Oooh... a shall I buy thread!

[Jodorowsky]

Sorry!

Having used an M8 for a couple of years now, I feel that it's time for a change. My plan is to sell the M8 for around £1500, and use the cash to buy 1) A Mamiya 7 and 2) a Panasonic GH2 (I'll still be retaining my Konica RF and will not sell my lenses for anything) for digital/ sticking pictures on the internet.

I want to make pictures, and make big prints, and though I don't need a Mamiya 7 to do this necessarily, I've always fancied one(!)...

I guess I've reached an impasse with my photography then, which is the only reason I usually want to change/ get new kit.....

 

[efirmage]

No M9? The Mamiya 7 is a great camera, can't really argue against that. I'd miss a small RF though.

 

[Jodorowsky]

I actually had the use of an M9 for about 3 months recently, and although it's really nice camera, I wouldn't/ couldn't spend the money on one. I've also used it to the degree that it doesn't hold any particular allure.

It's my lenses, really- I couldn't sell them; I have a weird attachment to them. I will keep my rangefinder, and buy an adaptor to use them on a M4/3 if the mood takes me.

If I could rid myself of my sentimental attachement to my lenses, I'd sell the whole lot and buy a DSLR with a nice prime Zeiss lens to start off with AND a Mamiya 7.... But how to part with the lenses?

 

[dof]

It looks to me that your reasoning is sound, given your experiences and goals. No one can argue with the special qualities of 6x7 negatives. The 6x7 format is quite useful as well and I think it will have a significant impact on your composition - it's different enough from the aspect ratio of your other cameras that you will be enticed or even forced to approach subjects in new ways.

And if you've found lenses that you enjoy shooting with, you'd be a wise man to keep them. I wouldn't worry about sentimentality.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Why not buy a good camera instead? A baby Linhof...

Cheers,

R.

 

[Jodorowsky]

Oooh.... Interesting.... I have looked....

 

[kxl]

Are you sure you want to go to a 6x7 format? Maybe you could rent one first before making it permanent? I've just generally preferred a 2x3 format (from years of 35mm use), so if I ever get a non-35mm camera, it will have to be a 6x9. YMMV.

 

[gekopaca]

I've got a GH1 and an Epson R-D1 and I must say that the "photographic feeling" of the GH1 is incredibly bad.
For sure, its a very usable camera for its video capabilities (mine is hacked : GH13) and the fun with exotic lenses (Pentax 110, C-Mount lenses) but the dynamic range and the High ISO quality is bad.
More, the shutter and EVF is efficient, but not funny at all.
Coming from Leica and change for Pana might be a mistake.

 

[Jodorowsky]

Thanks for these replies; I wish I was rich.... I'd try everything!

 

[Tono10]

BTW, I've just spotted a complete system Mamiya 7 on Luminous Landscape Forum
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=53352.0 that might appeal to you...

 

[filmfan]

Do it!!!!!!!!!