Trade my Mamiya 7II for a Second M9

[jplomley]

I'm at a crossroads here and could use some feedback. We are all aware of the stellar performance of the Mamiya 7 system. I've had the 7II with 43/65 lens combination for several years now and use it on and off again for local projects. However, when I'm travelling, the Mamiya stays home and I take an M9 and M7 (although the last trip to Louisianna was with just a pair of M7s). I like using a pair of Ms for street work for the versatility and speed. When I work with the M7's, I have a 28 Cron Asph on one body and a 50 Cron on the other. With the M9 I use the 35 Cron Asph. I could use a second M9 to cement my 75 Cron Asph to because it is a real nuisance switching lenses, especially on a sensor that has no self-cleaning mechanism. Not to mention the reliability issue of any digital M (please, no kick-back on this statement having owned three digi Ms now I've had my fair share of QC issues). But to fund a second M9 I would need to sell the Mamiya. I did this once before to fund a pair of M8s, and then a year later repurchased the Mamiya. But the M9 is a much better beast for large prints, making it a much better competitor against the Mamiya in this regard. However, the thought of sinking yet more $$ into a digital body makes me cringe....

Cheers,
Jeff

 

[LeicaM3]

No.
Don't do it.

You will be back to the M7II.

Look back at the photos you have taken over the last 5 years and pick your favourites, that should guide your decision.
When I did, most were taken with MF, either 'blad or M7.

Very few digital images were among my favourites (D700/M8/RD-1).

In case the majority of your fav's were M9s, only then I would seriously consider.
YMMV.

Bests.

 

[Debusti Paolo]

sadly i habe to admit that digital is the future............ but I don't sell my analog cameras.....

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Jeff,

I'd trade like a shot. The Mamiya gives lovely technical quality. So? Buy an LF camera if that's your be-all and end-all. For taking the kind of pics I mostly take (and, from the sound of it, you mostly take too), why stick to an undeniable but probably irrelevant obsession with a particular kind of image quality?

Cheers,

R.

 

[thegman]

If you really want an M9, trade away, but for a *second* M9? Is giving up the Mamiya 7 worth it for a backup camera, or to avoid swapping lenses? Not for me.

 

[jplomley]

Cheers for the feedback everyone. I've decided to keep the Mamiya, selling instead some Leica kit to furnish a second M9.

(Roger, I already have an Arca Swiss F-Field and full set of Rodenstock and Schneider glass for all my landscape requirements)

Jeff

www.jeffplomleyphoto.com

 

[Jamie123]

Why not get an M8 instead? Since it's for a 75mm anyways you might aswell get a bit more tele reach while you're at it.

 

[jplomley]

Jamie, the M8 is one of the items I sold to furnish a second M9. Second body should arrive the week of the 17th!

 

[MCTuomey]

I only know what I'd do if I were in your position. I'd shoot a sample of the same subjects side-by-side, M9 and Mamiya 7II. I'd process and print pairs of several images at the same size (meaning as big as you like to print your Mamiya 7II images). I'd compare and let the prints decide the matter.

 

[Darshan]

I went through your website and I am literally stunned. If I can, I would give 10/10 to each and every photo on your site, excellent work.

 

[StuartR]

Would you spend 7000 dollars not to have to change lenses or clean a sensor? I wouldn't...
I don't say that to be a jerk, but to put it a bit into perspective.
I also shoot the M9 and the M7II, and I think they compliment each other extremely well. I work as an exhibition printer, and I have to say that the M7II is still ahead of the M9 when it comes to printing very large prints (above 16x20in/40x50cm). It is not so much sheer resolution, though the Mamiya often wins on that. It is the aliasing and moire that you can get with the M9 in high frequency detail like grass, hair, fabric or ripples in water. These are not really visible until you are printing at 100% detail or enlarging. The Mamiya images simply look more graceful at the largest sizes. There is also a difference in depth of field and look with the Mamiya that can be difficult to replicate with the M9, particularly if you are using black and white film.
The M9 is certainly a spectacular camera, and for me the first digital camera that I could live with if I were forced to shoot only digital (banish the thought!), but the M7II is such a unique and wonderful camera.
My suggestion would be to try bringing the M7II with you on a trip one of these days. It is not THAT much bigger and heavier than the Leica M7. I find it to be a superb travel camera.

 

[bwcolor]

I went through your website and I am literally stunned. If I can, I would give 10/10 to each and every photo on your site, excellent work.

I have to agree with the above.

Your scanner list is enough to make anyone shooting A/D to drool.

 

[filmfan]

I went through your website and I am literally stunned. If I can, I would give 10/10 to each and every photo on your site, excellent work.

The photos that are not over-cooked on your site are simply amazing. Some are quite over-processed though. That's just my opinion.
Good idea in keeping your Mamiya!

 

[bwcolor]

The photos that are not over-cooked on your site are simply amazing. Some are quite over-processed though. That's just my opinion.
Good idea in keeping your Mamiya!

Off topic, but I agree with your over-processed comment, but that is also part of the artistic/interpretive side of things and it just happens to fit my taste.

The suggestion above by Roger regarding LF seems to have already been taken to heart in that Jeff seems to have long since discovered that size does matter.

 

[jplomley]

Gentlemen, many thanks for the feedback and taking the time to visit the website. It has been long overdue for an overhaul. Just returned from a reportage in New Orleans taking only a pair of M7's with a 28 Cron Asph, and 50 Cron. It was actually liberating to be free of digital for awhile. I plan on returning to Nawlins with the Mamiya to do a more thorough study of the cemeteries.

 

[MCTuomey]

Really nice shot, Jeff. I would think the Mamiya and a bag full of B&W film would be ideal for the purpose.

 

[jplomley]

Cheers Mike. I'm saving the last of my Neopan 400 in 120 specifically for this project. I'm also toying with the idea of taking my 4x5, but it is such a hassle travelling with 4x5 since the discontinuation of Quickloads and Readyloads. Everything is forced through X-ray. I just don't have this hassle with 35mm or 120.

 

[MCTuomey]

Jeff, a 4x5 rig in some of the tight spaces in, say, St Louis One would cramp you quite a bit, no? 400 speed would be nice with the Mamiya, the 43 or 50 stopped down, getting s/s up if you're handholding in some of that lovely evening light New Orleans sees. Mmm.

 

[jplomley]

Mike, you make a valid point. Fortunately, I have the Rodenstock 55 Apo Grandagon for tight situations when using the 4x5. Perhaps it would be prudent to just load everything into my ProRoller and take it all. I have actually thought of doing this for an upcoming trip to Cuba, but it worries me that they will want to open the boxes of sheet film going through Cuban security.

 

[35photo]

Cheers for the feedback everyone. I've decided to keep the Mamiya, selling instead some Leica kit to furnish a second M9.

(Roger, I already have an Arca Swiss F-Field and full set of Rodenstock and Schneider glass for all my landscape requirements)

Jeff

www.jeffplomleyphoto.com

A piece of constructive criticism, you might want to think abut editing some of your galleries down a bit, ie your "Street" gallery and getting some consistency going. I can say I'm a fan of some of the heavy post processing work which seems out of place compared to the rest of your work in your street folder.....Keep on seeing, digging deeper, and shooting