What is the Mamiya 7?
The Mamiya 7II is a mildly updated version of the Mamiya 7 model. A brighter viewfinder and minor bodywork are notable changes. The camera is an interchangeable lens, medium format rangefinder able to accept both 120 and 220 roll film. It is capable of aperture-priority auto-exposure. Known affectionately as the “Texas Leica” for its bigger size if not similar shape, it rivals that namesake for ease of handling and talent for superlative image quality. The Mamiya also uses shutter-lenses which give it a number of significant advantages over SLRs and all focal plane shutter equipped cameras including the Leica. More about that later. Considering that the camera with 80mm lens is about the size of my digital SLR with lens and weighs less, yet delivers an image more than four times larger than a full 35mm frame, the Mamiya makes a compelling case in fitting the applications for which I use. The exposure meter measuring area is “center weighted” according to Mamiya. However
