Should I get a Mamiya 7 to go along with my 4x5

[scottkathe]

Similar title to the thread started by aniMal...

I am looking for a light weight camera with nearly the image quality of 4x5 so I can make high quality images during and after strenuous hikes in the local mountains (people out west would probably call them 'hills'). My subjects are primarily landscape/nature. I think a Mamiya 7 would be nearly perfect except for the issue of composition along the edges of the frame, the use of certain filters and the high cost of the system. I usually use a 'normal' lens for most of my 4x5 work so the 80mm M7 lens would work well for most of my subjects. However, I would like a wide angle lens for images from mountain tops. Would stitching the 80mm images be a good way to make panoramic composites to get around this issue or should I get the 65mm lens. I think it's ironic that my first camera was a little Oly XA😉 but since then I've been shoot with Nikon SLRs and now almost exclusively 4x5. I tried a Minolta Autocord for this role but don't seem to use it much, I also picked up an RZ67 in hopes that it would do what I want the M7 to do-it's very nice but also very heavy.

Scott

 

[Solinar]

I prefer RF cameras for medium format over SLRs and look down viewfinders - mainly because I can do an eye level hand-held exposure with confidence to as slow a 1/60th of a second. If I'm within a reasonable walking distance from the car - I still prefer to bring a tripod and cable release.

In my case, I can carry either a 6x9 folder and a Leica in the same satchel or my big Fuji in its own over the shoulder satchel. Portability is the second reason I prefer an RF medium format camera. Plus, after 30 years of RF usage, I'm pretty use to the over the lens viewfinder.

The Mamiya 7 system is much more versatile than my fixed-lens Fuji and the optics are second to none with regards to resolution. It will be worth the extra expense, if you use it more regularly than I use my Fuji.

 

[oftheherd]

Check out this current thread; http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=63330 which is on 9x12 folders. You would be surprised how compact and light these things are when folded up. The negative is nearly a 4x5. You can cut down your favorite 4x5 film to fit a holder if you wish. Most had pretty good lenses.

The only two down sides may be deal breakers but I don't think so considering how you describe your normal photo taking: Very few had interchangable lenses, and cut film holders are getting harder, though not impossible, to find.

Worth a look.

 

[whitecat]

If you can afford it go for it. The quailty of the lenses for the Mamiya are superb and it takes 220 film also. Very sharp clear viewfinder also.

 

[oftheherd]

...

The Mamiya 7 system is much more versatile than my fixed-lens Fuji and the optics are second to none with regards to resolution. It will be worth the extra expense, if you use it more regularly than I use my Fuji.

That's a good point with any system Solinar. However, I wonder if the OP would then be constantly having to make decisions about what lens(es) to take, or saddled with almost as much weight as one of the lighter 4x5 cameras with a couple of lenses?

 

[Solinar]

Folders are nice, too - but.....

Folders are nice, too - but.....

The only two down sides may be deal breakers but I don't think so considering how you describe your normal photo taking: Very few had interchangable lenses, and cut film holders are getting harder, though not impossible, to find.

Worth a look.

Keep in mind that I use folders as well - but there is something to be said for a modern film transport, modern optics, superior viewfinder and parallax corrected frame lines. 😉

 

[scottkathe]

I was intrigued when I saw this yesterday:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=40307
Now it makes more sense but I need less choices, not more😉

Scott

Check out this current thread; http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=63330 which is on 9x12 folders. You would be surprised how compact and light these things are when folded up. The negative is nearly a 4x5. You can cut down your favorite 4x5 film to fit a holder if you wish. Most had pretty good lenses.

The only two down sides may be deal breakers but I don't think so considering how you describe your normal photo taking: Very few had interchangable lenses, and cut film holders are getting harder, though not impossible, to find.

Worth a look.

 

[Solinar]

And to throw more fat into the fire - there is also either Crown Graphic 23 or Century Graphic - which allow for both ground glass and Rf focusing. With regards to ergonomics - both are very different from the Mamiya 7, but everyone's mileage may vary.

 

[scottkathe]

- but there is something to be said for a modern film transport, modern optics, superior viewfinder and parallax corrected frame lines. 😉

I couldn't agree more.
-------------------------
Make no mistake the camera will break the bank so I think it will be a while before I pick up a second lens-if ever. I would still use the 4x5 for perspective control and front tilt on short expeditions, the M7 would be used on long hikes, overnight backpacking trips and maybe from an ultralight canoe.

The film, developing and scanning cost associated with 120 will beat the associated costs with 4x5 but it's going to take a lot of images to break even😉

Scott

 

[oftheherd]

And to throw more fat into the fire - there is also either Crown Graphic 23 or Century Graphic - which allow for both ground glass and Rf focusing. With regards to ergonomics - both are very different from the Mamiya 7, but everyone's mileage may vary.

That's true. I had forgotten about them. I think they may be a little heavier than 9x12 folders, but certainly newer and more versatility. Especially in lenses. Negatives are smaller though, but the OP was willing to drop to that size. I can't talk to the differences in lenses' sharpness and resolution over negative size. They might equal out.

 

[scottkathe]

I was looking into a little Crown Graphic a couple of weeks ago but the Mamiya 7 lenses have more than twice the resolution (lines/mm) of most other large format lenses.

That's true. I had forgotten about them. I think they may be a little heavier than 9x12 folders, but certainly newer and more versatility. Especially in lenses. Negatives are smaller though, but the OP was willing to drop to that size. I can't talk to the differences in lenses' sharpness and resolution over negative size. They might equal out.

 

[Platinumjstrain]

Scott said: <Make no mistake the camera will break the bank so I think it will be a while before I pick up a second lens-if ever. >

My local photo dealer, however, was in a position where he was not going to carry the Mamiya 7 anymore and Mamiya USA had forced lenses on him. He sold me one of my Mamiya 7 lenses at a considerable discount. You might be as lucky. Oh, and by the way, I love the Mamiya 7 and the way it handles. My preference for b&w is an 8x10, but my strong preference for color is the Mamiya 7. Lighter than my DSLR and way better quality. Jim

 

[scottkathe]

Someone sold the 7 with an 80mm lens over on the large format photography site for $900 the other week and got me thinking...

 

[oftheherd]

Someone sold the 7 with an 80mm lens over on the large format photography site for $900 the other week and got me thinking...

Sounds like you are just trying to justify the Mamiya 7 as that is what you want. 😛

There is no doubt they are a fine system. I have the Mamiya Super Press 23, and like it a lot. I am just getting back to using 9x12, so I can't yet really say I think one has better resolution than the other.

 

[scottkathe]

Sounds like you are just trying to justify the Mamiya 7 as that is what you want. 😛

Very perceptive😉 It is definitely something I want, the real question is, is it something I need and only I can answer that. The second question is should I go with the 65 or 80mm lens, again that is only something I can answer.

Scott