Size, for a 6x7 medium format!! Tack sharp lenses Ease of loading film Excellent exposure system Made by a company who only makes medium format equipment

Diopter set-up Limited lens line (but what there is is terrific).

EXCELLENT CAMERA!!! Let me start by saying that as a Leica M owner the Mamiya 6x7 outperforms the Leica on all fronts except for extreme low light photography. This is not a cheap shot at the Leica, I love it, but you simply cannot compare 6x7 with 35mm in similar focal lengths. I do believe however that the Mamiya's exposure is better than the Leica M6TTL. The Mamiya 7II with its tack sharp optics and ease of handling will give you amazing blown up images, even hand held. I do wish they had a better diopter set-up. I love the range finder system but it is not easy for those aging eyes. My SLR is a Contax RTSIII and the viewfinder is extremely bright and contrasty. Actually, so is the Leica M with appropriate diopter. A built in diopter would be sensational for an M8??!! Film loading is extremely easy for a medium format. Not for those who need long focal lengths for nature and/or action sports photographry, or for macro work. Great for scenics, portraits and "general photography". Lenses are amazing. As are most range finder lenses.

Customer Service

Not used it personally, but know those who have and they say it's terrific.

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 645AFD

Lens -So sharp it hurts

Lens Shade sub par Multiple exposure button is nice and simple, but I find the location to be a pain for some reason- probably just not used to it. I am including this here for those of you who are considering this camera for doing street work. A rangefinder is not all that easy to focus with if the subjects are moving! Getting that snapshot feel from this camera is not easy. Much prefer a Rollei or a Minolta Autocord for streetwork, but I am getting used to it and will probably o.k.

I relied heavily on sites like this for my purchase, so hopefully I can contribute something here... I was looking for a light, quite camera with an outstanding lens. This camera is definitely all that. I have read that the rangefinder is sometimes out of sync straight out of the box, but I did not find that to be the case. I have been banging around for a few months with the 65mm and have had no problem. In fact, I shot a friend's wedding about an hour after I got the camera in my hands (and I was THE photographer!) everything turned out great. I usually only shoot available light and the Metz flash (32 z1) I picked up for her wedding worked great - the camera's leaf shutter syncs at all speeds so it was one less thing for me to worry about. I only had the 65mm, so it wasn't like I had to change lenses- probably the only thing you would really need to follow the directions for. Everything else was natural. Of course the other natural thing to do with this camera is to leave the lens cap on. The first few weeks I was using this, I would get all these passerbys telling me 'hey, your lens cap is on' and in order to save face I would reply ' I am just metering!' Anyhow, this camera is light enough for me to carry around all day, and it's PERFECT for location shots, architecture and landscape stuff. I do not have a portrait lens yet, but I do intend on getting one. I realize no camera is perfect, but for the kind of money you are talking about spending here, it should perform well in 2 out of three styles of photography. Unlike most photographers, I actually prefer the softer, older glass that leaves a little mystery in the picture, but if you are a sharpness fanatic you will love the results from the Mamiya. Overall, a great camera but I would suggest renting a rangefinder first, it really is a big difference and you will have to modify your approach

6x7 film, great optic, easy to carry around. well built camera body, not like a rock, but good. very quiet electromagnetic leaf shutter

not a weakness, but strange. the film advance crank works funny, but it works. for example, to align the film start mark, the crank can stop only half way. you know what I meant if you have one. some people force the crank back to the start position or just crank it to the end, and never align the film right. works like a mechanical camera, but it is not, battery need

Very Very quiet, body construction is pretty good, viewfinder is bright and clear, metering is consistant and easy to use. Negative and prints come out wonderful. It is simple to operate, but you will need a manual, at least for the first time. It looks pretty big compares to 35 mm range finders, but it is really not that big in use. wonderful camera.

Customer Service

they should be very nice, at least the sales from Mamiya

Similar Products Used:

Leica M6, ttl. this one built solid

6x7 format precise metering light weight great lenses

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great camera 6x7 format is really a great improvement and mamiya 7 is very compact.metering is very precise and easy to get used to.i was kind of reluctant to buy a range finder first but after getting used to it,i now look at my photography in a wholly differeny perspective.i strongly recommend .

Customer Service

didnt need

Similar Products Used:

canon eos a2(5) canon eos 1-v hs canon g2

Light, simple, easy to use

difficult to frame wide angle shots accurately

I bought this camera and 3 lenses (50, 80, & 150mm) for taking landscape photographs of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska. So far, I have taken it on two backpacking trip and one snowshoeing trip. On these trips, I have subjected the camera and lenses to all the abuse that long backpacking trips inevitably give to cameras. This has included weeks of freezing rain and temperatures nearing fifty degrees below zero. The camera body held up fine; the shutter on one lens broke. Mamiya fixed it and it has worked fine ever since. Carrying this camera all over the Brooks Range with a tripod is a bit of work; but the image quality is definately worth it.

Customer Service

Fixed the shutter on a lens. Friendly and fast.

Similar Products Used:

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Light, compact, VERY easy to travel with. Intuitive. The nearly silent shutter.

Changing film takes foooorever when the pressure is on to go fast.

A dream come true. I have tried the Pentax 6x7, Hassy, and a Fuji 6x9. The lightweight, easy to use nature of the Mamiya beats them all. And the sharpness of the images. Yikes!

Customer Service

Not yet needed.

Similar Products Used:

Fuji 6x9, Hassalblad 501cm, Pentax 67

optics/lenses, size/weight, ergonomics, built in meter is very accurate, flash synch at all shutter speeds, lens quality, optics, lens quality, optics....

expensive if purchased in US (but worth it); exposure compensation goes to +/- 2 stops not 3 (but can compensate if necessary by adjusting f-stop or film speed), lens hood cannot go on/off w/ lens cap on (ok, i''m reaching here...)

The first time I received my Provia 100F slides back I was blown away. The detail and edge to edge sharpness blew me away. I spent many months researching medium format cameras and chose this. I could not be happier with my decision. I shoot mainly landscapes, but have captured some amazing portraits, too. The size of the camera is only slighter larger than a 35mm, but the size of the negative is so much larger. I''ve enlarged 16x20 prints that are tack sharp -- 35mm cannot compete in with the sharpness of large prints from this camera. I''ve kept my Olympus IS-3 though for convenience sake (it is a great utility player to balance out the Mamiya). The rangefinder is bright and the ergonomics of the 7II are superb. Film is easy to load. The lenses are without equal. I started with the 80mm which is great for 70% of what I shoot. I''ll pick up the 150 and either the 50 or 43 next. The comment about fitting all this into a Lowepro Nova 3 is absolutely correct. The perfect match for this is the Gitzo 1127 carbon fiber tripod. All in all, this is a totally awesome camera that does everything well and is the only size/weight medium format camera I would want to carry around. Finally, if you are going to buy it, do yourself a favor and buy it from Robert White in the UK. I saved about 40-50% and their service is great! Ask for Trelawny -- he was particularly helpful.

Customer Service

Haven''t had to use it but their web site is incredible -- prompt replies

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Olympus, Bronica, Fuji

Lightweight (for its format) + super sharp lenses. No shutter shudders...

Poor close focus (Hassy SWC...) Somewhat fiddly with the 150 lens, not 100% accurate focusing with it. Rangefinder CAN become misaligned. The PRICETAG, Come on - get real! Drains your bankaccount and then you still have to rob your bank to afford all the goodies. (If you are poor-ish like me)

THE MOST STUPID DECISION I MADE EVER was selling this camera. I am buying it again, just takes some time to rattle up that money. I have a Hassy SWC that I cannot part with for emotional (and photographical) reasons, but the Mamiya with the interchangeable super lenses is producing some extraordinarily nice flawless negs/chromes. Made me dump most of my 35mm gear.

Customer Service

In Sweden; great. But then you are rape... charged for it as well.

Similar Products Used:

Hassy SWC / Pentax 6X7

Light weight. Very sharp lenses, large negative

Focus is slow. Frame is aprox. Not to good in a small studio.

It has replaced my RB-67 in the field. Much easier to haul around than the RB. Very sharp lenses.

Customer Service

none required

Similar Products Used:

RB-67, Pentax 6X7, 4X5 view

rangefinder, lightness, sharpeness of lenses

None

It's the best camera I've ever used.
I'm specialized in fashion photography and I used to shoot with a 35mm camera on location.
I'll never forget the day I started shooting on location with the 7II.
This camera changed my life!

Similar Products Used:

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