Mamiya 7 II Pro Value Pack Medium Format Rangefinder Manual Focus Camera Body (Black) with 80mm f/4 Lens

Comments about Mamiya 7 II Pro Value Pack Medium Format Rangefinder MF Camera Body (Black):

I will start out with saying that the mamiya 7ii has changed my view of cameras forever. I came across the camera because i was looking for something light and a good format. I thought about the bronica rf645 for a while, thinking that the mamiya 7 was too expensive. I went to my local store and they did not have a bronica rf645 for me to look at, however, they did have a mamiya 7. I fell in love with it the moment i held it. It is simple and elegant and it still amazes me. Its the size about of my contax n1 and worlds smaller than my rz67, d3, and 645afd. Lets say i would have saved a lot of money if i found this camera earlier. The beauty is that it is so great for any kind of photography you like with the exception of close up of course because it is a range finder. Its amazing that the little click the lens shutter makes is so small yet satisfying, i was blown away at what that little click made as a final print product. The only downsides are that 1. you can get carried away with the amount of pictures you take because it is so easy and allows perhaps too much versatility. I took over 20 roles of film on one weekend. 2. the buttons are oddly placed, the multi exposure lever is under your thumb when your shooting and the timer doesn't have a lock, so if you bump it, then try to take a picture you try to figure out why it wont fire then you turn the camera around and end up taking a picture of your face... 3. 220 film is expencive, but i recommend it highly. and 4. The price new is way too high. snag one used from craigslist or ebay. I got mine from a friend who was practically giving it away. But really, if you have a steady job and are a serious artist or photographer, BUY IT. Who knows it might end up making you money in the end. NOTE: i wasted a few roles when i forgot to take the lens cap off... throw away the lens cap or check the front of the camera often!!
I feel like i just wrote a high-school thesis essay
In conclusion, BUY ONE.

Comments about Mamiya 7 II Pro Value Pack Medium Format Rangefinder MF Camera Body (Black):

I've used this for four years, and I never sell this camera. Light meter is correct, and image resolution is very sharp. Only 2.6 pound weight.

Comments about Mamiya 7 II Pro Value Pack Medium Format Rangefinder MF Camera Body (Black):

As a long-time fan of the 6x7 format when I traveled back to Europe in 2007 I decided I really didn't want to carry my RZ67 again. The format yields breathtaking results ... but the RZ is really heavy.

My digital SLR, though it produces decent images, just can't keep up with 6x7 format images. I needed an alternative.

The Mamiya 7II was the answer. I bought the body used and bought demo lenses (80mm and 43mm) for just about the price of the body w/ 80mm lens new. Carrying it around Europe for two weeks was a more enjoyable experience than carrying my RZ67 like I did a few years prior.

Pros:
Lightweight, fast-handling camera with superb lenses that are sharp and contrasty.

Choice of 120 or 220 and the availability of real B&W film allow for images unparalleled in digital.

"Back to basics" operation allows you to concentrate on photography not bells-n-whistles.

Cons:
top shutter speed is 1/500.

hyperfocal settings on lenses are not accurate and lens manual information isn't right on either. A few test rolls will get you exactly where you need to be if you use the lens manual info as a starting point. DO NOT follow the advice of setting the infinity mark to f/8 and stop the lens down to f/16 that you'll find on the Internet. Though it works in general the image quality does suffer at f/16 and f/22. This is not because the optics are in any way inferior ... this is a FACT based on physics that happens with ALL lenses ... no matter who makes them. Shoot the lenses anywhere between wide open (f/4 or f/4.5) and f/11 and you'll get breathtaking results.

The center of center-weighted average meter point is not in the coincidence focus box ... on my camera it is a little down and to the right of the lower right corner of that box. Figure out where yours is and you'll have no problems. You need to know this because placing that point on the wrong spot in the image affects the accuracy of the metering.

Overall, this camera is hard to beat. I'd trade my digital equipment for this system in a heartbeat. When I can get away with shooting film on a job, it's a toss up between this camera and my RZ67 (depends on if I need wide or normal/long lenses). As I said ... I have the 80mm and 43mm for my 7II. I have 110mm and 180mm lenses for my RZ. If I'm shooting portraits, obviously I shoot with the RZ.

Anyway ... I'm getting off topic.

With this camera I do carry a ND4 filter because of the top shutter speed being 1/500 and me not liking to shoot stopped down more than f/11. Often I try to shoot at f/8 (rule of thumb is that 2 stops from wide-open is supposed to be the sharpest aperture on a lens). Also, when traveling I shoot mostly with Kodak Professional Ultra 400 film. The obvious versatility of 400 ISO goes without saying ... but sometimes it is difficult to work within the confines of 1/500 top shutter speed on a sunny day (hence the ND4 filter). I've got fantastic 24x30 inch prints from this film. This isn't like the 400 ISO films of the old days. According to Kodak's site the Ultra 400 film has nearly the fine grain as the porta 160 films. Check that out for yourself.

I use this camera as my travel camera. I no longer bring a digital camera with me when I travel ... just the 7II. This allows me to leave the laptop and all the chargers and extra stuff at home. When I travel it's all got to fit into one carry on and a small backpack. Ditching all the electronics makes this so much easier.

If you're looking for the ultimate travel camera ... look no further. Currently I only have the one body but I plan on buying a second one and I plan on buying the 65mm lens. When that happens my travel kit will be complete!

Buy the 7II, you won't be disappointed.

Comments about Mamiya 7 II Pro Value Pack Medium Format Rangefinder MF Camera Body (Black):

I use my Mamiya 7II for landscapes. I have gradually, over the years, purchased every lens. They are all brilliantly sharp (highest rated on photodo). The fit and finish of the camera and lens make it a joy to use. Focus is accurate, as is the built-in meter. It is surprisingly light weight for such a large negative. I have enlarged one photo taken with this camera to 12' X 14'. Even though I have everything from a Canon IDsMk2 to a Linhof 4X5, this has always been my favorite and I seem to take my best photos with it.

Comments about Mamiya 7 II Pro Value Pack Medium Format Rangefinder MF Camera Body (Black):

A couple of years ago, before I bought my Mamiya 7II kit, I purchased the Mamiya 65mm wide angle lens for the 7 system because I understood it to be one of the finest wide angle lenses ever produced due its short lens flange proximity to the film plane and superior glass selection and engineering. I held this lens as an investment in what I knew to be superior optical engineering, unsure how long the system would be produced as film has lost market share to digital, and knowing I could one day find a body used if necessary to use it. All the while I invested in several generations of digital SLR to stay compatible with the industry. Before going on a long-term overseas assignment this year I broke down and bought the 7II body and 80mm lens kit and all I can say is WHY didn't I do it sooner!Picking this system up puts you back in touch with the fundamentals that really matter. When you look through it's bright rangefinder and move the focusing ring you know right away that this is as precision a machine as they come. Contrary to what some critics and bloggers write, the body construction is rock solid, and the balance, weight and size make it discrete enough to carry into any situation without drawing attention to yourself and balanced enough to obtain shots below 1/60 with no problems at all. The shutter is whisper silent, which really reduces the nuisance factor when you are out of your element amongst people you don't know. When you shoot with this camera you don't loose your concentration trying to anticipate the effects that complex computer algorithms are going to have on your photo. You simply look through the rangefinder window, measure the light that you want to send through these beautiful lenses and wait patiently for the outcome. Yes, the immediacy of digital is nice, but this camera reassures you that the results on film are worth waiting for.The contrast, sharpness and color rendition of the 80mm in this kit, as well as the 65mm that I use, will absolutely blow you away. All the megapixels in the world will not match the subtle rendition capabilities that this lens and film format combination are capable of delivering. The light metering, although not TTL is superb if you understand how center-weighted metering works,. Mamiya's smart flip-up polarizer allows you to meter through the polarizer, lock in the exposure, and then re-position the filter over the lens. The polarizer glass is built like the lenses themselves and delivers results that are wonderful.Don't let your eye be tricked by the effects that dragging on a couple of contrast and sharpness adjustments produce, all the while forcing you to ignore optical distortions that still have not been reconciled between the lens and CCD's in digital camera production (i.e. corner vingetting in full frame SLRS due to technology shortcomings). Every technology has it's drawbacks, but when you shoot with this camera and lens system it will remind you that while it is older technology, it is at the top of its class. It will also prove that it is hard to improve on perfection, no matter how many bells and whistles the digital market boasts of. Put your digital away and buy one of these! The image quality will prove that you have not gone backwards, and their are still amazing films being introduced on the market all the time.

Problems Encountered: Maximum lens aperture 4.0, forcing use of high asa film for handheld location work. No problem though. These lenses are simply the best made. Buy the faster film, or carry a tripod or monopod. The results will still blow you away, even at 400 or above.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Canon EOS 1V, Leica R9, Canon 30D, Canon 400D

Items I Recommend: Mamiya Polarizer, Rollie Pan 25 ASA film!!!