Too much automation - roll film point-and-shoots, if you will. The various GA 645В models donвЂ™t count because basically they are non-rangefinder focusing. The camera has its strengths but up against the Mamiya itвЂ™s facing tough competition indeed.ДЇor the sake of completeness hereвЂ™s a quick look at the other competitors in the rangefinder roll-film arena. I wonвЂ™t go on, though there are a number of other items which I found less than appealing. The viewfinder of the Bronica is good but the data area on the left of frame is difficult to see at the same time as the main subject, and almost impossibly so when wearing glasses. Given that the Mamiya produces a 6X7cm frame, and the Bronica one thatвЂ™s 6X4.5cm, the result is a negative or slide thatвЂ™s 55% larger for the Mamiya. While the spec sheets showed it to be smaller and lighter than the Mamiya, in the flesh the difference was not that marked. The camera lacks a second shutter release for when its held vertically and so I would be holding the camera awkwardly for the bulk of my shooting. While a portrait photographer might find it irresistible, historically my landscape and travel shooting is some 75% horizontal in orientation. Build quality was very nice, but the first hurdle was the portrait orientation of the viewfinder. A half hour with the Bronica and I knew it wasnвЂ™t for me. Mike Johnson has contributed a thoughtful rebuttal reviewВ of the Bronica RF645. Photographed with a Mamiya 7 II and 65mm f/4 lens

I had a trip with some major hiking coming up, my Spring 2001 Master ClassВ in southern Utah, and I wanted a light-weight system that also offered high-image quality for it, and future hiking trip. I decided that what I would do was a shootout between these two systems and then would purchase the winner. Its only competitor in the interchangeable-lens roll-film rangefinder arena was the Mamiya 7 II. Since 1996 my primary landscape tool has been the superb Rollei 6008.В But on long or difficult hikes it can be just too bulky and heavy for the job.ДЄt PhotokinaВ in September 2000, BronicaВ introduced its RF645В - seemingly an ideal tool for the applications I had in mind. But I find 35mm film (and digital) lacking in the quality that IвЂ™m looking for when doing serious landscape work. I use 35mm equipment ( Canon EOS) extensively for wildlife work and specialized applications where long lenses, motor drives and similar advantages are needed. Recently, IвЂ™ve been a big fan of the Hasselblad XPan. IвЂ™m a long-time rangefinder fan, having used a succession of M-Series LeicasВ both professionally and personally over many years. Since then IвЂ™ve encountered a number of occasions when a medium-format rangefinder camera would have made sense вЂ“ particularly on field-trips with extensive hiking involved. Though I had no personal experience with this camera system it seemed like a fair evaluation and so I published it.

In late 2000 Jack ZyberkВ submitted a review of the Mamiya 7 IIВ to this site.

Mamiya 7 ii camera