Apples vs Oranges: Summicron 35 v4 or Mamiya 6 (maybe 7)

[Leica All Day]

You're 21 and clearly talented. Your gear doesn't seam to limit your photography. Forget GAS and RFF. Go travel, buy a motorcycle, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

+1......

cheers, michael

 

[atlcruiser]

Get the mamiya. I am in almost the same boat. I have the 645 AF and love/hate it. It is jsut too big to lug around all the time bt it is fast to use. The neagatives are crazy....crazy...crazy!

I jsut went out for 10 days in the desert with both Ms and the mamiya. I took about 10 rolls of 35 B+W and 10 35 E6. All turned out great. I also took 20 rolls each of B+w and color 120.....I have yet to put much time into the 35 negs 🙂

My 35 is a CV 1.4 that is good but does not work as well as the 'cron 50/2. I was able to compare a bunch of negs of similiar shots. The 'cron 35/2 is on my short list but after looking at the 120s from the mamiya the decision is moving towards a mamiya 7...and soon.

I love the leica M for many different reasons but I alos love big negs with tons of detail. My current 35 CV is fine for now. 🙂

 

[lawrence]

version 4 is a great lens but over hyped IMHO as is the Summilux 35. I've got the lux at the moment and I've just bought an Ultron 35 for €200 to replace it as it's just not my thing. I had one at the start of my rangefinder discovery and it was brilliant. Try one before you part with the silly money for v4's. Spend the saving toward the Mamiya.

I have the v4 and the pre-Lux and I just bought a second Ultron on this forum because I wanted one in black. As you imply, it seems to be superior to both of the Leicas in some ways and I agree that the difference in price isn't justified. However, I'd sound a note of caution about the Mamiya. For many years I had a 645 1000S and I could never get the results I wanted from the 55mm lens. The tones were too harsh and the bokeh was horrible. I'm not saying the r/f Mamiyas are the same but do try to use one before putting your money down.

 

[f16sunshine]

From your Port I see no reason the V4 would improve your work. It is work that stands on it's own. You could shoot with a disposable and bring back keepers. Why mess about with internet legend. The v4 is a great lens but not worth the bloated price at has landed at. If it's that uber-bokeh you are looking for grab a CLE f2/40 for 1/4 the price of a v4 and you will have it along with a slightly different 40mm view. My opinion is a plane ticket will add more depth to your Portfolio than another lens or format.

 

[coelacanth]

Although it's a great lens, IMHO, Cron 35 v4 is SLIGHTLY overrated and overhyped, and quite a bit overpriced compared to v2 & v3.

Simon, you recently got 645 right? I guess that's pushing you to even larger format? As you might know, I got Mamiya 7 (my first 6x7) recently and shooting 6x6 for about 10 years although I've been mainly a 135 shooter. If you are planning to enjoy your photos mainly on computer display like flickr or as a small coffee table book, the "character" of the lens could be way more important than the absolute resolution. Maybe then buying v4 Cron over Mamiya 6 or 7 might make sense (not saying Mamiya lenses don't have a character). If you are into printing the pictures, there is just no comparison. I just printed some shots from Mamiya in the weekend, it is breathtaking. And 6x7 is very darkroom print friendly.

 

[Vics]

I have to agree with ljos. The Rollei is a perfect street cam, flash at all speeds, GREAT lens, Great for travel. IMHO the most versatile camera for most things. Mine are both f 3.5, and I'd recommend instead the 2.8. More money, but the 80mm lens seems a better choice than the 75mm of the 3.5s.
Vic

 

[filmfan]

If you want a 35mm 'cron, just buy a Konica Hexar AF (the lenses are equivalent, not "identical") and then buy the Mamiya 7 with the $ difference.

 

[coelacanth]

Another note. My v3 Cron (least popular) and Mamiya 7 + 80mm COMBINED cost was about the same as v4 Cron's market price. I don't think I'm missing anything with my v3 Cron, and Mamiya 7 is really a joy to use.

That said, I'd still go with Mamiya 7 kit only and use the saved cash on film and paper. 😉

 

[Finder]

I love both my Mamiya 6 cameras--6 and 6MF. They handle well and are very compact because of the collapsible mount. I just don't use 35mm as it does not give me the quality I like so I can't say if the lens is more important for you.

 

[gliderbee]

I agree a Rolleiflex is quiet, but quiter then a Mamiya 6 ? I'm not so sure about that 🙂

Go for a Mamiya 6 S/H: with the three lenses available, it's a magnificent setup, and you can use any filmspeed you want; with MF, grain, sharpness, etc ... are much better then 35mm.

Simon,

to throw another wrench in you works 🙂 : For the money you can get yourself a NICE Rolleiflex. Quieter than both Leica and Mamiya. Real classy. Wonderful results.

Not what you were asking for, but think about: it will be a completely different experience. You will literally (because of waistlevel viewing) get a different angle on things. And the long term value and joy that comes with a Rolleiflex is hard to match.

Just sayin' 🙂

 

[Mr G]

what's so wrong with the 35's you already have?
go travelling

 

[Burlap Jacket]

Last year I bought a Mamiya 6 with the 75mm and the VC 35/1.4. Total cost was about $1500 which is pretty close to the price of a Mamiya 7 kit. Best of all worlds IMHO.

 

[benlees]

For someone so young you have the classic rf style pretty much nailed to the wall- very good job. Get the Mamiya 7. The shape of the neg and the loss of depth of field compared to 35 in 35mm will probably give you a great challenge! You will love it.

 

[Rob-F]

I would be strongly tempted to get the M7, especially if I can get it with a lens. I think I'd want the 60mm. Well, maybe the 80. The comments about the superior IQ of MF are not to be marginalized--Version IV Summicron or no . . .

And for prints in the 8x10 proportion, 6x7 is better than 6x6. Believe me, I know.

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

If you're interested in the best possible image quality, the Mamiya 6 will dust the Leica. Any film Leica and any lens. And the viewfinder is way better. I have both and the Mamiya is what gets used.

 

[Cron]

do you make slides for projection, do you develop films yourself, do you make large prints?
Than go to MF. Breathtaking.
For other cases I would stay with Leica. Film or digital.
So I decided to sell all my MF-gear (Mamiya 7 and Bronica RF645) until summer because I do not develop myself and do not make prints.

 

[Paul T.]

From your Port I see no reason the V4 would improve your work. It is work that stands on it's own. You could shoot with a disposable and bring back keepers. Why mess about with internet legend. The v4 is a great lens but not worth the bloated price at has landed at. If it's that uber-bokeh you are looking for grab a CLE f2/40 for 1/4 the price of a v4 and you will have it along with a slightly different 40mm view. My opinion is a plane ticket will add more depth to your Portfolio than another lens or format.

Sell a few lenses. Buy a Konica Hexar AF.

The V4 is great; but compared to a V3 Cron, or the Zeiss Biogon, it's ridiculously overpriced. It won't magically transform your photos. The Hexar AF might. The 35mm lens renders differently to the V4, but it's the same standard, and the Hexar might well make yo approach your work differenty and genuinely give yo usomething new. It's also such an anonymous beast that you'll spend less time thinking about it, and more time shooting it.

 

[maddoc]

Orapplenges .... 🙂😉

Both won`t change you photographic possibilities much, better to spent the money for travel ... 🙂

 

[mrisney]

If you're interested in the best possible image quality, the Mamiya 6 will dust the Leica. Any film Leica and any lens. And the viewfinder is way better. I have both and the Mamiya is what gets used.

Totally Agree. After debate I sold my M4-P. I am out of Leica, I did pick up a G2, but even the Zeiss Lenses are not on the same level at the Mamiya 6.

The Mamiya lenses - the sharpness, color and resolution, when you look at medium format negative film, it's a different story--the high (and natural) dynamic range, the organic response to light, unique color rendition, better tones and richer depth of field make for a better 'big picture' photograph.

No questions, the Mamiya 6 over 35mm rangefinder.

Here is (IMO) a very good 90mm Carl Zeiss image on Kodak Portra 160NC, taken with my G2




Here is the same film the same day, using the 75mm Mamiya lens on the Mamiya 6




You can click on these images and bring them up larger.

No question - the Mamiya 6

 

[nimcod]

I have been sitting on a similar decision for a while now, a dealer in the uk has a couple of full mamiya 6 kits that have been tempting me to buy instead of spending the money on a cron 35.
The problem i have is it would mean dropping more money in developing gear plus darkroom and/or scanning to get myself up to printing and/or scanning the negs, which is the spanner in the works at the moment.

Also ill make the case for travelling, on the money your thinking of spending on the cron, you could travel in some interesting places for a hellova long time, e.g. balkans/central asia/se asia and im not sure on the cost there of travelling but even in south america id imagine.

I did quite a bit this summer just past, photography sadly was not the main focus for the majority of it, but i still have a respectable amount of images i am incredibly proud of from 2 months of travelling (which involved near constant driving) and its driven me to look to going back to my favourite places, and spend a longer time in each, although some travelling debts have to be paid off before that can happen!