Mamiya 7 or Fuji xf system

CharleyBird

CharleyBird

Messages
236
Name
Andy
Edit My Images
No
Hello, been considering for a couple of months, ready to get my wallet out, but still undecided which system to go for.

In the past I've had Minota 7xi with zooms, Olympus OM4Ti with 7 primes, Mamiya 7 with two lenses ... plus the usual compacts like Ricoh GR1. Used both Canon and Nikon systems which a mate has

Wanting to get back into it, I like the look of the modern Fuji XF system...the prime lenses...and cameras X1 Pro/XT10 seem good value, but I have rarely printed any digital stuff over the last 15 years.
I loved the handling of the Olympus, so lean to the Fuji XT-10. And digital is so easy.

But then I look at my 6x7 trannies/cibachromes from the 90's that jump out at me and think... get a Mamiya 7 again.

The three lenses I'd use mostly would be (35mmequivalent) a 24mm, 50mm and a 105/135 portrait.

Anyone know whther the latest fuji lenses are superior to the older mamiyas?

Which of the two systems would you choose and why?

Cheers,
Andy
 
Well the X System is excellent as a system, but it will not offer you the Medium Format look, you'll have to decide how important that is to you.

Here's my XT1 and OM4Ti
P1040911.jpg
 
simonblue said:
The first thing to look into is weather you can still get the film you liked so much when using the 6x7 ? :)
Click to expand...
You can, but of course it's extra cost, as is the developing
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Well the X System is excellent as a system, but it will not offer you the Medium Format look, you'll have to decide how important that is to you.

Here's my XT1 and OM4Ti

I have really fond memories of my OM4ti. The multi spot metering made my Minolta light meter redundant LOL. I used to carry the 100mm f2 and 24mm shift whenever I went snapping (have cibachromes on the office wall from those two as I write). I miscounted by the way, I had 9 OM lenses!

According to tests, the quality of the 6x7 format is still not surpassed by 40G digital files taken on the latest Nikon. But the images from the fuji are pretty fine, the system is light and small, and the wife could use it. Torn between slow and steady thoughtful photography and the snapping of 200 to then keep only 10 good'uns.
Click to expand...
 
Charley, take a look at the Sony A7 series bodies and prime lenses. The lenses are outstanding and the files are gorgeous and of course it's FF 35mm equivalent rather than a crop system.
 
Wow that's a difficult one! The Mamiya lenses are legendary, but as they're made to cover a much larger image circle than the fuji lenses (obviously) there are inevitably some compromises there. For absolute resolving power the fuji lenses will beat them, but that would only be relevant when comparing an APS-C sized crop from the Mamiya which is clearly irrelevant. As you rightly say the 6x7 format would be equivalent to a much higher resolution in digital terms, so the results will most likely be technically superior. But the two systems are so different in operation that only you can decide which one you'd be happy to use.
 
OK, sorting my thoughts out, I'm going digital. But...

Woofwoof, the Sony A7 system with 35mm size sensor has caused me to rethink about Fuji. I have been sucked in by reviews of the Zeiss 25mm, 50f2mm and 85mm lenses (they don't seem to make a longer prime yet?).
The Sony bodies appear very expensive though and I wonder which anyone would recommend?

Anything else I could consider of comparable quality?

Thanks for the replies
Andy
 
Sigma Merrills are worth considering. The colour rendition and tonal capture is very good. Better than a FF Nikon. The results get closer to MF film than anything digital I've tried.

A 2nd hand Merrill is a not a high risk purchase. The Merrill Quattros are reputed to be better. The downsides of the foveon cameras in general, are that they're slow to focus, slow to write to the card and poor high iso response. Like a MF camera on other words ;-)
 
CharleyBird said:
OK, sorting my thoughts out, I'm going digital. But...

Woofwoof, the Sony A7 system with 35mm size sensor has caused me to rethink about Fuji. I have been sucked in by reviews of the Zeiss 25mm, 50f2mm and 85mm lenses (they don't seem to make a longer prime yet?).
The Sony bodies appear very expensive though and I wonder which anyone would recommend?

Anything else I could consider of comparable quality?

Thanks for the replies
Andy
Click to expand...

I had an A7R bought brand new because the hype about it being Full Frame mirrorless and the sheer detail it could resolve swayed me. Once I actually had it, It quickly became very tiresome. Within 6 months I was on the Fuji XT1 and I haven't looked back.

The A7R was painfully slow, badly laid out and the images just never looked right. Everything required hours of Photoshop to craft into something presentable because it had some very funny ideas about colour reproduction. Sony aftercare is pants too. There's a good chance the new mk2s will be much better, but that ship has now sailed for me and I'll be sticking with the XT1 for a good while longer. (2 years and counting so far).
 
The mamiya 6 was the one I had - slightly more compact than the 7 and it complemented my RZ system very well. The images were fantastic, it was quiet, unobtrusive, light - so why don't you look at a similar layout, rangefinder type digital, rather than an SLR format body? I am sure there are some rangefinder type digitals which will provide the kind of handling you are looking for, together with half decent resolution. In truth, NO 35mm sized sensor is going to deliver the type of resolving power a roll film can - unless you go for a 645 or 6x7 body with a high resolution back - but you won't get that for Mamiya rangefinder money.
 
you might want to ask in the film section, theyre all pretty level headed about such comparisons :) Although youre comparing medium format film with crop sensor digital which is chalk and cheese. Both lovely. You mention the extra cost of film in one post, well the fuji setup will cost you over 1k to get going with no extra outlay unless you want more lenses. The mamiya will be cheaper initially and then a rolling cost for film until you spend more overall than the fuji. So cost isnt a fair comparison for me. Do you want the convenience of shooting an image and seeing it right away? Are you going to be happy waiting for film to come back or for you to dev it yourself (a very easy process and part of the fun)

Buy them both! A lot of us in the film club shoot both and love both. You dont need to have one or the other :) The mamiya and lens will be cheaper than a second lens for the fuji so get both systems and be done with it!

*edit* actually the mamiya 7's arent as cheap as i thought but they still come in around the price of a decent second lens for the fuji. So id still go for both
 
Last edited:
AshleyC, what you say is what I've considered. Ultimately the 210 lens on the Mamiya is a pain to use, along with the film developing wait, and the fact my wife wouldn't use it (I used to have the 65mm (not wide enough) and 150mm (not long enough)).

"Buy them both" was also considered, but I've now resolved to get a digital body and three or four lenses. Question then to get my head round is which of the latest systems...
What Alan says is very interesting about the A7R.
 
I'm happy you made a decision. You could perhaps get something like a Fuji GS 690 to scratch that MF itch.
 
CharleyBird said:
Woofwoof, the Sony A7 system with 35mm size sensor has caused me to rethink about Fuji. I have been sucked in by reviews of the Zeiss 25mm, 50f2mm and 85mm lenses (they don't seem to make a longer prime yet?).
The Sony bodies appear very expensive though and I wonder which anyone would recommend?
Click to expand...

Have to disagree with Alan above about speed and files but all I have to go on is the A7 rather than Alan's A7r. I bought the original 24mp Sony A7 and I think they're a bit of a bargain for a FF body now.

I've never thought that my A7 is slow. Focus speed seems to be about the same or if anything a touch faster than any DSLR I've owned (Canon 300D, 10D, 20D, 5D... old stuff...) and you have to remember that focus speed is a combination of body and lens and on the positive side missed focus shots are pretty much a thing of the past as are blowing highlights unless you want to blow them.

I originally bought the A7 to use with manual lenses, Minolta Rokkor, Olympus Zuiko and Canon FD and it's pretty much ideal for these as you can get super accurate focus with the use of the magnified view and peaking is also available. These cameras are an absolute dream for manual focus. I bought the 28-70mm with the A7 as it looked like a bit of a bargain but although it looks to be a good to very good standard zoom I haven't used it yet and have concentrated on primes.

I later bought the native AF Sony 55mm f1.8 and it's an outstanding lens... I then bough the 35mm f2.8 and it's outstanding too.

Unlike Alan I find that the files are just gorgeous and processing them is a doddle. Maybe Alan is talking JPEG's? This Alan shoots raw and couldn't be happier. My A7 simply crushes any digital camera I've owned for image quality if you want to look and see the differences and as Alan says the detail is just amazing especially if you use one of the excellent Sony native lenses but I have been surprised at how well the old lenses perform in the centre of the frame when stopped down but of course old lenses can't compete with modern ones wide open or towards the edges of the frame.

If you are interested in going down this route I think that the bodies are possibly worth looking at as A7=Standard entry level camera. A7r=High resolution camera. A7s=For the video crowd and anyone wanting to shoot black cats at midnight. The MK2 models have a different placement for the shutter button, different grip, a stronger mount, silent shooting (I think,) in body IS and probably other things too.

I'm happy with the grip and with the shutter button on the top panel as that's where it's been for most of my photographic life. I'm not too bothered about stronger lens mounts as my lenses haven't fallen off yet and although in body IS would always be nice on the whole I'm happy with my MK1 and if looking at the system today I might just be tempted to buy the bargain basement 24mp MK1 again.

I think that anyone looking at buying into compact system cameras should take a long hard look at the Sony A7 system, Micro Four Thirds, Fuji and Sony APS-C A6xxx, maybe the Samsungs too as many people overlook them? :D

Good luck choosing.
 
Last edited:
Would you say that given the resolving power of the three Zeiss lenses, the logical Sony body would be an A7r due to the larger sensor /36meg? Gonna have to go to Oxford Street to try these for ergonomics
 
I think the first thing to decide is what you are going to do with your pictures.

If you want to print very large or crop like crazy then the additional resolution of the A7r or A7r2 is going to help. I don't know how big a 24mp A7 will allow you to print and I suppose it depends on the quality and detail you want at your desired pint size.

Personally, I've just about given up printing but I do have A3 prints that I'm very happy with which were taken with my 8mp Canon 20D. The A7 and it's 24mp is therefore really a bit of overkill for me and there seems to be enough detail for me even when pixel peeping at 100%+.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top