Topic: Mamiya 7 II (Read 6064 times)

JV · « **on:** November 13, 2013, 10:33:43 pm »

For people who have always been drooling over one, B&H has a pretty significant discount going on right now:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/357366-REG/Mamiya_215_220_7_II_Pro_Value.html

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2013, 11:16:44 pm »

I'll continue to drool.
The Mamiya 6 was the last film camera that I truly loved. If I hadn't sold my soul to the Digital Revolution some years ago, I'd jump at the 7.

JV · « **Reply #2 on:** November 14, 2013, 07:52:11 am »

Me too. My Hy6 covers all my needs. And it has faster lenses as well!

Still a very good deal though!

Christoph C. Feldhaim · « **Reply #3 on:** November 14, 2013, 07:56:31 am »

Already got one.
Don't need a second though - one color and one b/w loaded body ... hmmm ... .P

TMARK · « **Reply #4 on:** November 14, 2013, 09:30:56 am »

If you can live with a rangefinder, this is the best camera system ever made. IMO.

Ken R · « **Reply #5 on:** November 14, 2013, 10:20:52 am »

Quote from: TMARK on November 14, 2013, 09:30:56 am

If you can live with a rangefinder, this is the best camera system ever made. IMO.

Imagine a digital version... humm Medium Format Digital Mirrorless with high quality live view

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #6 on:** November 14, 2013, 12:40:19 pm »

Never mind the stupid live view (stupid, IMHO, since using it is like trying to operate a view camera without a dark cloth). If they made a Mamiya 7IID (i.e., exactly the &II but with a digital back) I'd get one in a minute.

Rob C · « **Reply #7 on:** November 14, 2013, 01:10:20 pm »

Quote from: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 14, 2013, 12:40:19 pm

Never mind the stupid live view (stupid, IMHO, since using it is like trying to operate a view camera without a dark cloth). If they made a Mamiya 7IID (i.e., exactly the &II but with a digital back) I'd get one in a minute.

Eric, I tried LV on the D700 for the first (and probably last) time a day or two ago; it drove me nuts.

Your wish echoes what I'd hoped (within its format) the new Nikon was going to be... I was disappointed.

Rob C

Ken R · « **Reply #8 on:** November 14, 2013, 04:19:08 pm »

LV is great for precise focus and composition. Specially in landscape and macro situations whenever you do not have an optical (slr) viewfinder.

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2013, 04:20:07 pm »

Quote from: Rob C on November 14, 2013, 01:10:20 pm

Eric, I tried LV on the D700 for the first (and probably last) time a day or two ago; it drove me nuts.

Your wish echoes what I'd hoped (within its format) the new Nikon was going to be... I was disappointed.

Rob C

Maybe if they always supplied a built-in viewing hood on every camera with "live view," it might be tolerable.
If even Nikon can't see the light, the world must be a pretty dim place. (Hey, maybe that could be a good political campaign slogan!)

Eric

EricWHiss · « **Reply #10 on:** November 15, 2013, 01:03:54 am »

I sell Rolleiflex, but even I want one of these!

What can I say, except I love cameras!
But I just wish the lenses focused a bit closer.

Christoph C. Feldhaim · « **Reply #11 on:** November 15, 2013, 01:19:10 am »

Get the 43 mm (+viewfinder), the 80 mm and the 150 mm and be good ...

Hulyss · « **Reply #12 on:** November 15, 2013, 06:22:50 am »

Quote from: EricWHiss on November 15, 2013, 01:03:54 am

I sell Rolleiflex, but even I want one of these! What can I say, except I love cameras!
But I just wish the lenses focused a bit closer.

Exactly ! 7ii is on of the best film camera but for portraits ... it focus to far, that's the little problem.

TMARK · « **Reply #13 on:** November 15, 2013, 04:36:14 pm »

80mm with the close up adapter, while a goofy mechanism, works very well for portraits.

Quote from: Hulyss on November 15, 2013, 06:22:50 am

Exactly ! 7ii is on of the best film camera but for portraits ... it focus to far, that's the little problem.

EricWHiss · « **Reply #14 on:** November 15, 2013, 09:19:53 pm »

Hulyss,
Your posts on the DP2M have also put that camera on my wish list.

TMARK,
Can you really focus well enough with it? That's good to know. Looking at it, I wouldn't have guessed it would be accurate enough.

TMARK · « **Reply #15 on:** November 16, 2013, 12:55:41 pm »

You need to stop down, its not as good as the pure RF. BUT, at 11 or so its just sharp all over.

The 150 works too, but it takes some doing. Again, depth of field is your friend.

I usually switched to the RZ for tight portraits.

Quote from: EricWHiss on November 15, 2013, 09:19:53 pm

Hulyss,
Your posts on the DP2M have also put that camera on my wish list.

TMARK,
Can you really focus well enough with it? That's good to know. Looking at it, I wouldn't have guessed it would be accurate enough.

Hulyss · « **Reply #16 on:** November 16, 2013, 03:27:43 pm »

You "can" do portrait with the M7ii but it is more a versatile reportage/landscape camera. The 150 might help but is tricky to focus at Max aperture.

So yes, the M7ii is an excellent camera but, if 50/55 mm is not a problem for shooters, there is better alternative out there. Note that most of M7ii owners bought the camera with the 80mm and never bought another lens on top of that, simply because of the price. They invest in the body but are restrained by the price of lenses. Simply put, they acquire the device with the project to buy more lenses later but the digital era is here and some excellent digital cameras pop up. So they buy a digital camera and do not have money left for a new M7ii's lens... Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

That said, the RZ is a far better tool for portrait but not for your anatomy :p this thing weight a tone.

The voigtlander Bessa III 667 is a truly spectacular and reliable machine. Wunderbar Heliar 80mmf3.5, pick sharpness at f8/f11, extremely accurate cell, 6x6 or 6x7 on demand, awesomely quiet... A tad expensive but this thing is made to be durable.

Just some thought.

http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/pickup/20080929/1019183/?P=2

EricWHiss · « **Reply #17 on:** November 16, 2013, 04:31:48 pm »

I think I'll stick to my Hy6 with the 110/2, 180/2.8 and 80/2 for portraits then.

but I do still covet a 7ii - probably I would get one of the wider lenses and use it for other stuff.

Right now I use a 110B conversion with a schneider 90mm lens and 4x5 film (in a grafmatic holder) and this works pretty nicely, but I don't always want something that big. I also have a 110B/900 conversion with a komura 152/3.5 lens for portraits - had Alpenhause calibrate the rangefinder cam for it. It's pretty neat, but a bit cumbersome since you have to remove the front element when you want to pack it away.

TMARK · « **Reply #18 on:** November 17, 2013, 11:35:33 am »

The 65 is my favorite.

Lacunapratum · « **Reply #19 on:** November 17, 2013, 03:13:04 pm »

Great camera and very portable. All the lenses are very sharp. I have the 43, 65, 80, 150, and 210 as well as the macro set-up. The 210 is somewhat underappreciated. Don't have the 50, but it's supposedly very good as well.

On film, contrast and sharpness are so high that it does have limitations, especially for portraits, but also for high contrast scenes. The built-in meter works for some scenes and not for others - you may have to carry an external meter.

My personal favorite is definitely the 43mm as there isn't a reflex lens of similar quality in that focal length range.

I still hope that one day they will be able to design a digital version that is able to handle the short projection distance onto the focal plane, just to still be able to use those lenses.

Author Topic: Mamiya 7 II (Read 6064 times)