Blue Moon Camera and Machine

Taking a moment for these five, count them five, Mamiya 7's we have in stock!

What's the perfect aspect ratio? For medium format film users, 6x7cm would win a plurality, if not a majority, of votes. The slightly rectangular format beautifully enlarges to 8x10 prints. For head shots, landscapes, product photography, or any other use, 6x7cm is always a solid choice. As for cameras that produce 6x7cm negatives, no other manufacturer is more synonymous with this size than Mamiya. Although Mamiya didn't create the format, it certainly revolutionized it in 1970 with the introduction of the Single Lens Reflex (SLR) RB67 and did so again twelve years later with their electronic SLR the RZ67. While both of these cameras have become mainstays in the photographic world, they are most comfortable on tripod legs and can be a little clumsy to use as handheld cameras. In 1995, Mamiya addressed these concerns, introducing their new 6x7cm rangefinder camera - the Mamiya 7.

In creating the Mamiya 7 rangefinder, Mamiya was able to bring together many of the desirable aspects of the RB and RZ system. Most notable of those features is a set of four lenses that range from a 43mm f/4.5 to a 150mm f/4.5. This range is roughly equivalent from 25mm to 150mm focal length lenses on a 35mm camera and gives Mamiya 7 users the ability to work in virtually any situation and get spectacular results. Like their RB and RZ counterparts, the Mamiya 7 lenses have leaf shutters, so using flash at any shutter speed is no issue, and a built-in dark slide allows for changing lenses mid-roll. Impressively, Mamiya engineers gave the Mamiya 7 viewfinder automatic frame-lines for three of these lenses, so that only the 43mm requires an external viewfinder. As with most leaf shutter lenses, the fastest shutter speed is a bit limited and tops out at 1/500th of a second, although for longer exposures, the camera has a maximum shutter speed of four seconds and a Bulb mode.

With its metering system and electronically controlled shutter, the Mamiya 7 offers an aperture-priority shooting mode in addition to fully-metered manual shooting mode. Auto-Exposure lock helps photographers maintain exposure setting in even the trickiest of back-lit situations.

All of this technology requires a good bit of electricity. The Mamiya 7 is powered through a 6-volt PX-28 battery or its equivalent. Longer shutter speeds can drain the battery faster and as the Mamiya 7 is fully electronic, packing a couple of extra batteries around is advisable, but a very small price to pay for using this camera.

The Mamiya 7 remained in production until 1999 when it was replaced by the Mamiya 7II. Functionally, the biggest difference between the two cameras is the addition of a multiple exposure button, a brighter viewfinder, and a different color scheme.

Whether Mamiya meant for the 6x7cm format to be nearly synonymous with its brand name is tough to tell. There are other 6x7 camera makers out there, but Mamiya is alone in offering photographers professional both SLR and rangefinder options that have stood the test of time. Seek any of them out and you'll see why trying to get a current owner to sell one is difficult, if not impossible.

Pinhole Picnic is tomorrow, April 26th!

We can’t wait to see you at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park from 11am-2pm to celebrate Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day!

Bring your own pinhole or borrow one of ours. We’ll come equipped with several pinhole cameras for you to check out and use around the ponds and we’ll also have some film available for purchase. We’ve even got some special discounts for you on developing, scanning, or printing the film in our lab!

This is a free event and no sign up is required. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. As Whitaker Ponds is frequented by wildlife, there are no dogs allowed in the park.

Check out our sample gallery of pinhole images created by staff member Renee Heister at Whitaker Ponds! Renee and Arthur will be there tomorrow — come geek out with fellow pinhole camera enthusiasts on Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day at 7040 NE 47th Ave, Portland, OR 97218.

Did you know that there is a pile of Hasselblads on the moon?

The exciting journey of Artemis II around the moon this week has us admiring the iconic images taken on Hasselblad Cameras during the Apollo flights of the late 1960's and early 1970's, and wishing we could get our hands one one of the 12 specially designed Hasselblads which were left on the moon due to weight restrictions on returning flights.

If you're also feeling inspired to make images that will stand the test of time, we have several beautiful Hasselblad options on our shelves and on our website, including this 500 EL.

If you could bring just one camera on a lunar walk, which would you choose? Tell us your choice in the comments! 🌗

The De Mornay Budd Reflex Finder is an unusual accessory not commonly seen for Leica cameras. In the 1940s De Mornay Budd produced these finders for both Leica II and Leica III cameras, as well as certain Contax cameras. The finder attaches to the top of the Leica camera via the accessory shoe and provides a top-down reflex finder... basically it turns your Leica rangefinder into a small TLR camera. Meant to be used with 50mm collapsible lenses, a small arm at the base of the finder rested against the base plate of the lens and adjusted focus in the finder as the lens itself was focused. A small wireframe cutout in the finder also adjusted for parallax. The De Mornay Budd Reflex Finder is still a pretty cool accessory for your Leica.

That’s right y’all, our 23rd Annual Customer Show is nearly here. Join us to celebrate our favorite images from this year and the people who made them with a big party — the only way Blue Moon Camera knows how. More details in the coming weeks, but mark your calendars now, you won’t want to miss this one. Here’s a few shots we took at last year’s show, which was one for the books 🎉

Throwback to this Rolleiflex pumpkin we carved last year 🎃 We are open tomorrow, come through the store and you might just catch some of the BMC staff in costume. Have you ever seen a better camera carving? Let us know in the comments, and Happy Halloween!

A fresh, custom K1000 repainted by our technician Mike. What do we think of this army green / bright red combo? In stock early next week in our shop and online!

Swipe for sample images ➡️
This is an unusual one, a Leica 40mm f2.4 Summarit surgically removed from a Minilux and custom housed in a Leica M-mount barrel. Yes, with rangefinder coupling and manual aperture and focusing rings. We don’t know much about these conversions but the build is surprisingly good and the results are intriguing — it’s sharp but also unexpectedly glowy in certain light. And check out the bokeh in the last slide. This would be a really cool option for a CL or CLE kit, or the perfect obscure gift for the Leicaman who already has everything else. In stock on our site and in our store!

We have a world’s first comparison test coming soon for you. These are both incredible machines, with fewer years separating them than you might think. Should we change our name to Blue Moon Camera & Makina?

Sample shots coming soon — we’ve been out having fun with this Nikon FM3A and rare Noritar 17mm lens☀️

Better known for the Norita 66 medium format camera and lenses, there were a small number of these ultra-wide Norita lenses made in Nikon F-mount. And of course, the Nikon FM3A needs no introduction.

What are you out shooting with? Comment below with a photo or DM us a shot of your current kit and we’ll share it to our story :)