Mamiya 7 price, good or bad?

[RattyMouse]

Question for the group. Is $2300 for a Mamiya 7 w/ 43mm and 150mm lenses a good deal? This price also includes the finder. Condition is said to be excellent.

Thanks!

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I always add up what I can get similar for at KEH and adjust for convenience if applicable and for the warranty and refund policy at KEH. Frankly unless it's 10-20% less than KEH I pass.

 

[shutterlight]

I guess it's an okay price. Initially it seemed too high, but I suppose that the 43 and 7 together (assuming excellent condition) for for about 1K each these days. For a time there, about 18 months ago, the 7s were dipping down into the 650 range in BGN condition at KEH. It seems like prices went up again more recently. A 150 goes for about $300-350 used these days.

Do you not have or want the 80? It's the best of the 7 lenses, and truly remarkable in general.

I really lucked out on my 7 body, for which I paid $550 three years ago via private sale. I bought a 65 at the time to go with it, and that was about $650 from KEH. I still have that lens, but I mostly use an 80 now, also bought from KEH, in EX condition for $600 (what separated it from being new was a mystery to me).

 

[Peter Schrager]

I own the same camera..my feeling is that if it's what you need buy it. these are extremely good cameras..I've taken some of my best photos with it
best,peter

 

[RattyMouse]

I don't see the sense in buying some outrageously priced camera like that. But it's your money. I tend to find if I've blown a wad on some fancy camera I tend to resent it and instead of enhancing my photography pastime, it ruins it.

Do you know another way to get a 43-ish mm lens onto a 6 x 7 camera? I'm looking for an ultra wide angle lens set up and the Mamiya 7 seems to be the most reasonable. Are there other options equal in IQ but lower in price?

 

[RattyMouse]

I guess it's an okay price. Initially it seemed too high, but I suppose that the 43 and 7 together (assuming excellent condition) for for about 1K each these days. For a time there, about 18 months ago, the 7s were dipping down into the 650 range in BGN condition at KEH. It seems like prices went up again more recently. A 150 goes for about $300-350 used these days.

Do you not have or want the 80? It's the best of the 7 lenses, and truly remarkable in general.

I really lucked out on my 7 body, for which I paid $550 three years ago via private sale. I bought a 65 at the time to go with it, and that was about $650 from KEH. I still have that lens, but I mostly use an 80 now, also bought from KEH, in EX condition for $600 (what separated it from being new was a mystery to me).

I have a GF670 for my 80mm focal length shooting so not really interested in the Mamiya lens. Just the ultra wide and maybe a telephoto.

 

[billbretz]

7 or 7ii?

 

[benjiboy]

Whether a price is good or bad depends if your'e buying or selling

 

[M Carter]

I don't see the sense in buying some outrageously priced camera like that. But it's your money. I tend to find if I've blown a wad on some fancy camera I tend to resent it and instead of enhancing my photography pastime, it ruins it.

This is "outrageously priced"? Guess you haven't been shopping for pro level cameras and glass lately...

The sense in buying it is if it does what you want photographically and fits into your method of working. I'd toss in that it's some really beautiful gear as well. Not my cup of tea, but I sure can appreciate a Mamiya rangefinder and would love to spend a weekend with one.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Do you know another way to get a 43-ish mm lens onto a 6 x 7 camera? I'm looking for an ultra wide angle lens set up and the Mamiya 7 seems to be the most reasonable. Are there other options equal in IQ but lower in price?

I know this is a completely different direction but if you can accept 6x6 then consider a Hassy 500C or CM and the venerable 40/4 Distagon CF T* FLE lens. I got my 40 used and with UV filter and hood in great shape for under a thousand (not the horn shaped older one but not the CFE either) and the Hassy bodies are going for a song these days. You'd be set for under $1400-1500 I think. The 40 is one amazing performer too with a floating element:


Crockett, California Hasselblad 500CM 40DistagonFLE KodakPlus-X HC-110dilH 9min 20C 1minAg2x 2013-10 VSmac 9000 Scan-131215-0006 B by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

 

[shutterlight]

This is "outrageously priced"? Guess you haven't been shopping for pro level cameras and glass lately...

The sense in buying it is if it does what you want photographically and fits into your method of working. I'd toss in that it's some really beautiful gear as well. Not my cup of tea, but I sure can appreciate a Mamiya rangefinder and would love to spend a weekend with one.

Well said. Buying a 7 changed my life in a real way-- I haven't stopped using it regularly since I got mine in January 2012.

 

[Alan Gales]

I don't see the sense in buying some outrageously priced camera like that. But it's your money. I tend to find if I've blown a wad on some fancy camera I tend to resent it and instead of enhancing my photography pastime, it ruins it.

I thought the Hasselblad SWC was outrageously priced (why not just buy the 40mm?) until Sirius Glass showed me on this forum what it could do.

I have never shot a Mamiya 7 but everyone says the image quality rivals that of a 4x5 camera in a much smaller package than a hand holdable 4x5.

 

[Richard Man]

I still have a SWC. I had a Chamonix Saber handheld 4x5. I also used to own a Mamiya 7II with 43mm/80mm/150mm.

The Mamiya glass is unmatched except by a proper 4x5 (or larger). It's much better than even the Leica M9. There is only one flaw: lack of close focusing; some people don't like the plastic feels, but that's just a preference issue. I am debating whether to get another Mamiya 7 II again or a Hasselblad 501cm, and I suspect the former will win.

 

[M Carter]

That's been the big dealbreaker for me, with rangefinders in general - close focusing.

I have a silly schoolgirl-kinda crush on many RF bodies... I bought several Minolta HiMatics just to build the cleanest one I could and physically, it's got that old-school camera mojo and bare-bones simplicity I love. But if I'm out taking pics, I tend to get more into textures and abstract closeup stuff - and my wife really does.

Sadly, my pile of RB gear isn't really a "grab it on the way out the door" sort of process...

 

[eclarke]

7 or 7II? big difference.

 

[AgX]

Do you know another way to get a 43-ish mm lens onto a 6 x 7 camera?

Pentax 67 plus 45mm

 

[StoneNYC]

7 or 7II? big difference.

That's what I was wondering, you're talking about basically doubled the price difference, if the body is a 7 then you're talking $400-$500 if it's a 7ii then you're talking $800-$1100 just for the body, this makes the two lenses together look very appealing and overall the price sounds right, if in fact it is the 7 body, then the price is too high, BUT The fact that the deal comes with the 43mm with Finder is very appealing, so ultimately it's not an awful price, just find out which model style body it is.

I shoot 4x5 and 8 x 10 these days, but I still use my Mamiya 7ii often enough, it's an amazing camera and the lens is really are unmatched, with the proper film and development, the quality you can produce an image will rival a 4x5.

 

[Roger Cole]

What's the difference between the 7 and 7ii?

I've never managed to like rangefinders in 35mm so I'm not sure I could in MF either, no matter how good the lenses were. Granted, I should probably give them more of a try than picking one up occasionally and forgetting to focus the "perfect looking except for the little spot" image for several frames then putting it down in frustration. Just too used to SLRs (and view camera ground glass) I guess.

 

[Richard Man]

...
I've never managed to like rangefinders in 35mm so I'm not sure I could in MF either, no matter how good the lenses were. Granted, I should probably give them more of a try than picking one up occasionally and forgetting to focus the "perfect looking except for the little spot" image for several frames then putting it down in frustration. Just too used to SLRs (and view camera ground glass) I guess.

The 7II has polarized RF, which some people think makes it worse - although I like it myseld, plus multi-exposure. I think that's about it. Newer of course and still being made and presumably serviced.

I use Leica M (digital and film), XPan II, all of which are RF. I have also used Mamiya 7II. I love them.

OTOH, I also use Olympus E-3 for event work, and still have the OM-4T and 3 View Cameras so I like ground glass as well. The two systems give you different information and feel. Neither is better per se.

 

[Ghostman]

The only difference between the 7 and the 7ii really is the multi-exposure. Aside from that the 43mm lens is incredible as is the 150mm lens.

I would say

$1000-$1300 for the 43mm and viewfinder
$300-$350 for the 150mm
$700-$1000 for the body

The cheapest you'll find this combo is for about $2000, the most expensive about $2500 - so you-re somewhere in between. If it's in mint condition, you won't be disappointed.

 

[AgX]

What is a polarized rangefinder?

 

[StoneNYC]

What is a polarized rangefinder?

It's just the eyepiece, the thing you look through happens to be polarized, so when you take a picture you end up not necessarily noticing some of the reflections.

They do however make a polarizing filter that specifically designed to go on this rangefinder, it lifts up and you can view through it by looking above the camera so you can see how much polarization you're using and then slides back down in front of the lens.

But yea I also like the polarized view, cuts glare and is just easier to see out of.

I honestly wouldn't mind a "rangefinder" it's basically an auto focus non SLR camera. I feel like the novelty of the mirror list part is so that you can get shots in lower levels of light then you would normally be able to capture without a tripod, I don't find the focusing with the Square to be difficult but I also don't find it to be useful, I don't really think it's necessary and with the advancements in technology I would love the option to have a lens that auto-focussed. Essentially like one of the newer digital mirror-less cameras.

That said I still love my Mamiya7ii

Someone else mentioned basically the only difference is that you can do a double exposure if you want to with the 7ii but not the 7. They also changed the knob on the bottom that controls the protective cloth "shutter" that's only used for changing lenses, as the lenses themselves are leaf shutters. They basically just made it a pop out instead of the smaller internal rotating knob. I personally like this because I'm often wearing gloves with the camera and it's easier to turn it with the pop out then with the version that they had previously, but many people complain that it's fiddly and are worried about breaking it. To each their own.

 

[EdSawyer]

Frankly that price seems high. You can regularly find the 43 with finder in the $750-900 range without much trouble. 150s go as low as $300 or even less, rarely more than $400. The 2 bodies I had (7 and 7II) I both got for under $550/ea and both were mint. I kept the 7 and sold the 7II. There's no real advantage to the 7II and a distinct disadvantage to the design of the 7II darkslide wind knob, thus 7 is the better choice I think. Champagne 7IIs sell for less than the black version.

Rethink not getting the 80mm, as mentioned it is a superb lens (as are all the mamiya 7 lenses), and I am sure no doubt surpasses the fuji/cosina GF670. Plus that way you don't have the hassle of 2 cameras/bodies/systems. In fact, I would take the 80 over the 150 any day. The 150, while a nice lens, is a bit long for the rangefinder base length, and doesn't focus any closer/tighter than the 80 anyway. (e.g. can't do a tight headshot with it).

 

[Alan Gales]

I honestly wouldn't mind a "rangefinder" it's basically an auto focus non SLR camera. I feel like the novelty of the mirror list part is so that you can get shots in lower levels of light then you would normally be able to capture without a tripod, I don't find the focusing with the Square to be difficult but I also don't find it to be useful, I don't really think it's necessary and with the advancements in technology I would love the option to have a lens that auto-focussed. Essentially like one of the newer digital mirror-less cameras.

Stone, I own a Fujufilm X100s. Yes, you have the option of auto or manual focus but manual focus is a pain (Read what Ken Rockwell says about it). The autofocus is so good though that I don't know why you would need manual focus.

The clear viewfinder is great and when I need to focus close I just flip a switch to convert to a through the lens digital view finder. By doing this you avoid parallax.

What I like about the camera is that it's small, light weight, produces great 8x10's or 11X14's, excellently balances fill flash with daylight and with the magical Fuji sensor produces perfect skin tones. I recently shot my granddaughter who is very light complected, her boyfriend who is a Native American, and their baby daughter who is mixed. The skin tones all came out beautiful!

If you are thinking about buying a mirrorless camera then google Zack Arias and Ken Rockwell for their reviews of the Fujifilm cameras. Of course you can pm me also.

 

[StoneNYC]

Stone, I own a Fujufilm X100s. Yes, you have the option of auto or manual focus but manual focus is a pain (Read what Ken Rockwell says about it). The autofocus is so good though that I don't know why you would need manual focus.

The clear viewfinder is great and when I need to focus close I just flip a switch to convert to a through the lens digital view finder. By doing this you avoid parallax.

What I like about the camera is that it's small, light weight, produces great 8x10's or 11X14's, excellently balances fill flash with daylight and with the magical Fuji sensor produces perfect skin tones. I recently shot my granddaughter who is very light complected, her boyfriend who is a Native American, and their baby daughter who is mixed. The skin tones all came out beautiful!

If you are thinking about buying a mirrorless camera then google Zack Arias and Ken Rockwell for their reviews of the Fujifilm cameras. Of course you can pm me also.

Unfortunately I haven't figured out how to print through those sensors properly with my darkroom enlarger, perhaps someday I'll figure that one out