Samuel Elkins + Braedon // Mamiya 7ii vs Contax 645 

I have both cameras and I absolutely adore the Contax 645. I manually focus, as auto will eat the battery, but I do sometimes use the back focus button to tweak it. It does have some electronic quirks - it's not keen on 1/4000th sec setting and will sometimes lock down the whole camera. Apart from that I love it and use it for all my travel photography. It feels good in the hands, is very easy to use. The Mamiya 7ii I've had for about 3 years and have hardly used it. It produced some really great results, but I absolutely hate focusing and I've not produced the results I wanted because of the focus being off on my subject. It's a nice and light portable camera, but the focus issue for me is a bit downer and I'm still pondering whether to sell it. I kind of wish film had 10 more years before digital came in, because I imagine Contax would have introduced the Contax 67 modelled on the same style as the 645 or the Hasselbad 500 series introduced a 6x7 format, but still making it more compact than the Mamiya RB/RZ. Oh well, in my dreams!

So cool! There is a strong stir here, a power. Thanks for giving that away

The Mamiya 7 and the Contax 645 both have much better than average lenses. They also shared hugely inflated prices when new, and still do used. What this video does not cover are some of the shared negatives. Both cameras have a deserved reputation for mechanical failure. Neither camera has any factory support, and no new parts are available. So few Contax 645 systems were ever sold that there is no supply of used parts and few repairmen know anything about the complex electronics which control the camera, so will not touch them. The Mamiya is a simpler device to work on. Many were sold, so used parts and repairmen are available. IMO the Contax 645 system is the most perfect camera system ever produced, however now that I could afford one, I'd never spend the $10,000+ required to fully kit out a used system because the camera body could fail tomorrow and leave me with a pile of useless hardware and lenses until I find another body. As for the Mamiya 7, it's a limited function rangefinder system with few lenses and a high repair rate. My Pentax 67 system is vastly more useful. My Koni Omega Rapid M system has nearly the same function and lens quality, except that it adds mid-roll interchangeable film magazines and costs about half of any one Mamiya body or lens. (Also, still fully repairable in the unlikely event a repair is ever required.) If you love the Contax 645, buy the newest, best condition Pentax 645NII you can find plus a few lenses, then put $7.500 back in your bank.

Love the street shots! Really stoked I found this thread and will continue to watch! no matter the outcome of who wins the camera! Cheers!

Awesome video! Here for the M6!! Let’s get thisssss! GL everyone!

REALLY interesting video and of course great shots guys!! Beasty gear 🔥🔥

love y’all and your channel and the M6!!!

Always love to see some beautiful medium format cameras 😍

Sam’s car photos are so good! Nothing beats cars in the desert.

Y’all shooting with some beasts! 🔥🔥🔥

Love this video! Hoping for the M6.

Sweet video! Absolutely love the medium format contax system. #m6 🤘

Great comparison! Would love the M6

Great video! Also would love that Leica!

Great video, would also love to have the Leica M6

Awesome video!

Throw us in! This is great y'all!!

Great video, now for the M6!

Awesome vid

Medium Format ♥️ that Leica M6 is a dream as well. 🦡🥛

cool video! here for the m6 ;) i would kill for one

Super sick

👋🏼 subbed... M6 PLSSSS. also didn’t see what film you were shooting but those tones 👌🏼👌🏼

This is great! M6!

Great work guys! Loved seeing you both shoot together.

Keep shooting film never stop

Damn never saw that 80mm f2 but that thing is magical...🤞🏽 for the M6

Love Leica colors! Thanks for the video.

Love medium format

Would LOVE the M6!!!

Both great cameras! I’d kill for a M6...even made a “Who to Kill” list.

I love Contax 645!!

Sam’s the man! Rad video

that m6 would make me happy for sure for sure

What film?

Ooof the M6 though 🙏🏼

Would love the Leica! 🌸

Hey ho every one, I also have a Mamiya 7II but very often I have a problem while shooting. Sometimes I have a problem with the film advance lever. Very irregularly after making an image I want to wind to the next picture, but the film advance lever doenst move. The image is done, but I cant wind to the next image. Till today I do not have found a solution. I tried to rub the contacts, changed the battery but nothing could really solve the problem. I also do not know how to make the lever move. Sometimes its enough to just switch the camera on and off. Sometimes i close and open the curtain or change the exposure time after setting it to manual mode. Do you also have had a problem like this and know how to solve it? I would really appreciate andy feedback. Stay healthy so far. Greetings from Berlin

prayinggg for the M6 🙏🏾🙏🏾

M6 is my dream!!

Seems like we need a PNW version 🤙🏼

🙌🏽

Throwing my name in the hat for the m6!

Woo👍🏻

Count me in

so what focal lengths did you use? :)

You’re at my old place @ 4:45, corner of Colorado and Obispo. I was living there at the time of this video too. Miss it there so much.

Gimmie the m6!

100% would kill for the M6

Leica is the DREAM

@samuelelkins

Contact 645 is great!! But the Leica M6 is better ;)

May baby Jesus bless me with a M6 😶🙌🏾

M6 M6 M6

I detest range finders! The Zeiss lens delivers a much more impressive images as well. Amazing.

Would killllllll for a Leica m6! Kill for any Leica!

@killdarnell on Instagram. I would really love the Leica M6. I cant afford it other wise lol

The prices aren't fun