Sell it all for a 7

[pentaxuser]

Will this be a thread that will run for 5 years and then you reply: Sorry guys, I hadn't realised that you were still contributing to this old thread. Sadly I sold everything and decided on a Box Brownie after a few weeks

Just joking but prompted by another recent thread I have seen.

pentaxuser

 

[benjiboy]

That's not necessarily a bad thing, after all, film itself is a limitation.

It depends on what you want to accomplish, if there are things you want to do that a 7 isn't capable of, then obviously its not the right camera, but if you can work within its boundaries, there arguably isn't a better alternative.

If you are dependant on one camera whatever model and if it starts to malfunction your'e screwed.

 

[Monday317]

Your call, but...

Ken Rockwell thinks it's the best camera on the planet, then goes on to bemoan how cheaply it is made. Your other cameras--IMHO--knock its socks off, and your RZ already has superb Mamiya lenses. I dunno about holding onto equipment as an investment, if that's a consideration.

If you're in love with the Mamiya 7, do it by all means: it is a system camera, which, when it's working, will do a fine job for you. My only concern is you'll miss the RZ down the road. It's an old story for us all. I just snagged an Agfa Ventura to re-enter film photography, but want to get my mitts on another Pentax 6x7, having come to regret selling it decades ago. The SMC Pentax 67 lenses are THE best for the format by any technical measure and the camera is built like the proverbial tank.

BTW, being a drummer as well, the forums in that milieu are rife with the same lament; "sold this for that, wish now I hadn't...".
It's your call and good luck--I sincerely hope whatever you choose works well. :munch:

Hey APUG,

I think about this every day now... What do you think about the value of medium format cameras, and whether or not holding on to them will pay off? I only ask because I have considered selling certain models, to afford others, but I wonder if that will become a regret later on.

I currently shoot with an RZ67, GW690ii, and 645AF. Every day I consider selling all three for a Mamiya 7 kit. I feel like the benefits of all three cameras could be streamlined into one.

RZ - gives me the Mamiya feel, 6x7 format, 10 shots per roll, perfect.
GW690 - Rangefinder feel is great, big negatives, I love holding it right up to my eye, unlike the RZ.
645AF - Same with the RZ, it has the Mamiya feel, but the negatives seem small (I realize how spoiled that sounds) and I hold it up to my eye, it has metering, which makes it an adventurous camera.

The RZ is almost perfect, I cannot seem to put it down, but I tend to carry the GW with me as well, so I can switch to that eye-level style when I need to. It seems like the Mamiya 7 would combine these two cameras nicely, and give me a new level of quality that doesn't exist on any of these three models alone. The other key benefit is the weight. I would love to carry such a light camera, and get those 6x7 negs. The one thing I will sacrifice is the SLR factor. I DO love to see exactly what the image will look like, but I do love the RF aspect of my GW. Most of the work I do these days is nature, landscape, portrait, and I love walking great lengths, looking for stuff to shoot. The RZ is a big commitment when hiking...

I would love any thoughts you guys have, as always. Its more or less brainstorming, ideally I would just hoard all of this gear and buy more. My friends think I am insane for considering another film investment, when I own no digital imaging units whatsoever. I just watched a documentary about a photographer that shoots the Mamiya 7II and it was so cool, seeing the wide angle in action.

 

[Monday317]

If I were you I would stick with what you have because you were raving about the 690 and super excited it when you got it, and that was less than a month ago, right? So if you're already thinking you'll sell it for the next piece of amazing gear then chances are as soon as you get the Mamiya 7 you'll start thinking about how nice it would be to have a 6x12/6x17 or a 4x5 camera

+1

 

[chip j]

I sold my complete Mamiya 6 outfit because of the parallax error--that would probably be worse w/the 7.

 

[shutterlight]

Ken Rockwell thinks it's the best camera on the planet, then goes on to bemoan how cheaply it is made. Your other cameras--IMHO--knock its socks off, and your RZ already has superb Mamiya lenses. I dunno about holding onto equipment as an investment, if that's a consideration.

If you're in love with the Mamiya 7, do it by all means: it is a system camera, which, when it's working, will do a fine job for you. My only concern is you'll miss the RZ down the road. It's an old story for us all. I just snagged an Agfa Ventura to re-enter film photography, but want to get my mitts on another Pentax 6x7, having come to regret selling it decades ago. The SMC Pentax 67 lenses are THE best for the format by any technical measure and the camera is built like the proverbial tank.

BTW, being a drummer as well, the forums in that milieu are rife with the same lament; "sold this for that, wish now I hadn't...".
It's your call and good luck--I sincerely hope whatever you choose works well. :munch:

In what way are the Pentax lenses "the best" in your view?

 

[Theo Sulphate]

What makes sense to me:

- keep the RZ67 because you like it so much
- get the Mamiya 7 for the MF rangefinder experience

The RZ obviates the smaller Pentax 645 SLR; the Mamiya replaces the GW690II.

 

[fotch]

Decide if your hobby is gear collecting or taking pictures. If the first, you will always find what you don't have is more interesting than what you already have. If taking pictures, you will change to figuring out how your existing gear will be used to take the picture. It is almost never both. One or the other will dominate.

 

[marton]

Decide if your hobby is gear collecting or taking pictures. If the first, you will always find what you don't have is more interesting than what you already have. If taking pictures, you will change to figuring out how your existing gear will be used to take the picture. It is almost never both. One or the other will dominate.

This is probably the most insightful comment on GAS I've read. Food for thought.

 

[jimmyklane]

This is probably the most insightful comment on GAS I've read. Food for thought.

Agreed

 

[benjiboy]

Agreed

That's in essence what I've been writing on this forum for years you have to decide your prioritys.

 

[JackRosa]

Just bu the Mamiya 7II

It seems to me that you are (subconsciously) set on getting the Mamiya 7 (or 7II). JUST DO IT!

I have a Bronica 6x7 and the "tank" Mamiya RB67 Pro-S and decided to take the plunge and purchase a 7II. Is it the end-all? No! You are going to need to RZ for close ups.

The lenses for the 7II are superb. It is much, much lighter than the Bronica and orders of magnitude lighter than the "tank".

If you like the feeling of bringing the camera to your eye, then the 7 (or 7ii) is the camera for you.

Far easier to take with you on hikes, or simply bring with you on a car (or motorcycle) ride and, when you see something worth photographing ... voila' - easy does it.

My 4x5 weighs less that the RB67! I keep the RB67 for sentimental value ... it is the first MF camera I ever bought (1982 or 83). I still use it but only for studio work. I like the rotating back (for vertical or horizontal shots without having to move the body of the camera).

I got the 80mm lens and the 100-something or other lens. I find myself using the 80mm 95% of the time.

Just do it! Get ourself a 7 or 7ii and feel great about your decision.

 

[JackRosa]

Agree 100%

Decide if your hobby is gear collecting or taking pictures. If the first, you will always find what you don't have is more interesting than what you already have. If taking pictures, you will change to figuring out how your existing gear will be used to take the picture. It is almost never both. One or the other will dominate.

I agree 100% with the comment and find it one of the most insightful posts I have read.

I think the fellow asking about the Mamiya 7 will be happy once he takes the plunge. Sometimes it is not only about taking pictures but also about acting on what you think you need to act on. If your inner self is telling you over & over that you need a piece of gear ... heck, just do it, put it in your rear-view mirror, and move forward. You may find that you made a mistake by buying the new gear, but you live the experience and probably learn something from it.

If you can afford the experience, I think an experience is worth a thousand pictures.

 

[shutterlight]

I think that post by fitch summed up tens of thousands or more posts, across dozens of message boards, and countless emails, and streamlined it into a small paragraph of essential wisdom.

 

[bluez]

I would keep the RZ67 because it's a SLR with changeable backs.

 

[SuzanneR]

I'm not immune to the occasional bout of *GAS*, but ultimately like to keep my kit quite streamlined. I love the Mamiya 7II, but find it somewhat limited with the parallax issues, so my RZ67 complements it nicely when I want to make, say, a close up portrait. Depending on what I'm planning, I tend to pick one or the other for the day's shooting, just because my back doesn't like me to carry both systems at once!

YMMV, of course.

 

[frank]

I'm going to disagree with "the most insightful post "some people have ever read.

Photography is a multifaceted hobby, and collecting gear and making pictures are not mutually exclusive. I think that this attitude comes from people looking for a reason to feel superior to others, as in: I'm a photographer, not a collector. Well, I'm both.

 

[film_man]

I'm going to disagree with "the most insightful post "some people have ever read.

Photography is a multifaceted hobby, and collecting gear and making pictures are not mutually exclusive. I think that this attitude comes from people looking for a reason to feel superior to others, as in: I'm a photographer, not a collector. Well, I'm both.

Yeap. While I agree that the OPs RZ, GW and 645 will do nearly every job ever needed by man on earth, that would be like saying that by using potatoes, onions and some meat you can make all the food you'll ever need to live. Where's the fun in that?

I always move kit around, I have my favourites and could have stopped 10 years ago but hey...why not.

 

[LMNOP]

I'm not immune to the occasional bout of *GAS*, but ultimately like to keep my kit quite streamlined. I love the Mamiya 7II, but find it somewhat limited with the parallax issues, so my RZ67 complements it nicely when I want to make, say, a close up portrait. Depending on what I'm planning, I tend to pick one or the other for the day's shooting, just because my back doesn't like me to carry both systems at once!

YMMV, of course.

I really like this insight, and ideally I would own both, that may be the case someday!

Could anyone explain in simple terms how this parallax effect is getting in the way? I use a GW rangefinder, and I'm not sure if I experience the same issue.

 

[LMNOP]

Yeap. While I agree that the OPs RZ, GW and 645 will do nearly every job ever needed by man on earth, that would be like saying that by using potatoes, onions and some meat you can make all the food you'll ever need to live. Where's the fun in that?

I always move kit around, I have my favourites and could have stopped 10 years ago but hey...why not.

Yes, currently I can shoot most things with my gear, its just a matter of getting more RZ lenses, that would make my setup truly complete. I DO sometimes think that slimming down my gear would help me focus on the subject more, and have less decisions to make when going out to shoot. As it stands, I struggle to pick a camera when I leave the house and often take two at once. I am not really a collector, but I do want to shoot them all!

 

[Rob Archer]

I've been following this post with interest. I recently faced the same dilemma. I've used Bronica ETRSi equipment since 1991 when I brought the camera new and gradually built up a large collection of lenses, backs etc. Superb camera and did just about everything I wanted a camera to do. The only issue was portability. Not a problem if I was on my own but most of my travels were with a young family and logging half a ton of extra stuff on holiday was no fun, particularly as we are car-free and use public transport or bicycles to travel around!

About 10 years years ago a friend bought a Mamiya 7ii and I wanted one! Portable, big negs and lovely to use. There was no way I could afford one though. Last year I had an unrefuseable offer. Another friend was selling his. The problem was I couldn't afford it unless I sold my Bronica outfit. After weeks of prevarication I took the plunge, flogged my beloved Bronica with 4 backs, 5 lenses and loads of accessories and bought the Mamiya. I don't regret it!
Just occasionally though I miss the flexibility of having interchangeable backs and the waist level finder but on the whole I love it. I haven't noticed any paralax problems with the rangefinder but that may be because most of my photography is landscapes and I use a smallish aperture and use the scale on the lens barrel to focus. It's a lot easier to use handheld than the Bronica but slightly less convenient on a tripod without the wlf.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

 

[MattKing]

Could anyone explain in simple terms how this parallax effect is getting in the way? I use a GW rangefinder, and I'm not sure if I experience the same issue.

If you like to shoot things that are somewhat close to you, like 3/4 portraits or closer, the viewing system sees things from a different angle and position then the taking lens. As a result, it can be difficult to frame your photo accurately - what you see ends up being different than what you end up getting.

At longer distances, it doesn't matter as much, or at all.

 

[mfmike]

I had a 7ii for a brief period of time, hoping it would be the best combination of negative size, rangefinder focussing, and transportability. But the build quality of the switches and the tendency of the meter display to wash out in bright sun soured me on the kit and I sold it for a GF670. No regrets.

 

[shutterlight]

If you like to shoot things that are somewhat close to you, like 3/4 portraits or closer, the viewing system sees things from a different angle and position then the taking lens. As a result, it can be difficult to frame your photo accurately - what you see ends up being different than what you end up getting.

At longer distances, it doesn't matter as much, or at all.

You learn to compensate for that. I've generally been okay with getting something different than what I see in the viewfinder. It can be a good thing sometimes.

 

[SuzanneR]

I really like this insight, and ideally I would own both, that may be the case someday!

Could anyone explain in simple terms how this parallax effect is getting in the way? I use a GW rangefinder, and I'm not sure if I experience the same issue.

I find the Mamiya 7II works beautifully from about four to six feet away from the subject. Any closer, and I just can't get it framed or focussed in quite the right way that I want. I've had times when my kids picked up, say, a small toad and the pictures I made with the Mamiya 7II, the toad was just too small in the frame or if I came in too close, it just didn't work to my eye. I tried the close up attachment, thought the results were good, it was a little bit awkward to use for portraits.

On the other hand, then RZ is a far better tool for coming in close on small details, faces, eyelashes, bruised knees, and the occasional small toad! I can frame and focus much more efficiently with it when I'm looking to photograph small details. I'm glad to have both systems, because neither can do everything I want, but they both produce a gorgeous big 6x7 negatives.