M7 Hyperfocal Problems

I just want to keep this issue alive, since this was the most valuable piece of information I have received from this forum. In brief, DO NOT USE/TRUST HYPERFOCAL settings for the Mamiya 7 80mm lens (can't speak for the others). I had resigned myself to having spent $3K+ on inferior optics before I found out that most of my negs were ruined not by a less-than-sharp lens but by trusting the hyperfocal markings to give me sharp focus at infinity.

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Thanks to all on this list for the generous sharing of your information and time!!

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Mark Hubbard

Mark, it is unfortunate that Mamiya has such a basic problem for such a great lens. They advertise that the design is innovative and they are right. This lens design has never been used on medium or 35mm formats (at least that I've ever seen)but is fairly common on view cameras. It is called a Plasmat and sometimes an air spaced Dagor. It is basically two mirror image Cooke triplets separated by a stop. Good luck on hyperfocal situation.

Steve