I never leave comments on RU-vid, but I thought you deserved some praise. I just got my Mamiya, and all the other RU-vid videos are so poorly executed at explaining everything about this camera, how it works, the functions, the buttons, the tools, how to load it, etc. I got so frustrated watching others doing such a lousy job. You just did everything perfectly. It was incredibly helpful. Thanks
I'm looking to buy this camera sometime next year, how often do you have to re-calibrate the rangefinder on the 7ii? I've read and watched some reviews and forums discussing that the rangefinder is delicate and every year or so the rangefinder becomes misaligned and you have to have it recalibrated.
Thank you Ronald, shooting the camera is a pleasure and very likely I will post another video on the shooting experience and the digital workflow on top when scanning and digitizing.
Hi Math! Thanks for the Tutorial! The Mamiya 7 II is a beautiful Rangefinder-Camera, just like an analog Leica M but for mediumformat Film. This is nice. Greetings from rainy Frankfurt - Andreas
If you set the infinity onto the right side corresponding f stop setting then read the same f stop on the left this gives you the hyper focal focusing range. This will give you a greater in focus range than just setting the infinity on the red line. Example if you are shooting at f 16 set the infinity on 16 on the right of the red line. Look at the 16 on the left and you will see the minimum focus 7 feet. This means everything from 7 feet to infinity will be in focus. If you set the infinity on the red middle line then the focus will be 15 feet to infinity. It makes it easier to shoot a subject if it is with in this range without having to focus each time
The Mamiya 7II is a camera that I say I'll never sell. The one thing you have to be careful with is the winding handle for the dark slide. The handle is plastic and can break. A long time ago I purchased a replacement black painted metal version which I believe came from an independent supplier in Italy. What is very difficult to find is the Kirk Enterprises L bracket specifically made for the camera, I'm still looking.
My ideal medium format travel camera. Sure, SLR like Hasselblad or Mamiya RB/RZ are technically more versatile, but if you don't do something very specific like macro or landscape using telephoto lens, then the Mamiya 7 is fine. Unfortunately the price tag these days is.... ughhh.... 😅😅
Yes, I agree, the Mamiya 6MF and 7 are the most versatile cameras there are, and I have both of them, but miss the 75mm to the 6MF and have only the 43mm to the 7. Now I'm thinking of pursuing the 65 or the 80mm, and the 150mm. Those 65 or 80mm, both of them are quite expensive, about $ 1000 for each one, and the half for the 150mm. Well, we all know, it's an expensive hobby, but the prices are still rising, så it might be a good investment and better to buy photo-stuff than have the money in a bank. I had the Mamiya RZ before, but it's too heavy for my use. Then it's better and actually lighter to use a 4x5", and then I also have the 6X12 back. The only thing I really dream about is a Xenotar 150mm F2.8 for my 4x5" (about $ 5000).
@@protestagain Great comments, thank you both. I will likely post another video about my shooting experience and also show the additional digital workflow if you want to move from negatives to digital images.
Nice video thank you - great camera, and it’s so gratifying when the condition is so perfect! Plastic-coated bodies from this era always show any use as the plastic gets shiny. I bought a Pentax 645 from Japan a couple of years ago - another plastic body with literally no signs of use at all. The equally perfect 150mm f3.5 lens I bought with it is now a surprisingly sharp telephoto option on my Fuji GFX for less than £80! I do love cameras from this period - the Fuji GSW690iii is another vintage gem I think 😊
Been using this camera for a long time and I’ve never once seen anyone actually explain the yellow illuminated frame inside the rangefinder. The illuminated frame correlates specifically to the 80mm lens which is the standard lens for the 7ii. The extra space outside the gold illuminated dashes will not show up on your negative.
Thanks Marc. I love shooting film. The workflow is slower but its such a great feeling to wait overnight until the film roll is developed and then feeding the negatives into a digital workflow to get the images in high resolution on my Macbook :)
Oh yes. I still use this camera for my documentary work. Fantastic, who knows how long i can justify the expences now that digital medium format became economical fisiable...also a pity we will probably never see an adapter for the x2d..i guess the deep leans rear in almost all the lens make it impossible
I am currently figuring out what adapters exist for which cameras ... these lenses are so incredibly sharp, they deserve to be shot also on digital cameras!
@@mathphotographer totally! They are amazing. I have the 43-65-80, but I sold the 150 which didn't give me the quality i wanted...i am thinking tough to sell my mamiya kit to afford the h2d, since i didn't find any adapter
The Mamiya 7II is a most highly sought after cameras. A light, fairly compact medium format rangefinder with meter and interchangeable lenses. Checking ebay prices, that set-up in similar condition would run around $5500 at the low end. I'd love to have one but at my budget, I found that the Pentax 67, Mamiya Universal or Super 23, or Koni-Omega Rapid, 100, or 200 were more within reach. With a little shopping, any of these with a lens could be found used for less than $500. The Mamiya Universal or Super 23 can be fitted with a 6x9 back.
I have the Pentax and the Mamiya 7 and I would say that if you shoot portraits or like a bit of bokeh and classic rendering, i would always choose the Pentax.
It's a great camera, and the lenses are tack sharp. There is also a 210mm lens (which I don't own) that doesn't couple to the rangefinder, so must be focussed by other measurement or estimation.
Hi, Is it worth buying the Mamiya 7 II + 80mm f/4 £3500-£3800? User says it is immaculate. Is it too risky to buy as they are old. User says he bought it new in 2003. Is this camera recommended for portraits and travel? Do these cameras break as they are old and has electronics.
Purchasing a Mamiya 7 II needs to be done in a cautious way, Guru. First of all, you need a trustworthy dealer to purchase it from. Second, when the camera arrived, make sure you test all parts and functional elements whether they work. I would also test the shutter speed controls, etc., like, do they really expose the film as long or short as they should, etc. Please test also the shutter, all buttons, the film magazine, etc. There should be no fungus in the camera body, for instance. And last but not least, shooting the Mamiya 7 II is by far not straightforward, you need experience with medium format film cameras to get good results. Having said that, if you have such experience, the Mamiya 7 II is a wonderful tool for wonderful photography and it feels true and right to shoot with it :)
so if i’m in AEL/A setting and i half press the shutter release and the meter tells me 1/60 shutter speed, do i adjust the shutter speed or do i keep it in AEL/A?
@@mathphotographer so if the light meter is accurate do i change to the suggested shutter speed? or do i just keep it in AEL/A and will the camera shoot it at that speed. hopefully i’m making sense
very nice review, for me the camera has to much plastic and electronic inside. I prefer total mechanical full metal cameras like the Hasselblad 500. But this is just my opinion, the image quality is definitely amazing, like all Mamiya cameras. Thanks for this nice video.
Many thanks for the positive feedback. The camera and lens are fantastic and shooting them is a pleasure, will follow up on that with another video. From the perspective of build quality, the more rare Plaubel Makina 67 will then be more your taste :) I might come back and show that beautiful camera on my channel.
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