Mamiya 7II or Fotoman 69S w/6x7back

Hi All...

Maybe someone here can help me decide between a Mamiya 7II or Fotoman 69S? Mostly, I'm just looking for more information on the Fotoman and/if it's a better choice to choose over the Mamiya. I own and use a Mamiya 6MF. So I am familiar with most of the 7II's functions and limitations. The results i get from the mamiya are great for the 6x6 format. What I want next in the camera is the ability to shoot 6x7. I don't care so much for a wider neg. or pan. My problem with the 7II is going to be the viewfinder for the 50mm lens. I want to be able to view and compose at ~ mostly with precise composition. The 7II is not going to be exact. But I am familiar with it's "offness". The fotoman has the ground glass attachment which would allow for better composing. Five pluses for landscape and cityscapes photography..

So I guess I am asking if anyone has used the fotoman 69s much. Is the ground-glass bright enough? How is the rangefinder adapter? (thinking about attaching another hot shoe on top for it). Thoughts on the viewfinder with mask?

Also about the lenses... How well do the LF lenses compare on 120 film? I can't compare this, or if there is a difference. maybe it's just acuity, resolution differences etc.. Personally, I have always noticed the mamiya lenses have a unique characteristic/color tone, sharp(w/no filters) "real" look about them. The LF lenses always seem too special, if that makes sense. hm..

I am not a pro but the desire to move into compact LF photography is also becoming more of an interest to me. Thanks.

You do know that Fotoman have just recently ceased production? Don't know if they have any 69s in stock though.

Well about the lenses, you will not gain anything in sharpness with LF lenses. The Mamaya lenses are very sharp (as you already seem to know). The pros of LF lenses is to use them with LF cameras with tilt and swing and shift... i.e. the large image circles which allows you the use the movements available with the camera and lens combination. Also, if you go for older, not that modern glass, you will find out more about the way LF lenses (on LF film i.e.) have a "soft sharpness" to them.
Another way of seeing it is to know the way you want to work. The Mamaya 7 (like the 6), is somewhat like a Leica and thus quite fast to work with. Possibly a tripod, but that's it. A Fotoman or to extend the idea, a fully fledged LF camera, will on the other hand need maybe 10 minutes (or even much more) to set up the shot. If the idea of slowing down that much intreagues (sp?) you, then go ahead and enter the LF world. Else, the Mamaya 7 will not give you much that the 6 isn't already providing.

//Björn