New Mamiya 6 or Rolleicord

[Lucadomi]

I just got a new mamiya 6 with a 50mm lens.
My main and favourite camera is a Riolleicord Va

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Considering the relevant price difference, do you think I will see a much better image quality with the Mamiya?
What are the banefit of the Mamiya 6 over the TLR?
I plan to take one camera to vacation trip to Italy, and that is the main reason I bought the Mamiya 6.
Thanks everyone.

 

[NY_Dan]

What do you think the pros and cons of each are? Surely this is self-evident 🙂

 

[Lucadomi]

I guess I do miss the obvious sometimes 🙂
I can tell you that I like it a lot, I like the wider lens and the rangefinder and the ergonomics.
I hope it will proof to be a good investment and that the 6x6 will look good also next to the one I am getting from the Xenar.
Thanks

 

[Dan Daniel]

I don't think that you will see an objectively much better image quality from the Mamiya. It may be different, and it may be slightly better in some technical ways. You may find that the images from the Mamiya are much better for you and what you want in your images. You may also find that your shooting style and the Mamiya work well together. Or not. Hard for someone else to say.

Personally, I find that each type of camera has its own subtle and not so subtle influences on my shooting. Some of this is camera handling. Some of this is image quality and how that affects shots that I choose to take. For example, I know that certain light and textures look great with a Rolleiflex with Xenotar while they wouldn't be worth shooting with 35mm film. All of this comes down to experience.

Take the Mamiya out. Dance with it. Find out how it wants to dance, what works with you. Compare that to the Rolleicord. Both are good cameras so it's up to you as to which one you use for which type of shooting.

 

[fotomeow]

Completely Different animals - both physically and IQ rendition - but both excellent in their own regards and uses.
-of course with the Mamiya - you have different lens choices, rather than fixed
- the Mamiya, IMO, is for situations for being ready to take quick pics - takes me longer to set up the Rolleiflex/cord for a shot .....

 

[Mablo]

If your intention is to take just one camera for your vacation in Italy I'd choose the Mamiya. Only because the wider 50mm FL which I think is more suitable for narrow Italian village streets. I'm saying this as a proud owner and user of a 'Cord not far from your 'Cord's serial number.

 

[Lucadomi]

These are all very useful comments and suggestions, I really appreciate.
The faster shooting and the wider angle mdee me chose this camera for the vacation.
This Mamiya set up did cost me like 6 times the cord. The Rolleicord is really a great value if you look at quality/cost. However, the Mamiya 6 is a very exciting camera and I want to give it a try. Wide in medium format is really expensive for some reason.

 

[Lucadomi]

I turns out that the rangefinder is quite a bit out of alignment horizontally at infinity and maybe a little also vertically. Unfortunately I did not notice this in the store. I am leaving in 4 days and there is probably no time for the repair. I might just have to return the camera. This is disappointing because I really like this camera and the 50mm lens. It is so portable and easy to shoot.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Well, Ken Rockwell talks about adjusting this rangefinder as if it very complex-
http://www.kenrockwell.com/mamiya/rf.htm
I don't know.

With a 50mm lens and smaller apertures a little inaccuracy won't be an issue. Some testing could show you just how much to nudge focus for better accuracy. Just some suggestions to make the camera work for your trip. Then again, taking a new unknown camera on a trip is often a recipe for disaster.

 

[Lucadomi]

Yes, I would not attempt the adjustment of the rangefinder myself. I finished today a roll of velvia and I will get results before leaving. I really don't want to bring with me a camera with issues. I might just have to bring the TLR that proved to be very dependable. I wish the seller disclosed this issue, but they might have not noticed themselves. For the priced that I paid I expected the camera to be ready to shoot.
Thank you Dan

 

[Lucadomi]

Well, now I am a little confused. I got back the test roll of Velvia 100 today and all the pictures look very sharp. I did find a shop where they claim they can adjust the rangefinder but I doubt that they will do it in a couple of days.
I am tempted to take the camera with me for the trip anyway.
Hard decisions.

 

[xxloverxx]

Well, now I am a little confused. I got back the test roll of Velvia 100 today and all the pictures look very sharp. I did find a shop where they claim they can adjust the rangefinder but I doubt that they will do it in a couple of days.
I am tempted to take the camera with me for the trip anyway.
Hard decisions.

What did you shoot on the test roll though? If the RF's only a little off, at 50mm and stopped down slightly it's not going to be so visible.

 

[Lucadomi]

Landscape and portrait, it was a bright day so I mostly used between 5.6 an 11.
Tomorrow I will try to find the time to run a scan to see more clearly.

 

[john_s]

Well, Ken Rockwell talks about adjusting this rangefinder as if it very complex-
http://www.kenrockwell.com/mamiya/rf.htm
I don't know.

With a 50mm lens and smaller apertures a little inaccuracy won't be an issue. Some testing could show you just how much to nudge focus for better accuracy. Just some suggestions to make the camera work for your trip. Then again, taking a new unknown camera on a trip is often a recipe for disaster.

I have adjusted my Mamiya 6 rangefinder following clear instructions to be found on this site and much clearer than the garbled mess that Ken Rockwell has written.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1631

This adjustment seems to be for the most common slight out-of-alignment situation. It isn't for major disruption or lenses that have somehow got out of whack.

The plastic cap can be removed undamaged with a wine bottle vacuum sealing pump (another tip in the same thread, half way down)

The comment about taking an new unknown camera on a trip is wise. I speak from experience.

 

[Lucadomi]

That is great information John, thank you so much!
I am really tempted to try this myself. I just put a piece of tape and pulled and the cap came right off. The top screw is very small, the bottom one is a little larger.
I plan to give it a try tomorrow. I hope to be able to fix it.
Regarding the trip, I might take my little Konica Pearl as a back up, just in case.

 

[Vics]

Stay with the 'cord!

 

[Lucadomi]

Yea the Rolleicord is great, and the Mamiya is maybe a little overpriced.
I don't know why we always need to try something new.
However, 6x6 rangefinder with a wide lens is very interesting and does give a different point of view

 

[Paul Jenkin]

Until fairly recently, when I traded my Mamiya 7, I had a Mamiya 7 (+ 43, 65 and 150 lenses) and also a Rolleiflex 2.8e (+Xenotar 80mm). In my opinion, the Mamiya lenses were generally punchier (giving the effect of being sharper) but more prone to blocked shadows and burned highlights at equivalent settings and using same film in similar circumstances. However, I treated them as different rather than one being better than the other.

Incidentally, I traded the Mamiya 7 because I found it too big and bulky. I might yet acquire a Mamiya 6 with 50 and 75 lenses as a compact carry-round MF kit.

 

[Lucadomi]

Interesting about the Mamiya 7 Paul. I was temped by that one at first because of the 43mm lens but decided for the Mamiya 6 for portability. I like the Bokeh of the Xenar lens and I see that Mamiya has a different character.
So today I tried to adjust the rangefinder. I barely touched the first screw and it went magically at the right spot. It did not even turn the screw, I am pretty sure. I pushed a little because my screwdriver seemed too large and I felt no resistance.
Anyway, after pulling out the screwdriver somehow everything seemed fine now and I can take the camera with me.
Thanks everyone!!

 

[f16sunshine]

Interesting about the Mamiya 7 paul. I was temped by that one at first because of the 43mm lens but decided for the Mamiya 6 for portability. I like the Bokeh of the Xenar lens and I see that Mamiya has a different character.
So today I tried to adjust the rangefinder. I barely touched the first screw and it went magically at the right spot. It not even turn the screw. I pushed a little because my screwdriver seemed too large and I felt no resistance.
Anyway, somehow everything seems fine now and I can take the camera with.
Thanks everyone

These sorts of Magical repairs always worry me. If it comes back to spec so quick it usually means it will fall out just as quickly 😛 anyway I hope you don't experience that.

As for your comparison. These are two very complimentary Cameras with completely differing strengths.
If I was you I would use both over some time and find where each fits into your work.