mamiya 6/7 + 50mm - how much should i pay?

[meandihagee]

also any tips on the problems a mamiya 6 could have opposed to to the mamiya 7? i'm torn between the two.

the metering is very important for me. as i read on this forum there are samples with problems with the meter. which should i go with?

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I went with the 6. cooler format, collapsing feature and it feels better built overall. I've never had any of those problems you mentioned.
I paid 1000€ for body + 50mm + 150mm, which is quite a good price I thought, but I don't know if that reflects the current market value.

 

[Matus]

With both cameras:
- you need to use the metering - it is not your SLRs matrix TTL
- you need to be careful focusing the 150 lenses, RF precision is on the limit there
- you get only +/- half stop precision metering in manual mode (you can set ANY aperture of course, just the confirmation in the viewfinder is limited in precision)
- you get perfect lens performance (sharpness, contrast)

Get the 6 / 6 MF if:
- you like it square
- you like it more compact (collapsible lens mount make a sizable difference)
- you find one with film winding in good order (nearly impossible to get repaired, Mamiya does not supply parts anymore)
- you prefer wider-area meter (about the 75 mm lens frame-line)
- you can not afford the 7

Get 7 / 7 II if:
- you like it rectangular
- you are wide lens junkie
- do not care about the size of the camera when stored in the bag.
- want to be able to get the camera repaired if something goes wrong.
- you prefer spot meter (about the focusing spot size, not necessarily perfectly aligned with it)
- can afford it

If you do not need long lenses and 6x45 would be fine
- Get bronica RF645 with 45 & 65 lenses - cheaper than Mamiya 6 and should be even easier to use.

I got the 6 with all 3 lenses - I paid together about 1500 €. The camera is used but the film winding mechanism was exchanged relatively recently so I have some confidence for the years to come, I hope.

7 are not that expensive - much less than 7 II, but you will pay more for the lenses than for the 6.

6MF with 75 lens may cost as much as 7 with 80, but you will pay more for the other lenses.

 

[Matus]

Now that I have actually read the title:

guess that for 6/7 + 50 you will be buying the body and lens separately the price in Europe would be around:

6 + 50: 900 - 1100 €
7 + 50: 1100 - 1300 €

If you are in US, than just convert the € to $. My impression was that there were no significant differences.

If I were you I would just watch eBay for a month or two to get an idea.

 

[meandihagee]

thanks for the quick replies.

do you rely 100% on your meter or you use a hand-held one?

if the meter is so-so i would like to know because this is the main reason for getting this camera. i will be shooting this in a rather hostile area and i have to be quick on the draw...

 

[nimcod]

Ive just bought the mamiya 6, with the standard + 150mm lens, but the 50 is on my to buy list.

Regarding the metering, defiantly shoot with the camera before doing anything important, it took me a couple of rolls of colour neg to get them exposing how i like, mainly in backlit/large sky area shots, i find i've got +1.5 stops dialled in on the exp compensation pretty much permanently now. after doing this however ive yet to use anything but the in built meter

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

I had a very good deal. I bought the 6 with the three lenses for 600 Euro's.
I use the meter all the time. Works good for me.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[lovetodraw]

600 euros for the Mamiya 6 and three lenses sounds like a deal of the century for me. I bought the mamiya 7 and I am still learning the meter, but I think this is my favorate camara. I still like the mamiya 6 as well. It is a difficult choice but I think that Matus sumed it up very nicely.

 

[thirteen]

I've used two different Mamiya 6 bodies with 75mm and 50mm lenses(early bodies - with symbols for AE and AEL). I found I needed to set the exposure compensation to +2/3 to get the metering agreeing consistently with my handheld meter.
Have others found the same?
I like the 6 for compactness. The 75mm lens is a joy. Paid $1100 for camera and 75mm in almost mint condition.

 

[EdSawyer]

Average US prices for 7 gear:

7 body: $400-800
7II body: $550-1000
7 50mm lens: $850-950

(These are ebay prices for stuff in Exc++/NM condition.)

-Ed

 

[Mzungu]

I paid $670 for Mamiya 7 with 80mm over a year ago. I trust the metering system. 🙂

 

[FrankHarries]

Ive just bought the mamiya 6, with the standard + 150mm lens, but the 50 is on my to buy list.

Regarding the metering, defiantly shoot with the camera before doing anything important, it took me a couple of rolls of colour neg to get them exposing how i like, mainly in backlit/large sky area shots, i find i've got +1.5 stops dialled in on the exp compensation pretty much permanently now. after doing this however ive yet to use anything but the in built meter

Me too. Use the compensation at + 1 works for me. It seems that the meter in many surroundings has the tendency to be a little off. But compensation is easy and works.

 

[teh]

I paid $670 for Mamiya 7 with 80mm over a year ago. I trust the metering system. 🙂

seriously where do you guys get these kind of deals? :bang:

just payed around 1100€ for a 7 + 65mm