Why Mamiya 7 II is too expensive?

[amellice]

The camera usually runs on eBay in the range 1000~2000. Comparing to other medium format I'd say that it's on the expensive side, any particular reasons?

 

[LMNOP]

The camera usually runs on eBay in the range 1000~2000. Comparing to other medium format I'd say that it's on the expensive side, any particular reasons?

I would love to know the answer to this question... I have wanted one of these cameras for a long time, but the price has kept me away. I shoot an RZ67 for that very reason, though having the SLR style helps, I get to see exactly what I'm shooting. RFs are fun, and I love the crispness of those 7 lenses, but its just too pricy. I found one at a local shop in beautiful shape, the body was 1500 and the 80mm lens was 800. This is not worth it to me.

 

[gzinsel]

well, supply and demand has something to do with it. in addition many people praise its construction and most importantly its' lenses. Also I think, these camera are still being Manufactured(?) i think. For Many photog's This camera is the holy grail, in MF. This camera has 5 or 6 lenses, and a 4x5 ratio, and is a rangefinder. compared in size much smaller than RB or RZ. Although, due to the fact that many professionals have left the MF film cameras and have moved onto to digital, you would think there would be a slew of mamiya 7 and 7II on the market. Hence a reduction of price. But i think this camera will be one of the last film cameras to drop in price. Mamiya 645 are dirt cheap. Mamiya 6 are still kind of up there, though. There were so many Hassleblad CM made, you can pick those up for half the price. Mamiya 7II were/are a recent production, say in the last 15-2o years or so.

 

[bdial]

Awesome optics, relative to many of the usual MF suspects they are fairly recent, there aren't zillions of them available. They are well built, feature rich, made by a very respected manufacturer. It all adds up.

 

[one90guy]

The Mamiya 7 was also on my wish list, became impatient and bought the Mamiya 6 with the 75mm and 150mm lens. Just loaded and started first roll, 1st impressions are love the lighter weight, my other mediums are Bronica EC and Mamiya TLR, great fit for my hands and control locations are to my liking. Time will tell.

 

[CropDusterMan]

I think the primary reason is that it is a ridiculously awesome camera system. It is reliable, simple and has unparalleled optics.
I wish I had one.

 

[heespharm]

This camera is the holy grail, in MF. This camera has 5 or 6 lenses, and a 4x5 ratio, and is a rangefinder. compared in size much smaller than RB or RZ.

yup it was mine... Recently bought all my holy grail cameras... Leica m6, mamiya 7, tachihara 4x5 in cherry and brass, and already had a Hasselblad 500c


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[shutterlight]

It's the optics, and the ease of use, along with the small size. Easy to load film, easy to change lenses, easy to compose with once you get a bit of rangefinder experience.

The 80/4 is a phenomenal lens. Probably 90% of my work over the past three years was made with mine. The 65/4 is also great.

I have noticed that the cameras and lenses (other than the 150) are selling for notably more than a couple years ago.

 

[Alan W]

As has been stated above-incredible optics and very portable for a 6x7 camera.I have one and I also have an RZ67 outfit(on ebay right now).I can fit the Mamiya 7 with a lens in a small shoulder bag.The RZ67 was rarely brought outside my house since acquiring the Mamiya 7.And there's not a whole lot left to shoot indoors.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

How does the Fuji GW690III compare to the Mamiya 7 in terms of image quality and desirability? I realize the Fuji is a fixed-lens all-manual camera, but that's why I like it.

 

[gzinsel]

I do own gw690III. a friend of mine owns a Mamiya 7. The lens of Fuji is really good, But the 80mm f/4 mamiya is better. For 11x14 prints, its extremely difficult to see the difference without the aid of a loop.you can see the difference by 16x20 and up. The real question you should be asking is, how does the "feel" of each camera differ? and which one is better for you. and which one is better for your pocket book. If I could afford the 7, i would buy one. But I am very happy with what I have. Its not like people are going to turn away from my prints and hold their nose and say "it would have been a great photograph if only he had used a Mamiya 7II!" I mean you do not have to feel like a half -person owning a Fuji- i mean it shouldn't give you an inferior complex, i mean . . . i mean . . . etc. . haha . you can still make wonderful images with any camera. its really what can you do, and how creative are you?

 

[LMNOP]

I bought a GW690ii because the 7 was too pricey. I couldn't be more pleased with the results, but I imagine I would like the 7 better, just because I love Mamiya gear, its a nerdy detail thing, I think they deliver similar results. I also tend to think, I have an advantage over those mamiya 7 shooters, given the extra 2cm, I cam capture more, potentially crop later, and worry less about losing or breaking this thing. I got mine for $330 on Japanese eBay, works like a charm, perfect shape. I would buy another one of these in a heartbeat. Perhaps someday I will also own a 7, but the GW is a capable camera, fuss-free with no lenses, just focus on taking pictures.

 

[baachitraka]

Can I have a good bicycle for $2000? 2k is not expensive...

 

[Ghostman]

Considering how much I use my 7ii and how happy I am with the results compared to all of my other cameras, it was worth every penny.

 

[Moopheus]

well, supply and demand has something to do with it. in addition many people praise its construction and most importantly its' lenses.

Well, this, basically. Mamiya lenses were always of very high quality, but the lenses for the 7 are commonly regarded as the best. And presumably the studio SLRs--the RB/RZ series--were produced in much larger numbers, as they were in production for several decades and used widely. So, more people want the 7 than can get it, while RB's are easily found at low prices. And consider what a system of that quality would cost to buy new now. When the 7 was new, it was not cheap.

 

[ChuckP]

Anyone have a clue as to how many Mamiya 7 cameras were made? Are we talking several thousand or several hundred thousand.

 

[Paul Howell]

Yes supply and demand, with the Mamyia 7 out of production there are only a limited number on the market. I don't know how many Mamyia made but could be in large numbers.


If I could afford a Mamyia 7 I would buy one, I have yet to read a negative review on the lens and only minor issues with the body. For those who can only look through the shop window a Mamyia Press/Universal or Konica Rapid are reasonable subs. I have a Mamyia Universal with excellent lens, a wide, 55mm, standard 100 and the short tele 150mm, but it is heavy and rather clumsy to use compared to Mamyia 7. I used a Konica Rapid when in the Air Force, I found it easier to use but has only 3 lens, a wide, normal and short tele. Konica glass is as good as it gets.

Heresy, but a digital version of the Mamyia 7 would be worth considering.

 

[DREW WILEY]

It's about the ergonomics. Something lightwt and portable with interchangeable lenses. There's a glut of bargain MF gear out there that is probably even better made, which cost a pile in the first place, but now seems a bit cumbersome in light of advances in DLSR's. The M7 offers something even lighter than most DLSR's with a reasonably good-sized negative. But there are a lot of con's too, besides just the price. If you carry more than one type of film you need extra bodies, which gets real expensive. It's a rangefinder mainly tailored to wide angle use (they don't even offer a "normal" lens for it), not much good with closeups either. The out-of-focus rendition or bokeh of the lenses is not particularly appealing. Sure, I'd snap up a clean one if it had a good price. I almost did a month ago. It would be a nice camera to have at times, though in my case, it would probably only get intermittent use. There are other systems I find more versatile.

 

[benjiboy]

Whether it's "too expensive" depends on your pocket, it clearly isn't for the many thousands of people who have bought them.

 

[John Koehrer]

Anyone have a clue as to how many Mamiya 7 cameras were made? Are we talking several thousand or several hundred thousand.

Considering the original pricing, I'd think in the tens of thousands.
Hundreds of thousands you're into 35mm SLR land.

 

[DREW WILEY]

But the new ones are much much more than a decade or two back, while MF SLR's are becoming a bargain. So that kinda makes one think
twice about how to invest. I mostly shoot view cameras, and have a P67 system too, so it's kinda a backburner issue for me, more of a vacation camera concept. But if I stumbled onto a clean Fuji 6x9, I might be tempted that direction instead.

 

[tomfrh]

The prices are high because they're good and there is a shortage of them.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I would love to know the answer to this question... I have wanted one of these cameras for a long time, but the price has kept me away. I shoot an RZ67 for that very reason, though having the SLR style helps, I get to see exactly what I'm shooting. RFs are fun, and I love the crispness of those 7 lenses, but its just too pricy. I found one at a local shop in beautiful shape, the body was 1500 and the 80mm lens was 800. This is not worth it to me.

that's probably your loss.I just don't know of a MF camera with higher image quality.though the Mamiya 6 comes close

 

[RalphLambrecht]

How does the Fuji GW690III compare to the Mamiya 7 in terms of image quality and desirability? I realize the Fuji is a fixed-lens all-manual camera, but that's why I like it.

You are really compring apples and oranges here.The Fuji is a toy compared to the Mamiya6 or 7

 

[Texsport]

For maximum huge print sharpness the Mamiya lenses are superb, but, besides the price, fall sort of Fujica 690 and Norita 66 in at least 3 key respects - both the other cameras can be focused significantly closer to the subject than the Mamiya, allowing head only shots - both other cameras' lenses offer superior bokeh - and the 6X9 negative size blows away 6X7 always.

So, for some uses, the Mamiya isn't as capable. There's just no perfect camera.

Texsport