Best 6x7 Camera

[SimonSutcliffe]

Hi I posted a thread a while back about a portable medium format, I ditched that idea and decided that I want a 6x7, I am looking for the sharpest most contrasty lenses that have brighter aperture so I can use in darker situation. I was thinking pentax 67, mamiya 7 and rb67 or the gs-1. Which one has the best lenses for fine art photography, landscapes and interesting things. I am printing my photos up to 20x30, and bigger.( these are for clients)

[MDR]

The Mamiya 7 has supposedly the sharpest lenses in the MF world your forgot the RZ67 that would get the second place the Mamiya 7 is a rangefinder camera though. Landscape work usually doesn't require the fastest lens for close ups an slr works better. The RB67 and Pentax will be cheaper than the RZ67 and the Mamiya 7. Both the RZ67 and RB67 allow close focussing thanks to their built in bellow. If I were you I'd buy the RB67 SD good lenses not battery dependant and cheaper than the RZ.

Good Luck

Dominik

[keithwms]

These are many different kinds of subjects you mention. I would advise looking at the mamiya rz, it has the versatility you seem to need.

[garysamson]

I have used the Pentax 6x7, Mamiya RB and RZ and Mamiya 7 systems extensively and and in terms of contrast and resolution the Mamiya 7 system would be my first choice.

[MattKing]

There is no single "Best" option.

The SLRs (Pentax 67, Bronica GS-1, Mamiya RB67 or RZ67) are the most versatile, with the Mamiya versions having the advantage of being current. They are all quite large though.

The Mamiya 7 has wonderful lenses and is relatively portable, if a rangefinder will fill your needs.

A Fuji 670 or the Voigtlander equivalent also features a wonderful lens. If you have money for two, there is a Wide version as well.

A Koni-Omega offers a range of excellent lenses and will attract attention in a crowd.

A Plaubel Makina will take excellent photographs, and attract the envy of collectors.

All of these choices are capable of great results if used to their strengths.

[Tony-S]

I guess "best" is relative. I considered all three 6x7 SLRs and settled on the GS-1. The 50mm, 100mm and 200mm are exceptionally sharp and control flare quite nicely. The 65mm and 150mm are pretty good, too. The 110mm macro is nice and sharp but doesn't give the 3D or bokeh or whatever you want to call it, as the 100mm. The GS-1 is also the smallest of the three - I routinely carry mine while hiking in the mountains (and will be in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park tomorrow). I wish the lenses had better MFD (need extension tube for head shots) and that the back rotated like the RB/RZ. None of the lenses are faster than f/3.5.

I think you'll need to sort out what's most important for you then choose the camera that best fits those needs.

[Jeff Kubach]

I like my RB67, inexpensive. No batteries. It is a little on the heavy side.

Jeff

[Katie]

The mamiya 7 is pretty hard to beat, unless you are a portrait photographer.

[Roberto]

I love P67, it is a balanced mix of all the best performances of a medium format system.
Perhaps not as sharp as a rangefinder M7 but very sharp and contrasty for a SRL design .
Very handholdable and yes, heavy but not the heaviest, bulky but not the bulkiest.
And with all the versatility of a SLR..

[RobertLunak]

I love my Makina 670 the rz67 holds up quite well too