Mamiya 7II or Fuji GSW690III

[Abbazz]

Regarding the lenses again, the Mamiya 7 lenses are not just 'yeah, well this is kinda sharp' bu more "wtf...er...I have never seen anything like this sharp".

You seem to have a good knowledge of the Mamiya 7 lenses for someone who doesn't even own one. Having compared many 13"x19" prints from the Fuji 6x9 cameras and the Mamiya 7, I can tell you that there is absolutely no visible difference in sharpness between both cameras.

I owned a used GSW690 3 for about a week until I found a long hairline crack in the plastic body and returned it. IMO the Mamiya is much less of a brick and better made.

That's your opinion. Having no electronic parts, the Fuji cameras are very robust and reliable. Only the body covers are made of polycarbonates (high quality plastics), the rest of the camera being made of heavy brass and steel. These are serviceable in almost every country in the world and they will remain for many many years, as parts can be made from scratch should the need arise. When I dropped one of my Fujis in a small town in central Vietnam, I was happy to have it fixed by a local watchmaker. And if you are concerned about the plastic covers, buy an old G690, which has solid brass covers. Of course, it weights a lot more than the more recent MKIII version, but it also sports an interchangeable lens, with 50mm, 65mm, 100mm, 150mm and 180mm lenses available.

The Mamiya 7, which is of course a very attractive camera, is somewhat delicate because of the amount of electronics it contains. Try to have a Mamiya 7 repaired on the spot in Cambodia or Mongolia... When Mamiya will stop supplying the parts for the electromagnetic shutter or its command circuits, this camera will become unrepairable. I know this is not going to happen tomorrow, but I don't like the idea.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Turtle]

That's definitely a tell tale story and a notorious misbelief. The Fujis version III are made of the same steel as the previous models, but with an ergonomically shaped plastic cover for the grip.

Besides this, a tiny hairline crack in the plastic coating doesn't influence its function.

It most certainly is NOT a telltale story but a FACT.

I can hardly remember the exact location as I owned it in 1999. It was a Mk3 and the entire outer casing was plastic to my recollection with the grip having rubber inserts. The crack was somewhere near the winder I think (could be mistaken), about 3/4 inch long and hard to see, but there nonetheless. The crack had clearly originated on an edge as one would expect and I was concerned that it would get worse. I could not care less if the chassis was metal underneath because I had paid top dollar for a MINT as NEW camera. I told them about the crack, they offered a paltry rebate and so I returned it (I would not have a problem with owning one with a crack if it was market price). The same could happen to a Mamiya 7 and has happened to them (I have read as much on this forum or apug). The point I was making was that I had owned a GSW690III albeit for about 2 weeks so felt able to comment seeing as I now own a Mamiya 7.

The Fujinons are not a reason to own this camera over the Mamiya as those lenses are certainly not any better, but probably not meaningfully worse either - both are superb.

 

[Dibber]

Projection

Projection

If you plan to project slides you will need to cut up your 6X9 frames.

Both such good cameras. Love my 690 and ended my own internal debate when I wanted to start shooting already- almost got a 680.

 

[narsuitus]

I own and use the Fuji GW670 and the Fuji GSW690. These two rangefinders meet my needs for a dependable, quiet, reasonably priced, high-quality, medium format camera.

Even though I purchased them to replace my worn-out Mamiya TLR wedding cameras, I also use the GSW690 to shoot wide-angle scenic shots. There is enough detail in the 6x9cm image that I can crop it to 3.5 x 9cm to convert the wide-angle shot to a panoramic image. I also like to use the built-in spirit level to help me obtain an accurate camera alignment.

Even though they are large cameras, they are no more cumbersome to carry as travel cameras than two 35mm SLR cameras; plus, their image quality is so much better than 35mm. I was surprised to discover that they are actually 6 ounces lighter than my Nikon F4s equipped with a normal prime lens and they are only marginally bulkier than two of my 35mm SLR cameras equipped with zoom lenses.

Even though I am very satisfied with the performance of my medium format rangefinders, I must admit that they were second choice to the Mamiya 7ii rangefinder. My fixed-lens Fuji cameras do not give me the telephoto portrait lens that I need. The Mamiya 7ii with its interchangeable lenses would have given me that. However, I could not afford the Mamiya 7ii.

 

[Turtle]

Popflash has superb prices on Mamiya 7 kit in case people don't realise they can be had for vastly less than advertised with B&H etc. $1720 camera and 80mm. with Gw690IIIs going used for over $1000 new Mamiya 7IIs are looking better than ever.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I have owned and made prints from the Mamiya 6 and 7i and 7ii, the Fujica 690 (with interchangable lenses) the Fuji GSW690 II, Fugi GW690 III and several Plaubel Makina 67's and 670's.

Over time i sold off the Mamiya's and two of the Pluabel's, the Fugica 690 + lenses and have kept the GSW690 II, the GW690 III and a recently rebuilt (by Pluabel) Plaubel 670.

When looking at prints they all have a different way of drawing an image. For speed and hand-held simple travel practicalities the Plaubel with its 2.8 lens has always won hands down with me, its 5 degree built in spot meter being very useful . It has a fixed 80/2.8 Nikkor lens. It folds like the Mamiya 6 into itself making it easily portable.

I bought the Mamiya's because i thought i'd use more lenses (in reality i ended up using the 50mm on the Mamyia 6 less than i thought i would) There are very easy to hold, silent in operation, but i always used a spot meter instead of the centrally weighted internal meter. The also broke up easily for transportation.

The Fugi's remain my main stay camera if i know i'm going to be using a tripod, and a spot meter. Handheld they are slower to shoot with than the Plaubel although the last mark III version with its rubber grip is much more comfortable than the mark II.


They have all served a different purpose for me perhaps the Pluabel most resembling my Leica's for hand held shooting in a medium format package (meaning i can take both systems together on a long trip) i can live with the fixed lenses they suit my field of view. Should the Plaubel 67W come available one day when i'm flush i'd snap it up in no time knowing it can still be serviced in Germany. Sadly the Fuji mark II is in bad need of service and Fuji UK will not service these when i called them last year.

I think it's hard to buy one single medium format camera to service all your needs especially if like me your needs/preferences/job requirements change all the time.

If i was to buy a single system which required the use of more than one lens and could be broken down for long haul travel then the Mamiya system would the choice. If i wanted a specific camera to work alongside other systems i already owned and wanted the extended 120 format to match 35mm proportions, then the Fuji 690 III or II would be my choice.

If i just wanted a collapsible one lens one camera in 67 format with a fast lens and decent spot meter then i'd reach for my Plaubel every time.

Of course one also has to consider the enlarger and scanner requirements to allow production of the shot images and both of these can cost some considerable outlay in cash.