In 1995, Mamiya released the Mamiya 7 medium format film camera. After making a variety of professional film cameras for 50 years, Mamiya focused on making only medium format in the mid-80s. You would expect that a company that is focused on medium format cameras would make a good one. The Mamiya 7 is in fact one of the best medium format film cameras out there today.
All The Features A Film Photographer Needs
In terms of functionality, this is one capable medium format camera. The built-in light meter is more than just a basic needle. On the Mamiya 7 light meter, you can see the camera’s current and desired shutter speed to achieve the perfect exposure. A single A544 battery is required to power the light meter. Set the shutter speed dial to “A” with the camera on, touch the shutter button slightly, and the light meter also has an indicator that blinks when the battery needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, when the battery is dead, the camera will not take photos.
The six lenses made for the system are of superb quality. I have the 80mm f4 lens, which provides sharp photos every time (I get the focus right). The 80mm focal length on this medium format camera is about equal to a 35mm focal length on a 35mm film format camera. It’s exactly the focal length that I love to use most. Each lens is threaded to hold a filter of an appropriate size, and the lens bodies are marked for aperture and focus range. They are even marked to adjust for the longer waves of infrared if you decide to use the Mamiya 7 with infrared film. The viewfinder in this rangefinder camera is not super bright, but it is sufficient. The focus patch in the center of the viewfinder is easy to read - when there is enough light.
You can shoot the Mamiya 7 fully manual, which I have been doing for years, and apparently, you can also shoot in aperture priority. I say apparently because I only just noticed this recently, while teaching my wife to shoot with her Minolta XG-M, and compared her 35mm SLR to my Mamiya. Lo and behold, there on the shutter speed dial, was the “A” setting for aperture priority. Facepalm.
The Mamiya 7 is one of the few film cameras that I’ve seen that includes exposure compensation controls. With the aperture priority, I think this makes sense. I haven’t used it yet, but I’m sure it will one day when I want to add some contrast or mood to a photo under the right conditions.
The camera includes a self-timer, which I haven’t yet used, and a hot shoe and PC terminal for flash control if you need them. There’s a tripod socket and a cable release socket. A dark slide is in place so that you don’t accidentally expose your film when changing lenses. It shoots not only 120 and 220, but also, with the right adapter (which Mamiya makes) you can shoot some neat panoramas on 35mm film. As I said before, it’s capable.
Camera Construction
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The construction of the Mamiya 7 is... sufficient. The body is painted plastic. Long used samples of this camera exhibit scratches and chips in the body paint. If the body was titanium, it would (maybe) be lighter and more durable, but also much more expensive. If it was brass and steel, it would be a much heavier camera. I don’t mind the plastic body, in fact, I never really think about it.
On the right side of the plastic body, the camera has a grip on the front and a thumb rest on the back. I appreciate both of these as they afford the Mamiya 7 a definite grip when using it off a tripod, which is mainly how I use this camera. I’ve shot the Hasselblad 500C/M handheld (it’s awkward), as well as the Pentax 67 with its ridiculous and awesome wooden grip. Let me tell you, having a grip is nice, and the one on the Mamiya 7 is great.
Portability
One would not refer to this camera as “compact”. But when you compare it to cameras like the Hasselblad 500C/M or the Mamiya 645, you could be convinced that the Mamiya 7 was portable. Because of the leaf style shutter and rangefinder form factor, it is physically smaller than other 6x7 medium format cameras. There are no other 6x7 cameras that are as portable.
If you continue the comparison of the Mamiya 7 to other medium format cameras, things get a little interesting. It doesn’t have the weighty feel of a metal body like the Hasselblad. There is no loud and satisfying “ka-chunk” when you release the shutter, like the Pentax 67. If you were to judge the Mamiya 7 only by the feel of the body, you could be led to believe that this is a cheap medium format camera. As seen earlier, the Mamiya 7 is packed with enough features to make it an extremely capable camera with an excellent lens selection.
The Mamiya 7ii
From 1999 to 2014, Mamiya manufactured the 7ii, which is an update to the Mamiya 7. There is no improvement in the image quality compared to the 7. The 7ii adds the ability for multiple exposures and an extra strap lug. It also improves on the viewfinder of the 7 by increasing contrast, increasing visibility of the focus patch. The 7ii also comes in an all-black body, and sells for slightly more on eBay.
My Experience With The Mamiya 7
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I carry mine using a Peak Designs Leash strap. It’s been to Seoul, Ecuador and all around the Canadian province that I call home. The Mamiya 7 weighs around 920g, or 2lbs - about the weight of a 1-litre carton of milk. The smooth plastic doesn’t catch on my clothes when slung cross-shoulder and the Peak Designs Leash makes it comfy to wear on my shoulder.
One gripe I have with this camera, and this is more about my setup than the camera itself, is when I shoot in portrait. Turn the camera vertically, with the grip down and the strap lugs at the top, and the wide Peak Design strap with its decently sized quick-release mounts get in the way of the viewfinder. I have mostly gotten used to having to contend with them, but they are still quite annoying when I see a shot I want, and time is of the essence. Not a major gripe, but it’s irritating enough to mention.
One other thing that bugs me about this camera, though the problem here, really, is me - is the lens cap. Because the camera does not have TTL (through the lens) metering, it will meter and shoot just fine when the lens cap is on. When I get into a groove I am pretty good at removing the lens cap at the start, or with every image. But if I see something I want to shoot, and am totally involved in looking at the scene and moving around it, I might forget to remove the lens cap. Like I said, this problem is mostly me, but it is pretty annoying when it happens. Luckily, I usually catch myself immediately after the fact and can retake the image if it’s still there.
Buying A Mamiya 7
In terms of dollars and cents, the Mamiya 7 is anything but cheap. It’s expensive - on eBay you can expect to pay anywhere between $2000 and $5000 just for a Mamiya 7 body. I’ve seen sets with a body and 4 lenses listed for nearly $10000.
If you decide to buy one, you’re going to have to buy it used. Mamiya stopped making the 7 in 2014. Your local camera shop might have some on consignment or in their used inventory, so check with them first. Dealing with your camera shop in person will reduce your chance of getting a lemon, and you can demo the camera in the store. Local classifieds are also a good place to check, if you don’t mind buying from a stranger. If you can’t find one locally, eBay is a good choice. That’s where I bought mine. If you do go the eBay route when buying a Mamiya 7, make sure to check a few things. Verify that the seller’s reputation is high and that they have a lot of good reviews. And make sure those reviews are related to past camera sales. It is also a good idea to see if the camera has been tested and verified working. You want to make sure the inside of the camera is clean and free of dust and fungus. The same goes for the lenses - they should be free of fungus, internal dust, and any scratches should be mentioned by the seller. Look closely at the photos and don’t be afraid to ask many questions. If in doubt, wait until you find a better one.
Example Images From The Mamiya 7 (and 7ii)
I love the 6x7 negatives that the Mamiya 7 provides. They’re big and make for detailed images. The lenses in the Mamiya 7 and 7ii system are not super fast - most of them are f4 or slower. Portraits with a blurry background are not a strong point for these cameras, but they excel at pretty much everything else. Street? Yes. Landscape? Yup. Documentary? Go for it. But don’t take my word for it. Here are some examples of images taken by the Mamiya 7 and 7ii.
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Conclusion - Is The Mamiya 7 The Perfect Medium Format Film Camera?
So how perfect is the Mamiya 7? In my eyes, it's pretty close. Sure the body is made of plastic that is easily scratched. And it's really quite expensive. But if you can get your hands on one, and work with it for a decent period of time, I think you could start to see how the Mamiya 7 is pretty close to perfection. It's easy to carry around, easy to work with and takes outstanding photos. It's definitely one of my favourite cameras.
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