Focusing Mamiya 7 vs. Leica M6 vs Bessa R2

jmooney

jmooney

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Hi All,

For those that own both how similar/dissimilar do you find the focusing? I ask because I'm contemplating a Mamiya 7 and I've had a strange problem in the past. I've owned 2 or 3 Bessa R2's and I was rarely able to get an in focus picture with any of them using various lenses. My Leica M6 was no problem at all, focus was spot on all the time. I haven't been able to explain this and I've sold those bodies and no one has complained of focusing issues with them.

So I'm wondering how different the Mamiya 7 and the Leica M6 are, I'm concerned with having my non Leica focus demon come back and then having to resell the camera (I have to buy online).

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Jim
 
Jim: I have used a Mamiya 7 for several years but never owned a M6 or a CV body, just two ZIs and a CLE. I have no problem focusing the Mamiya 7. I shoot it always handheld and fairly quickly, just like a 35mm RF.

I am a fan of the 6x7 negs, even for my documentary style. So the Mamiya 7 is the camera for me.
 
I used to have a Mamiya 6. At the same time, i had a Leica M7. I always said the Mamiya was easier to focus - big viewfinder and the patch was contrasty and didn't flare. But, i never had any problems getting in-focus pictures with any rangefinder (M7 .72, M7 .85, Ikon, Bronica RF645, Mamiya 6).

If the Mamiya is working right, i can't see why you'd have a problem. The lenses aren't that fast and shallow DOF shouldn't be as much of a problem as with a 1.0/1.2/1.4 lens on a 35mm camera.
 
I find the focus a little easier to get right on my M4-P compared to my Leica M7 and Mamiya 7ii. This is mainly due to focus patch flair (Leica M7,) and the Mamiya 7ii's marginally darker, polarized VF. I prefer working with the Mamiya though, so that must say something.
 
I doubt you'd have a problem with the Mamiya 7 but I'd never buy any RF without a return policy from the seller if unsatisfactory. I've owned several brands of RF and I usually need to tweak their rf to get best results. The thing is, the Leica is the easiest and fastest to adjust to the 'nth degree, so any misalignment is usually not a big issue. I once owned a Fuji GS645. The 75/3.4 lens had an incredible reputation but the rf was slightly off. Fortunately, I figured out how to adjust it and it was a remakably great performer, better optically than any Leica lens up to then. I later sold it once I stopped medium format but still cherish the images it produced.
 
I'm not familiar with the Bessa so I figure this may be a silly question but did they have diopters that may have been getting bumped or something? My Mamiya 7II and M7 both work well although I find them easier to focus in the horizontal/landscape orientation than vertical/portrait. Not really sure why. I would probably agree with TJV in preference for the Mamiya VF but that might be bias since I've had it longer.
 
Mamiya 7 has a large base length as does Leica, Bessa has a short one. This could cause problems especially with large apertures and longer focal lengths.

Of course the RF could be misaligned on any of these. Mamiya is quite easy to calibate, Bessa is not too hard either. Never tried with a Leica...
 
My M7II focuses just like any rangefinder, line up the focus patch and press the shutter.

Todd
 
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