sleepyhead
Well-known
Hello, I'm hoping to do a series of black & white night pictures with my Mamiya 6 this winter in moist, but not WET, conditions. I mean an hour or two at a time in cool temperatures (at or around freezing point) with light mist, fog, plus the condensation on the camera and lenses once I get back indoors.
Does anyone have any experience with how the Mamiya 6 and lenses fair after repeated treatment to cool and damp conditions?
In general I don't "baby" my equiptment, and often use my (entirely mechanical) Hasselblad in such conditions (even in light rain/snow), but the Mamiya 6 is a heavily electronic camera after all, with scarce parts/repair options, and I LOVE IT SO MUCH, but don't want to love it to death!
Thanks in advance for your help.
PS In case you're wondering 'why don't I just use my Hasselblad?' it's because due to lack of free time, this project will need to be done on my bicycle/train/bus/walk commute to/from work, and my only camera support will be a Leitz table-top tripod that I can press against walls/trees/rocks/etc. This setup will just allow "handheld" shots with the Mamiya 6 down to perhaps 1/4 or 1/2 second, but will not be sturdy enough for the Hasselblad. Plus, the Mamiya 6 plus 50, 75, 150mm lenses have a total weight about the same as the Hasselblad with 80/2.8 lens and one film back. If I carried my Zeiss 50/2.8 and 110/2 for Hasselblad instead of the 80/2.8, the total weight would be around doubled!
I'm looking into a small, lightweight "normal" tripod that I can use for longer exposures, perhaps something like a Gitzo Traveler type, but even a bit SHORTER would be fine, as long as it's quite sturdy and packs small.
Ramble, ramble...
Does anyone have any experience with how the Mamiya 6 and lenses fair after repeated treatment to cool and damp conditions?
In general I don't "baby" my equiptment, and often use my (entirely mechanical) Hasselblad in such conditions (even in light rain/snow), but the Mamiya 6 is a heavily electronic camera after all, with scarce parts/repair options, and I LOVE IT SO MUCH, but don't want to love it to death!
Thanks in advance for your help.
PS In case you're wondering 'why don't I just use my Hasselblad?' it's because due to lack of free time, this project will need to be done on my bicycle/train/bus/walk commute to/from work, and my only camera support will be a Leitz table-top tripod that I can press against walls/trees/rocks/etc. This setup will just allow "handheld" shots with the Mamiya 6 down to perhaps 1/4 or 1/2 second, but will not be sturdy enough for the Hasselblad. Plus, the Mamiya 6 plus 50, 75, 150mm lenses have a total weight about the same as the Hasselblad with 80/2.8 lens and one film back. If I carried my Zeiss 50/2.8 and 110/2 for Hasselblad instead of the 80/2.8, the total weight would be around doubled!
I'm looking into a small, lightweight "normal" tripod that I can use for longer exposures, perhaps something like a Gitzo Traveler type, but even a bit SHORTER would be fine, as long as it's quite sturdy and packs small.
Ramble, ramble...
Matus
Well-known
I have used my Mamiya 6 in winter and there should be generally no problem (but I would not allow too much rain on it - it is not sealed in any way), but once you come back to room temperatures - keep the camera in a bag so that humidity can not condensate on or in the camera.
Tripod - check out the Kerry's reallybigcameras.com. I got the Feisol Tournament 3442 3 years ago and it works great. Yes - even lighter model would be enough for Mamiya 6, but I also use it with 4x5. I also got one of the Photo Clamm ballheads (I think the on in size 36) and the Mamiya 6 is peanuts for it but again, it holds my light 4x5" camera just fine. Drop Kerry an email - he will gladly help you to choose the right one.
Tripod side note: When I still had my Rolleiflex T I always wished that a company like Feisol would produce a TLR suitable tripod (with height of some 100 - 110 cm or so) that would be compact light and just sturdy enough - with current carbon technology and using a light ballhead such tripod could easily be under 1kg and would be a treat for traveling.
Tripod - check out the Kerry's reallybigcameras.com. I got the Feisol Tournament 3442 3 years ago and it works great. Yes - even lighter model would be enough for Mamiya 6, but I also use it with 4x5. I also got one of the Photo Clamm ballheads (I think the on in size 36) and the Mamiya 6 is peanuts for it but again, it holds my light 4x5" camera just fine. Drop Kerry an email - he will gladly help you to choose the right one.
Tripod side note: When I still had my Rolleiflex T I always wished that a company like Feisol would produce a TLR suitable tripod (with height of some 100 - 110 cm or so) that would be compact light and just sturdy enough - with current carbon technology and using a light ballhead such tripod could easily be under 1kg and would be a treat for traveling.
Gary E
Well-known
I have used my Mamiya 6MF at higher elevations with fog with no problems. It was daytime and for around 3-4 hours outside. It's generally damp here to begin with but I didn't have any lens or VF fogging up. I would suggest to bring a cloth to wipe it down after though.
thegman
Veteran
Take a look at the Jessops carbon fibre tripods, I cheaped out and got one of these, but it's very solid and very light. Don't regret it for a second.
sleepyhead
Well-known
Thanks for your input everyone.
emraphoto
Veteran
I spent 4 months in the back of commercial fishing boats with a Mamiya 7 and 6. Really wet environment to the point that both cameras were filled with condensation.
Both kept going.
Both kept going.
sleepyhead
Well-known
Thank you for this information - I'm really happy to hear it!
PS Your fishing boat project sounds interesting - could you post a Mamiya 6 photo from that series (or link to one)?