Provia 400x in Mamiya 7II

[PATB]

All these discussions about the Mamiya 7 make me want to dig out mine from hibernation. This time, I will try to do some color photography (mainly shoot BW).

Has anyone tried the Provia 400x in the Mamiya 7II using autoexposure? I am wondering if the Provia 400x has enough latitude to handle the not so perfect metering of my camera. I would use manual mode but the lack of detents between stops is a pain.

If not, I guess I will use Portra 400 in 220.

Thanks much for any information.

 

[paulhart]

I'm using some at the moment in my newly acquired Mamiya 7ii. I used some in my Fuji GSW690III and was pleased with the results. I won't get my current crop developed for a week or so, and will try to remember to revisit this thread then.

 

[Austerby]

I've had excellent results in my Mamiya 645 Super on AE with this film.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I do not use Provia 400 but I did shoot Astia in my Mamiya 7 for six months straight (about 100+ rolls) on one project.

I was almost always in difficult lighting conditions, so I almost never used AE. I typically would just look up at the Florida beach sky and say "yep, another f8 1/500th day" then tweak by eye from there. If it was overcast, I would take my incident reading for the day. If things changed, I would take another reading.

I use AE for b&w where the latitude will bail you out. But I tend to really rely on my brain with some occasional input from an incident meter when shooting chrome.

 

[shadowfox]

I'm sure you know, Provia and really all other slide films are not as unforgiving as some made them out to be.

Unless your Mamiya 7 under/over-exposes by 4 stops or more without a consistent way to compensate for it, your rolls will come out beautifully.

If you're shooting in daylight, a graduated ND filter should come in handy.

 

[sebastian toombs]

i shoot astia almost exclusively in my mamiya 7, and have gotten pretty lazy about letting the autoexposure run the show, as ive found it to be very, very accurate. im sure youd be okay in most instances...

 

[notturtle]

yes. used it in India and very impressed with the results. Best 400 trannie film I have ever used.

I rated it at 400, but found it may have been more like 320 with the way I was shooting. Still, at 400 it was fine overall and I had no major issues.

The metering with the Mamiya 7 is more like a spot meter. Thankfully mine is smack on the focus patch but know others are offset. Get to know exactly where it is and approach your metering like you would a spot meter. Do this and your exposures will be pretty solid. My camera virtually never leaves AE lock as I have to use it like a spot and recompose.

I don't shoot colour film much, but if I ever shoot it again, I will use 400x in it without question. I would only ever bother with slower films when guaranteed to be using a tripod. I bet the 400 produces cracking 20x16s and possibly 20x24s so go give it a go! FWIW I find it absolutely not worth sacrificing shutter speed and DOF with the Mamiya 7. I prefer to use faster films unless using a tripod, ideally retaining double 1/FL i.e. 1/125 with a 65/80mm as a minimum. Only by doing this do I find you get the very best out of these astounding optics. This becomes vital if doing any snap shooting where you cannot guarantee to control breathing, smoothly release etc. In fact I am printing a 20x24 right now from HP5+ in Xtol 1+1 that has me stunned. I have had mine for 18 months and I am still amazed at these lenses - HOLY COW!!!!! (very appropriate bec it is a scene from India)

 

[paulhart]

Just got my sheets of Provia 400X back from Peak Imaging (UK), who provide amazing service. All shot with a Mamiya 7ii, using 65/80/150 lenses. Delighted with the results.

 

[Gordon Moat]

I've used Provia 400X quite a bit, even pushed 1, 2, or 3 stops. Just finished a roll tonight in my RF645 with a 2 stop push (ISO 1600 setting). If your Mamiya meters anything like my RF645 under very low light conditions, then you might want to use experience, or a hand held meter. Under daylight conditions, it should not be a problem, though consider using an ND filter.

 

[Debusti Paolo]

I've used Provia 400X quite a bit, even pushed 1, 2, or 3 stops. Just finished a roll tonight in my RF645 with a 2 stop push (ISO 1600 setting). If your Mamiya meters anything like my RF645 under very low light conditions, then you might want to use experience, or a hand held meter. Under daylight conditions, it should not be a problem, though consider using an ND filter.

We want to see your rf645 pics....😀

 

[Gordon Moat]

Okay, I'll look through what I shot on 400X this weekend, find something interesting to scan, and then post an example here.

 

[TJV]

400X is way more forgiving compared to Provia 100F.

I'd never use my M7ii with AE on trannie, though. I always use a handheld meter. From experience the results are more consistent with what I see.

 

[historicist]

Provia 400X is one of my favourite films and I use it on all sorts of cameras without any exposure problems, admittedly with a hand held meter.

 

[Debusti Paolo]

400X is way more forgiving compared to Provia 100F.

I'd never use my M7ii with AE on trannie, though. I always use a handheld meter. From experience the results are more consistent with what I see.

I never used provia 100 or 400 in my rf645 but I used ektachrome 100epp in AE and I always had perfect exposition also with fill-in flash!I have to say that the bronica rf645 meter is very accurate!!

 

[Gordon Moat]

I never used provia 100 or 400 in my rf645 but I used ektachrome 100epp in AE and I always had perfect exposition also with fill-in flash!I have to say that the bronica rf645 meter is very accurate!!

Under daylight, I have no issue with the meter of my RF645. When it gets dark, and I am pushing Provia 400X to ISO 1600, then the meter is not accurate enough on my RF645. It is clearly off the readings from my Sekonic L-358, and it is not consistent. In fact, if you look in the manual, Bronica indicated what they claim as metering limits, and under low EV conditions, like night city environment, Bronica indicate that those conditions are out of range. Any modern camera should be very accurate in daylight, but that is very easy to achieve.

The only cameras I have used that remain very accurate under very low light are the Nikon FE, FE2, and F4S. I don't know how accurate the Mamiya 7II meter is under night conditions, though with an RZ67 I always used the Sekonic L-358 readings over what the camera could accomplish.

Pushing film under night and very low light conditions is never as simple as shooting in daylight conditions. While I like Provia 400X for night images, I prefer Kodak E200 for daytime and late afternoon images. I have pushed the Kodak E200 out to 4 2/3 stops, though the best performance is to only push 2 or 3 stops. Beyond that is when I find that the Fuji Provia 400X is much better. Considering how many distributers don't carry E200 anymore, it looks like I may need to use Fuji Provia 400X more than ever.

 

[Debusti Paolo]

Under daylight, I have no issue with the meter of my RF645. When it gets dark, and I am pushing Provia 400X to ISO 1600, then the meter is not accurate enough on my RF645. It is clearly off the readings from my Sekonic L-358, and it is not consistent. In fact, if you look in the manual, Bronica indicated what they claim as metering limits, and under low EV conditions, like night city environment, Bronica indicate that those conditions are out of range. Any modern camera should be very accurate in daylight, but that is very easy to achieve.

The only cameras I have used that remain very accurate under very low light are the Nikon FE, FE2, and F4S. I don't know how accurate the Mamiya 7II meter is under night conditions, though with an RZ67 I always used the Sekonic L-358 readings over what the camera could accomplish.

Pushing film under night and very low light conditions is never as simple as shooting in daylight conditions. While I like Provia 400X for night images, I prefer Kodak E200 for daytime and late afternoon images. I have pushed the Kodak E200 out to 4 2/3 stops, though the best performance is to only push 2 or 3 stops. Beyond that is when I find that the Fuji Provia 400X is much better. Considering how many distributers don't carry E200 anymore, it looks like I may need to use Fuji Provia 400X more than ever.

I never had problems also with my contax g2(in night shoting)and I remember you that we're waiting to see your pics...😀 luckly i've got a gossen digisix and a gossen starlite😀

 

[Gordon Moat]

Sorry I am behind on posting and updates. I am on location for a commercial shoot, and unable to scan and post at this time. Hope to get something posted within a couple weeks when I return to my office.

 

[Debusti Paolo]

well ,we're waiting....

 

[Gordon Moat]

Just a quick sample of Fuji Provia 400X at ISO 1600. This was taken with a Bronica RF645.