Anyone still use Mamiya 6

[Nick De Marco]

I have the Mamiya 7 and 43, 65 and 150mm lenses. It is a really nice kit, especially when used on tripod for landscapes. However, since I tend to take a film and digital camera away with me for long trips, it is a bit on the big side.

I have recently downsized to a Panny GF1 instead of my 5D Mk II for trips, and I am wondering about getting a Mamiya 6 for more portability than the 7. I will keep the 7 and use it for specific projects. I really like it, but my question is for most purposes will the 6 suit me?

I want a MF camera that produces images with much greater resolution than I can get with digital (including full frame digital) and 35mm film, That's why I have used the Mamiya 7 so far. Of course I know the 6 negative is quite a bit smaller, will it still have a significant advantage over FF digital and 35mm film?

Second, are the lenses of the same quality as for the 7?

Third is it generally a strong and reliable camera?

Finally, do people find they can use it at relatively low shutter speeds hand held and get good sharp results?

Thanks in advance for any advice received

Nick

 

[Pablito]

I want a MF camera that produces images with much greater resolution than I can get with digital (including full frame digital)

Don't know if you have done any direct comparisons, but a good APS or FF digital already takes images with resolution comparable to a MF camera. For my latest exhibit I made 16x24" images from files shot with an upper-end APS camera and the results were stunning in resolution and detail.

I'm saying this having done commissioned work with the Mamiya 6 and made comparable size prints (up to 34x34")

Having said that, the Mamiya 6 lenses are superb. Just take one of your Mamiya 7 negs and crop it to a square if you want to see what you'd get with the 6 - the lenses are very similar.

The Mamiya 6 has one known flaw, one of the gears in the transport mechanism tends to strip. When this happens the only repair is to replace the part, and there is no stock of replacement parts. This happened to me once in the many years I have had my two Mamiya 6 bodies (bought them new), and it was my fault for forcing the advance lever a little too hard. If you advance the film slowly and carefully you should be fine.

Yes, you can use the 6 at slow shutter speeds, it has a very good grip and electronic shutter release is very smooth and light touch.

Now, I won't claim that a file from an APS camera cropped to a square will be equal in resolution to a 6x6 negative but overall, with proper post processing, an print from an uncropped 12 MP flie from a dslr with a really good lens is easily comparable to a print from a mf camera....

 

[gliderbee]

I have recently downsized to a Panny GF1 instead of my 5D Mk II for trips, and I am wondering about getting a Mamiya 6 for more portability than the 7. I will keep the 7 and use it for specific projects. I really like it, but my question is for most purposes will the 6 suit me?

I want a MF camera that produces images with much greater resolution than I can get with digital (including full frame digital) and 35mm film, That's why I have used the Mamiya 7 so far. Of course I know the 6 negative is quite a bit smaller, will it still have a significant advantage over FF digital and 35mm film?

Second, are the lenses of the same quality as for the 7?

Third is it generally a strong and reliable camera?

Finally, do people find they can use it at relatively low shutter speeds hand held and get good sharp results?

Thanks in advance for any advice received

Nick

I have a Mamiya 6 with all three existing lenses for it, and I LOVE it.

The 6x6 is not that much smaller then 6x7 (that's what the 7 has, right ?) and you (or at least: I) get used to it pretty quickly.

I've only once had a Mamiya 7 in my hands; my feeling is that the 6 is build sturdier; it feels less "plasticy" (but that's just my feeling).

The lenses are of the highest quality, as far as I can compare maybe only surpassed by the lens on the Fuji GSWIII (when restricting ourselves to the 120-format). I mostly use the widest one, the 50mm; wish there was a wider one, but well ..

I can hold it real steady (I have quite a steady hand though), it fits my hand very well, and with that electronic shutter, little risk of moving while pressing it.

 

[Finder]

I assume you are not talking about the folder, but the model before the 7.

The lenses are the same quality as the 7--two, the 50 and 150, are most likely the same lens. It is very compact 6x6 camera. I carry both my bodies in a Mountainsmith Tour lumbar pack--the 75 on one and the 50 on the other. I don't use the 150 that much, but can fit it in the same bag. That collapsing lens mount is great.

Just like the 7, you can hold it a slow shutter speeds. I don't have a problem at a 1/30s with either the 50 or 75. I have a good chance at a sharp image at a 1/15s with those lenses. At an 1/8s it gets dodgy, but you can get sharp images. This is my experience, your mileage may vary but what you do with the 7, you are probably going to be able to with the 6.

I bought both my 6 and 6MF new. At least one of them has been to Tibet, the Japanese Alps, and on a 1,200km hike. I have had the rangefinder calibrated twice in the 6 and once on the 6MF, but considering their age and where I take them, that is not bad. My 6 did break once--I fell in the mountains and broke the fall with the camera which broke the camera--the collapsable mount supports bent jamming the mount open and preventing the shutter from releasing.

I prefer the frame lines on the 6. They seem brighter and they are simpler as that model has no 35mm panoramic adapter. However, I wish I had the adapter on my Tibet trip when I ran out of film--easier to find 35mm than 120/220. The pano adapter really needs the 50 as I find it too tight with the 75. BTW, the 6x4.5 mask on the 6MF has not real benefit as it is a horizontal mask so you don't get anymore than 12 exposures out of a 120 roll.

I have the close-up lens. I rarely use and it usually is when I realize I haven't used it and so I try it out on something in my room to see how it works. But then I have only had the camera for 18 years so maybe I just have not come across a situation where I would use it.

Multiple exposures are not possible with a 6/6MF. I do not miss that as I try to get the picture right with the first exposure. 😉

 

[Nick De Marco]

Many thanks for your answers. I'm very tempted to get this camera

 

[HMFriedman]

I really love square format and lusted after one of these. But the lack of parts for the film advance was a deal breaker for me.

 

[filmfan]

Rolleiflex might work too... the 3.5 models are quite light/compact.

 

[merciless49]

I've been using my set up (Mamiya 6+50mm lens) for about 1 year now. Haven't really taken it to such extreme conditions as others had mentioned, only went camping/hiking with it. However, I can say that it is really robust and much more rugged than it appears. I don't know how the previous user(s) had used the camera but it is well worn. Still, no problems with the AE or rangefinder, as both work very well. Also haven't had problems with the film advancement mechanism, but I really try to handle that part with care. Other than that, the lens performance is superb and it's a great little camera for travel. I'm really looking into acquiring the other two lenses for it to complete my set up 🙂

 

[andreas]

Hello Nick,

the Mamiya 6 cameras are great!

Quality compared to digital is the same as your 7 with neg cropped to 6x6.
In my experience the lenses are comparable.
It feels better to me than the 7, less "plasticy" as mentioned above.
Handholdability is the same as with the 7.

Finally, two Mamiya 6 bodies with the 50mm and 75mm retracted take up roughly the same space in my bag as one Mamiya 7 with the 80mm.
On the 6 you don`t need auxiliary viewfinders.

If you like to shoot square, you`ll love the M6 🙂

Kind regards,
andreas

 

[pixelatedscraps]

Another shout out for the Mamiya 6 - I absolutely love mine - when little bits and pieces aren't falling off (one cable release socket lost and then replaced, and now flash sync cord socket has decided to go walkabout). Its my favourite - even over my 500C/M, and my go-to-take-everywhere camera.

The 50/4 is particularly superb, closely followed by the 75/3.5. Have yet to try out the 150/4.5 though.

 

[FrankHarries]

Do you still need another vote? I love my mamiya 6 too - just great! Its my favorite (And I have got some hasselblads and a TLR Rolleiflex) it felt good from the beginning.

 

[Sadaf62]

I have been a Rollei fan for years, but last year I purchased a Mamiya 6 w. 75mm lens & absolutely fell in love with the size, the way it handles & the photos it took. I then bought a 50mm WA, then a second body (in case one gave me problems) & am actually thinking of a third body (mint, nearly new) 'just to have'.

They are so compact & just incredible lense on them!!!

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Although I just got my Mamiya 6 two weeks ago, I am already in love with it and the images it produces. I just developed the film for some images I took over the weekend and was blown away by the detail in the negatives, especially compared to 35mm. I plan on getting the 50mm lens for it as soon as possible.

In my limited experience with it, I'm finding it's definitely a keeper 🙂

Ellen

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

I have the complete Mamiya 6 system. It is not a simple matter to compare the images with digital--one must be using fine-grain films and excellent quality scans, which can be expensive. I'll admit that I've taken 6mp images whose sharpness and detail I could NOT duplicate with even Velvia 50. I can't explain why.

The lenses display almost no linear distortion--something almost impossible to get from most DSLR zoom lenses.

The biggest limitation I've found is close portraits. You will have to crop to get in close, especially from the 150. The meter is susceptible to errors from stray light entering from above and to the side of the viewfinder, in spite of the center-weighted pattern. I generally use a hand-held meter.

I don't believe the winder will spontaneously strip and fail. What I have found is that some films I've used, such as Plus-X, were attached too tightly to the spool. If you are aware of this possibility and don't force it, you probably won't strip anything (the film may have to be removed in a changing bag, though).

Lastly, I've never used a camera that felt as good in the hand as my 6. There's a reason they're still expensive.

 

[drewbarb]

NYC-based fine art photographer Charles Johnstone uses the Mamiya 6 as his primary camera; most of the work on his website (http://www.charlesjohnstonephotography.com/) was shot using this camera.

 

[mrisney]

I too am weaning myself from film. Rangefinders have inherit advantages over mirror box based SLR's - so for film, I can't imagine - for me, going back to SLR.
The image quality is better than my Zeiss lenses on the Contax G2 system, I can attest to that. Plus the size, as others have mentioned - it just feels right in your hand, and the collapsible capability of it. I chose it over the Mamiya 7, even Ken Rockwell prefers it over the Mamiya 7.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

NYC-based fine art photographer Charles Johnstone uses the Mamiya 6 as his primary camera; most of the work on his website (http://www.charlesjohnstonephotography.com/) was shot using this camera.


Find his work a bit weak. Like a third rate W. Eggleston

 

[mrisney]

Alec Soth used a Mamiya 6, so does Magnum photographer Peter Marlow

http://blog.magnumphotos.com/2007/11/photographing_the_photographers.html

And Portland based fine art photographer Lauren Henkin

http://www.laurenhenkin.com/

 

[Dean Cho]

With regards to the Mamiya 6 winder mechanism, I believe the problems are overblown. Before acquiring four Mamiya 6 bodies and a full set of lenses (50mm, 75mm, and 150mm), I carefully researched the issue and called a number of independent repair shops that handle these cameras. I learned that in clear majority of the cases where the winding mechanism fails, the problem can be fixed by simply tightening the mechanism or otherwise without requiring a replacement mechanism. I also learned that there was nothing inherently wrong with the Mamiya 6's winding mechanism compared to virtually any modern camera that uses some plastic gears as opposed to all metal gears, and that virtually all modern cameras are prone to winding problems if the users insist on forcefully advancing the film levers. I was told that if you always wind the film lever in the Mamiya 6 slowly and gently (no need to do otherwise as it is not a sports or action type camera), the winder mechanism can last a lifetime of use. Following that advice, I have had zero winding problems with my four Mamiya 6 bodies, with perfect and consistent spacing between frames.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

With regards to the Mamiya 6 winder mechanism, I believe the problems are overblown. Before acquiring four Mamiya 6 bodies and a full set of lenses (50mm, 75mm, and 150mm), I carefully researched the issue and called a number of independent repair shops that handle these cameras. I learned that in clear majority of the cases where the winding mechanism fails, the problem can be fixed by simply tightening the mechanism or otherwise without requiring a replacement mechanism. I also learned that there was nothing inherently wrong with the Mamiya 6's winding mechanism compared to virtually any modern camera that uses some plastic gears as opposed to all metal gears, and that virtually all modern cameras are prone to winding problems if the users insist on forcefully advancing the film levers. I was told that if you always wind the film lever in the Mamiya 6 slowly and gently (no need to do otherwise as it is not a sports or action type camera), the winder mechanism can last a lifetime of use. Following that advice, I have had zero winding problems with my four Mamiya 6 bodies, with perfect and consistent spacing between frames.

that sounds reassuring.

something totally different and maybe a little OT: does anyone know whether the hood for the 75mm fits the 50mm without vignetting or not?