Mamiya 7II any opinions?

Tom Stanworth · Jan 14, 2007

Baxter Bradford said:
Have used ND grads with it. The real pain is the blind arc formed by the Lee filter adaptor ring. Investigated idea of making a bayonet one, but looked quite difficult. Have since switched to using HP5 and Fuji Pro160S colour neg in it rather than tranparency film. The built-in meter is able to handle this better.

QUOTE]

I think the MF RFs come into their own with B&W film for 'walkabout exploring' type shooting where you may stumble upon some super shots but dont want to have to lug about a LF camera in case you dont!

coriana6jp · Jan 15, 2007

Tom Stanworth said:
Baxter Bradford said:

Have used ND grads with it. The real pain is the blind arc formed by the Lee filter adaptor ring. Investigated idea of making a bayonet one, but looked quite difficult. Have since switched to using HP5 and Fuji Pro160S colour neg in it rather than tranparency film. The built-in meter is able to handle this better.

QUOTE]

I think the MF RFs come into their own with B&W film for 'walkabout exploring' type shooting where you may stumble upon some super shots but dont want to have to lug about a LF camera in case you dont!

Click to expand...

Actually this is just why I want one. There are times and places I go where carrying either the 4x5 or 8x10 is not practical. Thank you again for all your opinions!

Best!

Gary

doc4x5 · Jan 22, 2007

go for it!

I have had an M7II with the 50-80-150 lenses for many years. No one questions the superb lens quality or the incomparable silence of the shutter. It is a very compact system compared to any other 6x7 system. I use mine for travel and hiking. The only issue I have with mine is the different style of rangefinder focusing. If you work well with a rangefinder, go for it. You'll not regret the purchase. I have strongly considered selling my system a couple of times, just because I do not use it often, but then whenever it comes close, I decide I really want to keep it. I have made all the classic errors, failure to remove the lens cap, forgetting to focus, because everything in the finder looks sharp... and others I am too embarassed to mention. But the bottom line is image quality and that is unbeatable.

Eric

coriana6jp · Jan 23, 2007

Hi All,

I picked up the camera on Sunday. The kit even came with the polarizer and Mamiya CF pod amongst some other goodies. Also bought a 43mm lens because they had a nearly $300 off if bought at the same time as the camera. So far my initial impressions are its a great camera, I have only put one roll of film through it so far, but its sharper than I could have imagined.

At this point I am going to add a 150mm lens at some point, when the bank account recovers enough.

Thank you all for the help, it is greatly appreciated!

Gary

bijennest75 · Jan 28, 2007

hi Gary,

This is a very fine camera, it makes nearly no noise. In the beginning I was wondering it it worked. I have the 43mm and the 80 mm lens. Love the system, especially if you want to travel light. One thing I don't like is that you do no always see the measurement of the lightmeter very well. Handheld pictures under bad conditions come out well. This is a camera you can always take with you. The weight/size isn't aproblem. Get one if you can on ebay. You won't regret if it you like rangefindercamera's an have no problen changing film every 10 pictures.

Peter

JosBurke · Jan 28, 2007

I've had my 7II for about a year----I think it is unbeatable for an on the go type of camera--sharp as all getout----have taken some fabulous images of my children with it that I could never have pulled off with my Hasselblad or RolleiFlex TLR------- I'm not the fastest with a rangefinder but it is faster and much better ergo wise than a Hasselblad for handheld use!! I'd love to have the 43mm myself--I have the 80, the 65 (my fave) and the 50 but I'd love the 43 as I'm starting to play with a Hassy SuperWide and I'm sure the M7 would be much easier handling and set-up--I love the Hassy SWA but it's not the easiest to use--not yet anyway !!

Robert Hall · Jan 29, 2007

Thanks to Rich, Naturephoto1 and Luis, Muihlinn, I am carting mine around China in the Shenzhen area as we type. I have shot 30 rolls through it so far and have to say, it carries like a dream.

I shot Pentax 67 for a long time and while I like the depth of field preview, it's nice to not need a mirror lockup to avoid a sprained neck from the mirror recoil.

I liked the lenses on both, but the Mamiya shoots a contrastier image.

I am heading over to Hong Kong tomorrow. I may pick up a lens for it over there.

Next time I come, however, I will probably bring the 8x10.

Best of luck,

Woolliscroft · Jan 29, 2007

bijennest75 said:
hi Gary,

This is a very fine camera....... You won't regret if it you like rangefinder camera's and have no problem changing film every 10 pictures.

Peter

Every 20 anyway. It's perfectly happy with 220 film. Being used to a Pentax 67II I haven't quite got used to not getting 21 on 220, but I always was a mean devil

David

catem · Jan 29, 2007

Oh no...I'd got over my desire for one of these, and now it's growing again....

coriana6jp · Jan 29, 2007

Well, I put three rolls through mine this weekend. Its a great camera, I have only two little things that will take me sometime to get use to. I wish the focusing spot were slightly larger and the shutter button is way way to sensetive. Wasted several frames by putting a little to much pressure on the button.

I love the 43mm lens, its great and very very sharp. The 80mm is just has sharp and seems to be a great walk around lens. I really think I need to get a 150mm in the near future. That would make a complete the kit, I think.

It certainly wont replace my 8x10 or 4x5, but its nice to have a light weight high quality camera that I can carry around in a few places where the bigger ones are impractical.

Thanx again for the great advice.

Gary

JosBurke · Jan 29, 2007

Remember to occasionally check the RF at infinity as they can easily get knocked out of alignment--mine did !! Better to check as you go than find out afterward--Enjoy it !!

coriana6jp · Jan 29, 2007

JosBurke said:
Remember to occasionally check the RF at infinity as they can easily get knocked out of alignment--mine did !! Better to check as you go than find out afterward--Enjoy it !!

Just how often/hard is it to knock one out of alignment? It seems that its the one weak link in the camera.

Thanx!

Gary

lightranger · Jan 29, 2007

coriana6jp said:
Just how often/hard is it to knock one out of alignment? It seems that its the one weak link in the camera.

Thanx!

Gary

I have used the M 711 for a number of years. It has always given me what I will describe as not square or unparallel negatives. The horizontal lines run off on the right side on the negative. When looking through the range finder everything looks square. I returned the camera after the first month I bought it to have the rangefinder checked, but the rep said there was nothing to repair. Does anyone have this problem with their M 7, and what is the fix? Thanks, John

trebor569 · Feb 10, 2007

Mamiya 7ii

I love this camera, quirky but I still love it just the same.
The 43mm lense IMHO needs a center ND, I use a Scheider IIIb.
Has anyone used the Lee filter system with this camera, and if so have you any advice or observations?

Woolliscroft · Feb 18, 2007

I finally got the 43m lens with additional finder. I've not seen prints from it yet, but wanted to comment on one thing. I have seen a lot of comment to say that the little levelling bubble in the finder is so hard to centre that it is basically useless. I don't understand this. I have found it very easy to use and very helpful, even hand held. Ho hum.

David.

m_liddell · Feb 21, 2007

I've had mine for 8 months now, It really is a remarkable camera. I haven't used it that much since it isn't that flexible, I prefer to use my RB67 because of the wlf, no crazy finders, and close focus ability. Framing drives me mad with it. The frame lines show 85% - 100% of the frame depending on where you focus which means I have to crop almost every shot I take. Needing to imagine shallow dof at wide apertures is also annoying.

The 7 and gitzo 1228 tripod make a great setup where I need to go big distances or take MF abroad on a plane. It's amazing to be shooting 6x7 carrying so little weight! This is where it really shines and why I bought it.

Also remember the lens prices are insane, £1500 for a 50mm anyone? My RB 50mm was under £200.

Mamiya 7II any opinions?

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