on the original question of whether or not the Mamiya 7ii is a wise purchase at this discounted price, my impression of it is not as positive as most here. I tried out both the 6 and 7 rangefinders, and found them not as attractive (for me) as the Bronica RF system. Yes, I wish the Bronica shot a 6x7 cm frame, but otherwise I'm extremely happy with it. To tell the truth, I can't really justify the desire for a larger negative, since I rarely make prints larger than 8x12 -- it's just a "bigger is better" thing, part of being a guy, perhaps. Maybe if you shoot very high speed film, the grain will be less obvious with the reduced enlargement from 6x7.
Back on the cameras, the Mamiyas I tried seemed flimsy, I was underwhelmed with the metering, though others claim meter accuracy as one of their strong points. I have three badly underexposed rolls to show for a M6 tryout. The rangefinder patch in the viewfinder wasn't as crisp and sharp as in the Bronica, and I found it hard to find the right eye location to get the best contrast on the split image. (I'm nearsighted and wear glasses; your mileage may vary)
I like the automatic film-protection curtain on the Bronica, and it turns out I do change lenses fairly often.
Hmm, let's see, in the Mamiya's favor, there's a wider suite of lenses, and all of the lenses are currently available without much drama. Can't say that about either of the long lenses for the Bronica RF. The Mamiya lenses are reported to be excellent, really first rate, particularly the ultra-wide 43mm.
Good luck with your decision. I hope this is helpful.
Mark
