Mamiya press Vs Graflex Xl

[olleorama]

How would you compare these two systems? Which has the better viewfinder/rangefinder? How does the lenses compare? Which would you choose?

 

[sevo]

The Graflex had better lenses (having bought in a few top class Zeiss ones), but the higher end Mamiya lenses are close - the bulk of the Mamiya lenses are Tessar type, excellent when stopped down, but rather on the slow side.

Finder wise, I can't tell as my Graflex was topless, massacred by some earlier owner. The Mamiya Universal and Super 23 have excellent finders, earlier Press system cameras are quite a bit worse, though.

Mamiya has quite significantly better backs - the film planarity on the Graflex backs is nothing to write home about, while the Press system "M" backs are among the best 6x9 film holders ever.

 

[olleorama]

I understand there were loose helicals for the graflex system, but for what? LF lenses?

How are the mass and bulk of the systems compared to each other?

 

[Roger Hicks]

If you get Graflex, modify it to take Mamiya backs: the Graflex backs are awful.

Early Mamiya lenses are all soft-focus, though on the 6x9 format this is nothing like as important as with 35mm.

Both are good.

Cheers,

R.

 

[olleorama]

Hi Roger, I'm honoured to have you answering my thread. You and your books have cost me a lot of money sir! (Although, to be fair, I have gained a lot of knowledge from it).