rockwell and mamiya 7 build quality

[joachim]

Hi,

Discovered this recently, which left me scratching my head. I know Ken Rockwell is a very special camera reviewer, but so far I didn't have him down as a camera abuser. In his Mamiya 7 review: http://www.kenrockwell.com/mamiya/7.htm he seems not so happy with the build of the kit (he claims to be very happy with the results though). Search for the section: "Construction Quality". Are Mamiya 7 that fragile or is this just another "Rockwell classic"?

Thanks
Joachim

 

[degruyl]

I actually don't disagree with him: it feels cheap for the price. (and my shutter decided to stick... twice). (with the 7II, there is a problem with breaking dark slide levers, I understand).

I love this camera. I hate the cheap plastic nature of it. Not as bad a nikon N75, but at ten or twenty times the price, used, it is pretty bad.

 

[sevo]

I love this camera. I hate the cheap plastic nature of it. Not as bad a nikon N75, but at ten or twenty times the price, used, it is pretty bad.

It was a trend from the eighties on - the RZ67 does not feel much better, nor did the Fuji GA645 or GW690III. None of them actually is short lived or flimsy, but that arguably superior-to-metal light unbreakable plastic cladding inevitably made them feel like any cheap consumer device. Fuji later made good with the GA645Zi, which received a Contax G like look and feel, but Mamiya obviously shunned a similarly thorough redesign when they did the 7II...

Sevo

 

[joachim]

Hi David and Sevo,

thanks for your contributions. Ok, feel is one thing, but Rockwell reports on the lenses falling apart, that is what I feel worried about. You like to comment on this aspect? -Ta-

Joachim

 

[degruyl]

No problems to report with the lenses. Of course, that is a lack of anecdotal evidence.

 

[jonmanjiro]

The Mamiya 7 has an aluminium diecast body. It's the plastic levers and knobs attached to the body that feel cheapish (the dark slide lever in particular). The lenses feel pretty solid to me, but I only have the 43/4.5 and 65/4, as well as handling several 80/4s.

 

[degruyl]

The 150 feels exactly the same as the 80 and 65. All pretty good, smooth and solid, in my arsenal.

Also, the on off switch makes me feel like I am going to break it off. I suspect that is paranoia.

 

[Nick White]

Why was this moved? .....

 

[Turtle]

all my M7 lenses feel solid as a rock. I have the 43 thru 150. I rate them extremely highly optically and they feel silky smooth and totally reliable.

 

[joachim]

Why was this moved? .....

I am wondering the same. I can only assume the moderator saw me referring to Rockwell and assumed another Rockwell bashing was asked for, which wasn't my intention. No grudge here, they are busy and I still got a number of replies, despite the move. Thanks to everyone who contributed. I conclude that not many folks here are experiencing reliability problems with the lenses.

 

[akitadog]

Mamiya Quality

Mamiya Quality

Good Day,

I have the Mamiya 6 not the 7, but the build quality is the same. I have had my camera and 3 lenses for 15+ years and other than a CLA on the 75mm lens everything if absolutely OK. The grease got hard in the 75 and needed to be cleaned and replaced. Lack of use I suspect. I have a lot of film thru the Mamiya 6 body with no problems. Yes, it is not like my Leica M's but still good enough, with careful use to last a very long time.

HHK

 

[reala_fan]

Interesting that this was brought up!! I had the Mamiya 6 when it was current (owned for a number of years). I had the 75mm and 50mm lenses. All was absolutely great with the system. Never a single glitch.

But I also remember a lot of smack talk at the time about build quiality, supposedly the film transport failing.

This was long before the internet. But the paranoia about the Mamiya 6 build quality was getting around via printed media. I long considered it an Urban Legend. One of the many that refuse to die.

Enjoy your Mamiya 6 and 7's and don't worry about the naysayers'....

 

[mbohara]

My 7 worked fine until my girlfriend dropped it and it literally exploded - not her fault.

$383 later and two weeks later it's back to new...

Overall, it's a decently built camera, I guess. I expect a hell of a lot more for the money though. It's a bit awkward to handle in hand or on your side, but I guess that's the price you pay for its size. I don't think anyone can argue against its glass though...

 

[pvdhaar]

... Not as bad a nikon N75 ...

Tsk tsk tsk.. It's not as 'featherlight' as a nikon N75..

You can probably tell, I'm very fond of mine (the F75 that is)..