Should I buy a MAMIYA 7 II or use my Nikon D300

wrote:
Hi everybody,
I know is two very different concepts but maybe explaining my doubt
someone could open up my mind...

I've never had a MF camera.
I have an important photographic project to carry on consisting in
portraits of interiors with no artificial lights.

the first part of these pictures were made with a Digital Nikon D70,
this year I have bought a D300 lens 12-24 (18-35 35mm)

Some experts photographs who saw this pictures suggest me to use a MF,
specifically MAMIYA 7 with 43 lens.

As this choice would be very expansive either for the camera costs,
the negatives and scans shoud I afford it? The result have to be
professional. Could someone give an opinion?

Unless you need to make very large prints, stick with your Nikon D300
and I'm sure you will do fine. However, you might wish to rent or buy
some prime lenses to avoid distortions that you may get with your zoom
lenses. Taking a cue from the suggested 43mm lens; that would be about
a 20mm prime lens on a cropped 35mm camera sensor... this may be tricky
to shoot indoors ... keep the lens axis horizontal to the floor would be
my advice unless you're being very "creative".

He may have suggested the Mamiya 7 because it is a rangefinder and hence
has a very bright viewfinder. This might be handy to achieve accurate
focus indoors. With a wide angle lens, you may need an aditional VF as
well. Getting tricky!

If you're not experienced with rangefinders, you might find them
difficult at first. Perhaps not a good idea on an assignment unless you
have time to shoot a few rolls, develop them and then adjust all over.

The quality of the images on a 6x7 cm frame is of course very good.
Then you will require a good scanner.

In the end: what does the project require technically/what camera will
deliver that? For example, if you need to make prints up to 18"x12",
then the Nikon should suffice. But, you may wish to get a better lens.
And please, shoot off of a tripod with mirror lock up.

If you find you must use a finer resolution for output reasons, you
might rent a higher end Canon 1Ds Mk III (or II) camera and 28mm lens.

Or rent an MF camera, but something much easier to use (than a
rangefinder) such as a Hasselblad 500/503 with a 40mm lens.

The advantage of stayting digital for your project is instant feedback
during the shoot. Do not discount that at all.

Cheers,
Alan.

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