Look at the state of these..
Written by David White
..dusty, fusty old machines. I was sat here thinking about which cameras I wanted to take on the Hinterlands workshop. Seeing as it’s going to be a super chilled, productive and contemplative time (amongst many other things), I found myself thinking again about film. Aaah. And, relax. So, Mamiya 6 it was then. Simple. Got that down off the top shelf. Filthy. Properly filthy.
Whilst up there I found my Leica and my beloved Nikon f2 from the Crimean war. So much dirt it hurt. I’ve neglected them, I feel bad.
Really, I do. I travelled the world with that F2 as a young moron. I earned money with that Mamiya, sometimes. I spent money on that Leica, often.
What I now have is a dilemma. I only want to take one of these, as I’m taking enough other kit as it is…so which is it to be?
Mamiya 6:
For: Takes properly beautiful, square pictures. Quiet, contemplative.
Against: 12 shots a roll gets expensive real quick. Lenses a bit slow.
Leica M6:
For: Takes beautiful pictures. Epic fast lens. Quiet.
Against: I don’t like it as much as my F2.
Nikon F2:
For: No meter, I love it.
Against: No meter. Loud shutter.
To help me decide, I am asking the help of the duck readers. Aw, go on. I know you don’t give a shit but it saves me making the decision 😉
[polldaddy poll=5042341]
The picture above, which I took to illustrate the filth of these things, was taken, downloaded and uploaded in less time than it took to me to say ” 20 rolls is how much? Bloody hell”
Progress, that is. Possibly.
Discussion (8 Comments)
You could sell me that Mami 6!
Would never pick the Nikon (even though I’m usually a Nikon shooter). Mamiya/Leica are both great (but you know that), but they excel at different stuff, so if you take the Nikon out of the equation, you already know which one you should pick.
Film, metal, mechanical tactile joy! Briefly had a Six with its wonderfully collapsing lens mount, still shoot a Nikon, hopefully plan to “retire” with a Leica.
The Leica M6. Its the only one in your collection solid and reliable enough to be working properly (shutter speeds etc.) after so many months of neglect. Its the only brand with the personality to tolerate the humiliations you have thrown at it over the years. Its the only one with the sense of self confidence to accept its return to use without anger and resentment. 🙂 Asim
No doubt: take the Leica! It’s nice and QUIET. You don’t want Nikon camera clicks to ruin your audio for a photofilm…
Mamiya 6 – I want to have a go!
Mikko…never.It’d be like losing a finger.
Erik..the nikon is wonderful.Best viewfinder of the lot.No distractions. Lenses not a patch on either of the others though..
Stan..Film, metal, mechanical joy. Spot on. It’s something else.
Asim…lol..the m6 is the only one to have ever gone wrong…i like your style 🙂
Laurens…Mamiya is quieter than the leica…
Rebecca…You could be in luck 🙂
The Nikon! Nothing connects you better with your introspective, meditative, inner self than a heavy metallic beast you used to shoot with twenty, thirty, fourty, fifty-odd years ago (replace as appropiate)!