Buying a Mamiya 7

[meandihagee]

I want to get a mamiya 7 (not the II) from Ebay. I am also considering the Mamiya 6.

What's the risk of the rangefinder being kicked out of alignment (vertical, horizontal...)?

I'm kinda worried about this as I don't know any good repair shop in my home town (Bucharest, Romania).

After how long does the rangefinder need an adjustment? I read about this and looks pretty complicated for me to do it.

From your experience, do you think the metering will be a problem too, with a camera that had, let's say two owners before me?

Should i save up for a newer camera (the 7 II) instead?

[hans voralberg]

I've my 7 knocking around all kind of places, falling off and into loads of thing and it still works, so the RF is damn hard to get out of alignment. Metering I cant say, mine work with some lens, not others. Use an external meter, it's can be quite tricky to use the built-in one with wide-angle.

[Turtle]

The metering should be fine but I would not feel 100% confident that the RF patches will be perfectly aligned even on the 7II. I bought one new and it was perfect. I bought one used and it was misaligned, but so cheap it still made sense.

I would get a declaration from the seller that the RF is PERFECT and get them to pack it well. Unscrupulous sellers might still claim it was knocked out in the post, but your chances are better.

[pevelg]

My first used Mamiya 7 was misaligned, vertically. Happened after a flight to Alaska. I was so devastated, as I was planning on using the camera for our camping and mountain hikes. No repair shops, so I just forced my self to open up the camera and fix it myself. It took a total of about 3 minutes. I simply removed the circular piece protecting the adjusters, gave a slight turn with a mini flat head screw driver, and TADA!!!





And here is a crop of above image at 100%, click on image to see it full size.



Anyways, adjusting the range finder is a pretty simple job. Mamiya 7's (not 7ii) sell for really cheap on ebay sometimes. I picked up my first one for around 400. I paid double for the Mamiya 7ii.

[pevelg]

I would get a declaration from the seller that the RF is PERFECT and get them to pack it well. Unscrupulous sellers might still claim it was knocked out in the post, but your chances are better.

Just understand that it CAN be knocked out in post. My first Mamiya 7 came in from Hawaii I believe, with range finder intact. However, after a flight to Alaska it no longer was.

After how long does the rangefinder need an adjustment? I read about this and looks pretty complicated for me to do it.

Depends on use. RF should be relatively stable unless it is roughed about. Even then, Hans experience seems positive.

Should i save up for a newer camera (the 7 II) instead?

Only thing the newer 7ii has over the 7 is multiple exposure ability, which is rather cool.

On a side note, you can also get the Mamiya 6 WITH lens for relatively cheap, sometimes for the cost of a M7 body alone.

[Turtle]

has teh cable release socket not moved from the original to the II? I though the original was in an awkward place or something?

[sebastian toombs]

those alaska pics are so sharp, i can see russia in the background...

[pevelg]

those alaska pics are so sharp, i can see russia in the background...

and this is handheld!!!

The pictures from the Mamiya are so sharp that you should be able to see Sarah Palin standing on her porch, scratching her ass and calling moose!

My oldest brother happens to live in Wasilla, AK, so maybe I can get that picture one day!

Especially from the 43/50mm lenses...

hoping to get a 50 in the future

To OP: this camera is totally worth getting!

[gilpen123]

Just how Sarah P. saw it.

Originally Posted by sebastian toombs

those alaska pics are so sharp, i can see russia in the background...

[EdSawyer]

The 7 vs. 7II - I'd not bother with the 7II if you can find a nice 7 at a good price. I had both at the same time for a while, later sold the 7II since it didn't really add much, and the main flaw with it was a non-issue with the regular 7. (the darkslide wind handle - prone to breakage on 7II).

All the lenses are excellent, the 43 is particularly superb. I just got the 50 too but haven't shot with it yet. But I did just process some rolls from the 43, shot on ektar 100 - at f8, the detail is just mind-bending. uber-sharp all the way into the extreme corners. no trace of CA or any other problems. No flare, even shooting straight into the sun. It doesn't get much better than this lens.

-Ed