Quality of Mamiya plastic

LMNOP · Feb 23, 2015

If anyone can weigh in, it's this crowd...

i love over my RZ67, but taking it hiking is not exactly a breeze. I know a lot of people have compared the Mamiya 7 to the Fuji GW690 series, but I have a specific question. How sturdy is the construction of the Mamiya 7? Specifically the plastic body. I remember Rockwell described it as a poorly made camera that delivers great images. I find that interesting, because I would never buy a car that was super fast but fell apart easily.

i love the solid construction of a quality product, with as few electronics as possible, ideally none for landscape work. I must admit, some of the greatest work I've seen has come from a Mamiya 7, and it is a total dream camera, but at that price? I would hate to drop that thing and see part of the body chip off instead of just taking a bit of the paint and maybe adding a dent.

Thoughts?

gone · Feb 23, 2015

Well, mine wasn't a dream camera, that's for sure. The rangefinder would never stay aligned,and the wind on did not inspire confidence, although mine never broke. I actually bought mine w/ the body badly chipped/cracked for a good price. There's a metal frame under there, but the body fits loosely and feels a bit odd. I also much preferred my German lenses to the contrasty Mamiya lenses. Lots of people love these cameras. Not me.

LMNOP · Feb 23, 2015

momus said:
Well, mine wasn't a dream camera, that's for sure. The rangefinder would never stay aligned,and the wind on did not inspire confidence, although mine never broke. I actually bought mine w/ the body badly chipped/cracked for a good price. There's a metal frame under there, but the body fits loosely and feels a bit odd. I also much preferred my German lenses to the contrasty Mamiya lenses. Lots of people love these cameras. Not me.

Interesting! How long did you have the 7 for? What do you mean about the wind?

what type of German stuff are you into now? Clearly I just love hearing what other shooters use and prefer, especially the Germany/Japan divide.

snapguy · Feb 23, 2015

take

If you want to take a hike in the Alps mit der 120 camera I suggest a Rolleiflex.

brian steinberger · Feb 23, 2015

I have two mamiya 6 bodies. Both are rugged as hell IMO. I take them hiking all the time. They are more rugged than many of my other cameras.

gphoto120 · Feb 23, 2015

I've owned my Mamiya 7 I for 3 years....likes: light weight, super sharp lenses, (43,65,150mm), ergonomic design. I also have a Hass. 500c, and the main reason I like it is no electronics and also 6x6 format! Both have performed wonderfully as well. I use both mostly for landscape. However, it did take me some time to adapt to using a rangefinder over an slr.

RattyMouse · Feb 24, 2015

LMNOP said:
If anyone can weigh in, it's this crowd...

i love over my RZ67, but taking it hiking is not exactly a breeze. I know a lot of people have compared the Mamiya 7 to the Fuji GW690 series, but I have a specific question. How sturdy is the construction of the Mamiya 7? Specifically the plastic body. I remember Rockwell described it as a poorly made camera that delivers great images. I find that interesting, because I would never buy a car that was super fast but fell apart easily.

i love the solid construction of a quality product, with as few electronics as possible, ideally none for landscape work. I must admit, some of the greatest work I've seen has come from a Mamiya 7, and it is a total dream camera, but at that price? I would hate to drop that thing and see part of the body chip off instead of just taking a bit of the paint and maybe adding a dent.

Thoughts?

The Fuji GW and GSW690 have metal bodies. The I and II series of these cameras have the metal exposed with the III series covering the metal in a plastic outer coating. I would consider these cameras quite durable.

Steve Goldstein · Feb 24, 2015

I purchased my first Mamiya 7 used in 2000 from KEH. That camera has been to Asia and Europe with me multiple times, as well as around the US by air, vehicle, and foot (lots of hiking). Not long after I bought it I had MAC do a CLA and replace some parts of the viewfinder system with those from the later Mamiya7-II, not because it needed alignment or cleaning but simply because I didn't know the camera's history. I continue to use that body today, along with a second one purchased around 5 years ago and also CLA'd/converted. Both cameras have been trouble-free with no issues around rangefinder alignment or accuracy, meter accuracy, film advance, whatever. I'm careful with my equipment but not obsessive, and I don't use the bodies for things like driving nails; other than a few scuffs, both are pretty much the way they were when I got them. I think the whole "flimsy construction" talk is way overblown. Think how much heavier they would be if made entirely of metal - it would make them considerably less attractive as carry cameras, and would not improve image quality one iota. Yes, they used plastic - get over it.

And how, exactly, would a minor chip or dent affect your images? Is this an investment or do you plan to use it? If the former you should find one new-in-box and carefully put it on a shelf, if the latter then just buy it and get going. I'm a camera user and while I take care of my gear so it will continue to work for me I don't particularly worry about resale value.

mweintraub · Feb 24, 2015

I had the Mamiya M645 1000s for a while and sold it when I got a plastic 645E. The 645E cracked because I didn't protect it enough in the bag in my trunk. I sold that and got the M645 1000S again. I've moved on to the plastic 645 Pro and a RZ67, but I'm more careful with packing them.

AKA, they don't make things like they used to.

Moopheus · Feb 24, 2015

RattyMouse said:
The Fuji GW and GSW690 have metal bodies. The I and II series of these cameras have the metal exposed with the III series covering the metal in a plastic outer coating. I would consider these cameras quite durable.

My GW690II has gone for many rides in the trunk bag of my bike, and has no complaints (I did put some extra padding in the bottom of the bag!). These cameras were built to endure fairly heavy use. Obviously, the Mamiya has interchangeable lenses, and reputed to be the best MF lenses you can buy, but the Fuji is fine and also can be had for much less money.

shutterlight · Feb 24, 2015

No camera has ever come close to fitting me as well as the 7 does. My hands are not particularly large, and the grip fits me like it was made specifically for my hands.

My 7 took a spill while in my backpack a few months after I got it, and it went off to Precision Camera Works to get fixed (the film advance winder had jammed). Since then, it has been okay. I've bumped it against many a door frame/object since then, but it seems to be okay for the time being. I was just thinking earlier, before I read this thread, that I'm waiting for the inevitable day when something bad happens to it and it's either heavily damaged or otherwise lost in some way. It looks cheap on the outside, but underneath I think it's solid.

LMNOP · Feb 24, 2015

I know I will someday own a Mamiya 7, it is a goal of mine and has been for years. It will likely come at a time that I could afford to drop a camera worth that much. For now I am taking the plunge with a GW690 - I expect to have some fun with it!

EdSawyer · Feb 25, 2015

mamiya 7 is a fantastic camera with the best MF lenses ever made. It is plenty rugged, I have had both the 7 and 7II, still have the 7, it is. Such a superb camera. I have a full rz67 kit also, and a fuji gsw690III as well. The 7 is the best for hiking, etc. it is not flimsy, it has a massive monolithic magnesium casting that comprises the main body of the camera, all the plastic on the outside is just cosmetic. There are pics of this casting in one of the mamiya brochures.

shutterlight · Feb 25, 2015

The 7 is also remarkably light, particularly with the 80 on it. If you take the lens off, the camera is almost weightless. It's tough, but light, which is an ideal combination when traveling.

Prest_400 · Feb 25, 2015

RattyMouse said:
The Fuji GW and GSW690 have metal bodies. The I and II series of these cameras have the metal exposed with the III series covering the metal in a plastic outer coating. I would consider these cameras quite durable.

Not quite sure if it's a kind of hard plastic quite akin to metal or metal itself. I saw a photo of a removed top plate and there were molding marks. Also, I've never seen any of these with brassing.
I haven't handled one of these, but I own a GW690III. There is some metal exposed in the exterior, I guess from the chassis, around the lens. The plastic creaks a bit in the grip, and the left side under the VF.

LMNOP said:
For now I am taking the plunge with a GW690 - I expect to have some fun with it!

As of the Mamiya 7, it was an option I eyed a lot BUT it has been always out of my budget range (except once a couple years ago when a M7II appeared on the RFF classifields for 400). M7 vs GW690, I wouldn't quite compare it due to the pricing.
The M7 is portrayed as, and it must be a wonderful camera. But the GW has a huge value nowadays. Modern and 6x9 RF, there aren't many alternatives around; perhaps a Pentax 67.

Infact I'd like to see lots of MF cameras in person, plenty of photos on the internet but I haven't seen that many in person actually. Sure you will understand when you will unpack the GW690

DREW WILEY · Feb 25, 2015

The M7 has quite a bit of polycarbonate. That is a rather tough plastic; but I wouldn't want to drop the camera on rock! My main objection to quickly using an M7 is how they've factored in expansion/contraction issues with the focal length of the lenses, and don't offer a hard stop at infinity. That would be quite an inconvenience to me. I happen to prefer the Pentax 6x7 system for medium format, but when out backpacking that rig weighs just as much as carrying my 4x5 Ebony system, actually more if I substitute a 6x9 roll film holder instead of sheet film holders. I like 6x9 format quite a bit better than 6x7, but with the 6x9 Fuji's there's no lens interchangeability. The lens choice is quite limited with the M7, except for wide-anges; but at least there's a choice. Now all I need is to find one of these in great condition at a bargain price (yeah, I know, dream on .....hell will freeze over first).

shutterlight · Feb 25, 2015

What do you mean "there's no hard stop at infinity"? My 80/4 and 65/4 lenses certainly have one.

John Koehrer · Feb 26, 2015

I believe the lens mount and helical are metal, not plastic.

SLVR · Feb 26, 2015

I'll revoice what many have said about the M7. Having only owned mine for less than 6 months I've fallen in love with the feel and size of the camera. The plastic does seem quite hard and I do intend to travel with mine when the weather gets warmer.

I think if one was considering an M7 but was concerned because of how ken rockwell described the camera they should just take the plunge. It's not something I've regretted.

Quality of Mamiya plastic

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