The Best Medium Format Rangefinder
Mamiya 6MF by Mamiya
By benji haecker
11 April 2008
I manage the used department at my local camera shop and in the five years that I have worked there, I have seen all kinds of photographic equipment pass across my desk. From Hasselblads adapted for use on jet planes to miniature cameras designed to take pictures from inside cigarette packs, I have seen a lot of interesting cameras. Some of them are so specialized or so gimicky that the appeal wears off quickly, but there are some that continuously appeal to me. One of my favorite cameras of all time is the Mamiya 6MF.
The 6MF has been discontinued for at least over a decade after it was replaced by the Mamiya 7 system. The 7 is very good, but the 6MF has a feel that is lacking in the 7. First of all, the camera's lens mount will collapse into the body when not in use. The 7 has a fixed lens mount that, depending on what lens you use, will stick out for several inches. Secondly, in my personal opinion, the square format of the Mamiya 6 is ultimately cooler than the 7's rectangle. Face it, in the days of digital, if you are going to shoot a film camera, you might as well shoot a cool format.
There were only three lenses ever made for the 6 system. The body was usually paired with the normal 75mm f 3.5 lens, but there was a 50mm f 4 lens and a 150mm f 4.5 also available. All three lenses have self contained leaf shutters, which means you don't have to worry about sync speeds, since leaf shutters sync at all speeds. I love the sound a Hasselblad makes as much as the next guy, but it is awesome that this camera is so quiet, you can barely hear or feel when the shutter opens and closes. I love the unobtrusiveness of a quiet camera.
I'm not sure what Mamiya did to these lenses to make them render color and contrast the way they do, but they were most definitely doing something right. I challenge anyone who picks this camera up for the first time to shoot a roll of chromes and try to find faults with the results. I am constantly amazed by the images from this camera. The color and contrast are one thing, but I have never owned a camera that renders so much detail.
The camera basically has two modes; A, or aperture priority and M for manual. I would usually assume that a meter that is not OTF (off the film) would be less accurate, but the meter is always right on. There is an EV dial for +2 and -2 for those instances where you would need them. I have found that shooting in A mode, at the aperture I select is usually sufficient. If I want a little fill flash, I'll just attach my Nikon SB-28 and use it on either 1/16th or the Automatic mode. I have found that I rarely ever and I mean rarely ever find an image that is over or under exposed.
Mamiya made two different versions of this camera. First came the Mamiya 6, which for a few exceptions, is identical to the 6MF. The major difference is that the MF, which stands for "Multi Format," can be used with a panoramic adapter for 35mm film. There are framelines inside the viewfinder of the 6MF that are not in the 6, that accommodate the panoramic adapter. Also, the 6MF will accept and has framelines for a 645 mask.
The only major drawback of this camera is the price. Since this camera has not been made for over a decade, what is out there is all that is available. You might be able to find one on eBay or at other various camera shops, but they are not cheap. Do a google search and you will see that it is not exactly a secret how good this camera is. Maybe that is why it has been used and favored by famous photographers Mary Ellen Mark. If you do invest in one, I have a few suggestions. First, make sure that the camera is in good working order. Mamiya may still service this camera, but I don't believe that there are many parts available anymore. Second, If you don't care about the panoramic adapter, opt for the cheaper Mamiya 6, rather than the 6MF. Some shops will let you buy a used camera and return it within a week for no penalty if you don't like it. I use eBay just as much as anybody, but I don't think anyone can argue that buying from eBay can be a sketchy experience sometimes.
So, if you have some extra bucks and a fridge full of medium format film, I would argue that there is not a better camera to spend those extra bucks on. The 50mm lens is probably the best lens in the system, but the 75mm is great too. If you are patient, you should be able to get the body with a 75mm for around a grand or so. The 50mm sells for around $900 to $1,000 alone.
Albeit not the cheapest camera among JPG's reviews, the 6MF, or the 6MF lenses rather, are some of the best photographic tools ever available. I will challenge anyone to compare this system to any others, even ones two or three times more expensive.
Find one where you can. If you use it and really don't like it, email me and I'll buy it from you!
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