Mamiya 7II - the quest for an 80mm lens and ordering parts from Mamiya

So today I got a Mamiya 7II for a very nice price after using the other models in the store and fiddling around for a day I think I will really enjoy using it.

Everything works, I tested with film and lenses. There is also a warranty just in case it somehow leaks light...which brings me onto contacting Mamiya. There are two chips on the base plate from a fall. Hence the sweet price. As far as we can tell this does not compromise the camera's usage at all. I have contacted Mamiya on buying a new plate and I am waiting on a reply. What should I expect from them? Has anyone ordered parts from them before like this? If not then a good hunk of gaffers tape will do.

I am also looking for an 80mm lens...the 65 and 43 were nice but 80mm looks like the sweet spot for me on 6x7.

Is there anything that I should look out for when using this camera, as not to break it?

My Rb67 (which is in repair, many thanks to Andrew and his efforts) now has a serious contender...however I don't think that the Mamiya 7 will be suitable for still life.....

Try KEH for lenses, they seem to turn over the most used ones. I have also bought a lot of RX stuff from these people who have squeaky clean, mint used stuff for MF cameras.. Dead Link Removed ..Evan Clarke

You will enjoy the Mamiya 7. It does nearly everything well except for things that require focusing closer than three feet or so, or for fast action. The lenses are superb across the range.

The 80 is my sweet spot also. It stays on 90% of the time. I have a 50 that sees some use, and a 150 that sees almost no use. I've tried the 60 but it's too simiilar to the others to provide any real advantage. Some swear by the 43-65 combo, though; others like the 50-80 combo.

It's fairly sturdy. Beware the film curtain switch; it's supposedly somewhat fragile on the 7ii, but much more sturdy on the 7 (which I have.) I've had mine three years or so and I've had the RF adjusted a couple of times after some inadvertent rough handling (flew off the seat into the dashboard) but it's been otherwise trouble-free.

Great camera.

Krzys said:

...which brings me onto contacting Mamiya........ I have contacted Mamiya on buying a new plate and I am waiting on a reply. What should I expect from them? Has anyone ordered parts from them before like this?......

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I'm in Australia too. Mamiya have never replied to any question I've put to them. Maybe they only talk to dealers.

Contact went through great. They sent me a new base plate for $16 express. Should arrive today.