Mamiya 7 (Which 2 lenses to start with?)

I'd start with the 80 on it's own, then add probably the 43 or the 50 once you've got used to the camera. Having said that I started with the 65 and added one at a time after that (as and when I could afford them), but if I want to travel light the two lenses I take are the 80 and 43. Optically all of them are superb. The 150 and 210 are difficult to focus, and the 43 and 50 need external viewfinders, so either the 65 or 80 would be a good first choice to get used to the system.
 
there isn't a bad lens among the M7 system ...

I'd get a 80/50 .... the 50 can be used without an external VF if you use the entire built-in VF.

But the 43 is a sweet lens as well. In 35mm, which do you prefer, the 24 FL, or 21 FL?
 
get the 43mm

get the 43mm

if you are shooting landscapes, you want to go wide. It is a great lens for landscapes, particularly at a distance.
 
I started with just a 65mm lens -- probably the lightest all-around travel camerra anywhere. Of course, the 65mm is neither long nor wide, so eventually you may tire of it (you will never tire of the lightweight package though). I eventually outgrew the 65mm, so I went for the 80mm and the 50mm, then later I ordered the 150mm making a system of three lenses that pretty much does everything I want (other than closeups or telephoto).
 
After the camera get the 43mm

After the camera get the 43mm

I recently bought a 7II body which comes with as 80mm lens, panoramic mask, PL filter, and a monopod as a set for $2100 and I added a 43mm lens for $1700, all new and not used here in Korea. I've using them for about 1.5 month now and they are just great as indivisual as as a system.:)
 
I have 80/43 + pano kit, it worked wonders. Actually the 43 is much better fit if you do a lot of landscape, but I mount 80 b/c I don't want to keep my viewfinder on all the time, the hotshoe mount seems a bit weak.
 
thaddeus said:
if you are shooting landscapes, you want to go wide. It is a great lens for landscapes, particularly at a distance.
Click to expand...

Why? Generally wide lenses are used to deal with near far relationships rather than deal with things a long distance away. For me personally the 43mm would be the least used out of (in order of use) 65mm, 50/80 same, 150, 43. The 150 is a nice short tele focal length. See how Roman Loranc uses this equivalent FL to great effect on 5x4 (as a 210mm Nikkor).

the 50 is the same as a 24mm on 35mm. Most would agree that the 28 prob get the most use by most people of all focal lengths hence the astounding popularity of the 90mm focal length for 5x4. Its a personal choice but most people would use a 50mm or 65mm on 6x7 far more than a 43, although for a small minority the converse would be true.

One ought to think about the focal lengths you like in 35mm and convert them to 6x7 equivalents.
 
I got the 80 and the 50, mainly for landscape. I use the 80 almost all the time, very seldom the 50.

Sometimes I think the 65 might be interesting. Many like the 43, but it corresponds to a 21 in 135, and since I very seldom use my 21, I doubt I would find much use for the 43.

The reason for getting the 80 over the 65 was that it was cheaper (bundled) and it is also slightly lighter (I hike with it).

Start with one lens, either the 80 or the 65 and see if you really need a second lens after using it for some time. Both will avoid the external viewfinder, which by the way is not as good as the CV finders.

You cannot go wrong with the 80.

/Håkan
 
I ask myself a slightly different question when I pack my gear for a trip. I usually don't want to take all the lenses I have (150, 80, 65, 50, 43), but depending on what I think I will be taking photos of, I will take 2 or 3 lenses. Interestingly enough, I seem to use 80mm the least. So I would end up with the 65, 43 and 150 often or 43, 50 and 65. I agree with others that the 150mm is not the easiest to focus and don't use it that often either. I suppose I like the wider angles when I take photos of architectures. If you don't have a wider angle, just use what you have, but take several photos, and stitch them together on the computer to make your own panorama view.

Since you are Mamiya RF, I like to invite you to the web site to show your Mamiya RF images www.mamiya7.com where I have many of my photos posted. Although the name is mamiya7, ALL Mamiya RF users are welcome to join and post.
 
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