Mamiya 7 wide angle lenses

[kazer]

Hi everyone,
My main interest is landscape photography. I've got a Mamiya 7 with a 80mm lens. I'm planning to get a wide angle for it now and I'm in doubt between the 43mm and the 50mm.
The other option would be to get rid of my 80mm and get the 65mm only.
Any thoughts? Many thanks!

[B&W Neil]

I have been through this myself and I opted to keep my 80mm as I was using it a fair bit and I already had it. On the wide angle I ruled out the 65mm and 43mm and decided to for the 50mm. the 50mm equates to 25mm on a 35mm systems which I like. So far this has proved to be a good choice for me doing landscapes and the combination of the M7ii, 50mm + 80mm is easy and light to carry about for a 6x7 system. If I come across a location that needs something wider that the 50mm (not found one yet) I would go back some other time with a 17mm on a 35m camera. The 43mm equates to 21mm on a 35mm system which when you think about it these days is not that wide. So if I see a shot that needs an extreme wide angle approach I will do it on 35mm. The 50mm is also a good bit cheaper than the 43mm and more of them come up on the s/h market and it shares the same filters with the 80mm. Both lenses are fantastic performers.

Neil.

[Dave]

Am I right in recollecting that the 43mm needs a auxiliary viewfinder?

[Bill]

Am I right in recollecting that the 43mm needs a auxiliary viewfinder?

According to the system chart on the Mamiya web site so does the 50 mm. The Mamiya specification states "Automatic bright line selection (65mm, 80mm, 150mm)" so the longer lengths do too.

Bill

[B&W Neil]

Am I right in recollecting that the 43mm needs a auxiliary viewfinder?


Indeed, the 43mm and the 50mm each use a separate viewfinder which comes with the lens. The 65 mm uses frames in the camera's viewfinder.
I have found the camera's viewfinder (if viewed to the edge beyond the 65mm frame lines) roughly equates to the view of the 50mm lens so when pushed for time to get the lens fitted I have occasionally used this method of viewing / framing to save time fitting the viewfinder.

Neil.

[Jon Butler]

I would not sell the 80mm it is a fantastic lens.
I've got all the lenses to 150mm and use the 80mm the most, followed by the 43mm and then the 150mm.
Rarely use the 50 or 65mm although they are both superb.
I like the 43-80 & 150 combination because their going up or down in roughly double length steps, it suits me best.
BTW the 50mm uses 67mm filters, I use 67mm filers on my lenses with 58/67 step up rings on the 65 & 80mm
JON.

[B&W Neil]

Thanks Jon for pointing out my filter error. I can't think why I did that - got confused with something else I own probably !

The problem I think with choosing the right lenses is this really down to your requirements, which will probably not be the same as what someone else is using. All the Mamiya 7 lenses are superb performers so with this system you don't have to worry about quality. Ideally if funds permit have all of them ! However, I trained myself quite a while back to only buy a lens when I actually had a need for it rather than when I thought I had a need for it. So it may be a good idea to get out there and see how you get on with the 80mm and see where the need is coming from for a wide angle. Remember the 43 equates to a 21mm and the 50mm equates to a 25mm in the 35mm film format.

Neil.

[kazer]

Many thanks for all your inputs.
I agree I should keep the 80mm, it covers a great deal of work.
Yes, choosing lens goes down to personal taste (and budget!).
I'm particularly fond of wide angles, so the 43mm has been in my mind for long. However, I can only afford one lens at the moment and I feel the 50mm would cover more scenes than the 43mm, which is more extreme and would be used in special occasions only.
Conclusion, I'll be getting a 50mm now and maybe I'll get the 43mm in the future.
Do you know what would be a good price for each of these lenses in the second hand market now? And a good place to find them?
Many thanks!

[Dave]

Ffordes (https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm) have some in stock.

[percepts]

Indeed, the 43mm and the 50mm each use a separate viewfinder which comes with the lens. The 65 mm uses frames in the camera's viewfinder.
I have found the camera's viewfinder (if viewed to the edge beyond the 65mm frame lines) roughly equates to the view of the 50mm lens so when pushed for time to get the lens fitted I have occasionally used this method of viewing / framing to save time fitting the viewfinder.

Neil.

Is the 50 linked to the range finder. i.e. can you focus through normal viewfinder?

[Jon Butler]

Yes.
JON.

[percepts]

Yes.
JON.

I suppose I should have asked if all of the wide angle lenses are linked to range finder. For some reason I thought they weren't.

[Jon Butler]

All Mamiya 7 lenses are RF coupled except the 210mm.
JON.

[percepts]

All Mamiya 7 lenses are RF coupled except the 210mm.
JON.
Thanks

[kazer]

Ffordes (https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm) have some in stock.

Many thanks.

[Martin Aislabie]

Mifsuds have some Mamiya bodies and lenses too - http://www.mifsuds.com/acatalog/ActChange.htm

Martin

[Tom Stanworth]

I have the 43, 50, 65, 80 and 150 and find that oddly, I gravitate towards some closely spaced focal lengths (as I do in all formats). The 65 is the body cap with the 50mm next most used. The 43 and 150 are there for particular uses and normally I will carry the 50,65 and 80 and sometimes the 150 too.

The 50mm is in my view a much better general use lens than the 43 and 43-80 is a huge leap IMO. Both the 43 and 50 need an accessory finder but you can get away with the whole finder on the 50mm accepting that the neg will have a bit more beyond what you saw in the VF; however, at least you can shoot quickly by using the internal VF alone if you wish.

Performance is stunning with the 50mm. Even wide open it is incredible, but by f8/f11 is it like a razor. Vignetting is less pronounced compared to the 43 but thats not a great issue anyway.

I would say the 50mm is the one to get if you want a typical spacing from the 80. Its also handy that it is probably the best lens in the line up. IMO the 65 is not as strong as the 50 in raw performance around the edges at wider apertures, but it just seems right for almost everything and so spends most of its time on the camera. By f8 it too is singing from corner to corner.

[B&W Neil]

............

The 50mm is in my view a much better general use lens than the 43 and 43-80 is a huge leap IMO. Both the 43 and 50 need an accessory finder but you can get away with the whole finder on the 50mm accepting that the neg will have a bit more beyond what you saw in the VF; however, at least you can shoot quickly by using the internal VF alone if you wish.

Performance is stunning with the 50mm. Even wide open it is incredible, but by f8/f11 is it like a razor. Vignetting is less pronounced compared to the 43 but thats not a great issue anyway..........


I have to agree here and I use the 50mm quite often without the viewfinder fitted if I am in a hurry to capture something. This can make the difference of getting the shot or not getting the shot on occasions as it does take a few seconds to fit the finder. Carrying the camera in a camera bag with the finder fitted I have ruled out as it would be easy to get it damaged.

The 5omm is certainly a very nice lens.

Neil.

[Jon Butler]

Lets face it there all good lenses and you use the ones that suit your
style. It's the 43mm for me.
Cheer's JON

[B&W Neil]

Lets face it there all good lenses and you use the ones that suit your
style. It's the 43mm for me.
Cheer's JON


Absolutely, whatever camera, lens,film, developer and paper combination suits you best is the right way to go. I always try to think of MF lenses in terms of 35mm focal lengths. If for example you favour the wider end of the wide angles on a 35mm camera there is a good chance you will need one for MF work, assuming you are going to shoot the same subject matter of course. Another approach I use, especially with expensive lenses such as those for the M7, is to only to consider buying one when there is an absolute need for it. It is very easy to sit in your arm chair and try to work out the perfect set of lenses for you without actually needing them. But of course if money is no problem go for it :)

Neil.

[kazer]

Hi,

I did get the 50mm and I'm very pleased with it. The negatives look great!

I was thinking of getting either the 150mm or 210mm now. It would be used mainly in landscapes and travel photography. What are your views on these two?

Many thanks.

[Jon Butler]

Kazer,
Remember the 210 is not rangefinder coupled, that means you have to set focus distance on the lens and stop well down to ensure that the subject is focused at middle distances.
Because it's not coupled the closest it focuses at is 7m.
Although 210 is a fine lens for landscapes set at infinity I would without any doubt go for the 150, it's almost twice the length of the 80 and an excellent performer.

JON.

[B&W Neil]

I would go for the 150mm as well.

Neil.

[kazer]

Jon and Neil, I went for the 150mm as you suggested. Many thanks! ;)

[Jon Butler]

Good decision, enjoy using it.
JON.