Use a Mamiya 7 like a Leica?

jaffa_777

jaffa_777

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Is anyone using a Mamiya 7 for street like you would a Leica. I know it is bigger and doesn't focus as close, but still want to give it a try. Can you point me to anyones work like this with the Mamiya, 6 or 7. Thanks.
 
I don't know of anyone's work, but I use a Bronica RF645 for some street stuff. Its somewhat similar to the Mamiya 7.
People do notice it (but not everyone). Just work around it, thats what i do.
 
i tried it few times, not as easy or fast as any 35mm, mainly logistical issues. first, you have to change films often, 120 can make 10 frames, 220 can do 20. second, if you shoot slides, you tend to bracket at least 2 frame to be sure. however, i do use m7ii to take street/cityscape (stationery subjects) if i have some ideas in mind, but not drive by shooting. for street events/fairs, i find 35mm is good enough.
cheers, -mervyn
 
Shooting with the Mamiya 7 series or the 6, is not impossible as a street camera. Not at all - visit the "Mamiya 7 Rangefinder" page linked at the bottom left of the RFF page here. Some nice work.

I shoot with the Bronica RF645 - if the Leica is a 1 and the Mamiya a 10 in terms of size, the RF645 would be a 5 - right in the middle. But in terms of bulk, a 7. It isn't as easy to hide under the coat or at the side as a 35mm RF. It is quieter, though, in every aspect than most other cameras out there. THe mamiya is even quieter. When you print your first 8x10 from that 67 neg, you'll never look back. I promise.

RF645s belong in avatars.
 
I will check out that site thanks. Stealth isn't going to be a big factor in my shooting. South East Asia is my destination where people don't mind the camera, and most don't change for it. Having been there before with only a d70, I can see some great opputunties to capture enviromental portraits splayed against the urban landscape. And if done well these would look great printed big. Thats what I want to be able to do, print big and hopefully sell some works.

If you wanna see some of my work you can go here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaffa_777/sets/
 
nothing noteworthy here but I've done some street with an M7II and 80/4, not impossible.

htown_saxman.jpg


htown_homeless_help.jpg


San_Jac_and_Commerce_VI.jpg


San_Jac_and_Commerce.jpg


Todd
 
Yeah, you were talkin about film to take a while back, portra and 67, great combo.
Actually what film did you decide on?
 
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jaffa_777 said:
I will check out that site thanks. Stealth isn't going to be a big factor in my shooting. South East Asia is my destination where people don't mind the camera, and most don't change for it. Having been there before with only a d70, I can see some great opputunties to capture enviromental portraits splayed against the urban landscape. And if done well these would look great printed big. Thats what I want to be able to do, print big and hopefully sell some works.

If you wanna see some of my work you can go here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaffa_777/sets/
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you have a very colorful collection of shots there. You have a knack for capturing life in a bright way. With impact. Like it.

I shoot exclusively with medium format, and mostly street stuff lately.

see my gallery here, or go to www.shutterflower.com and look at the street section. Most all are RF645.
 
Thanks George, appreciate it.

Hi Michael, after hours of viewing, it was a hard descision between provia and e100g.

I decided with e100g for good light and tripod.
e200 for pushing in lower light
and neopan 400 for my black and white, and man does this film look great on MF
 
jaffa,
great gallery over on Flickr, the Aids set was tough, nice work!

Todd
 
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jaffa_777 said:
Thanks George, appreciate it.

Hi Michael, after hours of viewing, it was a hard descision between provia and e100g.

I decided with e100g for good light and tripod.
e200 for pushing in lower light
and neopan 400 for my black and white, and man does this film look great on MF
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Yeah those are good too..........
I agree with the neopan 400, not much for the others, but I've seen your work so you could probably shoot with Kodak gold 100 and still come back with great images.....:)
 
Great works in your gallery.

Prefocus, smaller aperture than what you would use on a 35mm camera, and higher ISO negatives (I like Kodak Ultra Color 400) would help you produce more keepers with MF rangefinders.

jaffa_777 said:
I will check out that site thanks. Stealth isn't going to be a big factor in my shooting. South East Asia is my destination where people don't mind the camera, and most don't change for it. SNIP SNIP
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The eyes of the children and people in your pictures tell that you are a person with good heart. However, the quoted comment is misleading and seems to be carelessly put. I hope you understand what I mean.

Nobuya
 
Yeah Nobuya, I am not really sure what you mean?

All I meant was that I found people in say Cambodia didn't generally put up internal walls for the camera, even on the street. People's souls remained open and I found that a very beautifull thing to experinece. A complete contrast in generally on what I find here in the west. Unfortuantely more stealth is required to capture peoples soul here where I live.

Does this make sense?
 
jaffa_777 said:
Is anyone using a Mamiya 7 for street like you would a Leica. I know it is bigger and doesn't focus as close, but still want to give it a try. Can you point me to anyones work like this with the Mamiya, 6 or 7. Thanks.
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I use it for street photography, but only with the 50mm lens. When opened up wide, the focusing zone is from a bout 3 feet to infinity, making it perfect.

I keep it down at my waist and snap away with the camera point up a little. Its so quiet, nobody notices a thing.

I tried the 43 but thought it was "too wide"
 
I think you can shoot any subject with any camera. I've shot documentary ( not strictly street ) with a pentax 67. The important thing is to understand the limitations of any camera and work to its strength - a leica has limtations just like anything else - understand the camera and work with it.
 
jaffa_777 said:
Yeah Nobuya, I am not really sure what you mean?

All I meant was that I found people in say Cambodia didn't generally put up internal walls for the camera, even on the street. People's souls remained open and I found that a very beautifull thing to experinece. A complete contrast in generally on what I find here in the west. Unfortuantely more stealth is required to capture peoples soul here where I live.

Does this make sense?
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Two points i would like to say here based on my own experience:

1. Having spent sometime photographing the Khmers i think they do not show their true feelings until you get a chance to know them more. They can be very shy and deeply superstitious. They may smile for the tourists at Angkor but it's been documented that the cases depression and suicide are increasing which is of great concern.

2. Did you get permission from the Khmers photographed in your "Living with Aids" set to publish on the web? There is a great stigma in SE Asia about those affected with HIV/AIDS and many go to great lengths to hide this and so go untreated.
Having looked at your images i think it might show a little more respect to those so unfortunate by adding some captions info - titles like "Dying", "Suffering" and "Ladies of the Night 2" do little to help dispense with the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
 
hi todd,

wow!! i really like the street images you posted with the mamiya7.

i think you showed the musician in a strong, positive way...and i like the blur of the person walking into the frame. the man on the bench is great - you caught his personality perfectly. your skaters really fly!! you seem to have a way w ith your subjects. in each image your composition is just right. the range of contrast and tonality of medium format stands out with your images.

a little late, but thank you for the generous comments on my last posting. it's an image that i really like and think is pretty good...



smile, breathe, relax and enjoy
_____________________________________

kenneth lockerman
NEVER FORGET BESLAN
www.neverforgetbeslan.com
www.neverforgetbeslan.org (under construction)
kenneth@neverforgetbeslan.com

"...patience and shuffle the cards miguel cervantes
 
Simon Larby said:
Having looked at your images i think it might show a little more respect to those so unfortunate by adding some captions info - titles like "Dying", "Suffering" and "Ladies of the Night 2" do little to help dispense with the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
Click to expand...

I suppose the titling depends on what you are trying to achieve. Sometimes a reality is just as valid without a social or political angle in evidence? I perhaps would have gone for more neutral titles, but don't agree with the idea that a photographer has to choose titles to effect some sort of social change. Sometimes an untainted window is the most appropriate course.
 
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