Quest for 6x7

[jbielikowski]

With all my love for square I feel its time for 6x7. I owned year ago Mamiya RB67 but I want something under 2kg with better handling. Being tight on budget I cant afford Bessa III, probably Plaubel Makina 67 too.
Koni-Omega, Mamiya Press, Pentax 67, Fuji GW670 are those cheaper one. Am I missing anything important?

 

[coelacanth]

Mamiya 7, especially the first version is a great buy.

My 6x7 quest ended when I scored Mamiya 7 & 80mm at the rock bottom price. It's light, super quick to shoot and the lens is incredibly sharp.

 

[Mablo]

That 80mm Mamiya lens is probably the sharpest lens ever produced. So if sharpness is what you're after look no further.

 

[hans voralberg]

The Mamiya Press is very heavy, probably around 2kg so you wont want to look at that either

 

[Johnmcd]

Yes. Mamiya 7!

 

[funkpilz]

You are definitely missing something. In my eyes, the Bronica GS-1 is the most affordable, most reliable, lightest 6x7 SLR that there is. Plus, the lenses are great and inexpensive.
Only downside is that it's an "abandoned" system, but that never stopped any camera shop from servicing mine.

 

[Jaime M]

For a year or so I've been thinking on the same 6x7 dilemma..
I would buy a Mamiya 7 but usually the Fuji GS's are cheaper and gives to you a bit extra aperture.

 

[Naumoski]

There is no end for willing to try all those damn film and camera's formats. 🙂

Would 6x7 make that much difference against your 6x6 Rolleiflex?

 

[Matus]

I have Mamiya 6 which is a great camera so in your case I would try to find some nice Mamiya 7.

To give you and idea on the weight of some 6x7 SLR here I few numbers I managed to put together after I did my search on the topic some time ago:

- Bronica GS-1 + 100/3.5 + back + WLF: 1.8 kg
- Bronica GS-1 + 100/3.5 lens + back + AE prism: 2.3 kg
- Pentax 67 + 105/2.4 + AE prism 2.3 kg

Bot 6x7 SLR and RF can be used hand hold. 6x7 SLRs can be had cheap, but if you plan to carry a camera and 2 - 3 lenses all day long get a Mamiya 7 instead.

- Mamiya 7 + 80/4 : 1.2 kg
- Mamiya 7 + 3 lenses ~ 2.2 kg

If I could I would add a Pentax 67II with a few lenses to my setup for those shots that Mamiya 6 or 7 can not do (wide open, close, long, the 105/2.4 has very charming character) but looking at the weight of those lenses I could as well take a 645 SLR (The 80/2 from Contax draws very nicely too)

 

[oftheherd]

The Mamiya Press is very heavy, probably around 2kg so you wont want to look at that either

The Mamiya Universal/Super Press cameras are not light, but heavy is relevant to each individual. When I first acquired my Super Press, in my 30s, I routinely carried it and a 35mm system on trips. Now I am older and have more lenses. I bought a 65mm lens, extension rings, GG back and cut film holders. Not so easy to carry. Now I have the 50mm, 150mm, and the 250mm f/5 lenses; also more backs. That fits in a smaller aluminum case. I would not want to carry that now.

But a wide strap for the camera (with 100mm normal) makes it easier to carry. With the 50mm and one of the telephotos, depending on the shooting I expect to do, and an extra back, all in a backpack, it isn't so bad. I would not want to carry it all day I don't think, as I developed a back problem a year and a half ago (not related to the Press 😀) and that wouldn't be fun. But the photos I could get would be fun.

The Press is a system camera. It is not an SLR so loses some weight there. You might want to pick up one and try it. If you like it, you can buy other lenses/accessories as you want and can afford. If you don't like it, the prices seem to have been holding fairly steady so you should be able to sell it with little or no loss.

It is cheaper than the Mamiya 7 system, and possibly the 6 system as well. It is also older, so you need to shop carefully. I don't know about any of the other cameras mentioned.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Jan,

Don't forget the Graflex XL, preferably modified to use a Mamiya RB back rather than the horrible Graflex back. The mod is easy: a quick filing job on the sliding retaining bars. The finder is 6x7 but you can also use 6x6 and 6x8 backs. They're cheap, and the 80/2.8 Rodenstock is fast and good. How much do you want to spend? I might even sell mine.

Cheers,

R.

 

[MatthewThompson]

You are definitely missing something. In my eyes, the Bronica GS-1 is the most affordable, most reliable, lightest 6x7 SLR that there is. Plus, the lenses are great and inexpensive.
Only downside is that it's an "abandoned" system, but that never stopped any camera shop from servicing mine.

I approve of this message. I can hear the sirens singing at KEH even with my browser closed.

 

[icemendicant]

I'd put my vote in for the Mamiya 7 - beg, borrow, sell a kidney, look for a good deal on eBay etc as it really ticks all the boxes for weight, ease of use, build and image quality - and has the advantage of being a current system that is still manufactured and supported.

 

[jbielikowski]

Thank you all for your response. Mamiya 7 was my holy grail, but its somehow lenses are too perfect. Older, less sharp but with more "character" its what I'm looking for. 6x7 is ersatz of LF, which I could not afford. Without cropping its perfect ratio for 24x30cm prints (and 40x50 of course). Virtually I will use one lens circa 40-50mm eq. Im gonna sell my 35mm stuff and go 100% MF, finishing 36 exp roll is a pain 😉

 

[venchka]

Bang for buck, pound, mark, franc: Pentax 6x7. Faster lenses in the longish focal lengths: 105/2.4, 150/2.8, 165/2.8.
Stellar wide angle lenses: 45mm & 55mm.
Abiltiy to add CHEAP extension tubes if close ups are needed.
Just a hunch, I didn't price everything, but I reckon you could put together a Pentax 6x7 body and 3 lenses (45-105-150 is my kit) for less than the price of the Mamiya 7 43mm lens. Certainly less than the price of the Mamiya 7 & 1 lens.

 

[f16sunshine]

I have owned the Pentax 67 system and yes it is heavy. The standard 105mm f2.4 is fantastic as was the 55mm f3.5. Now I have the fuji GSW67iii. It's big buy not heavy. The lens is perfect for the mostly Portrait work I use it for. The camera is inexpensive and a perfect way to try 67. The fuji is not an elegant solution to be honest. The ****ter is not quiet like your Rollei. The results achieved however are really very nice. My only regret is that I did not get the 6x9 version instead. 67 does not often feel right and many times I'm cropping down to 66 anyway.

 

[benlees]

Once you add the AE metered prism to the Pentax the costs vs the Mamiya 7 become less clear cut. The Pentax is of course a much more flexible system but the 7 is so effortless to use. Decisions, decisions!

 

[Naumoski]

Jan,

What's that, that pulls you to get a 6x7 camera, and what is that you can't to with your Rollei and will be done with 6x7?
I guess getting a Mamiya 7 with both 6x6 and 6x7 ratios will satisfy the needs for both formats? 🙂

This weekend, finally, I will get a Rolleiflex 3.5 for myself and want to stick to portraits, since you have same camera and you have done portraits, is the need of longer lens much crucial to have?

 

[Matus]

... Mamiya 7 was my holy grail, but its somehow lenses are too perfect. Older, less sharp but with more "character" its what I'm looking for ..

You are correct about that "perfectness" of Mamiya 6 & 7 lenses. I had Rolleiflex T for 3 years and yes - that one also had a nice "character" wide open. Liked it a lot. I miss it sometimes ..

Anyhow - as you are after 6x7 - than I think that Pentax 67 (not the 6x7 - has no MLU) or even 67II (matrix metering, but it costs more) would be your best bet. You get both great sharp lenses and lens like 105/2.4 which has plenty of character. And the weight? - learn to be proud of it. That camera eats small children and scares adults 😀

For the Fuji GSW 670 or 690 - these have also a rather "perfect" lenses and nice later models are not cheap either.

 

[jbielikowski]

Jan,

What's that, that pulls you to get a 6x7 camera, and what is that you can't to with your Rollei and will be done with 6x7?
I guess getting a Mamiya 7 with both 6x6 and 6x7 ratios will satisfy the needs for both formats? 🙂

This weekend, finally, I will get a Rolleiflex 3.5 for myself and want to stick to portraits, since you have same camera and you have done portraits, is the need of longer lens much crucial to have?

I dont like cropping square, and printing them is such a waste of paper 🙂 Virtually I can do everything with Rolleiflex, but they are situations that look better in rectangle.

I bought Rolleiflex for portraits, with Rolleinar 2 its perfect and lightweight combo.