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Mamiya 7 Rangefinder (2)
Panorama "kit" for 35mm
I mentioned Hasselblad's XPan on the previous page for another reason... both camera's 35mm panorama format is 24x65mm, but whereas the XPan's frame spacing is 1.5mm the Mamiya's is 7mm to 8mm. Although this results in a nominal 16 exposures on the Mamiya (I regularly obtained 17) at least the Mamiya's negatives were easier to handle in the darkroom because of the extra 3.5mm to 4mm at each end of the negative being enlarged. When enlarging strips of negatives from the XPan using an anti-Newton glass (above) and glassless (below) carrier there was a tendency for the end of the negative strip to drop into the glassless void. This never happened with the Mamiya's panorama strips because of those extra millimeters.
Further to this small but important point for the black-and-white photographer and darkroom worker, 16 (or 17) exposures cut into five strips of 3 frames and one strip of 1 (or 2) fit properly into a 35mm Paterson contact printer. The XPan's 20 exposures have to be cut into seven strips... six of which are thus 1 inch shorter than the standard 6x35mm with one strip being too long the regular contact printer. The above is not a problem, of course, if you regularly use a plain sheet of glass to make contact proofs.
Whilst in darkroom mode I should mention that there's something quite pleasurable when enlarging the 24x65mm panorama format in its entirety... I find the inclusion of the film frame "describes" the image well.
Visible Quality
There is no doubt that medium-format offers more than 35mm in terms of image quality. Whether one is able to extract that extra quality from the format is another matter because there are some disadvantages in the field with the extra size, bulk and slower operation. You basically have to slow down with medium format compared to 35mm usage... which is not a bad thing in many instances.
Many photographers do not want to consider medium-format because of the extra costs involved and the duplicity of camera systems. But with the Mamiya 7's "dual format" concept those doubters may be persuaded to change their minds. The Mamiya 7 system has/had five top-notch lenses... 43mm, 50mm, 65mm, 80mm and 150mm which, in 35mm panorama mode, is a very creative list of optics from which to choose and use. The choice of both 6x7cm and 24x35mm formats could be just enough to persuade photographers that this system is the way to go for them... although you have to like the panorama format too.
Personally I find it a very exciting and expressive format... Burkhardt Kiegeland's superb panoramic images of Austria taken on his 20x8 inch Lotus View camera impressed me greatly when he visited me a few years ago, but they in particular need a dedication to make which I don't have. The XPan is similar to a Leica M-series in that it is small and convenient... and the Mamiya 7 is the in-between camera. "In-between" here though does not necessarily mean a compromise in quality, although it can mean the difference between actually doing something creative and new with your photography or treading the safe path. I recommend you look at those fairly scarce used examples of the Mamiya 7 and think about buying one... it may look expensive but it costs less than several 35mm cameras.
As an aside, during my brief time with the Mamiya 7 I made several enlargements using 35mm film to compare the resolving power of the 50mm Mamiya lens used with the 35mm Panorama Kit... against the standard 5cm Dual-Range Summicron on my Leica M3. With 35mm film the 1950s Leica lens was a slightly sharper... but oh, the tonality of the images from the Mamiya lens when used with the whole of the larger 6x7cm negative. That's when medium-format really shows a lead in the quality comparison duel... and why discerning photographers want to experience it.
Oh yes... the above image of a jug and dried twigs on a mantle-piece would have tested the focusing accuracy of an SLR... but taken on a Mamiya 7 rangefinder with a 150mm lens, is from about a 2/3rds of the 6x7 negative, printed on Ilford Matt and Copper Toned.
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