Mamiya 7: stay with 80mm or add 65mm?

bags27 · Apr 28, 2022

I have a Mamiya 7 with the 43, 80, 150, and the funky and fun 210.

While the 80 is the "kit" lens and I use it for most of my photography, I sometimes sense I'd like something just a bit wider. (I do tend to reach for my 35mm focal length lenses when shooting 35mm film.)

I'm thinking that if I have the 65, carrying just that and the 150 will be a light kit when I don't have a particular purpose. But the 65 and 80 are pretty close.

For those of you who have both the 65 and the 80, is there much difference in practice?

thanks!

Sirius Glass · Apr 28, 2022

bags27 said:
I have a Mamiya 7 with the 43, 80, 150, and the funky and fun 210.

While the 80 is the "kit" lens and I use it for most of my photography, I sometimes sense I'd like something just a bit wider. (I do tend to reach for my 35mm focal length lenses when shooting 35mm film.)

I'm thinking that if I have the 65, carrying just that and the 150 will be a light kit when I don't have a particular purpose. But the 65 and 80 are pretty close.

For those of you who have both the 65 and the 80, is there much difference in practice?

thanks!

I found the 65mm and 80mm too close. The 80mm lens was most used. The 55mm, 80mm and 250mm combinations is better.

bags27 · Apr 28, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I found the 65mm and 80mm too close. The 80mm lens was most used. The 55mm, 80mm and 250mm combinations is better.

Thanks much. Not to be pedantic, but I think that's a 50. I can see how the 50 and 80 would be a great combo, but for me, the 50 is so close to my 43 that it might be hard to consider that. Maybe I'm just in "no-man's land"?

Sirius Glass · Apr 28, 2022

bags27 said:
Thanks much. Not to be pedantic, but I think that's a 50. I can see how the 50 and 80 would be a great combo, but for me, the 50 is so close to my 43 that it might be hard to consider that. Maybe I'm just in "no-man's land"?

For my Hasselblad, also 6x6 I have 30mm Fisheye, 38mm SWC, 50mm, 80mm, 100mm, 150mm, 250mm and 500mm. Most of the time I carry the 50mm, 80mm and 250mm lenses.

Arthurwg · Apr 28, 2022

I have the 43, 60 and 150 for my M7 but really only use the 60. This seems to be my perspective, even thought the 43 is wonderful when you need it. Same with my Hasselblad, the 60 is my go-to lens.

itsdoable · Apr 28, 2022

I had the 43mm, and it's a great lens. But I found I preferred the 50mm as you could get away without an accessory finder, which made it much more practical in use for me.

warden · Apr 28, 2022

bags27 said:
I have a Mamiya 7 with the 43, 80, 150, and the funky and fun 210.

While the 80 is the "kit" lens and I use it for most of my photography, I sometimes sense I'd like something just a bit wider. (I do tend to reach for my 35mm focal length lenses when shooting 35mm film.)

I'm thinking that if I have the 65, carrying just that and the 150 will be a light kit when I don't have a particular purpose. But the 65 and 80 are pretty close.

For those of you who have both the 65 and the 80, is there much difference in practice?

thanks!

They're pretty close, but if you think 43, 65, 150 is a better pairing than 43, 80, 150 you could always sell the 80.

Duceman · Apr 28, 2022

I have essentially the same set up as you do, sans the 210mm. I've thought about getting the 65mm, but didn't think the cost was justified while already having the 80mm. If I stumble across one some day, at a decent price, maybe I'll pick it up. But for the time being, the 43mm and 80mm have served me quite well. Yes, the 43mm is a bit more of a hassle because of the viewer, but I've never found that to be a deal breakr.

MattKing · Apr 28, 2022

I found a 65mm + 140mm pair to be a great two lens kit for the RB67.
The 65mm field of view suits my "eye".
Of course, 35mm suits my "eye" in 135, and 55mm suits my "eye" in 6x4.5.
Speaking more generally, don't let the fact that you have an 80mm overly influence your decision about whether a 65mm lens is a good choice for you.
Budgetary considerations aside, of course .

craigclu · Apr 28, 2022

I went with the 50 as it was plenty wide for the type of things I do and wasn't so similar to the 80 as the 65 would be. I've been happy with the choice. I also have the 150 but it seems a very rare occasion that I have used that over the years. Several 12 step GAS programs have kept me from adding more optics to the 7......

Sirius Glass · Apr 28, 2022

bags27 said:
Thanks much. Not to be pedantic, but I think that's a 50. I can see how the 50 and 80 would be a great combo, but for me, the 50 is so close to my 43 that it might be hard to consider that. Maybe I'm just in "no-man's land"?

I was thinking Mamiya Cxx not Mamiya 7.

Sirius Glass said:
For my Hasselblad, also 6x6 I have 30mm Fisheye, 38mm SWC, 50mm, 80mm, 100mm, 150mm, 250mm and 500mm. Most of the time I carry the 50mm, 80mm and 250mm lenses.

I do not have the 60mm again since it too is too close to the 80mm. The 60mm pairs well with the 100mm, however as much as l love its sharpness, is a little too long for a normal lens.

flavio81 · Apr 28, 2022

bags27 said:
For those of you who have both the 65 and the 80, is there much difference in practice?

thanks!

In 6x7 i had the 65 and 90 focal lengths (RB system) and didn't found them "very close", the 65 clearly gives an impression of space.

However an 80mm lens is already a wideangle in 6x7...

If you prefer the 35mm lens in 135 format, perhaps you should get the 65 and sell the 80. 65+150 sounds like a great combination.

gone · Apr 28, 2022

I don't shoot wides, but the 80mm I had on my Mamiya 7 imaged almost exactly like a Leica R lens. That's a darned good thing!

CJG · Apr 30, 2022

I've been using the Mark ll Artist's Viewfinder to help me scope out a scene before I pull the camera out of the bag. I find it very useful. For $20 (I Think?) you can pull it out and compare 50 and 60mm views.

This is from last Thursday. It shows views for lenses I set up. My standard lens is a 90 and I don't find the 60 that close to the 90 as you can see from the frame. I've been searching for a 60 for my Rollei 6008af but they're awfully scare. I'd prefer it to the 50 I have.

McDiesel · Apr 30, 2022

The artist viewfinder app is indeed amazing, listen to @CJG

65mm doesn't make much sense if you already have a 80mm, that's just too close and easily covered by zooming on feet a little. For a 6x7 I would go with a 50/100/180mm trio but I don't know if those lenses are available for Mamiya 7 sorry.

TBH the interchangeable lens concept doesn't quite work with rangefinders in my humble opinion, it's an SLR thing. My Leicas have a single lens attached to them: the 0.85x has a 50mm and the 0.72 one has a 35mm with a 28mm making a rare/painful appearance.

thefizz · May 6, 2022

I have the all the lenses up to 150 and would use the 65 most of all. I mainly use this camera for landscape and for general walk abouts. If I could only keep one lens it would be the 65.

bags27 · May 6, 2022

thefizz said:
I have the all the lenses up to 150 and would use the 65 most of all. I mainly use this camera for landscape and for general walk abouts. If I could only keep one lens it would be the 65.

Thanks much. I took the 43 and 80 with me recently, and felt that if I had had the 65 I wouldn't have needed to bring two.

I'm likely going to get it, because I found someone who'll give me a good price for my 80, if, after getting the 65, I decide I no longer need the 80.

moto-uno · May 6, 2022

I'm not too sure how relevant this may be , but for a while there were quite a few remarks concerning the 65mm lens
having issues with the wiring inside the lens . The 50mm became my wider angle lens of choice , it's a beauty ! Peter

bags27 · May 6, 2022

moto-uno said:
I'm not too sure how relevant this may be , but for a while there were quite a few remarks concerning the 65mm lens
having issues with the wiring inside the lens . The 50mm became my wider angle lens of choice , it's a beauty ! Peter

Thanks for this. Didn't know that. I have the 43, which is also amazing, so the 50 seems a bit redundant for me, at least.

bags27 · May 23, 2022

Just to report that I found a terrific deal on a 65, that turned out to be in even better condition than advertised (at Roberts).

I'm really enjoying this lens. For me, it's the right focal length and sharp as a tact (like all Mamiya lenses, maybe even a bit too sharp for my taste, and I'm sorting through developers trying to avoid its most extreme presentation).

Thanks to all for advice and insight!

Sirius Glass · May 23, 2022

bags27 said:
Just to report that I found a terrific deal on a 65, that turned out to be in even better condition than advertised (at Roberts).

I'm really enjoying this lens. For me, it's the right focal length and sharp as a tact (like all Mamiya lenses, maybe even a bit too sharp for my taste, and I'm sorting through developers trying to avoid its most extreme presentation).

Thanks to all for advice and insight!

Enjoy!! Now go out and shoot some film.

JPD · May 24, 2022

It's about taste and what you need the lens for. I prefer normal lenses, and too wide lenses feel "fake" to me and less interesting. For 9x12 I prefer 135mm, but I recently tried a 120mm lens, and the slightly wider field of view without getting that "wide angle look" was really nice.

Mamiya 7: stay with 80mm or add 65mm?

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Mamiya 7: stay with 80mm or add 65mm?

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