BW Film for Mamiya 7?

[nardo]

Just to get a feeling from more experienced users:
Which BW Film do you prefer using the M7?

I mostly use Delta 100 (in daylight, mostly landscape) and was quite pleased.
slower films won´t do the trick I guess because of the slow lens...
Any comments?

[notturtle]

I use Delta 100/FP4+ in very bright light or where I have a tripod, Neopan 400/TriX when I dont and there is still decent light and Delta 3200 when light is limited. I shoot 99% hand held though. I rate all films at or close to box speed and use dilute Xtol normally.

The issue is not that the lenses are slow per se, but that the DOF requirement is more acute with the larger 6x7 format. Where F8 might do on yuour 35mm camera wnd 35mm lens for acceptable DOF, the 65 on the Mamiya 7 will need f13.5-f16 for the same perception of DOF. Combine this with the requirement for slightly faster shutter speeds to stave of camera shake and you are three stops down on 35mm.

The Mamiya 7 meter is fabulous once you get used to the fact that it is really a spot meter.

My tip if using the camera for travel? Bring loads of 400, a little 100, with a sprinkling of D3200 and a mononpod.

[Todd.Hanz]

horses for courses or something like that...

90% of my shots taken with my Mamiya 7 are done with Fuji Acros 100, probably half of them rated at 50. I often use Ilford PanF+ as well. The leaf shutter on this camera is worth a stop or two better than an SLR (at least). Most things I shoot I am hand holding the camera, a few rare tripod days mixed in...

Acros from a tripod


Handheld at 1/8-1/15


Tri-X is probably the safest bet for an all around film.

Good Luck,
Todd

[dazedgonebye]

I don't have a Mamiya 7, but I want to jump in anyway.
I shoot a couple of different folding 6x6 cameras, so the experience is similar.
I load PanF 75% of the time and FP4 for the rest. I have a roll of Tri-x on hand, but haven't felt the need.
1/50th hand held is no great effort, even with the relatively clunky shutter on my folder, and daytime shooting gives me an easy f16 for plenty of dof with PanF. Using PanF also gives me an option of shooting wide open (with ND filters) when I want narrow dof.
If I never wanted to shoot narrow dof, I suppose I'd shoot FP4 all the time for a little higher shutter or smaller aperture as needed.

[back alley]

and from left field...my favourite combo when i had a mamiya 6 was delta 3200, rated at 1000 and developed in ddx.

joe

[notturtle]

Originally Posted by back alley

and from left field...my favourite combo when i had a mamiya 6 was delta 3200, rated at 1000 and developed in ddx.

joe

Thats familiar. I use it at 1200 (or 1600 if I must) and develop in Xtol 1+2 (interchangeable with DDX for speed, although I found Xtol gave a hair more speed diluted). This film had me hooked after the first roll.... the grain is so neat and crisp and the contrast is very manageable when downrated. Tonality is very old school.

[notturtle]

I'll just add that off a tripod with D100 and Xtol 1+2 the detail is simply astounding. If you are lucky enough to shoot at the lens' sweet spot you literally don't run out of detail. Even 20x24s are unbelievable. They really do resemble 5x4s off FP4+, but with a slightly different look (largely due to the changed tonality of using a modern tech film).

[nksyoon]

I've quite enjoyed Neopan 400 with Mamiya 6.

[martin s]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

Scaling the shot down for the Web most certainly doesn't do it justice.

Beautiful.

martin

[Bob Michaels]

I am simple. I shoot Neopan 400. That is both 35mm and in my Mamiya 7. Outside, inside, bright sun, hazy, night, it is always Neopan 400. I just like dealing with only one film. Besides, I have learned how it works.

But that is me. I see no reason why, or why not, what I like will be the same as what you like.

Nardo, if you like Delta 100, by all means shoot it in your Mamiya 7. I certainly would not suggest a film that you decided you did not like.

[Keith]

These MF thingies may have slow lenses but you can hand hold them at amazingly slow speeds ... I try to stick to 100 films.

Adox CHS100 Art is great for a particular look I find ... very silvery mid tones and not a lot of contrast with almost an old school look. Neopan Acros which I tried for the first time recently is the exact opposite ... strong whites and blacks with a very smooth modern look that is almost (gulp) digital!

[venchka]

Unexposed film gives me the best results. I never met an unexposed B&W film that I didn't like in a medium format camera.

[noah b]

heh, I enjoy tmax400 personally and have shot some delta and tmax 100. 400 always seemed like the most rational film because I only like to use the tripod for 4x5 and keep the M7 handheld. I've been wanting to try out neopan and am about to acquire some tri-x.