chrisbennett

Sorry, I stopped receiving notifications for this post and I figured it was dead! I was wrong apparently! I contacted a friend at the base here in Japan, he was and still is an old PA guy on base. I think he's had stuff in Nat Geo and I asked him if he knew someone with a MF camera... well turned out he had a Mamiya Pro with two lenses and a polaroid back sitting in his closet... A small trade later I have the Mamiya and a Pelican case! I've shot a couple of rolls through it, but I haven't done much portrait work since I got it, but I do plan in the coming months to get plenty of use out of it.

Hello, first thanks to those that helped on my last question. It really helped to steer me in the right direction to get a MF film camera for portrait work. (turned out my friend had a Mamiya Pro in his closet from film school, one trade later I have the camera, two lenses, and a pelican case!) I guess you could say I've fallen into fashion work, mostly edgy shoots for the car and motorcycle fashion industry here in Japan (most are self assignments while I build up my portfolio). Well I have contacted a few fashion companies about doing some shoots with them (no paid assignments and really just throwing lines in the water) I've actually had very good response and many are asking me what products I would like to photograph and they are willing to ship the items to me. (I'm in Japan, they are in Japan) My question; is there any sort of etiquette involved that I should be concerned with about how long I should keep the products before returning, how much or how little of the products I should request, etc.? Am I over thinking it? (highly possible) I have access to models that are very willing to work for the same reasons I am (portfolio building) but they all have crazy schedules so I don't want to keep someones product for a month if that is bad business. TIA!!

I have pc syncs on my flashes so I should be good there, and of course I can use the on camera to trigger the others. I know there is some witchcraft involved with working with the flashes and sync speeds and what have you. But that's the fun part.

Thanks, it seems that there are merits to shooting MF. I'm glad to hear that the RB67's (and the Bronica ETRs) are the way to go, they seem to be far less expensive. Question though, can I use my Yongnuo wireless trigger to set off my speedlights on either one of those bodies? I've heard some conflicting stories whether or not that is possible. I'll just use the D800 as a heavy lightmeter! Thanks everybody, I'm glad you all are persuading me to spend money. Seriously though, without getting my hands on one and I tried renting one but no one carried it I was burned out on google trying to figure out the advantages over digital or 35mm. I know one will not replace the other, but I think it will allow me to break away from the DSLR and offer something new. And I do want to be able to look at a photo I took by film hanging in the gallery rather than a digital file, even if the film was scanned and printed. (solely personal preference of course) Thanks all!

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah I think I'm leaning towards MF. Though I know there is some inevitable digitization that has to go on before print I don't think it's enough to rule out shooting some MF. (I may end up answering my own question if [and it seems} MF is indeed that much better than 35mm) I've printed (at a shop) and then scanned the same negative and the outcome in my opinion was great. Granted I'm sure the shop is using the same process roughly as I am... no darkroom work here. I try and print photos as much as I can and I can definitely tell film from digital in my photo albums and I like it more. I use "fine-art" lightly, I live in an area where people are boasting being licensed or certified pro-photographers... I needed a title (for where I'm at) and just a visual to give you all in hopes it might help of what I'm looking for in an end result. Though with that said it does seem that MF is worth lying aside the D800 for a few shoots. If I enjoy my 35mm that I get back it seems I'll definitely be able to tell a noticeable difference in quality and look of the MF. Though I'm not silly enough to give up my DSLR... that D850 is still on my dream sheet... Thanks again for the advice!

hello, I haven't been on a forum in over a decade so I hope my etiquette is ok. I have been shooting a d800 for sometime now and I primarily do portraits for gallery work. I shoot with speed lights using a yongnuo wireless trigger. I recently started to use my F100 to shoot some during the portrait sessions. I really like using the film camera and to me I like the finished product better. Less editing involved and it led me to look into MF. (Personal preference I know) Next year I want to shoot two galleries (those who survived and overcame suicide attempts, and refugees [i live in Japan]) What I'd like to do is shoot one if not both of those galleries entirely on film. (Mostly b&w, scanned digitally, of course some post processing etc.) So long story short, I have heard that there is a particular "look" to MF, with the only examples I have seen being online. I have never even held a MF photo in my hand, not even a MF camera. I am on an extremely tight budget (once I buy this I'm done with equipment purchases for a long time), I am looking at a Mamiya 645 af 80mm 2.8. Prints will be from A3 size up to 20x30 being the largest. I know there are subjectivness (sp?) in all of this but is the MF "look" and/or quality worth the jump over from 35mm and the ¥¥ or $$? I think I'm headed down a rabbit hole I shouldn't be in, but I do want to step up my game. Talent and story can translate into any format, I know. But as a "fine-art" portrait photographer, is the MF camera a must have? Thanks for listening to my ramblings, I hope I've provided you with enough info. Thanks in advance for any feedback or direction.