kzphoto
Well-known
A guy in town is selling a full kit for a song, which I might pick up. I've seen work people have shot with the lenses in this system and I have to say, I am impressed. The lenses are sharp, contrasty and they collapse into the body!!! 
Anyone using the system here? Lovers? Haters?
Anyone using the system here? Lovers? Haters?
mccurleyphoto
Established
My #1 choice for medium format. Lenses are great. Great travel kit.
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
I love it to dead. My favorite travel MF system. So small and so powerful.
ornate_wrasse
Moderator
Count me in as one of those who absolutely love the Mamiya 6 and its lenses. In fact, I was at a Christmas party on Sunday and was raving to a guest at the party how much I loved shooting with it and how impressed I was with the images.
The only disadvantages are the slowness of the lenses. Sometimes, too, I am bothered by the fact that the fastest shutter speed is 1/500.
But the disadvantages are minor compared to the many advantages of using this camera.
In short, I guess it's pretty obvious that I love this camera.
Ellen
The only disadvantages are the slowness of the lenses. Sometimes, too, I am bothered by the fact that the fastest shutter speed is 1/500.
But the disadvantages are minor compared to the many advantages of using this camera.
In short, I guess it's pretty obvious that I love this camera.
Ellen
t.s.k.
Hooked on philm
Mamiya 6 is second only to my Rolleiflexes.
Leica M sadly is relegated to third
Sssoo, how much is he asking?
Leica M sadly is relegated to third
Sssoo, how much is he asking?
raid
Dad Photographer
I use Rolleiflex TLR's, but I have my eyes open for a future buy of a Mamiya 6 or 7 with one lens, as a travel kit.
newsgrunt
Well-known
do not hesitate. GO GET IT NOW
btw, love it as well ! the MP and the Mamiya 6 see equal time outside, depending on how I feel that day lol. Make sure you have the body cap since it can store extra batteries in it.
btw, love it as well ! the MP and the Mamiya 6 see equal time outside, depending on how I feel that day lol. Make sure you have the body cap since it can store extra batteries in it.
whitecat
Lone Range(find)er
Well pick it up!!
FrankHarries
Well-known
One more for the Mamiya 6 - more than great, first among my Rolleiflex, Hasselblads and Leicas - for a song? Go for it or this will be a chance you will regret for a long time!!!
Pablito
coco frío
Get it for sure, but be gentle with the film advance.
Matus
Well-known
I use Mamiya 6 wit all 3 lenses a bit more than a year. A great camera indeed - the collapsing feature is really nice - the camera with 75 mm lens collapsed is really quite compact.
The rangefinder works fine. I find focusing the 150 lens needs some care, but I do get good results most of the time - even close and "wide open".
I have 2 gripes with the camera. The first is metering. On of the reasons I sold my Rolleiflex and got the Mamiya was the AE it offers. But I find it just usable with negative films and too imprecise with slides. Do not get me wrong - the meter is precise - but measures too wide field - more than the coverage of the 50 mm lens and is very sensitive to light from above and easily dominated by it - measuring a "normal landscape" shot were upper part is sky one may easily end up with 1 - 2 stops underexposure. In confined spaces where the light is more even it works fine.
A smaller gripe is - while all the lenses are VERY sharp (one stops down for DOF, not for sharpness) the rendering if the 75 lens is just a bit too hard - in particular the OOF areas at closer focus distance may look "busy" in particular if these have more pronounced structure (lines, spot lights). It is no problem in very most shots, but for portraits I much prefer the 150 lens. the 80 lens for Mamiya 7 seems a bit smoother, but for environmental portraits the new Bessa III would probably be a better solution (my impression based on what I have seen on Flickr).
As much as I like the Mamiya (just check my signature for flickr link) I do keep missing the Rolleiflex. Who knows - maybe one day I will switch back or even get the Bessa III.
The 150 lens being long and slow will (for hand held photography) require ISO 400 film for non-sunny condition. On the other hand fasted shutter of 1/500 may easily push you towards small apertures at full sun, but that is part of the trade. Truth is - the rangefinder would not manage to cope with faster or closer focusing lens with the current design (and the lens would be large).
Still - if one likes square - than Mamiya 6 is the sharpest and at the same time lightest system camera that can be lugged around all day long in a medium sized shoulder bag.
I got mine from a RFF member. It had the film winding mechanism changed in recent years, but still it is not really smooth and one should not use too much force (rewind with moderate speed) as based on what I have read once you break the winding your repair chances are slim as Mamiya does not seem to provide parts for the 6 model anymore (the advantage of the model 7 apart from wider lenses)
The rangefinder works fine. I find focusing the 150 lens needs some care, but I do get good results most of the time - even close and "wide open".
I have 2 gripes with the camera. The first is metering. On of the reasons I sold my Rolleiflex and got the Mamiya was the AE it offers. But I find it just usable with negative films and too imprecise with slides. Do not get me wrong - the meter is precise - but measures too wide field - more than the coverage of the 50 mm lens and is very sensitive to light from above and easily dominated by it - measuring a "normal landscape" shot were upper part is sky one may easily end up with 1 - 2 stops underexposure. In confined spaces where the light is more even it works fine.
A smaller gripe is - while all the lenses are VERY sharp (one stops down for DOF, not for sharpness) the rendering if the 75 lens is just a bit too hard - in particular the OOF areas at closer focus distance may look "busy" in particular if these have more pronounced structure (lines, spot lights). It is no problem in very most shots, but for portraits I much prefer the 150 lens. the 80 lens for Mamiya 7 seems a bit smoother, but for environmental portraits the new Bessa III would probably be a better solution (my impression based on what I have seen on Flickr).
As much as I like the Mamiya (just check my signature for flickr link) I do keep missing the Rolleiflex. Who knows - maybe one day I will switch back or even get the Bessa III.
The 150 lens being long and slow will (for hand held photography) require ISO 400 film for non-sunny condition. On the other hand fasted shutter of 1/500 may easily push you towards small apertures at full sun, but that is part of the trade. Truth is - the rangefinder would not manage to cope with faster or closer focusing lens with the current design (and the lens would be large).
Still - if one likes square - than Mamiya 6 is the sharpest and at the same time lightest system camera that can be lugged around all day long in a medium sized shoulder bag.
I got mine from a RFF member. It had the film winding mechanism changed in recent years, but still it is not really smooth and one should not use too much force (rewind with moderate speed) as based on what I have read once you break the winding your repair chances are slim as Mamiya does not seem to provide parts for the 6 model anymore (the advantage of the model 7 apart from wider lenses)
nebraska
Member
I was so impressed by my first acquisition of a Mamiya 6 that I decided to get a second to be able to use different films and also for insurance in case one quits and has to be send in for repair.
Pablito
coco frío
I agree with Matus about the meter's eccentricities and the delicate winding mechanism. Stripped the main winding gear on mine- this was back when you could still get parts.
MCTuomey
Veteran
Just sold a 7 after a trial period. Great camera and fabulous lenses. But I prefer full frame small format digital for convenience at the sizes I print. For what I shoot, Mamiya RF lenses are too slow. But I can't think of a better camera if you hike/walk, shoot landscapes handheld, and print large.
raid
Dad Photographer
I will look for a user condition M6 plus one lens. It would be a travel kit.
vb_vmb
Member
great travel kit
great travel kit
i have used it, very high quality lens, but sold it as very difficult to get lens during that time
great travel kit
i have used it, very high quality lens, but sold it as very difficult to get lens during that time
kzphoto
Well-known
So! After some hesitation I bought the kit for $700. All 3 lenses, a Mamiya 6 body, and some 67mm filters with a step up ring. He even threw in a few rolls of old 35mm film!
I'll shoot a few this weekend and get back to this thread. The camera looks to be pretty sweet!
I'll shoot a few this weekend and get back to this thread. The camera looks to be pretty sweet!
kzphoto
Well-known
People keep talking about the winding mechanism: What should I look out for / be aware of?
nanthor
Well-known
Wow, what a price, only about 1400 less than normal. As far as the winder, just wind smoothly and at a normal pace, should be OK. I've never had a winder go bad on one so I don't know what the pre-failure feeling is. Nice purchase. Bob.
kzphoto
Well-known
Palm Tree -- Santa Cruz, CA by kzamani, on Flickr
A quick snap before the sun sets here in Santa Cruz. The 50 is sharp!