zane_yau Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Guys, What do you use your Mamiya 7 for?? 1. Landscape 2. Portrait 3. Street photography 4. Urbanscape Anything else? Do you have problems using it with ND grad and CPL filters?? Zane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kparratt Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 "1. Landscape 2. Portrait 3. Street photography 4. Urbanscape " ... plus anything that one might use a 35mm rangefinder camera for (Leica etc) It's a very basic medium format alternative to the modular type of camera, Hasselblad/Bronica/Rollei 6000 etc, being less bulky to carry. Popular for street photography, and hiking in the wilderness. It's light, and offers fabulous 6x7 negs/transparencies. Kevin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Ridgeway www.Scott Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Yep...I use it for everything. I only use the 65mm. I don't use ND grad or CPL filters. I do keep a protection filter on it as I don't use a lens cap. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_richardson Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Any number of different things. Basically for easy to handle and transport excellent wide angles and standard lenses, particularly in black and white. Whatever you can apply those criteria to. If you use a lot of special filters, it is not the best choice. I don't tend to use many (or any filters). It is also not the greatest for close up shots or slide film metering. Here are some of the shots I have used it for. <P><img src="http://www.stuartrichardson.com/ subway2.jpg"><P><img src="http://www.stuartrichardson.com/hvalfjordur- bw1.jpg"><P><img src="http://www.stuartrichardson.com/drying-fish- m7ii.jpg"><P><img src="http://www.stuartrichardson.com/skaftafell-view- bw.jpg"><P><img src="http://www.stuartrichardson.com/efke-courthouse.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey_edelstein1 Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Stuart, your photos have 3D depth to them and wonderful contrast, filters are not needed if you can get results like this. Just wonderful. Me I would get the 50mm (25mm on 35mm format) and the 80mm which is close to 40mm on a 35mm format as a two lens kit. Too bad I am over my limited of gear for this lifetime or I would act on my hankerin for this fine system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig_Cooper11664875449 Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Any excuse to post M7ii images... <p> Use it for anything and everything <p> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/400511728_9c2f72d630_b.jpg"> <p> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/336156776_baf4c84627_b.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert lee Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Drool... I want one. Been wanting one for a long time actually. Just can't bring myself to pull the trigger on the Nikon scanner... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zane_yau Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 Nice photos everybody... would you use the M7 for landscape instead of another 67 SLR system like the RZ67? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankfitz Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Use it for landscapes and it is perfectly possible to use graduates. Takes a little time but it makes you stop and enjoy the craft of photography. I also use it to photograph ships and have always been pleased by the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy andrews Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I used mine for scenics mostly. It is the lightest and fastest on the draw of all the 6x6 or 6x7 medium format beasts. However, you are limited to a few very fine lenses. I prefer the ground glass for composition, the 7's viewfinder for low-level seeing. I have gone back to the RZ, because of its versatility, despite the extra weight. I project medium-format chromes and need accurate metering for that. The 7 meter is not quite accurate enough for reversal stock, particularly back-lit scenes that I specialize in. Still, for documentary, street and travel photography, I'd take a 7 with the awesome 43mm any time.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zane_yau Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share Posted May 10, 2007 Thanks Frank and Andy. Andy - that was a nice contrasty tranny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christopher hansen Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 It is a great travel camera. Very light and easy to carry. The lenses are all excellent. Mamiya makes a polarizer for it that pops up for visual rotation adjustment and metering. It works very well. As for ND grads - it is possible to use them but it takes some guesswork. The only problem with the Mamiya 7 and lenses is the cost. Unlike some medium format equipment, demand for it is high and so are prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tad doxsee Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I love this question because it brings all of the M7 shooters out of the woodwork. ;-) I bought mine a few years ago and love it. I chose it over the medium format alternatives because I wanted a camera that I could easily take on multiday backpack trips. I use black and white filters all the time and occasionally the polarizing filter when shooting color. I find that it also makes a great walking-around camera for vacations. Finally, it's easy to shoot hand-held. Almost all of my non-landscape photos were taken without the use of a tripod. Tad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_henderson Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Its not a question of "what types of photograph" but of circumstances. I use my Mamiya 7ii when The use of a tripod mounted MF system is either prohibited or will bring me more attention than I need. In short I use it to photograph things inaccessible to me otherwise. When I want to seem inconspicuous. When I need to carry a camera in conditions where my slr MF system would be too heavy/too arduous. When I have a subject that suits a 67 frame rather than a square. I use it for b&w and for colour slides. I don't find the metering easy to use for the latter and always use a Sekonic spotmeter as I do with my other cameras. I do use a polariser with it by rotating it off camera and noting the position I want on edge-markings and then recreating that on camera. Its fine but at the margin I don't get the detailed, down to the millimeter control that I get ttl. I've tried grads, which are IMO essential for outdoor scenic work with slides. After having no success with the positioning of rectabgullar grads I bought a screw-in. Its not great but its better than nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambang indrayoto Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I second what Robert Lee said. looselens.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_brody Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 While the M7 lacks the overall flexibility of other more system oriented cameras such as the Hasselblad and RB, it has the significant advantages of lighter weight and equal or better lens quality. Those qualities made me to get mine years ago. If I can get away without view camera movements, closeup, long telephoto, or interchangeable backs, it is hard to beat. It's a bit of a niche camera, a bit expensive too, but it fits its niche extremely well. I carry mine with a light CF tripod and Acratech head for hiking as I slowly became less willing, and able, to lug my 4x5. The only thing I compromise are view camera movements, but, I can get out with it, and get images I simply would not get otherwise. The quality of images scanned with my Nikon 9000 rival those done with my 4x5. I do not use any ND or CPL filters, just standard b&w ones for contrast control. If you can afford one, and have the uses all of us have listed, it's a wonderful camera. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rconey Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I use the "soft shift" ND Cokin holder grads with fair success. Push the top of the filter to the top of the filter holder is pretty good. I don't think the "hard shift" version can be used. Great camera for backpacking. I use the 50mm, 65mm (mostly), 80mm, occas the 150mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_larese1 Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Everything but macro - and I could, if I wanted ;) Think Leica M6, but quieter and 4 times the image quality. And it still beats digital DSLRs when scanned :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilkka_nissila Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Robert, the Nikon 9000 is a wonderful scanner. In particular it does an excellent job on Kodachromes. I haven't scanned a single frame with my LS-5000 since I got the 9000. Go for it, the Mamiya is great. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zane_yau Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share Posted May 10, 2007 Thanks guys - seem like most of you use it for landscape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_richardson Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Harvey -- thanks for the kind words! It really is a great camera system. A good photo from the Mamiya 7 is better than anything else I have used short of a 4x5... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christopher hansen Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 Urban landscape, too.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philippartridge Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 Landscapes, travel, cultural and really, general photography. The camera is far more versatile than many would have you believe; there are workarounds for most shortcomngs with a bit of thought and experience. I got seriously interested when I came across a thread on the large format forum about what preferences did 4x5 shooters have for their 'walk around' camera. A large proportion used a Mamiya 7. I also wanted a useable short tele lens for reach in mountain environments and the 150mm fits that bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zane_yau Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 What lens was used for the colourful Melbourne shot, Chris? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zane_yau Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 Philip, I agree that M7 is such a great walkaround camera and that there are workarounds for the shortcomings... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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