Mamyia 6 ? Should I? [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

totifoto

09-05-2007, 05:37

I have been shooting medium format for some time now and got into rangefinders about 6 months ago. I´ve always had the dream of getting a Leica M6 ever since I started shooting in 2001. I´m shooting Hasselblad for mf and my rangefinders are Zorki 4, Yashica Minister-D and GS Electro.
I love the medium format, very sharp and lilte grain even at ISO 1600. But carrying the Hasselblad around is a bit to mutch for a documentary and street photography.
So I started shooting rangefinder, I love using them, small and compact but I´m not so happy with the 35mm film. To mutch grain and I just have alot of problem figuring the 35mm format out when it comes to developing. I have been shootong mostly digital so maybe thats why I dont like all that grain in the 35mm film.

Now I´m beeing offered a great deal on Mamiya 6 with all the 3 lensen (50mm, 75mm and 150mm.) The price is about 2000 dollars for it all and it seems to be in a great shape, a pack of Tri-x films and a polarizer is also included.

What do you people say? Is this a package I should go for?
I´ve heard the lightmeter is not so reliable and the viewfinderlines are not so good for the 150mm.

I live in Iceland and there is no store here that sells any Mamiya stuff and dont know if anyone here can fix it if it breaks down.

Thanx for all the help you can give me.

Todd.Hanz

09-05-2007, 05:51

"Should I?"

why yes...you should! ;)

Todd

clarence

09-05-2007, 05:53

Excellent price. You will easily get used to the lightmeter. The viewfinder lines for 150mm were adequate for me. You cannot do close-ups with the lenses, anyway, since it is a rangefinder.

Clarence

Finder

09-05-2007, 05:54

I have two Mamiya 6s - the 6 and 6MF. Great cameras. I always use a handheld meter, so the Mamiya meter is not an issue, but it has worked when I needed it.

I also have all three lenses. I do not use the 150mm that much, but it is nice to have.

sahe69

09-05-2007, 11:55

For documentary and street, the Mamiya 6 and 7 (II) are The cameras to have in MF. Very portable and ergonomics are pretty good. The optics are truly excellent as you probably know by know. And its quite a fine camera for landscapes as well if you decide to go that way some day (even if you can't see through the lens).

I'd say go for it. The only thing I regret for owning a Mamiya 7 is that I'm presently not using it enough. But the camera is certainly not to blame here.

sleepyhead

09-05-2007, 12:23

It's a great camera - I have one body and the 3 lenses. I actually use the 150mm quite alot. Here's a shot taken with that lens. I think that price is quite okay.

vincentbenoit

09-05-2007, 12:35

Michiel Fokkema

09-05-2007, 12:40

Go for it!
Great camera, and the price is oke too.
cheers,
Michiel

sahe69

09-05-2007, 12:43

I've been interested in the Mamiya 6 for a while, too, but the one thing that's keeping me from buying one is the fear that I couldn't have it repaired if it were to break... Is this a legitimate concern?

Vincent

I haven't heard the Mamiyas, be it 6's or 7's, to fail any more frequently than any other electronically controlled cameras. In absolutely worst case you only end up replacing the failed lens or the body, which would of course be annoying but not the end of the world. Plenty of replacements still available. Maybe even the parts, too. Skilled camera repairers sometimes have surprisingly good sources for parts.

jan normandale

09-05-2007, 13:10

"Should I?"

why yes...you should! ;)

Todd

What Todd said

here's an image from my gallery
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=27860

jan normandale

09-05-2007, 13:11

I've been interested in the Mamiya 6 for a while, too, but the one thing that's keeping me from buying one is the fear that I couldn't have it repaired if it were to break... Is this a legitimate concern?

Vincent

I think there is someone in the US who has been noted elsewhere here at RFF as being on top of the Mamiya 6 if repair is required. As usual someone picks up the slack when the manufacturer discontinues a product and service.

vincentbenoit

09-05-2007, 13:17

Thanks Jan. That's good to know.

Vincent

I think there is someone in the US who has been noted elsewhere here at RFF as being on top of the Mamiya 6 if repair is required. As usual someone picks up the slack when the manufacturer discontinues a product and service.

Jim Watts

09-06-2007, 01:19

I think Johnsons-Photopia the Mamiya distributers will still repair them in the UK. I have only needed one repair from new in 17 years and thats when it was blown over while attached to a (heavy) tripod on top of the dam in Glen Affric durring a gale.

Sendean's in London were able to handle that repair. It was a few years ago, but Sendeans are still in buisiness.

sleepyhead

09-06-2007, 01:33

I've not used Johnsons-Photopia for repair, BUT I DID send them my Mamiya 6 body and three lenses for focus adjustment. I bought all four items separately, and two of the lenses weren't focusing 100% properly with the body.

They DID A GREAT JOB of getting all the lenses to work with the body (both the two lenses and the body needed adjustment), and now everything is fine. This service did however cost over £100, but it was worth it.

Pherdinand

09-06-2007, 01:38

i am lately wondering myself if i should just go the mamiya 6(7) way..
I am wasting a lot of $ and effort on 35mm shooting, while i clearly like the few 6x6 frames I have much more. But the ancient TLR i use is rather limiting, as well as the old super ikonta... I also have a kowa six 6x6 slr with two lenses, but it's the antiexample of portability. I could carry a view camera with the same hassle.

SO maybe i should just get rid of all the gear i accumulated here and get a mamiya with 3 lenses - and never look back.

If i were you i would get the set.

iml

09-06-2007, 01:46

I'm thinking the same. I use the Rollei more than any other camera nowadays. I still like 35mm, but I suspect if I had a good compact MF rangefinder and a couple of lenses it would quickly become my primary camera. The Bronica RF645 is nice but I really have a yen for 6x6 or 6x7. The Fujis are good but enormous, the only thing holding me back on a Mamiya so far is price, and an inability to decide between a 6 or a 7...

Ian

sleepyhead

09-06-2007, 01:48

Pherdinand, I've pretty much done what you describe above. I sold a bunch of stuff a couple of years ago and bought the Mamiya 6 and lenses, as well as a Pentax 6x7 and a couple of lenses (very cheap in comparison) to do the sort of close-ups and long-lens stuff that the Mamiya 6 can't do.

These two platforms are my "serious photography" setups, and fo more casual light-weight stuff I have an Epson RD-1, an M4-p, a Contax T, and a CLE with a few lenses. I use these as my carry everyday cameras, and the Mamiya 6 is my travel camera, and the Pentax 6x7 is pretty much at home for macro.

Pherdinand

09-06-2007, 01:53

I sold a bunch of stuff a couple of years ago [...] and fo more casual light-weight stuff I have an Epson RD-1, an M4-p, a Contax T, and a CLE with a few lenses. I use these as my carry everyday cameras, and the Mamiya 6 is my travel camera, and the Pentax 6x7 is pretty much at home for macro.
:eek:
And you've sold a bunch of stuff??? And you still have all these???
i wonder how much stuff you had before:))

sahe69

09-06-2007, 02:03

.... and an inability to decide between a 6 or a 7...

Now wouldn't that be nice if it was possible to use the 7 lenses on the 6 body?

I have the 7 with the 43, 65, 80 and 150 lenses, but sometimes it would be nice to have the 6 with the lenses as well. (Even if the 6x7 frames can always be cropped afterwards). Needless to say that would be an overkill.

Ariya

10-04-2007, 06:04

I think the price for the complete set is worth it. I have been having the same thoughts about format, 35mm vs 6x6 and I just don't like the pronounced grain I get from 35mm negs. I have been using a Mamiya 6 for a few years and the only problem with the system is that I don't own the 50mm lens. Well, maybe that's not the system's fault. ;)

Finder

10-04-2007, 07:50

One advantage of the 6 over the 7 is the collapsible lens mount. The camera is very small to carry because of it - the 7 is kind of a brick.

keithwms

10-04-2007, 07:59

Definitely get the mamiya 6. If worried about parts, just pick up a couple of bodies, even old ragged ones. The sixes are great for landscape and documentary-style shooting. I have two now and adore them. They travel exceptionally well.

After using the mamiya 6 for a couple of years, I am less interested in a 7 or 7ii except maybe for that ultrawide lens, but I would definitely like to find a gsw690. 'Til I get one I am satisfying my pano ambitions with a 612 rollfilm back on an old crown graphic!

The 6 is a camera which has a value that will only go up.

Tegla

10-05-2007, 03:05

I'm very happy with my Mamiya 6MF with 75/3.5. Recently I've made huge analogue prints 100x70cm and the were extremly sharp. It is a great camera with scary sharp lens. Only cons is - no close up focus. Great camera, I should buy 50mm lens. You can see some of Mamiya shots on my flick gallery.
Cheers

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/tegla/)

nightfly

10-05-2007, 03:18

I did the opposite and sold my Mamiya 6 for a Leica M4-P.

I feel like even though the Mamiya is small for a medium format, it's still too big for street. It's also a little too slow to use and the limited depth of field of the format makes it much more difficult to do quick street photography. Also I don't really like the 6 x 6 format for street photos. It feels too formal. Yes, I know many pros have done it, it just doesn't feel right to me.

However the camera itself is great and at least the 75 that I had are super sharp.

As an all around camera it sounds like it meets your needs but I think there are too many comprimises for dedicated street photography. But then I really think grain is good.

vincentbenoit

10-05-2007, 11:55

Took the plunge and got myself a 6 with 75mm lens; should complement my Leica M6's nicely. Only foreseeable problem: am going to "need" the 50mm lens before long...

Vincent

Tegla

10-05-2007, 12:44

I agree that 6x6 is too formal than 3x2, but MF can be cropped. For street photos i use Kiev 4a or Fed3 both with Jupiter8. Next thing - Leica M?

DougK

10-08-2007, 19:22

Go for it, you won't regret it. The dumbest thing I ever did, photographically speaking, was selling my Fuji GA645. While not a rangefinder, it filled the same niche that the Mamiya rangefinders do. I may have to look for another one myself.

clarence

10-09-2007, 03:42

Although the 50mm lens is significantly bigger than the 75mm lens, I found the former more suited for street photography with the increased field-of-view and depth-of-field. The rangefinder is very bright and easy to focus, and the lenses generally have a very short throw, without any focussing difficulties.

Clarence

jan normandale

10-09-2007, 06:19

Took the plunge and got myself a 6 with 75mm lens; should complement my Leica M6's nicely. Only foreseeable problem: am going to "need" the 50mm lens before long...

Vincent

Vincent, the 75 is a "go to lens" the 50 is definitely great in tight quarters but a good 2/3rds of my shooting is with that 75. The 50 is a pricey lens but it's worth it if you decide to go for it. It's just as sharp and sometimes I think it might be a little sharper in some situations.. just an opinion, not based on actual comparison tests.

keithwms

10-09-2007, 06:25

Regarding the 50 and crops, I have done 1/2 frame crops (smaller than 645) from shots with the 50 that enlarge substantially better than 35mm. I didn't realize how good the 50 was until I picked up a 50mm for my rb67, and -whoa!- the RF50 kicks the butt of the RB50!

Another thing, you may encounter negative comments about the 150, e.g. that it's hard to focus. I disagree with that. If your RF is well adjusted and your basic RF focusing technique is good, you can get magnificently sharp results. The 150 is also the least expensive of the mammie 6 lenses. I think it is a must-have.

Tegla

10-09-2007, 15:28

The 150 is also the least expensive of the mammie 6 lenses. I think it is a must-have.

I'm also thinking of getting 150. I can easily find one :)

sleepyhead

04-17-2008, 02:12

I finally got around to uploading some Mamiya 6 shots to my gallery. Some more to come, there's a limit of 5 pics a day...

Kevin

04-17-2008, 03:29

...Only cons is - no close up focus...

I have a Mamiya close-focus lens adapter with rangefinder magnifier for my Mamiya 6 and it does the job when I need it.

Riemann

04-25-2008, 23:50

Buy it. It's getting rarer every minute and can always be sold at a good price if you dont use it. It has a higher resale prices now than the 7.

I personally use the M7II because I have some issues with the square format, it makes me think square in a faux art way. You might argue that the 6 is more handy and have a slighty better build quility, but my experience is that you always carry some kind of bag so I don't think the bige body on the 7 is a problem at all.

I'm not sure if it's a great streetcamera, it depends what you shoot really. If it moves fast, forget it.

JeffGreene

04-28-2008, 07:06

What Todd said

here's an image from my gallery
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=27860
I want to echo Jan and Todd. It's a great camera. Here's one of mine with it:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=81584

Ikonta

05-05-2008, 12:28

I have a Mam6 with all 3 lenses that I'm thinking of selling.
Around how much would I be looking at getting in UK £?

Jim Watts

05-06-2008, 02:54

I have a Mam6 with all 3 lenses that I'm thinking of selling.
Around how much would I be looking at getting in UK £?

Its difficult to give a clear answer as they don't come up that often, especially full outfits.

From memory in the near past I have seen Dealers ask about £600 for the body & 75mm together. £350 - 450 for the 150mm and £450+ for the 50mm. Say £1400 - 1500 for an outfit? The 150mm is the easiest item to find and therefore probably hardest to sell. You could probably get 50 - 60% of those prices direct from a good dealer who thinks he can sell this stuff. Someone like Aperture, Misfuds or Ffords. Or most will sell on a commission basis for you for 10 - 20%.

A private sale or E-Bay auction might get you even more if the demand is there? Of course you could try the classifieds here, where the are likely to be potential buyers.

Ikonta

05-06-2008, 11:27

Its difficult to give a clear answer as they don't come up that often, especially full outfits.

From memory in the near past I have seen Dealers ask about £600 for the body & 75mm together. £350 - 450 for the 150mm and £450+ for the 50mm. Say £1400 - 1500 for an outfit? The 150mm is the easiest item to find and therefore probably hardest to sell. You could probably get 50 - 60% of those prices direct from a good dealer who thinks he can sell this stuff. Someone like Aperture, Misfuds or Ffords. Or most will sell on a commission basis for you for 10 - 20%.

A private sale or E-Bay auction might get you even more if the demand is there? Of course you could try the classifieds here, where the are likely to be potential buyers.

Thanks, much appreciated Jim :)

smiling gecko

05-06-2008, 21:06

yes!!

it's a very compact and very versatile camera. a huge rangefinder patch make focusing a breeze in any light, a decent meter - once you learn it's quirks and "just enough" interchangeable lenses. 'tho while i'm wishing...maybe a 60mm and a 38/40mm...wake up, wake up. :) the lens are all slow in comparison to 35mm low light speed demons. if you've been satisfied with the results of push processed 35mm films, i think you will like the results with medium format film.

i've had mine for over ten years and just got another body...now i need the 50mm for it...had one years ago and sold it and the mamiya6 mf it was on to ....pay bills. aaarrrggghhh!!!

too (lazy) busy to figure out how to attach images in this posting from my rff gallery. please take a look. there are also images from the contax g2 (i had), a leica cl w/40mm f1.4 and a leica m6 w/35mm f2 version 2 or 3 - not sure. the mamiya images are square. i compose and print square...99.9% of them.

enjoy!!

kenneth