MF SLR system recommendation

Mamiya sounds like what you're looking for. Low prices, small with good handling(Smaller than a Pentax 645 if you give up the winder), still supported by the manufacturer, excellent lenses, comprehensive system and an upgrade path. Look at the later bodies though (Super, Pro, ProTL).

 

Hassy is second, the basic system is reasonably inexpensive (although a good 501CM and 80 CF costs what I paid for a 3-lens, 2-back, AE prism and winder 645 Super system). The problem with Hassy is that once you get past the inexpensive 80 and 150, lenses get expensive.

 

The Pentax system is quite good, but the integration limits the bodies in some ways. No interchangable backs, no waistlevel (which is actually quite usable with 645, despite what some 6x6 shooters indicate) and no manual wind (the latter can be an issue, as MF winders are LOUD).

 

6x7 is for the most part out due to your requirement for portability. Unless you mind being mostly tripod-bound, don't go 6x7 or larger. If you are always on a tripod anyways, a RZ/RB or Pentax 67 is the way to go, the larger negs are worth it.

"Actually, 645 is a huge improvement over 35mm. The 2.7x area is a much bigger jump than going from 645 to 67."

 

True, of course, but I'm biased toward considering the entire workflow out to final print.

 

I print mostly at 8x10, 12x12, and an occasional 16x20. At these sizes and aspect ratios, the 6x7 requires no or very little cropping. An inexpensive flatbed scanner is enough to provide good quality pixels; it's iffy with 645.

I've got both Hasselblad and RB67. The RBs are rather large but can be handheld and do produce a very good negative/transparency. These things are almost bullet-proof. The RZ is an electronic gadget and personally prefer mechanical only as the RBs.

 

The Hassies, on the other hand, have the superior lens system (Zeiss). Square means never having to turn the camera or back (as in the case of the Mamiyas) but one has to be mindful of the cropping requirements for printing. With the Hassy, you really end up with a smaller useable film area because of the standard rectangular cropping and have to allow for this when shooting.

As mentioned by others, all Bronica lenses have leaf shutters and therefore will sync at all speeds.

 

You asked about Bronica models.

 

The ETR series is 645. You can get 35mm backs for them, but why. The ETR, ETRs are basically the same with the ETRs being newer and offering electrical contacts for the metered prism finder. The ETRsi is the same camera again but offers mirror lockup and a Bulb setting on the aperture dial. Bulb is normally accomplished via the slide switch on the lenses themselves. Finders, lenses, backs, speedgrips, motor drives, are all cross compatible. The ETR may not fully support some devices due to missing electrical contacts. The ETRs and ETRsi are more aptly suited to devices needing electrical contacts.

 

The SQ series is 6x6. You can get 645 backs for them. These used to be more expensive than the ETR series, but have nearly leveled out.

 

The GS series is 6x7.

 

For specifics beyond that:

 

http://www.answers.com/topic/bronica

 

or-

 

http://www.tamron.com/bronica/slr_archives.asp

Thank you all.

 

I chose Bronica SQ-AI, for portability, flexibility, good optics and price, or value for money. I can get locally a set of body, 3 lenses (50, 80 and 150), 2 backs, B&W filters set and some other gadget I'm not sure I need, like tele-convertor, extension tube and Polaroid back. All for under $1,200 and it comes from an amateur, first owner, who didn't shoot very much. With this set I'll have an almost complete set.

 

Does it sound like good deal?

Given you can see the gear, know something of it's pedigree, I don't think $1000+/- is too much to pay.

 

FWIW... There is an almost identical, older SQ series with older S glass for a $500 "Buy it now" on Ebay.

Joshua,

 

Just remember that if you had purchased all of that gear new it would have cost as much as a brand new car. Also an amatuer had it, meaning it's all got roughly 60 good years left in it. :)

"Also an amatuer had it, meaning it's all got roughly 60 good years left in it."

 

That's more than I have left for the promissed 120 years :)

If you looked for each item separately in the US through eBay and stores you could probably get he same stuff for several hundred dollars less. If you had the equipment nearby and could determine that it's in good condition then your price is fine. Not much is being done with Polariod film now so the Polaroid back won't be very useful. I have the 2X Teleconverter S for my PS lenses and it is very nice. When you use it with the extension tube and the 80mm lens you can get pretty close. There were two 150mm lenses made for the SQ cameras. The S lens was an f/3.5 and the PS was an f/4. This means that with the 2X Teleconverter you will get a 300mm with either f/7 or f/8 as the maximum aperture. These combinations would only be useful if you put the camera on a tripod. I have ETR, SQ and GS-1 cameras but I find myself mostly using the SQ-A bodies. Your SQ-AI is the latest model. You don't say which finders you have. I have two plain prism fimders and a waist level finder for the SQ-A bodies. With the waist level finder and the crank you can shoot hand held comfortably. The correct Bronica strap is handy for shooting this way and KEH usually has them. The waist level finder is also good for copy work. If you are using a prism finder, with or without a meter, you will find that the Speed Grip makes the camera a lot easier to use. Your SQ-AI has interchangeable focusing screens. I have one grid screen, one split image screen and one fresnel screen. In bright light they can all be good. With the slower lenses, anything slower than your 80/2.8, and for close up work the grid screen can make focusing easier. KEH and KOH's can be sources for focusing screens. You should have a lot of fun with your new outfit.

"If you looked for each item separately in the US through eBay and stores you could probably get he same stuff for several hundred dollars less."

 

Let's see.

 

My only reliable source is KEH. I'll refer to all items in EX condition, which is what I'll get.

 

SQ-AI body ($189), WLF ($165), 2x120 backs (2x$172=$344), 220 back ($72), 50/3.5 PS ($265), 80/2.8 S ($115), 150/4 PS ($199). It sums up as $1,349. The B&W filters set (which I'll need and use) worth few bucks as well. The extension tube and tele-convertor are gone and I'm giving up the Polaroid back, which I don't need. For the lot I'm asked for $1,150. Should I ship from the US, I'll pay 15.5% VAT plus over $100, may be about $200 shipping.

 

KEH and their grading I can trust. Shopping from eBay I can never know the real condition of the gear and its history (whether it was used heavily by a pro, etc.). Also, buying from multiple sellers means multiple shipping costs.

 

So, all in all, it looks like a decent deal to me. It will be for me at least $640 less than purchasing from KEH. I'll probable sell the 80/2.8 S and get a 80/2.8 PS and probably a grip and an AE-I prism, yet, it doesn't change the picture of the deal.

 

"You should have a lot of fun with your new outfit."

 

I have no doubt about that! :)

It's a very good deal. And a superb system.

The Mamiya RB67 system is THE bang for the buck on the used market right now. I don`t know how it happened, but they can be had for less than $300 on eBay with one lens, a prism and a couple backs. I personally think that its a little awkward fully hand held - but with a nice, wide, strap and a WLF, its a very stable and usefull non-tripod camera. Another thing I found with 6x7 is that I generally find when I go to print the neg, its almost always full fram - I just find it a perfect fit for my mind's eye. And one more thing, the RB's are about as bullet proof and robust as a camera can get.

"The Mamiya RB67 system is THE bang for the buck on the used market right now. I don`t know how it happened..."

 

Probably because every portrait studio on the planet had at least a couple.

 

I have two of these. It is an entirely satisfying camera system, both to use and in the quality of images produced. The RB is perfection in the studio, but not so good for field use. Watch out for the shutter lag for action shots as well.