Mamiya 7, good for portraits?

[itai]

Hi all (new here)
Been missing medium format lately, and I'm thinking about which camera-system will suit my needs.
The Mamiya 7 seem great to me, but I've read here and there about
the not so close focusing distance these lenses can achieve.
Can you shed some light on this issue?
Portraits & close-ups are about 30-50% of what I shoot.
A Mamiya or Pentax 645 system seem very logical thanks to ease and speed of operation, but I prefer the much larger 6x7 format, for some reason.
I've been using a Hasselblad 501 with a waist level finder lately, and I can't say that I like it. very awkward. I like the forward, eye-level pov of RF and regular reflex cameras.
Thanks in advance!
Itai



http://www.flickr.com/photos/itaib/

 

[Johnmcd]

I am VERY new to the Mamiya 7 but I love the look it has for portraits. This one was off my second film and is right at the close focus limit with the 80mm. In fact her earrings are at that point but still sharp enough.

 

[Jamie123]

As you already know, the close focusing distance on the Mamiya 7 lenses is quite limited. You can certainly do head&shoulders or environmental portraits but not close head-shots.

If you want a 6x7 camera that's suitable for close ups and has eye level viewing, you might want to consider a Pentax 67.

 

[Mcary]

Hi all (new here)
Been missing medium format lately, and I'm thinking about which camera-system will suit my needs.
Portraits & close-ups are about 30-50% of what I shoot.
A Mamiya or Pentax 645 system seem very logical thanks to ease and speed of operation, but I prefer the much larger 6x7 format,
Itai

http://www.flickr.com/photos/itaib/

Have you considered a Mamiya RB67
+6x7 format that you want
+Leaf shutter=Sync with flash/studio strobes at every shutter speed
+ Revolving Backs (Turn the back instead of the whole camera to shoot portraits)
+ Good price on the used market.
-Heavy

 

[John Lawrence]

Might also be worth considering a Koni Omega Rapid?

John

 

[itai]

Thank you all for your inputs!
The Pentax 67 certainly caught my attention, as it is an SLR, but a reviewer on Luminous Lanscape said it had severe mirror/shutter shake below 1/60th.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pentax67ii.shtml
(he switched from M7 due to difficulty focusing with the 150mm)
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/m7_hands-on.shtml
I had the RB67 many years ago, for studio work. It is a great camera indeed,
I really liked it, but I remember it quite big and on the heavy side. Not the snap-shooter-ish type I'm looking for now. I enjoy walking with the camera on the street, the RB\RZ are too big.
Maybe I should grab one again, to revive my memory. perhaps I will find it more compact?...
The Koni Omega Rapid is new to me. It resembles the Mamiya Polaroid...
(A friend of mine has a Mamiya 600, he offered me to play with it for a while.)
To sum up my thoughts, I really like the SLR-likeness of the small (duhh..) 645 systems,
but i'm still looking for a 6x6 or 6x7 system that I can live with happily...
Thanks
Itai

 

[Bob Michaels]

<snip>
Portraits & close-ups are about 30-50% of what I shoot.
<snip>
I've been using a Hasselblad 501 with a waist level finder lately, and I can't say that I like it. very awkward. I like the forward, eye-level pov of RF and regular reflex cameras.

My $.02:

If your definition of "portraits" is the traditional head and shoulders shot and you do close-up, a MF SLR my be more suited for your style than a RF. That is the place where SLR's show their advantage over RF's.

If you are bothered by the WLF on your Hasselblad, why not just get a prism finder? It sounds like that would solve your primary concern. Then they handle almost like a 35mm camera.

Personally, my "portraits" fall into the category most would call environmental portraits with a lot of informative background. My Mamiya 7 excels for that as they are not up close and framing is not overly critical.

My only SLR is a Bronica SQA with prism finder. It comes out on those rare occasions when I need to do a tight portrait or something up close.

But we each have our own likes and dislikes. We have to follow them even if irrational because we find they work for us.

 

[Jamie123]

Thank you all for your inputs!
The Pentax 67 certainly caught my attention, as it is an SLR, but a reviewer on Luminous Lanscape said it had severe mirror/shutter shake below 1/60th.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pentax67ii.shtml
(he switched from M7 due to difficulty focusing with the 150mm)
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/m7_hands-on.shtml
I had the RB67 many years ago, for studio work. It is a great camera indeed,
I really liked it, but I remember it quite big and on the heavy side. Not the snap-shooter-ish type I'm looking for now. I enjoy walking with the camera on the street, the RB\RZ are too big.
Maybe I should grab one again, to revive my memory. perhaps I will find it more compact?...
The Koni Omega Rapid is new to me. It resembles the Mamiya Polaroid...
(A friend of mine has a Mamiya 600, he offered me to play with it for a while.)
To sum up my thoughts, I really like the SLR-likeness of the small (duhh..) 645 systems,
but i'm still looking for a 6x6 or 6x7 system that I can live with happily...
Thanks
Itai

The mirrorslap issue concerning the Pentax 67 system is much discussed and probably vastly overexaggerated. Take a look at this thread (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90895) for a discussion on the Pentax 67 system.
I think it may be best to ignore reviews on sites such as luminous landscape if you're looking for a camera for portraits. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of photographers who have done excellent landscape work with the Pentax but issues like mirrorslap are a much bigger concern if you shoot at infinity a lot.

The Pentax 67 really sounds like what you're looking for. If it has to be 6x7 the Pentax is the camera that convers most of your requirements.

 

[itai]

Bob
I consider my option now, after i bought the Hassy on a whim, without really thinking deeply.
But I can see that holding it isn't as natural as I'd like. Also, with a 90 degrees prism, it'll be even weirder to hold, with it's foxiness. People advised me on the 45 deg, and also to get used to the WLF.
Jamie,
i'll read it with interest, thanks!

 

[Bob Michaels]

Bob
I consider my option now, after i bought the Hassy on a whim, without really thinking deeply.
But I can see that holding it isn't as natural as I'd like. Also, with a 90 degrees prism, it'll be even weirder to hold, with it's foxiness. People advised me on the 45 deg, and also to get used to the WLF.
Jamie,
i'll read it with interest, thanks!

I use the 45 degree prism with my Bronica SQA. I have both the 90 & 45 but find the 45 degree prism to be about perfect. Handholding with the 45 degree prism is second nature. Not so with the 90. I never could get comfortable with the WLF except on a tripod. Others consider the WLF to be second nature. I think it is just a matter of spending time with it but I wanted to just make photos.

FWIW, the 110mm macro has been mounted on my Bronica SQA body for several years. The 50mm, 65mm, 80, and 150mm lenses sit on the shelf. I would sell them if they were worth anything.

I should add that 99% of my MF work is with my Mamiya 7 and the 65mm lens. It just works the best for me.

 

[itai]

bob, what's the close focus distance on that 65mm? (and the 80 normal's?)
Me too want to take photos, not get used to different cameras.
thnx

 

[Bob Michaels]

bob, what's the close focus distance on that 65mm? (and the 80 normal's?)
Me too want to take photos, not get used to different cameras.
thnx

The Mamiya 7 65mm and 80mm lenses both focus down to 1 meter, but parallax becomes an issue.

 

[itai]

Thanks
I checked the competitors close focus;
the hassie 80mm normal closes at 90 cm
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/hasselblad/lenses/hassel_lenses2.htm
(I have the 150mm which stops at a rather useless 140 cm)
The Pentax 67's 105mm normal limits at 1 meter as well, but the 90 closes in at 65 cm, the 75mm at 41 cm.
http://www.antiquecameras.net/pentax6x7lenses.html
So I guess the Mamiya 7 isn't that bad here, except for that parallax.
So I geuss the M7 is best suited for landscape & street, being light and portable as a bonus.
The Pentax more versatalie a system, heavy, noisy, but a true SLR and quite affordable.
Hmmm....

 

[Bob Michaels]

Thanks
I checked the competitors close focus;
the hassie 80mm normal closes at 90 cm
<snip>.

Think about a short extension tube for your Hassleblad. Very useful in these situations. I use one for my Bronica SQA when I am not using the 110mm macro.

I must add that I use my Mamiya 7 about 100X more than the Bronica. But I don't shoot as close as you are saying you want to.

 

[Bob Michaels]

<snip>
So I geuss the M7 is best suited for landscape & street, being light and portable as a bonus.
<snip.

I would not say the Mamiya 7 was unsuitable for portraits, just not for the head and shoulders shots.

 

[itai]

Hi folks
Well, after much debating in my head, without any clear winner, I relieved myself and bought a Mamiya 6!
It is not as expensive as a 7, and will give me the ability to go out there and do some work at last!
Enough thinking about it all day...
Anyway, it's on it's way from Japan, due 7-10 days.
Thanks for all your help here,
Itai
(my dilema of shooting portraits was put aside, I intend to do some street and urban/travel with this camera.
portraits and such will stay 35mm or a later/another MF.
The Pentax 67ii was the other contender but due to bulk and noise I hesitated.)

 

[msk2193]

Itai, you will be happy with the choice. I parted with my Pentax 67 and am now the proud owner of a Mmaiya 7ii. Lightweight, close enough for portrait work using a 135mm. No mirror slap, no heavy weight!

 

[bwcolor]

Stumbled upon this thread after a late afternoon taking studio portraits. I used my Mamiya 7ii for the torso/head shots and an ETRsi for the tight head shots. First time shooting the ETRsi in many years. The mirror slap was present, but in this environment and with the motor drive, not such a big deal. Other than the tight shots, the Mamiya 7ii was much easier to manage.

 

[itai]

Hi all
Here's my new baby!
Just arrived from Japan, from a nice ebay seller.
looks nice and clean, lets hope all is well with the mechanics.
thanks!