I started shooting film a couple years back when I got a Nikon F80 for cheap. As a SLR with autofocus, it was pretty easy to use and made shooting film easy to pick up. Since then though, I’ve gravitated towards rangefinders and compacts, and I’ve picked up a Canon 7 for most of my shooting. I never did stray out of the world of 35mm film though: the cost and size of 120 cameras put me off for the longest time.
This remained the case until the day I got my hands on a Mamiya 6.
As one of the most well-regarded and lightweight 6×6 systems available, the Mamiya 6 has earned its reputation as a unique medium format camera. Furthermore, it’s surprisingly compact due to its internal bellows that allow all mounted lenses to collapse into the body, without the risks and hassles associated with traditional, exposed bellows.
I don’t own this gem of a camera myself, but I had a chance to shoot with my friend’s copy a while back. It’s a rather comfortable camera to use overall: the grip is large and well-shaped, and the rangefinder is big and bright. If I can justify forking out the money for one of these one day, I’d probably do it (repair complications and flimsy advance levers aside).
Additionally, I really liked how the pictures turned out, so I thought I’d share them here. These 5 shots were from a single roll of Portra 400, and I used the in-camera meter for all of them.
For more of my work, find me on Instagram and on Medium.
Thanks for reading!
Share this post:
Comments
Renee Galang on 5 Frames with the Mamiya 6 and the 75mm f3.5 – by Aloysius Chow
Comment posted: 17/09/2019
Comment posted: 17/09/2019
Comment posted: 17/09/2019
Paul on 5 Frames with the Mamiya 6 and the 75mm f3.5 – by Aloysius Chow
Comment posted: 17/09/2019
Comment posted: 17/09/2019
D Evan Bedford on 5 Frames with the Mamiya 6 and the 75mm f3.5 – by Aloysius Chow
Comment posted: 18/09/2019
Comment posted: 18/09/2019
Antonio on 5 Frames with the Mamiya 6 and the 75mm f3.5 – by Aloysius Chow
Comment posted: 18/09/2019
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they’re bad or whatever, just I wouldn’t consider them as something which makes me scream and go out looking for a 6 or 7II.
The point of medium format is about technical perfection, tonalities and shallow DOF. Nothing I can find here. For slightly out of focus photos with better content and composition over a sharp worse photo, even a Holga would be perfect.
Comment posted: 18/09/2019
James Evidon on 5 Frames with the Mamiya 6 and the 75mm f3.5 – by Aloysius Chow
Comment posted: 01/10/2019