gdi
Veteran
I have a very nice but seldom used Mamiya 7ii kit with the 43, 65, and 150 and other stuff that I just don't use enough to justify. So I am thinking about selling (though it will be tough).
I do want to keep a 6x7 or 6x9 camera so I am looking for some advice on the Fuji 6x9 RFs. I use the 65 on my Mamiya most, so what would the Fuji experts here recommend as a good partial replacement. I guess a GSW with a 65mm lens is what I would go for?
Is there anything to know about the different models that I should keep in mind while looking? Is the III worth the added cost? I like the low prices of some of the 67 and 69s with the 90mm, but I think I like the wider angle.
I know there are other cams like the Plaubel Makina, but I also want to pocket as much cash as I can. Thanks for the advice.
I do want to keep a 6x7 or 6x9 camera so I am looking for some advice on the Fuji 6x9 RFs. I use the 65 on my Mamiya most, so what would the Fuji experts here recommend as a good partial replacement. I guess a GSW with a 65mm lens is what I would go for?
Is there anything to know about the different models that I should keep in mind while looking? Is the III worth the added cost? I like the low prices of some of the 67 and 69s with the 90mm, but I think I like the wider angle.
I know there are other cams like the Plaubel Makina, but I also want to pocket as much cash as I can. Thanks for the advice.
Frank Petronio
Well-known
Maybe get both the 65 and 90 versions? I've had the II and III versions and there is little practical difference other than design style and fashion. Still I would tend to want the III because it would have less milage, some have had hard use especially in Japan, where they seem to be used by event photographers. The shot counter is a good indication of it's duty life but I've heard that some people know how to reset them so I would look for a well-taken care of amateur photographer-owned example.
I know they are more durable and simpler than the Mamiya. Other than wear, the plastic shell (they have metal bodies) can develop micro-cracks. But the ones I've owned never cracked, so I would look for a similar, pristine one and leave the cracked and chipped ones for the poor or unlucky.
I know they are more durable and simpler than the Mamiya. Other than wear, the plastic shell (they have metal bodies) can develop micro-cracks. But the ones I've owned never cracked, so I would look for a similar, pristine one and leave the cracked and chipped ones for the poor or unlucky.
divewizard
perspicaz
The Mamiya lens is a bit sharper and it has a built in meter and aperture priority, it is lighter and easier to use. Why are you looking to trade?
I have a GW690 and a GSW690II.
Lenses: I, II, & III all great
Shutter lock: II & II only. You can not lock the shutter once cocked on the I and I sometimes accidentally set it off and loose a frame becasue of it.
III: easier film loading. I & II versions are a bit more cumbersome to load and unload film.
The advantage of the Fuji's over the Mamiya is they are built a bit more solidly, and you can get the whole camera for less than the price of a Mamiya lens.
I have a GW690 and a GSW690II.
Lenses: I, II, & III all great
Shutter lock: II & II only. You can not lock the shutter once cocked on the I and I sometimes accidentally set it off and loose a frame becasue of it.
III: easier film loading. I & II versions are a bit more cumbersome to load and unload film.
The advantage of the Fuji's over the Mamiya is they are built a bit more solidly, and you can get the whole camera for less than the price of a Mamiya lens.
segedi
RFicianado
You have the perfect kit already!
The only camera I ever regretted selling was the 7II. Recently bought one back. so I recommend keeping what you have.
The only camera I ever regretted selling was the 7II. Recently bought one back. so I recommend keeping what you have.
benlees
Well-known
I've had a 7 and a GW690ii. The Mamiya is by far the more comfortable camera to use. I found a much more fluid experience with it. The Fuji is a great camera, though. It is big! And loud! But the lenses are as good, if not better, than the Mamiya.
You could sell your 7ii kit (keep whatever lenses you feel you might want) and buy the older version and have some $ left over for something else.
You could sell your 7ii kit (keep whatever lenses you feel you might want) and buy the older version and have some $ left over for something else.
gdi
Veteran
Thanks for all the input.
Frank - great tips on condition, and I did think of the fact that I could get both the 90 and 65, but part of my considering this change is for simplifying.
Chris - I know I will miss the Mamiya kit, but it represents quite a bit of money getting little use - the financial consideration is the only reason I am thinking about it. Better build would be nice, but I never found the Mamiya lacking - I have never dropped it and I am pretty easy on equipment.
Segedi and Benlees - I know I have a great setup now, and I am not sure I want to make this change. I have held a Fuji once or twice and they are really huge - but I like the simplicity.
Frank - great tips on condition, and I did think of the fact that I could get both the 90 and 65, but part of my considering this change is for simplifying.
Chris - I know I will miss the Mamiya kit, but it represents quite a bit of money getting little use - the financial consideration is the only reason I am thinking about it. Better build would be nice, but I never found the Mamiya lacking - I have never dropped it and I am pretty easy on equipment.
Segedi and Benlees - I know I have a great setup now, and I am not sure I want to make this change. I have held a Fuji once or twice and they are really huge - but I like the simplicity.
EdSawyer
Established
Keep the mamiya
Keep the mamiya
I have a full Mamiya 7 setup, and also have/had a GW670III and GSW690III. All are great cameras, but the Mamiya is definitely better in pretty much all ways. If you do decide to trade down, I'd go for the III series fujis certainly. the GSW is a very nice rig, but the Mamiya is ultimately better I think (except a smaller neg.).
-Ed
Keep the mamiya
I have a full Mamiya 7 setup, and also have/had a GW670III and GSW690III. All are great cameras, but the Mamiya is definitely better in pretty much all ways. If you do decide to trade down, I'd go for the III series fujis certainly. the GSW is a very nice rig, but the Mamiya is ultimately better I think (except a smaller neg.).
-Ed
Jeremy Johns
Member
I fully concur, I have also sold a Mamiya 7ii and really regret doing so.
Rogier
Rogier Willems
Get your hands on a GW and see how much you still like the idea about leaving the great ergonomics of the Mamiya behind...
These Fuji's are HUGE
These Fuji's are HUGE
gdi
Veteran
Well, it seems to have worked. I think I'll look around for other gear to sell and try to get out with the 7ii more often. This happens in winter sometimes - I only develop my film in an unheated building, so when everything ices up I don't shoot as much, so I start thinking about simplifying...
Summer is not far, so I'll hang on to the kit till then, it took me a long time to find the right one, so...
thanks
Summer is not far, so I'll hang on to the kit till then, it took me a long time to find the right one, so...
thanks
dazedgonebye
Veteran
I just bought a second Mamiya 7 body.
I don't think there is a lot of trading up from there.
I don't think there is a lot of trading up from there.
kuzano
Veteran
You can't do this with a Mamiya 7II
You can't do this with a Mamiya 7II
I purchased the GSW690III camera that took these shots from Don. This is a trip he took some years ago:
http://www.pbase.com/neonhighways/inbox
There is not enough negative/transparency in the Mam7II to take these shots.
In addition, as the posts on this thread suggest, it's easy to see why the Mamiyas continue to be overprices. Popular beyond their capability.
Ergonomics... Hmmm I never thought the Fuji III models were less comfortable to carry than my Mamiya 7.
Again, on the price front, because of the overpricing on the Mam gear you have, you can buy both of the Fujis in the 65 and 90 III models, with the money from your Mam gear, and have a few hundred dollars left over.
Furthermore you can carry both the fujis, in one bag, with a kit weight about the same as the MAM and 3 lenses, and no lens changes midroll.
I shot Mamiya's for a long while before discovering the Fuji 6X9 format. It makes a great stitch to 6X17 with two frames shot on tripod.
You can't do this with a Mamiya 7II
I purchased the GSW690III camera that took these shots from Don. This is a trip he took some years ago:
http://www.pbase.com/neonhighways/inbox
There is not enough negative/transparency in the Mam7II to take these shots.
In addition, as the posts on this thread suggest, it's easy to see why the Mamiyas continue to be overprices. Popular beyond their capability.
Ergonomics... Hmmm I never thought the Fuji III models were less comfortable to carry than my Mamiya 7.
Again, on the price front, because of the overpricing on the Mam gear you have, you can buy both of the Fujis in the 65 and 90 III models, with the money from your Mam gear, and have a few hundred dollars left over.
Furthermore you can carry both the fujis, in one bag, with a kit weight about the same as the MAM and 3 lenses, and no lens changes midroll.
I shot Mamiya's for a long while before discovering the Fuji 6X9 format. It makes a great stitch to 6X17 with two frames shot on tripod.
ChrisN
Striving
I've read somewhere that with the Fuji it is best to wind the film on just before the next exposure, to ensure the best film flatness. This also solves the problem of accidental exposures.
gdi
Veteran
Those are great shots, and of course the 6x7 can't create them! I agree that the Mamiya 7ii system is high priced, but I think it is probably like most things photographic; you are going to pay disproportionately more for what may be a moderate or slight increase in performance - a meter, slightly faster, higher resolution lenses, multiple lenses, and not much more I guess.
I don't see myself carrying more than one body - so if I were to switch it would be for a single Fuji. I like the idea of the larger neg, but the potential for a couple of thousand $ cash difference would be what could sway me! I may drop by a local shop that has had a Fuji now and then and try it out for size this weekend.
Thanks!
louisb
Well-known
Fugly duckling
Fugly duckling
Sight unseen, I bought a GSW690 off of ebay about 3 weeks ago. When it arrived and I unpacked it my first thought was that this is the butt-fugliest camera I have ever seen. The size of a notebook computer with a load of unappealing rubber all over it.
If you think I am a pedant for buying MF kit without seeing it first bear in mind that all film kit is now so cheap and ebay is such a useful way of buying and disposing that you can take a punt and try something without severe financial consequence.
Anyway, I was so disappointed with the ergonomics and look of the GSW690 that I immediately put it up here in the classifieds. Win some, lose some.
After a couple of days my curiousity got the better of me and I decided I had better load a film and give it a whirl. Bear in mind my other MF kit is Hasselblad film cameras (500CM and a SWC) which in comparison are mechanical works of art, imho.
So, I go out, shoot some frames, get them processed and start scanning.
Wow!
From the get go, it was clear this was an amazing negative: colourful and very sharp - even at low apertures. Easily comparible to my SWC, which is legendary for colouration and sharpness. But with even more detail than my 6x6 frames.
Out of curiousity I went back to some frames taken with my Leica M8 and my now dear departed WATE (16-18-21 TeleElmar). I compared the same building area taken with the two cameras.
Absolutely no comparison. The scanned image (created using my V700 flatbed, which is good but let's face it not spectacular) was several factors better than the M8 and WATE. That was a big surprise.
My conclusion is that the GSW690 is a fugly duckling that turns into a swan. Not that I care for how I appear in public but my wife pointed out that I looked absolutely absurd taking photographs with the camera. But it is worth perservering for the sake of the negative.
I posted a panoramic slice through a 690 scanned neg in the 6x9 thread as an example.
Just my experience so far of using this strange but very good camera.
LouisB
Fugly duckling
Sight unseen, I bought a GSW690 off of ebay about 3 weeks ago. When it arrived and I unpacked it my first thought was that this is the butt-fugliest camera I have ever seen. The size of a notebook computer with a load of unappealing rubber all over it.
If you think I am a pedant for buying MF kit without seeing it first bear in mind that all film kit is now so cheap and ebay is such a useful way of buying and disposing that you can take a punt and try something without severe financial consequence.
Anyway, I was so disappointed with the ergonomics and look of the GSW690 that I immediately put it up here in the classifieds. Win some, lose some.
After a couple of days my curiousity got the better of me and I decided I had better load a film and give it a whirl. Bear in mind my other MF kit is Hasselblad film cameras (500CM and a SWC) which in comparison are mechanical works of art, imho.
So, I go out, shoot some frames, get them processed and start scanning.
Wow!
From the get go, it was clear this was an amazing negative: colourful and very sharp - even at low apertures. Easily comparible to my SWC, which is legendary for colouration and sharpness. But with even more detail than my 6x6 frames.
Out of curiousity I went back to some frames taken with my Leica M8 and my now dear departed WATE (16-18-21 TeleElmar). I compared the same building area taken with the two cameras.
Absolutely no comparison. The scanned image (created using my V700 flatbed, which is good but let's face it not spectacular) was several factors better than the M8 and WATE. That was a big surprise.
My conclusion is that the GSW690 is a fugly duckling that turns into a swan. Not that I care for how I appear in public but my wife pointed out that I looked absolutely absurd taking photographs with the camera. But it is worth perservering for the sake of the negative.
I posted a panoramic slice through a 690 scanned neg in the 6x9 thread as an example.
Just my experience so far of using this strange but very good camera.
LouisB
gdi
Veteran
I know what you mean about MF quality - I did a controlled comparison between my Mamiya and an M8. The scans from my lowly CS9000 were a lot better than the digital cam. That's why I still have the Mamiya.
I am selling some other stuff now, but I am still thinking about the Fuji - though I hear their new X-pro1 will blow everything away !
Texsport
Well-known
Except for telephoto shots of centrally located subjects, 6X9 trumps 6X7 every time.
It's just a lot more captured image.
Texsport
It's just a lot more captured image.
Texsport
Turtle
Veteran
Don't do it!
If you must, get a GSW690 III in clean condition.
Better still, get a GSW680 III.... you get an extra frame and IMHO the most balanced aspect ratio of them all.
If you must, get a GSW690 III in clean condition.
Better still, get a GSW680 III.... you get an extra frame and IMHO the most balanced aspect ratio of them all.