Mamiya 7II (thinking of buying one)

[lewis-richards]

I'm thinking of buying a Mamiya 7II do you think this is a wise choice to go for. I am currently using a Bronica ETRSi with a 50mm lens.

Any views or opinions are welcome.

 

[Jeremy]

Is there something which it will do better that you are unsatisfied in the Bronica? I think it's hard for people to give any views or opinions (well, any qualified ones anyway) without knowing more about what you want to use it for and why you think it would be better than the Bronica.

It's a 6x7 medium format rangefinder with tack sharp lenses. If this is what you want to shoot with and need then I would say it is a wise choice.

 

[David Henderson]

If you want useful answers to this question it would help to let us know what types of photograph you plan to make with it and indicate whether you already understand the implications of using a rangefinder rather than a slr . Its a fine camera but its less suitable for some applications than others.

 

[Pinholemaster]

I like my Mamiya 7 system, but that doesn't mean you will.

Remember, the camera is just a tool that allows the exploration of your vision. If the tool doesn't fit, don't use it.

I'd see if you can rent one to try it out. We can all tell you our experiences with it, but we can tell you if it is right for you.

Have you ever used a rangefinder camera before?

 

[lewis-richards]

sorry i should have said what i wanted to use the camera for.

Well basically I will be keeping my bronica aswell but i've always wanted to have my own rangefinder. I have used one before but only for a few shots. I would like to use the camera mainly for landscapes and i actually like the size 6X7 negatives that this offers aswell. The feel of this camera I find much more easy than the bronica ETRSi also. Obv that i will also use this camera for other photographs than just landscapes but landscapes are my main priority with this and i've seen some photographs of landscapes with it and they look fantastic!

 

[David Henderson]

In many ways the Mamiya 7 is a great choice for landscapes. Just a couple of things that might just be important to you'

First its hard to use ND grads with a rangefinder because you can't see the grad line ttl. Its very hit & miss and in my case more miss than hit, so I've resorted to a screw-in grad which is much less effective. This will bother you most if you use slide film, possibly little if you shoot b&w awith colour neg somewhere between. If you don't use grads with the Bronica there's nothing about the mamiya that should persuade you to start.

Second you can't see depth of field ttl so shots with a great dof requirement are more difficult without any visual clue about whats in acceptable focus and what isn't. The lens markings aren't a lot of help because they're small and very optimistic.

The meter in the Mamiya is a pretty blunt instrument if you've been used to the sophisticated modern slr devices or even a good incident or spot handheld. Thats because the camera doesn't meter ttl and draws its metering information from the same area no matter what lens you have fitted. So with a wide lens the metering area is a bit like a largeish spot, and with the 150 in place its actually taking a small proportion of its reading from outside the picture area. Personally I've been content to use a hand-held meter with the Mamiya, as I do with other systems. Again its something thats going to affect slide users more than neg film users and b&w least of all.

These things will affect and influence some people more than others;

 

[Jeffrey A. Steinberg]

I find I can hike easier with the M7II than with a 6x4.5 (I think that's what the Bronica you have is). I don't mind not having changable backs.

The camera just plain works. The lenses are stunning in quality.

 

[Merg Ross]

This is a timely question, as I am just today looking into the Mamiya 7II. For years I have used, and been a fan of, the Rollei66 System of which I have two. My interest in the Mamiya is a concern over weight and bulk. From what I understand, the Mamiya 7II might be a better choice in this regard for travel.

I realize it will not perform as the Rollei for close up work and that it has the disadvantage of depth of field preview. I am familiar with rangefinder cameras. What other disadvantages might I encounter? Do any of you use the camera hand held? My work is exclusively black and white. I have heard that the lenses are tack sharp. I would probably opt for the 80mm and 150mm to start.

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[Jeffrey A. Steinberg]

I would avoid the 150. Its hard to do portraits with that lens. I would go with the 50mm and the 80mm. Its a nice combo. If I only could get one, I would go for the 65 (i think that's the size).

 

[Baxter Bradford]

The Mamiya 7 can be an excellent landscape camera as exemplified by Andy Latham in Outdoor Photography (UK) mag. It does have its foibles, such as using ND grads. The blind arc in the viewfinder with the Lee adaptor is huge, so need to keep unscrewing the thing to compose, then reattach before making the exposure. As David says, a spotmeter is the way to go. B+W and colour neg are more forgiving and thus there is less need for the ND grads or spotmeter reducing bulk significantly. The lenses are superb. Focusing using hyperfocal works in straightforward manner from scale on lenses.

I bought a 7 MkII as a lightweight alternative to 5x4, but whilst my results were good, I just didn't like them nearly so much as those from the view camera. So it is sitting in its box under the stairs. If you are interested, PM me.

 

[PVia]

Check out Mike Stacey's images on Flickr.

He uses a Mamiya 7 II as well as a view camera. Lots of Mamiya photos there if you search through them...

 

[lewis-richards]

hmmn theres alot of information to consider before i actually go out and buy myself one of these cameras. I think i'm going to ask my university if i could borrow theirs and actually have a go at the camera itself aswell as this will give me a "feel" of what its like.

What lens do people find the best on this camera for landscapes?

PVia very nice photographs that are on Mike Stacey's website. Just wonderful!

 

[tom_bw]

I love mine - all I have is an 80mm, and this is probably all I will ever have. That being said, if I were to state the thing I like the least, it would be the 'bokeh' of this lens. First off, it is a 6 bladed diaphram - so out of focus lights (for example) are far from round. Second, there are some situations where I find the bokeh quite a bit less than ideal. The transition between a distant mountain against a bright sky while focussed close is not as smooth and 'natural' as I would like.

Ideally, you would try before you buy. I used a friends 6 before adandoning plans to get a Hasselblad!

 

[Robert Budding]

I would avoid the 150. Its hard to do portraits with that lens. I would go with the 50mm and the 80mm. Its a nice combo. If I only could get one, I would go for the 65 (i think that's the size).

You can't do tight head shots with the 150, but you can take nice environmental portraits. DOF is shallow at close focus though, so stopping down a bit helps.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I have a 7II with the 43mm, 65mm and 80mm. I'll let you know how I like it after Joshua Tree (next weekend). I have a couple of Fuji Rfdrs for comparison.

 

[doc4x5]

more about the M7II

The M7II is a very useful but somewhat limited instrument. It is quite light; my camera with 50-80-150 weighs pounds less than my equivalent Hasselblad setup. I use mine for hiking and travel where its limitations are unimportant.

The quality of the images is superb, at enlargements to 11x14 or even 16x20, I'll put it up against my 4x5, at least with Tmax 100 in xtol. I rarely use mine hand held but because of its weight, I can use a fairly light tripod, a Gitzo 1127 with an acratech head. What it does well is fairly obvious, high quality, flexibility, great landscape and nature camera, probably a good street camera as well. What it does not do well is focus close, no realistic closeup ability, not great for portraits. Framing is imprecise on a good day, the meter is a joke except in an emergency; I use a spotmeter. The lenses are relatively slow, none are faster than f/4. Rangefinder focusing is funky if you are not used to it. More than once, I have forgotten to focus... because everything looked sharp in the finder. I have also left the lens cap on... more than once. Lens changes are also funky; you have to close the curtain before removing the lens. Fortunately, the interlocks make it almost impossible to ruin film. No interchangeable backs, you either finish the roll, or waste it.

Having said all that, it is a fabulous camera, I have frequently thought of selling mine but each time, I think I can do as well with my Hasselblad, I realize I really do love the M7II.

It would be great to try one out prior to making such a major purchase.

Good luck.

Eric

 

[keithwms]

In addition to the 7 and 7ii, you might look at the 6 and 6MF.

I have a pair of Mamiya 6es that I adore. They are just superb for landscape and scenic work in general. On that body, my favourite lenses, by far, are the 50 and the 150.

I don't think it can be argued that any of these MF RFs are as useful for tight portraiture as a good MF SLR. But for landscape / scenic / documentary style shooting, oh man....

Another camera you might consider: the fuji gsw 690.

 

[lewis-richards]

Hmmmn if i buy it it'll probably be with the 80mm lens because thats the kit that i have found on all the major dealers websites.

Keithwms <> my friend has got a fuji gsw 690 and he said that I could have a go of his camera to try that out. So i get to try that and the mamiya 7II before I actually buy anything.

 

[dvanlondon]

Mamiya 6

I've been using a Mamiya 6 s for about a year now - having moved up from a 35mm rangefinder - and find it an absolute joy. It's limitations are those that ave been mentioned - no close focus, no head-shot portraits, and confusing parallax issues with foreground subjects - but in all it's a joy to use. The lenses, as I understand it, are as sharp as those for the 7II, plus you have the advantage of the bellows, which means it packs away to something more handy than a DSLR, and you can pick one up on ebay for a fraction the price of the 7II. Also, no need for a separate viewfinder for the wide-angle lens. I hand-hold quite regularly at 1/15 and get tack-sharp images because the ergonomics are so good, and contrary to expectations it's easy to hand hold a large heavy camera than an itsy-bitsy one...

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I've handled a friends 7II and observed the negatives over a light table w/ loupe. It handles great, and if I were into street photography, travelling, hiking, etc. i'd really consider one. Also, the fuji ones look great too and I wouldn't discount them.

The negatives were visibly 'sharper' than my pentax 645 negatives, but not by a whole lot. The camera is a good size and seems built well too. I do agree though, is there something you can't do with your bronica?

 

[Woolliscroft]

I love mine. It produces superb image quality with all the lenses I have. It's light, quiet, easy to load and focus. If you want a medium format rangefinder, there is nothing to beat it. The only question is, is a rangefinder what you want. They have very real strengths, but equally real weaknesses compared to SLRs and it's up to you to work out how these fit with the sort of work that you want to do.

David.