M6 I use the 50, also superb.

 

[GDI]

Another possible factor in choosing the Mamiya 7 system is that the lenses can be used on digital with the adapter for the Fuji GFX system.