Swapping Leica M for Mamiya 7 ??

[darkosaric]

Ask yourself two questions:

1) how often I shoot at f2.8, f2, f1.4?
2) how often I got Leica negative and thought: oh, if only this negative is bigger, quality in prints is just bad.

When you answer this - you will know what to do

BR,
Darko

 

[Brian Miller]

Jim, what kind of photography do you do with your M? Since it takes you a month for 36 exposures, do you make casual photographs throughout the month, or do you find a subject and go through a roll? Also, have you used a medium format camera before?

Unless you have money to burn, I recommend that you buy something cheap, like a Yashica TLR, and just try it out. See how you like the larger negative, and see how you like working with a slower lens. A TLR is actually a light camera, and it's not hard to use them in dim light. The Yashica lenses are really quite good, and I like the images I've made with mine. I also use a Holga, as it's weight is only 8oz, and the images are better than you'd expect. Tape up the light leak holes, and it's really a good camera. And of course, who knows, you may like them!

 

[2WK]

I have both an M6ttl and a 7ii. I wouldn't want to get rid of one or the other. I have my M6 with me everyday. I bring out the Mamiya if I am on a mission to photograph something.

 

[Dismayed]

Ask yourself two questions:

1) how often I shoot at f2.8, f2, f1.4?
2) how often I got Leica negative and thought: oh, if only this negative is bigger, quality in prints is just bad.

When you answer this - you will know what to do

BR,
Darko

Yes. That's why I have a Mamiya 7.

 

[mrisney]

I'll add that - after having an M4-P, and then getting a Mamiya 6. The viewfinder in the Mamiya 6 is much bigger, better lit, and easier to focus frame lines.

I sold off the M4-P, after realizing the Leica lenses I lusted after were outside of my budget for 35mm film. Leica 21mm/ f1.4 ... mmm, so badly wanted that one. I then spent 3 years with Contax G2 kit, and found the Contax G Zeiss lenses were more suited to my taste, sharp, and really nice color renditions.

For a while I had both the Contax G2 and the Mamiya 6.
Then I went in on Canon L lenses - 35mm 1.4 L - whew, great lens and frankly between my Sigma DP2 Merrill and my 5DMKIII, I thought that my digital equipment was outperforming my 35mm analog gear. So it was time to move the Contax G2 kit, sadly I did just that, and I have left 35mm analog completely.

Not so with the Mamiya 6. It still out performs my digital equipment, so I bought a backup Mamiya 6. I have all 3 lenses, and I doubt I will sell the Mamiya 6, it really creates extraordinary images.

One other thing, not to troll, but I think there is a huge cult of perceived quality that Leica offers. I disagree, having peered into the innards of the Leica M4-P while it was being cleaned, lubricated and adjusted, it's nothing extraordinary - maybe the M3 is a different type of camera quality wise, but the innards of the M4-P were mostly dull steel and gears that looked grey and uninteresting - also they needed quite a bit of adjustment when I brought mine to Sherry krauter, she even replaced the viewfinder with a more contemporary one from Leica M7. Still after 6 months, of use, it was tedious for 35mm analog camera, and no expsoure metering built in. I swiched gears, and sourced out a Contax G2 with a full array of lenses and the 21mm Zeiss Biogon. The Contax G2 was much better made. So what are you really getting from a Leica, other than something to caress and covet ?

The lenses I suppose, that is, if you can afford the ones - that may offer something over their DSLR counterparts.

Yes I have heard all the claims - "marvelous craftsmanship", "iconic design" "small, covert - ideal street shooter". Meh, I keep one foot in the analog world for one reason, image quality. 120 roll film using Mamiya 6 lenses delivers much more detail, than just about anything I have shot, both digitally and analog. I don't covet cameras, they are tools, it makes about as much sense as someone drooling over a screw driver or a socket set.

If you are looking for image quality - the Mamiya rangefinders are at the top of my equipment list.
Ditch the Leica and get the Mamiya 7.

 

[Endo]

A clear advantage of Mamiya 7 over Leica for professional photographers is the rendition of the lens is very consistent from 43mm to 150mm. Every Leica lens has different character, which might be a fun factor for the collectors or hobbyist, however, Leica should be considered as somewhat imperfect as a system camera. The standard of the professional movie lenses has been ultra expensive movie Zeisses, which also have very consistent character from UW to long, since the consistent rendition is required throuout the movie. Also today's professional photographers standard lenses, such as canon or Nikon zooms, Hasselbrad lenses are also very consistent.

The conclusion is if you dislike the rendition of Mamiya 7, you should choose the other system, and if you have a Leica body, you have tons of lens choices, but forget about the consistency unless you only use one lens. (some Zeiss zm lense seem to have very similar rendition, but not throughout the whole range of width.).

 

[snaggs]

Hi All,

I'm thinking of swapping my Leica M6 for a Mamiya 7. The obvoius gain is in negative real estate but what are the downsides? Has anyone made the switch? How did it go for you? My main use for the M6 is my everyday carry camera to shoot whatever may come, sort of my notebook of my life. It takes me about a month to go through a 24 exp roll of 135.

I pretty much only shoot with a 35 on my M so I was going to go with the 65mm lens and add the 150 in case I need something to get in close.

I'd appreciate any insight anyone can give.

Take care,

Jim

Had the full M9 thing some time ago, digital is too expensive, you loose so much $ every year. So I got a Fuji 670W to start with. Just like a big Leica, but does 6x6 and 6x7. Its marvellous, and I agree with you about the 24 or 36 exposures. 12 is much more convenient. Even if shooting alot during the day, you might want to change your film for night-time.

Daniel.