I can tell a major difference in 8 by 10s between the 6 by 7 and 35mm/digital. I also had a Pentax 645 for a while and while the lenses were good they do not reach the level of perfection that the Mamiya 7 II does. My value rating is based on used.1.) The original one in titanium finish (shown above) that I use.Make offer - Mamiya 7 II Camera w/ 50mm F4.5 & 65mm F4 & 80mm F4 & 150mm f4.5 Used Ex 55 items found from eBay international sellers Near Mint Mamiya 7 II Black Medium Format Rangefinder Film Camera Body JAPANMamiya 7 Body Cap.
Mamiya 7 Ii Trial Paper Sizes
An 80mm lens close-up kit enables magnifications.Mamiya 7II, the ultimate 6x7 rangefinder camera The Mamiya 7II is the only camera in the world that has these exclusive features: Ideal 6x7cm film format that enlarges to standard photographic and industrial paper sizes without cropping and without wasting film. A size that can be viewed with the naked eye and that is easy to retouch.They are all mostly plastic and just painted the various colors.The Mamiya 7 II has high visibility frame lines in the focusing system so that the bright frame appears clearly in the rangefinder, even in the case of intense ambient light. Digital can not touch this quality.
The rangefinder flaws affect all versions from what I've seen.The 'improvements' in the rangefinder in the II version are a change in color, apparently not reliability, stability or accuracy.The II version adds multiple exposure capability and replaces the simple lens-changing curtain control on the original Mamiya 7 with a more complex fold-out lever.The II version adds an extra neck strap lug. Mamiya can retrofit this to the original Mamiya 7 if you want."The Mamiya 7 II offers double exposure capability and choice of black or champagne finish with a restyling over the original Mamiya 7 model. It uses all Mamiya 7 lenses including the latest 50mm f/4.5 superwide lens with optical finder and 210mm f/8 with optical finder.
It was preceded by the 6×6 Mamiya 6 of 1995 and replaced by the Mamiya 7II in 1999. Information is scant on the production details of the Mamiya 7 even though it is relatively new camera with production running from 1995 to its discontinuation in 2014. With this relatively portable 6×7 cult classic, are the hills really alive with the sound of music? The only way to find out is put in a roll of #not120mm and find out.You can’t be bored from this history lesson as there isn’t much to be bored from. Owners seem to lose their collective fecal matter over the Mamiya 7 and sing its praises like Maria von Trapp on a mountain top. It is placed on the pedestal of GOAT on many an internet camera reviewing blog or video you will come across in cyberspace.
Mamiya 7 Ii Full Flash Synch
Mamiya 7 Ii Manual Metering Modes
– 1/500 sec., B X synchronization at all speedsSelf-cancelling self timer Metering Built-in meteringSPD sensor in finder range: EV3 (f/ 2 sec.) ~ EV18 1/500 sec.) with 80mm f/4 lens at ISO 100Exposure Corrections: +/- 2EV in 1/3 step via Compensation Dial Aperture Priority AE or manual metering modes Viewfinder Rangefinder coupledAutomatic bright line selection (65mm, 80mm, 150mm)Readout shutter speed LED indicatorSeparate ultra-wide optical finder supplied with 43mm or 50mm lens Power One 6V PX28 alkaline silver oxide or lithium (4SR44, 4LR44 or 2CR1/3 lithium) battery Dimensions/Weight 159 x 112 x 123mm (6.2 x 4.4 x 4.8 in.)A major benefit of the Mamiya 7 system is of course the lens interchangeability. Analog Forever magazine has a great article about 20 Mamiya 7 photographers you need to know here.Mamiya 7 Tech Specs Mamiya 7 Camera type 6 x 7 format rangefinder with interchangeable lenses Format 6 x 7cm (56 x 69.5mm with 120/220 roll film) Multi-formats Optional interchangeable panoramic insert mask (24 x 65mm with 35mm roll film) Shutter Electromagnetic full flash synch lens shutter4 sec. It is especially popular among Japanese mountain and landscape photographers and boasts such users as Naoki Ishikawa, Hiromi Tsuchida, and Tomoko Yoneda.
43mm f4.5 (35mm equivalent 21mm equivalent) Below is the list of available lenses for the Mamiya 7 and its 35mm equivalent focal length for your reference. The Mamiya 65mm f/4 “kit lens” gives a wider view than the standard 80mm lenses often accompanying other medium format cameras.
Shutter Speed/ ISO/ Exposure Compensation DialThe shutter speed/ ISO/ exposure compensation dial is well designed and nice and chunky. 210mm f8 (35mm equivalent 100mm ) Mamiya 7 Cool FeaturesThere are a multitude of very in depth technical reviews out there already so I just want to highlight the few features that stand out for better or for worse. 150mm f4.5 (35mm equivalent 70mm equivalent) 80mm f4 (35mm equivalent 40mm equivalent) 65mm f4 (35mm equivalent 31mm equivalent)
The following are gripes that I find more fault in. The usual qualms from other reviews with the plastic-y body hold true for me however I believe it is a necessary compromise to keep the weight down. I find these levers very useful and well made and makes it among the fastest loading medium format cameras.The following are the glaring gripes I had with this camera. The number of exposures on the film counter is automatically set at 10 for 120 film and 20 for 220 film, according to the position of the pressure plate.A feature from the Mamiya 6, the spool release levers are also on the Mamiya 7 and makes loading and removing film a cinch. When set, “120” or “220/135” will appear in the small window under the memo clip on the rear of the camera.
I am sure after time it is something that one can get used to but why bother. That being said, i did not fall in love with the Mamiya 7 and would prefer a Plaubel Makina 67 myself.As mentioned earlier, the hair trigger release button is APITA, especially with film prices what they are, losing shots is expensive. Weighing in at 1.32 kg with the 65mm lens, carrying the Mamiya 7 in a bag and cycling was no issue. The following images were shot on Fujifilm 400H and Kodak Tri-x 400, self-developed with Cinestill Cs41 and Df96 respectively and scanned on a Canoscan 8800f.The Mamiya 7 is an easy to use portable medium format camera with a great meter and can change lenses. Not a fan of flat lugs, I think having ringed lugs would be better.Since it is renown for its portability, I figure I should see how the Mamiya 7 fares in a messenger bag cycling around.
Where the Mamiya clearly trumps the Makina are ergonomics, speed and reliability. For long focal lengths and portraits, I wouldn’t be using a rangefinder anwyays.In regards to portability, the Makina weighs slightly less at 1.27 kg and folds down much smaller. I can see the 43mm being useful for landscapes, but then you need an external finder where precise composition is quite difficult. Mamiya lenses are sharp and great, but to me lacks the sexy je ne sais quoi of the Makina’s Nikkor, Zeiss Planars or Schneider Xenotars. Yes, you can change lenses on the Mamiya 7 where you’re stuck with one lens on the Makina, but for my purposes I don’t really need to deviate from 80mm, especially if the lens is that good.
Some will throw in a case for the Fuji GF670 as an option but unfortunately I have no experience with one. You only get 10 shots a roll, I don’t mind taking my sweet ass time.Prices ain’t cheap, but at least the Mamiya 7 can still be relatively easy to repair and I gather prices will only keep going up. Yes it is clunkier but one of the charms of medium format aside from the larger negatives for me has always been about slowing down so speed for me is not a priority.