light, ergonomic, well-built. decent exp.meter - easy to use with the AE lock. bright viewfinder.

focusing takes time to adjust to, after an SLR

(+)Unique in it's "point-n-shoot"ability, easy to use after a couple of shoots. Add a line of fantastic lenses and you have one of the greatest systems in medium format.
(-)System is non-expandable due to the concept limitations (no long telephotos w/ large aperture, no macro).

Customer Service

nice and helpful user forum at www.mamiya.com

Similar Products Used:

not much to compare with out there...

Big negatives, extremely sharp lenses, silent vibration-free shutter. Great ergonomics.

Frame is not accurate. Meter is not sophistcated. Lenses do not focus close enough for many situations.

A more specialized camera than Mamiya's ads would suggest. Terrific for landscapes, not really useable for people or studio work. Viewfinder requires guessing on the final frame. And then there is the price. I love the pictures I shot with it. Hand-held, yet tack sharp st 16x20 blow-up. But in the end I sold the camera in favor of a 645 SLR which I found more flexable and more suited for a variety of situations.

Customer Service

Never needed any.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 645n, Mamiya 645

Extremely sharp lenses - Easy handling - Light weight

(see below)

The most wonderful camera (of any format) that I have ever used. The lenses in the M7 system are some of the sharpest made, and are probably the best reason to get the camera. The new M7II body (which is NOT made of plastic like a previous reviewer suggested) is only a slight improvement from the original - I would suggest you get the one you can best afford - they are both excellent.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Bronica, Fuji

This camera is remarkable. It is the only 6x7 camera I would dare use away from a tripod. For a good laugh, compare the size of a Mamiya 7 with a Mamiya RZ-67. They're not even in the same ballpark. It's size is one of its best attributes. It offers an image area 5x larger than 35mm yet is very close to the size of a big 35mm camera. It is well made, although other reveiwers slight it plastic outer body, it is very sturdy. Under the outer shell it is all business; heavy-duty metal castings are the order of the day. The optics are unbelieveably sharp and well corrected as one would expect from a rangefinder lens(s). Easy to learn and use, with a minimum of quirks; anyone fimilar with the operation of a manual+auto SLR will have no problem running this camera after a brief familarazation period.

Limited range of lenses that aren't cheap. Their rangefinder design makes them the sharpest in their class, but comprimises close focusing and fast aperture for leaf shutter simplicity and accuracy/reliability. Limited utility with longer lenses, a common feature of rangefinder cameras.

This camera inevitably draws comparison between itself and Leica. It is NOT a Leica. It is no where as pretty or well finished. But for that matter, what is? What this camera is, is a serious photographic tool. It records images on a piece of film that is 5 times bigger than a Leica's negative. I've read were reviewers have said it doesn't focus anywhere near as nice as a Leica, I wonder what the hell they are talking about. My M7 II focuses as well as any rangefinder I've ever used, and I have (still do)used quite a few. It has optics that all other medium format cameras aspire to. For the money, many people have stated that they feel the camera should have been finished like a Rolex, God knows you could buy a couple for the price of this thing. But what this camera really does, is open doors that weren't even there before. If you are used to a medium format slr, the size and portability of this camera will blow you away. I take this 6x7 and 2 lenses hiking! Try that with a medium format slr and you'll be looking for a place to ditch your extra gear along-side the trail!! There isn't another camera like it in the universe, (other than the slightly older Mamiya7, Mamiya6) and even if there was, I have bonded with mine, we're inseperable! It gets five stars!!

Customer Service

VERY helpful, sent me a free instruction manual after I lost mine. Mamiya U.S.A. maintains an uncensored users forum at their website for users and prospective buyers to discuss the good and bad.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad 503cx, Mamiya RZ-67, Rollei 2.8GX, Leica M3, M4p, M6.

Lightweight, 6x7 negs, very easy to use. Everything the rz-67 gives me without the weight

Very slow lens, no TTL. Everthing medium format is overpriced, but thats normal these days.

I just love the M-711 . I use it with the 65mm lens. Thats as wide as I need. Wider is a bit of a problem due to do fact that it is a rangefinder. I hate adding the other eyepiece. Take a 6x7 trans with this camera and you will be blown away. I promise you.

Customer Service

Mamiya is very Professional. I have had no problems, Their Web-site has a user forum thats wonderful.

Similar Products Used:

RZ-67, nikon f-100

Lightweight.
Helps me create pictures that leave nothing more to ask for...

"Plasticky"feel.
Sometimes fiddly to use. Changing lenses is not a swift procedure...

Despite its plasticky feel (I know it isn't all plastic but my contax SLR's feel more like "the stuff", and so does many other cameras...) it seems like a reliable performer and despite all its limitations I am glad I've got it. I only regret not getting it earlier... Many a trip would have been more faithfully recorded.
Don't hesitate - buy now, enjoy later! M7 is also worth checking out, difference is neglig... neglible? aah you know what I mean. (English is 2nd language or me)

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 645
Hasselblads
Pentax 6X7

*very lightweight and compact
*razor sharp images from 6X7 negs

*high price of leaf shutter lenses.
*No TTL flash system
*limited closeup and tele capability

I tried the camera on a weekend promotional shoot with Mamiya. They were very helpful. I just got back some 8x10 enlargements from a pro lab. The level of detail is amazing with minimal loss from the smaller proofs. A TTL dedicated flash system would be very nice in a system in this price range.

Customer Service

Great Reps

Similar Products Used:

None

Portability, accurate meter, great lenses, gives the user the freedom to create.

None I can think of

My first medium format camera. If you can live with a rangefinder, then this is a superb camera in every respect. Mine survived a nasty fall on to concrete at the beginning of an overseas trip, but carried on working perfectly.

The lenses have that solid, quality feel I remember from my days using a Contax 35mm system with Ziess lenses - the feel you only get with metal construction.

The meter deserves a mention, as it is very accurate. In fact, I generally get bettter exposures on auto with the 7II than with my Nikon F100.

Love this camera.

Customer Service

not tried

Similar Products Used:

Fuji, non-rangefiders MF, etc

Lightweight, Superior Lens Quality, 6x7

Frame is a bit inaccurate at close distance

It`s the best camera I used so far. The lenses are so much better than the Mamiya 645 lenses, they even reach Rollei or Hasselblad.
As there is not really anything to compare the
Mamiya 7 II with I give it a 5 Star rating not even for the quality put also for the value, despite the fact that it is quite expensive indeed (especially the lenses)

Customer Service

Good (the german)

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 645 Pro, Fuji Ga 645 W, Rollei, Nikon F4s

just got great camera love the big negatives and the fact that it will force me to slow down

have a nikon f100 and it will take me awhile to get used to the differences,,, not good or bad just different

a great camera,,,worth the money i bought mine in great britian from robert white,,, check out their website,,, great service and save some money as well going to alaska in two weeks and can not wait to see what kind of photos i bring back.

Customer Service

great user forum on website

Similar Products Used:

none really had used one in the past and have been waiting to be able to buy my own