Mamiya rangerfinder or Fuji 645

[pat_cahir]

<p>Hi all,<br>

At present I own a Hasselblad which I seldom use as I am not inclined to carry a tripod around with me. I would like to buy a medium format rangefinder that will mainly be used handheld. <br>

The Fuji models seems to have a higher level of automation. I would be quite happy with Mamiya 6 and the square format. Can it still be serviced though? With the '7' I would only get 10 shots but of course it is still a current model. The selection of lenses is nice though the 75 or 80mm lens would suit me fine for the time being. <br>

I mainly shoot slide film, with some black and white and a little C41. Which camera has the better meter? I would use the camera mainly for street and candid photography. I also have 35mm where the rangefinder would be unsuitable. Is it possible to take portraits with the Fuji and Mamiya models?<br>

Any advice would be appreciated especially if you have used any of the above mentioned cameras.<br>

Thank you,<br>

Patrick</p>

 

[berlinhennig]

<p>Mamiya, no question. Mamiya 6MF allows you 120, 220 an 135 (panoramic 24 x 54 20pcs.) with a brilliant solution and a good RF. I got my second hand from an optometrist who only made (perfect!) color slides, I only make speedy b/w. Service is no problem and the 6 is very solid with no fancy plastic parts. Perfect to handle and still the most handy MF nowadays. You can carry it under a jacket! I love <em>her</em> .</p>

<p><img src="http://www.berlinhennig.de/photonet/_MF_0022.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="800" /></p>

[cblkdog]

<p>I used the Mamiya 6 when it first came out to shoot races at a horsetrack and it was great. Very sharp lenses, easy handling, good meter, what more could you want.</p>

[Scott Ridgeway www.Scott]

<p>I'd go with the Mamiya 7/7II. It works very well for handheld portraits. Check out<br>

www.unposed.net</p>

[kelly_hughes]

<p>Asking this question inside the Mamiya 7 and 6 forum, of course you're going to get mostly answers saying the Mamiya is the best choice. Ask in the Fuji forum, you'll get the reverse. I think you need to drop back one level to the medium format forum (non camera specific) and ask specifically for people who have shot both. Or if you're in one of the model-specific forums, ask about people who own both.</p>

<p>In medium format, I have both the Fuji 645zi and Pentax 645N. I don't find either to be very different from shooting DSLR -- at least in terms of automation levels. Admittedly, I don't shoot very high volume, and I tend to use P mode. Since I don't have Mamiya experience to weigh against, so I won't offer any opinion on which is better for you, except to say that both seem like a pleasure to use.</p>

[sfcole]

<p>Pat,<br>

You asked whether the Mamiya 6 can still be serviced: Yes, depending on what the problem is. Many have reported winder problems; I had a minor issue with the winder continuing to wind after 12 frames (it should free-wind after 12), which was fixed by MAC Group in NY, the factory repair shop. Apparently, the winding mechanisms are now unavailable, but I think there are shops which can still fix it if need be. Precision Camera Works works on Mamiya 6, and there are others. Rangefinder adjustments should be on problem.<br>

I've used a variety of 35mm/MF over the years, and the Mamiya 6 fits my hand better than anything else. If you plan on using a 50mm lens, it may be worth it just for that. My experience with the lens matches all other reports I've seen: possibly one of the sharpest lenses ever for MF.<br>

Scott</p>

[robbie_becklund]

<p>I used 2 different Fuji 645s and was very happy with it, especially the lens quality. Depending on what you want to used it for: the Fuji is smaller than the Mamiya. Not sure what your budget is, but I think the 645 is cheaper.</p>

[q.g._de_bakker]

<p>Just use your Hasselblad handheld.</p>

 

[leicaglow]

<p>I've considered buying a RF MF camera, but I keep going back to my 500 c/m. It is really fairly light and easy to use, for me.</p>

[dougmiles]

<p>"At present I own a Hasselblad which I seldom use as I am not inclined to carry a tripod around with me. I would like to buy a medium format rangefinder that will mainly be used handheld."<br>

Backing up one step, Patrick, the Hasselblad is not wedded to the tripod; they may be separated. Many Hasselblad users hand-hold their cameras. Have you found this difficult? I have to admit I'm not so fond of waist-level reversed viewing, but I'll point out there are eye-level prism viewfinders for Hasselblad. This is excellent versatile gear that you may use more broadly rather than buying into a different system.<br>

Of course, a MF RF is a different kind of experience that you may enjoy, so I'll suggest you look also at the Bronica RF645, the most modern and advanced of the genre.</p>

[stp]

<p>I use the Mamiya 7II, but I still use a tripod because I want maximum sharpness when printing relatively large (16x22, 17x25). A carbon fiber tripod with a good head can be quite light. Perhaps it's the hassle you perceive with a tripod; if so, I don't have a solution there. I just know that I cannot hold any camera as steady as I can with a tripod. If I'm not printing large, then any of my cameras, including a Hasselblad if I owned one, would be quite acceptable, especially with normal to wide angle lenses. You may already own the best solution.</p>

[jack_welsh]

<p>I don't own a Hasselblad, or a Mamiya 6-7 camera. But, having handheld a RB67 several times, I do agree with the keeping the Hasselblad comments.</p>

[archie_alcantara1]

<p>Mamiya 7II all the way.</p><div></div>

[berlinhennig]

<p>If you don't have Parkinson desaese and you will work with 1/125 or less sec. with regular light you won't need any tripod.</p>

<p>For the difference between Mamiya 6 and 7 please keep in mind that you can work with all (3) lenses for the 6 with the regular viewfinder. There is no need to use an <strong>additional viewfinder</strong> as it is with the 43mm, 50mm, 150mm and 210mm lenses for the <strong>Mamiya 7</strong> .</p>

<p>If the Mamiya needs a service depends on the state it is in. As Bueh in an other post wrote: "<em>You will always get what you have paid for.</em> " Trusty dealer, good total impression, no service for a long time. Vice versa your are knocking on service door by tomorrow if you buy to cheap.</p>

[pat_cahir]

<p>Thanks everyone,<br>

I have used the Hasselblad handheld and when I do I never use shutter speeds below 1/125 with a 80mm lens. The lack of an internal light meter is biggest annoyance to me, followed by the 500c displaying the image in reverse. The shots I got handheld seems fine looking at them on a light table with loupe. The biggest advantage to me of a rangefinder would be it's smaller size and the lightmeter.<br>

I know I can use an external meter but then I have to take my eye away from the viewfinder or guess. I prefer using slide film so which is less forgiving for guesswork.<br>

Patrick</p>

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

<p>You could buy a metered prism finder for you Hasselblad. That said, I own a Mamiya 7II and it's an excellent camera, but with limitations. You can't get really tight shots, but it is superb for environmental portraits and other shooting. And graduated ND filters are difficult to use - probably not an issue for street and candid shooting.</p>

[doug_nelson3]

<p>If you would consider the 6 x 4.5 negative size, the Bronica RF 645 is worth considering. It's wide angle 45mm seems to gaining quite a following. Mine was $400 when the store was dumping Bronica. I've seen these lenses go for $700. The camera and 65mm lens can be had for $900 or less.</p>

[stp]

<p>If you want to go light, the Mamiya system is very hard to beat. If you want convenience and an experience similar to shooting 35mm, then the 645 systems are very worthy. I also use the Pentax 645 NII, and I consider it to be among the best values (great quality for relatively low price) in MF photography.</p>

[carl_becker2]

<p>I have used a Mamiya 7, Fuji folder 645 and the Bronica rf645. I prefer the 6x7 landscape format but I liked the Bronica over the Mamiya user wise. </p>

[lummi_pannasso1]

<p>Hi agree with Doug. Check out the Bronica RF-645 if you like big negitives from a small camera.<br>

The camera is well built, lenses are sharp with nice contrast and pleasing out of focus rendering.<br>

It is a great travel, street shooting camera.</p>

[mark_satola1]

<p>Add me to the Bronica RF 645 pushers. It's the one that works for me. Mamiya 7 is big bucks even when buying a used one. Like the Mamiya 6, the Bronica's out of production, but it can still be serviced. The 6 has a wider range of lenses, though, and if you like square format, that's the way to go.<br>

My Bronica consistently gives me 18 exposures on a roll of 120, though technically 6x4.5 should only give you 16.</p>

[ed_johnson5]

<p>Scott, "Rangefinder adjustments should be on problem" did you mean "no problem" or "one problem"?</p>

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

<p>The Bronica RF 645 is a nice camera, but I sold mine. The 100mm lens is hard to find, and it's expensive. So, for practical purposes, you're buying into a two lens system. <br>

I sold off my RF 645 and my 45, 64, and 100mm lenses. It helped fund my Mamiya 7 II.</p>