Detail of the Shooting Mode dial on a Mamiya 645DF medium format digital camera with an SK 80mm.
I have shot with a Pentax 67 which I sold to get this camera. Now, I don’t have that much experience shooting other medium format cameras so it’s hard to compare to other systems. I have a little more than 3 years of experience shooting with this camera and I have shot with it on a consistent basis. I’ve owned my Mamiya 7II since 2016. As can been seen in the photos, the kit includes the.These pages are not sponsored or approved by the manufacturers.Other content Copyright © 2003,2004,2005,2006, pbase.com LLC. All Rights Reserved.Contact to contribute data or photos of cameras.
It’s not perfect but what I discovered over the years is, there is no perfect camera. The Mamiya 7II is a joy to use and it has almost everything that I want in a camera. Most reviews end with their final thoughts but I kind of want to start with it.
Image quality is compromised and while I still shoot 35mm from time to time, I prefer shooting what I like to shoot in medium format. While a 35mm camera is more compact, I find the negative too small. Medium format is the ideal size for me. What is a Mamiya 7II and Why I shoot with itThis camera is a medium format rangefinder. It makes me want to take road trips, take a train or plane, or just walk around my neighborhood and take photos. But most importantly, this camera is a joy to shoot with.
So with those criteria, there was only really one choice. I knew I wanted a system that had interchangeable lenses. The Plaubel Makina is an awesome camera, (it’s a medium format rangefinder) but you are stuck with the lens on the camera. When you look at your choices with these prerequisites there weren’t many choices. I also wanted the 6x7 aspect ratio.
The shutter dial in the Mamiya is somewhat difficult to adjust while you are looking through the rangefinder. Not as good as a Leica rangefinder but still really good. The rangefinder is bright, big, and the patch is clear for you to nail focus. It’s very comparable as a modern day DSLR, maybe even lighter because the lenses are generally smaller. It has an excellent grip that is deep and the camera is light enough to carry with you all day.
When I first started shooting with the Mamiya 7II I would use a handheld meter. But you definitely can rely on it because the meter is so good.Speaking of the light meter, it is pretty accurate and I use it all the time. It does have aperture priority mode but I have never used it.
Mamiya 7 LensesAnother aspect of this system that excels, are the lenses. My exposures have been accurate with it and with the latitude of negative film, my photos have been coming out great. It’s great for figuring out exposures for the shadow side of a frame as well as comparing it with the brighter side of the frame. It is a center-weighted meter that almost works like a spot meter.
I also tend to shoot a little to wide so have the extra reach of the 80mm is ideal for me. The 80mm works for me because it’s easy for me to see the frame lines in the rangefinder. My favorite lens is the 80mm and I carry the 50mm with me often just in case I need something wider. These lenses are sharp and performs very well. I haven’t tried the other lenses out but I have heard they are just as excellent as the ones I own. The lenses that I have is the 50mm, 65mm, and 80mm.
It’s a more pleasant and bigger window to look through than the rangefinder on the body. I love composing with the external viewfinder. The 50mm has an external viewfinder so it is easy for me to compose with compared to the 65mm. One of the main reasons I pick the 80mm over the 65mm more often is that I wear glasses and I find it difficult to see the frame lines of the 65mm.
Final Thoughts on the Mamiya 7IIA minor drawback of this camera and almost any rangefinder camera is the focusing distance. You can also sync a strobe or flash and use any shutter speed. The lack of mirror and traditional shutter makes it ideal for keeping the camera stable while handheld. This makes the shutter absolutely quiet. The camera does not have a shutter built in. It might not be the most versatile lens but my favorite images that I have made have been with this lens.A thing I want to point out with the lenses and this system is that it uses a leaf shutter in the lens.
The fastest shutter speed is only 1/500 of a second. I knew this coming in and with what I shoot with this camera, it is perfectly fine with me. While you can certainly still get a portrait and take details somewhat close up, it might limit some people.
The lack of sound and stability of the camera when in use shocked me at first but it made me fall in love with it. I knew that from the first shot I took with this camera. While it can be a hinderance, you can certainly work around it.This is a camera I know I am going to keep for the rest of my life, hopefully it will still be operational until then.
You can probably find a Mamiya 7II with an 80mm lens for around $3000 or more. Can another camera do the same thing? Probably but it's hard to find something with this form factor.Prices are crazy high for this camera. The images I have made with it are my favorite that I have ever made. I get so much enjoyment with using this camera.
So if you ever get an opportunity to try one out and find one in good condition for sale, go for it. I would pay that much for it just because I know it’s what I am looking for in a camera. I still think this camera is worth it with its new price tag. I purchased this camera in 2016 and paid about $1800 with the 80mm lens.
The raw files were processed with Negative Lab Pro. These images were scanned with a Canon 5D mark IV and 100mm macro lens. I used Kodak Portra 800 and shot everything on the 80mm. I just walked around lower Manhattan, tried an emphasis to get in closer.
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