Mamiya 6 questions

Burlap Jacket

Burlap Jacket

Established
Local time
2:02 PM
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
155
I'm thinking about picking up a 120 RF to replace my recently hawked my 501CM. Considering the Mamiya 6 and I have a couple of queries for owners.

-I wear glasses and I'm wondering if anyone in the same boat has had any difficulties seeing the exposure info in the left side of the VF. What about the 50mm fov? How easy is it to see the periphery of the frame while wearing specs?

-How bright and contrasty is the RF patch? I use an M6 TTL on a regular basis and have had experience with the Mamiya 7 (which was more than adequate).

I think that's it. Many thanks in advance.

Jonah in Toronto
 
Funny you should ask, but I've just got one. I don't usually wear glasses while shooting, but, just for you, just had a look :)

I can see the exposure info with glasses on but it's pushing it a bit, it's right on the edge of my vision. My field of view wearing glasses just about covers the 75mm area, I definitely couldn't use the 50mm frame with them on.

The RF and viewfinder are excellent, easily as good as a Leica.
 
Thanks for checking! Do you know if there's a preview knob/lever in order to check the different frame lines? Thinking I could possibly pick up the 75mm to start and then check out how the 50mm lines appear before committing to that lens.
 
No frame selector but it does revert to the 50mm framelines with no lens attached, if I recall correctly. The focusing patch and viewfinder brightness are on par with the Leica M6.
 
If the lens mount is retracted the v/f shows the 50mm lines, so if you have the 75mm lens you can compare them easily by extending and retracting the lens. Unfortunately to see the 150mm lines you'll need a 150mm lens - unless somebody else knows a trick :). I don't normally wear my glasses when using the camera either; I can't see the periphery of the v/f area when wearing them without moving the camera to see the edges, but I can just about see the whole of the 50mm frame. I guess it will depend on your glasses - how close they are to your eyes.

Regards
Richard
 
I recently got a Mamiya 6MF and I think it's brilliant. I wear glasses and can see the exposure information, but I have to tilt the camera slightly. This is no big deal for me because I'm used to shooting w/ meter-less cameras, so I usually don't look at the info (been shooting in AE and AE-lock mode). If you know your film speed well in relation to lighting conditions and aperture settings, shooting in AE is no problem.

I find the focus patch adequate--not as fast/contrasty as on my Leicas (M4 and MP), but fast/contrasty enough.

Although I only recently got the camera, I've shot a decent number of rolls of film--TMax 400, Tri-X, Fuji Pro 400H, and Pro 800Z. I'm still learning the exposure pattern, but so far most of my photos are coming out well exposed. According to the manual, the 75mm lens is equivalent to 40mm and the 50mm approximates 28mm in 35mm format. Both lenses are pretty amazing, but many users give the edge to the the 50mm. By the way, I can see the entire 50mm framelines while wearing my glasses.

If you find a nice one at a good price, don't hesitate.
 
Last edited:
I use glasses and need to move my eye slightly to see the shutter speed readout. No problem with the 50mm frame though.
 
As luck would have it, I've owned both and the meter and rf/viewfinder are miles better on the Mamiya. The Makina is quite poor to be honest.

- No moving framelines for parallax correction on the Makina IIRC, just separate marks for the close focus position
- meter readout is not superimposed onto the finder field, but in a black cutout of it
- meter readout is + - only, not indication of current and preferred shutter speed as on the mamiya
- the shutter and aperture controls are more difficult to use with the camera to the eye than the Mamiya, so this is more annoying than it would be on, say, a FM2
- RF patch relatively dim - think budget 70s compact rangefinder dim. Perfectly useable, but nothing like a Leica.
 
Last edited:
meter is not thru the lens and is callibrated so as not to blow the highlights on transparency film. If you shoot negs they will appear underexposed. Nothing wrong with this just takes some getting used to, you need to compensate and meter towards the shadows.
 
I recently purchased a Mamiya 6 and 75mm lens. Compact, light, fast shooter. The VF is very bright.

Mine is the multiple format (MF) with the busy VF, perhaps explaining why it was passed by remaining like new. The 75/50 combo would cover all my needs.
 
Pablito said:
meter is not thru the lens and is callibrated so as not to blow the highlights on transparency film. If you shoot negs they will appear underexposed. Nothing wrong with this just takes some getting used to, you need to compensate and meter towards the shadows.
Click to expand...

To avoid under exposure when there's a bright sky, I hold my left hand in a horizontal position above the meter window (level with the camera top) to block out the sky.
 
nksyoon said:
To avoid under exposure when there's a bright sky, I hold my left hand in a horizontal position above the meter window (level with the camera top) to block out the sky.
Click to expand...

The Auto Exposure Lock is also useful in this situation. I agree about underexposure: for black and white neg film I practically always point down (or away from any bright part of the scene), lock exposure, then expose.
 
I've been using a Mamiya 6 as my main camera for the last couple of years. It is a superb camera. I wear glasses and have no trouble with the viewfinder though more recently I got a diopter for the viewfinder, because I do prefer to shoot without glasses if I can. You'll have no trouble with the Mamiya 6 finder whether you choose to wear your glasses or get a diopter. It's a huge and very bright finder. In the last 12 months after a bit of a 35mm renaissance for me from my SLR kit, I thought about a 35mm rangefinder - so I checked Leica finders in a store. Man what a disappointment after the Mamiya fnder. I'd still like to try some 35mm RF but I gather I need to get my hands on the Zeiss ZI for a decent in camera viewfinder.
 
easy on the eyes

easy on the eyes

the mamiya 6 viewfinder (the mamiya 6 mf a little less so) is easy on the eyes...giant, bright framelines with a rf patch (almost :D) the size of a postage stamp. i wear glasses and have adapted to a little "peek to the side" for exposure readout info and don't consciously think about it.

as for the meter...i've always considered the readout as a (good) starting point and make adjustments based on the situation at hand.

now if i could just find someone to remove the garble of framelines/hash marks from my mamiya 6mf viewfinder...it's not as bad as that, ten years of use has made those frameline/hash marks all but invisible.

breathe, relax and enjoy.

happy trails,
kenneth
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom