Digital Mamiya 6 or 7?

[Greg_E]

If it was built, and it had a high price tag, would would be your limit? It is very likely that the new owners will kill these rangefinders just like they have killed all the other models. But there might be a way to save them. If they could be convinced that there was enough of a market for a digital version, these cameras might be spared. This is somewhat flawed logic since they could have put their ZD back onto the older 645 cameras, and still not lost too many features, but they didn't. So here is what I can tell you now that I own one:

- Digital is possible, and it doesn't look like the body will need to be modified.

- The crop factor will be big, current sensors top out at about 40x50mm, the Mamiya 7 is 56x69.

- The cost for the digital system that I know I can make work is pretty significant, and I'm not entirely sure what it costs. I know the smaller 16mp sensor is around $13,000, so the larger 22mp and 39mp must be substantially more. Figure in a starting price of about $20,000+ for the 22mp.

- The system that I'm thinking of is tethered, which allows them to keep the back much more slim. So you would have a short firewire cable down to a very small computer (they are using the OQO computer - $1,500), or you could build a slightly larger computer for the same or less (depending on size and features). You are not bound to a laptop like in the past!!! The slim back would be almost the only choice since a thicker back would not allow you to get your eye to the finder.

Just trying to decide if it is worth my time to attempt to build a prototype "proof of concept".

 

[Finder]

Since film is widely available, I don't see the point. Your plan does not blow my hair back either. Rangefinders are small and portable. Tethered rangefinders seem an oxymoron. And since I am losing field of view (which the finder will not show) and resolution, it does not seem attractive.

The body will also need plenty of modifications. How are you going to deal with the film advance? The 6 has no multi-exposure and the film needs to advance to cock the shutter, and the 7 need to communicate an exposure has been made, either that, the camera is just more awkward to use. Sticking a digital back on a Cambo Wide would be an easier project. Or you can just buy a Cambo or Horseman SW-D digital camera.

 

[Greg_E]

All I'm going to say is that I've found a solution to the film advance issue, and it doesn't require modifying the camera. That was my big question about these until very recently, thinking that only the 7II would work. But now I see that there is a way to do it.

 

[Greg_E]

Since the lenses are not retro-focus, this is probably dead. Having a big crop, and then dark corners would not be a very good thing, especially if someone shells out $30,000 or more for a 39mp back.

 

[StuartR]

It would probably be cheaper and a better idea to just buy an Alpa 12TC or an SWC with a digital back. The Alpa has the option to buy digital specific wide angles that work well with the medium format backs while maintaining a very compact, untethered form factor.

 

[StuartR]

Pretty small for digital MF eh?

 

[Greg_E]

Yeah, I've pretty much decided that this idea is dead. If the lenses weren't going to cause a problem, I probably would move forward, but at this point I really can't see spending any real time working on this. I have some drawings made, so I'll just keep those for the future (just in case), maybe make some measurements, and sell the body. Thankfully I have very little money invested in this right now, so getting that back should be easy.