MF for artistic purposes?

[hakon_soreide]

It's been a while since this thread has been active, but if anyone's still reading it, here goes: When it comes to handholding, a rangefinder, like the Mamiya 6 or Mamiya 7II, as well as the TLR's, will have an advantage of no mirror slap, which makes handholding MF SLR's difficult for anything more than 1/125 seconds as the blur isn't due to the unsteadiness of the photographer, but the vibration in the camera. I've always used my Mamiya 7II handheld (no problems with focusing, by the way), down to 1/15 and 1/8, when I do tend to double up my shots to be assured a non-blurred image, but I've yet to produce anything but pin-sharp Velvia and Provia chromes with it. And, due to its size compared to its weight, it feels almost lighter and steadier in the hand than the Leica M6 and 50mm summicron it replaced. Second-hand Mamiya 7's - no need for the 7II unless you need double exposures - are reasonably priced with 80 or 65mm lenses on eBay.<p>

 

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