Matus
Well-known
A little introduction:
Looking back - it was in 2004 when I started to look in MF film photography (at that point I only had a digital P&S) I was soon attracted by Mamiya 6. But it was rather pricey so I finally did not get it and started in large format soon afterwards. Surely it was soon clear that this was not a cheaper option to Mamiya 6 :angel: Since then I got a Rolleiflex T which I sold recently (great camera indeed) as I wanted to have more lens options and built in light meter. I also had a Bessa R3A which I also sold recently.
After long considerations (and savings) I pulled a trigger on a Mamiya 6 with all 3 lenses (from a forum member here) ... and I received it today !!!
The camera, even though well used (but had new winding mechanism installed recently) feels solid and smooth. I love the collapsing lens mount that makes the camera much more compact - especially with the 50 and 75 lenses. I did consider Mamiya 7 but it was this feature (together with the price) which won me over the newer model with wider lenses.
I have exposed 2 rolls of slide films trying different metering approaches with all 3 lenses. What a joy! I hope soon to have them back from a lab to see whether I got it right. Next days I will shoot some BW as well.
I will post something as soon as I get it through a scanner.
And even better - the customized bag from courierware seems to be a perfect match for the camera for the vacation that will happen soon (visiting home and then 10 days in south Spain)
So - I am in nirvana now - I hope it will last after first films are on the light table
... just sharing the moment I have 6 years waited for...
Looking back - it was in 2004 when I started to look in MF film photography (at that point I only had a digital P&S) I was soon attracted by Mamiya 6. But it was rather pricey so I finally did not get it and started in large format soon afterwards. Surely it was soon clear that this was not a cheaper option to Mamiya 6 :angel: Since then I got a Rolleiflex T which I sold recently (great camera indeed) as I wanted to have more lens options and built in light meter. I also had a Bessa R3A which I also sold recently.
After long considerations (and savings) I pulled a trigger on a Mamiya 6 with all 3 lenses (from a forum member here) ... and I received it today !!!
The camera, even though well used (but had new winding mechanism installed recently) feels solid and smooth. I love the collapsing lens mount that makes the camera much more compact - especially with the 50 and 75 lenses. I did consider Mamiya 7 but it was this feature (together with the price) which won me over the newer model with wider lenses.
I have exposed 2 rolls of slide films trying different metering approaches with all 3 lenses. What a joy! I hope soon to have them back from a lab to see whether I got it right. Next days I will shoot some BW as well.
I will post something as soon as I get it through a scanner.
And even better - the customized bag from courierware seems to be a perfect match for the camera for the vacation that will happen soon (visiting home and then 10 days in south Spain)
So - I am in nirvana now - I hope it will last after first films are on the light table
... just sharing the moment I have 6 years waited for...
Ranchu
Veteran
You make me smile, Matus. Congratulations!
hamustar
Member
You're home, buddy
andredossantos
Well-known
Awesome! Happy for you!
I've ALWAYS lusted after a Mamiya 6. Love the square.
I've ALWAYS lusted after a Mamiya 6. Love the square.
Finder
Veteran
I have had a 20 year love affair with both my M6s. A wonderful camera. It was a sad day Mamiya discontinued it.
robklurfield
eclipse
I'm thinking, when money permits, of ditching my Rolleicord for Mamiya 6 or 7. Anxious to see your first shots.
Finder
Veteran
Who do you get your money permits from?
vdonovan
Vince Donovan
Go get 'em Matus! Shoot some film and make us proud!
Matus
Well-known
Thank you all for kind words.
After 3 rolls (Provia 100F, Velvia 100 and Provia 400X @ 1600) I slowly start to learn "what and where". However I do find the exposure compensation a bit "too safe" as I need two hands to set it. At the same time the setting of the exposure compensation value does not seem to be too precise. I feel the same way about the ISO setting. Still - nothing that would really concern me - I guess it is a matter of getting used to.
I have added a safety wrist strap (made out of yellow para cord) as the grip if the camera is not too grippy - what actually makes me wondering whether anybody ever tried to put some custom cover on the camera (griptac or such).
So - the film will be shipped to lab tomorrow and should be back early next week.
A short note to anybody considering swapping a TLR for Mamiya 6 - the cameras handles and feels very different. As I have been shooring TLR for 3 years I learned to like the lower point of view - so I tend to kneel with the Mamiya.
So - now the time has come for some BW
After 3 rolls (Provia 100F, Velvia 100 and Provia 400X @ 1600) I slowly start to learn "what and where". However I do find the exposure compensation a bit "too safe" as I need two hands to set it. At the same time the setting of the exposure compensation value does not seem to be too precise. I feel the same way about the ISO setting. Still - nothing that would really concern me - I guess it is a matter of getting used to.
I have added a safety wrist strap (made out of yellow para cord) as the grip if the camera is not too grippy - what actually makes me wondering whether anybody ever tried to put some custom cover on the camera (griptac or such).
So - the film will be shipped to lab tomorrow and should be back early next week.
A short note to anybody considering swapping a TLR for Mamiya 6 - the cameras handles and feels very different. As I have been shooring TLR for 3 years I learned to like the lower point of view - so I tend to kneel with the Mamiya.
So - now the time has come for some BW
MCTuomey
Veteran
congrats, matus. i hope have a 6 or 7 soon myself, when funds permit.
Fujitsu
Well-known
TareqPhoto
The Survivor
Congrats Matus, i am still happy with my Mam7II even i didn't use it yet due to no lens, but i am sure this camera will see lights more than other cameras, i was also considered Mamiya 6 for 6x6, i may get it in the future one day if i needed to.
Have fun and enjoy it!
Have fun and enjoy it!
Riverman
Well-known
Glad you're enjoying your Mamiya 6. It really is a fantastic camera. I have the 50 and 150 but would like to try the 75mm lens too.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Congrats on your M6.
I still shoot Rolleiflex for the look, but to me a Mamiya M6 handles like a Leica M6 for street with the 50/4.0 (28mm equivilent). It is a very fast shooter. I generally meter off my inside forearm in AEL mode.
Now I'm spoiled.
Cal
I still shoot Rolleiflex for the look, but to me a Mamiya M6 handles like a Leica M6 for street with the 50/4.0 (28mm equivilent). It is a very fast shooter. I generally meter off my inside forearm in AEL mode.
Now I'm spoiled.
Cal
Matus
Well-known
... and here it is !
... and here it is !
So - just a proof that it is all true! - Here is my new toy with all the lenses you get for it - together with a dedicated quick release plate from Really Right Stuff.
I am off for a vacation in few hours. I hope I will have some nice images to share once I am back.
... and here it is !
So - just a proof that it is all true! - Here is my new toy with all the lenses you get for it - together with a dedicated quick release plate from Really Right Stuff.
I am off for a vacation in few hours. I hope I will have some nice images to share once I am back.
Matus
Well-known
I can not help but update this thread one more time. Just few days ago I have returned from a 3 week long vacation where I have used the M6. I have yet to develop the BE films and get the slides from the lab, but I can indeed comment on the camera.
The focusing feels fine with 50 and 75 lenses and feels a bit more tough with 150. Surely - the rangefinder is still the same, but the frames for 150 are not that large and I realized that focusing errors matter much more with 150. I have used all 3 lenses a lot with 50 and 150 being used most.
I managed to loose the lens hood for 150 the first day in Spain (it took me 3 weeks to find one on eBay ).
I know I will bring some 5 - 10 lens cap images :bang: but that should not be that bad as I exposed about 25 120 films. Often I have just checked the subject for composition or exposure so I did not take the lens cap down. I got to a nice conversation because of that once as one Czech tourist (also a hobby photographer) wanted to warn me.
The camera did not feel small, but also not larger than a Rolleiflex I have used before. Lens changing could be faster, but I guess it is a matter of practice. That was the huge advantage of Rolleiflex - no lenses to change. In general the camera felt good in hand although I would prefer the grip to be a bit larger (and I have small hands). Sometimes I got a bit pain in my right eyebrow for pressing the camera too often against it (no rubber on the viewfinder).
I have used tripod quite a bit (church interiors, sunsets, etc). I did some shots on beaches which were also used by nudist, but of course I shot only waves and rocks :angel:
In total a very positive experience. I did miss the Rolleiflex here and then though. I think the Mamiya 6 will stay with me for a longer time.
Be tuned for some images in a week or two.
The focusing feels fine with 50 and 75 lenses and feels a bit more tough with 150. Surely - the rangefinder is still the same, but the frames for 150 are not that large and I realized that focusing errors matter much more with 150. I have used all 3 lenses a lot with 50 and 150 being used most.
I managed to loose the lens hood for 150 the first day in Spain (it took me 3 weeks to find one on eBay
).I know I will bring some 5 - 10 lens cap images :bang: but that should not be that bad as I exposed about 25 120 films. Often I have just checked the subject for composition or exposure so I did not take the lens cap down. I got to a nice conversation because of that once as one Czech tourist (also a hobby photographer) wanted to warn me.
The camera did not feel small, but also not larger than a Rolleiflex I have used before. Lens changing could be faster, but I guess it is a matter of practice. That was the huge advantage of Rolleiflex - no lenses to change. In general the camera felt good in hand although I would prefer the grip to be a bit larger (and I have small hands). Sometimes I got a bit pain in my right eyebrow for pressing the camera too often against it (no rubber on the viewfinder).
I have used tripod quite a bit (church interiors, sunsets, etc). I did some shots on beaches which were also used by nudist, but of course I shot only waves and rocks :angel:
In total a very positive experience. I did miss the Rolleiflex here and then though. I think the Mamiya 6 will stay with me for a longer time.
Be tuned for some images in a week or two.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
That's a cool compact camera, and a great tool, and I have wanted one (with the collapsible normal) for years... Good for you, Matus!
Cheers,
Juan
Cheers,
Juan
sebastian toombs
Member
my solution to the embarrassingly large number of inner lens cap portraits i was getting was to buy a few good UV or skylight filters and always keep them on the lenses. then you can walk around all day, shooting without lens caps on.
nksyoon
Well-known
You probably already know this, but you need to be careful when metering scenes with bright skies, the meter will underexpose. I usually use my left hand to shade the meter window (same row as the vf and rf windows).
Armoured
Well-known
I really would not ditch a Rolleicord or similar (diacord or autocord or whatever) - or at least keep some kind of TLR in your kit. Handling and perspective are very different. The sizes may be comparable in absolute (like volume) terms, but the 'regular' rectangular shape of the Rolleicord equivalents make them much easier (IMHO of course) to hang over a shoulder/stick in a bag. When in a closed case they're unobtrusive and don't scream 'huge camera' as the Mamiyas do - at least the 7.
Just very different cameras.