Student - If you could use just one camera?

Hi

I am having a dilema and I need some clear advice.

 

I am a photography student and I want to buy one camera to last me as long as possible throughout the progression

of my time at Uni. I am skilled enough to use any format including 5x4 and so forth. I have experience with both

rangfinders and SLRs of all sorts and you can suggest anything.

 

The question is, If you could use one camera that was good enough for the first year of Uni as much as the final

year. (I started in college with a 35mm SLR and have progressed through the formats and I want to buy a camera

now.)

 

Budget - £1000 give or take.

 

My insticts say Mamiya 7ii (which I choose over the RZ67 as it is more appropriate for studio work.)

 

So, if you could own one camera what would it be?

 

Cheers. Look forward to hearing opinions.

My one camera would be an Ebony RW810 (I import Ebonys, but if I did not, same choice). Of the 4x5 choices, Ebony 45SU. Among 35mm cameras, a Leica M6 or later film M.

Hasselblad 500 C/M

Mamiya 7II with 80mm lens - excellent camera for travelling

Hasselblad 500 C/M for it's versatility and lens quality.

Rollei TLR F2.8 Good enough for the formal stuff and quick enough for the candid stuff.

I go along with Ellis' suggestion - an Hasselblad 500cm for its quality, durability and versatility.

 

It is an SLR for precision, yet can be used for candid photography. It is small enough to carry yet large enough for studio work and big enlargements. It has an huge assortment of lenses and accessories, most readily available on the used (or rental) market. It has interchangeable backs ($250 used), so you are never stuck with the wrong film at the wrong time. Most of all, it is a "thoughtful" camera - not one which you tend to point and click.

and another vote for the Hasselblad 500 CM

Another vote for a 500cm. When I was a photojournalism student, I blew away my classmates by using a Hasselblad. Now they're so cheap and parts so easy to get, I can't see any reason not to get one... or two.

Hasselblad 500 c/m with 80 mm lens, one A12 back, and a Pentax digital spot meter. All available used for relatively

modest prices.

If your considering a 35mm camera then I would recommend a Pentax Spotmatic and a handful of primes. If you want a medium format then I would recommend a Hasablad 500 series or Pentax medium format.

Any good 645 as it is light enough to take snapshots with but, as in the case of Bronica, has very good lenses. They

probably the least expensive. The Bronica with speed grip handles almost as well as 35 mm. You can use inexpensive

Vivitar thrysistor flashes. That will teach a lot about fill. I would add a prism finder as well. My favorite 645 lenses were

50, 75 and 150 mm. I also like the aspect ratio for scanning.

I had a pair of Hassy's, never did warm up to them. For me either an RB67 or a Nikon F2. But for just one, an F2. With a motor drive.

 

Rick H.

I am surprised by the above remarks.........most pros in the film camera business that I know used Mamiya either RZ67 or RB 67's. Huge advantage is the much larger negative area in the conventional print sizes, and the ease of either vertical or horizontal compositions without having to tip the camera. The truth about the lenses is that ALL the recent manufacturers made superb lenses. Regards, Bob

Never cared much for the square format since unless you're wanting your final print to be square you're throwing away

part on the image. I prefer the Pentax 645 for handheld work as it's the lightest and smallest MF slr camera and the

RB/RZ for studio work on a tripod. But, of course, the best quality comes from a 4x5. So it depends on what you want or

what kind of work you do most.

Hello,

Thank you for all answers so far, I will investigate all the cameras suggested.

 

Hasselblads are coming up alot, I will investigate, I do not know anything bout the range despite hearing much praise about the Swedish group. I am suprised by the lack of Mamiya's mentioned.

Just to remind - I am prepared to spend around £1000-1500 as mentioned.

 

Thank you again! I am happy to see so many responses already and the more that appear the clearer things will become I expect.

 

Ben

Having owned a Mamiya 7 I can say that they are one of the nicest cameras to use. But I would not recommend one as a 'One and Only' camera. They are too restricted in the situations where they shine. In particular the inability to see exactly what you are taking is a drawback under quite a few situations.

 

So I would go for a MF SLR of some kind. Pentax, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Bronica SLR's are all good.

One thing to consider is the weight, if it's to be your only camera. Some of these MF cameras are big beasts to lug around.

Only one camera? That's like asking a pianist which note he or she would play if they could only play one note.

But to answer your question, if it was a camera that had to be usuable for as many different situations as possible, it would be an Olympus OM-1 (interchangeable lenses, focusing screens, works without battery if necessary.) Depending upon choice of film, lens, and lighting it is useful for sports, landscapes, portraits, candids, etc.

If a 35mm negative is simply too small then I would go with a Mamiya 645 if I wanted lens interchangeability. If one lens is all that I need, then I would choose a Fuji GS645.

<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; ">If you like "calmed" photography: portraits,landscapes,architecture....Hasselblad 500 c/m with 80mm planar lens, two A12 back, a gossen profisix meter for studio, a Weston master V meter for shooting outside. But if you are a "street & documentary guy", IMO the best choice is a Leica M3 with 50mm summicron and the weston master V.</span></p>

<p>No votes for the Pentax 67, huh? As they say, different strokes...<br>

I've had mine for about ten years and with a 45mm f4 lens and a good, solid tripod, I've gotten fantastic results. But for me, shooting 120 is akin to shooting a .44 mag - GREAT when you need it but it costs you about a buck every time you pull the trigger.<br>

For everyday use, I prefer the .22LR (35mm). I like Miguel's suggestion for 35mm although Leica M's (and lenses) are a tad too rich for my blood. I shoot a iiif with a 5cm f2 Nikkor and a 3.5cm f3.5 Summaron.</p>

<p>If you have a budget of a thousand pounds, I would recommend only spending about 25% of that on the camera itself.  Maybe another 25% on the lens.  Rather than suggest a model, I think I would advise for a good budget structure.  </p>

<p>Do you have any other equipment at all?  If the answer is, No, I would suggest an immediate investment in a one or two point lighting rig before I recommended a top of the line camera.  Enlarger?  Digital support equipment?  There are a lot of variables.  </p>

<p>For camera itself, I'll vote for the Pentax 67 even though I have never used one, just because its merits brought me mighty close to getting one when I had the chance.  Pentax 645.  Pentax K1000.  Basically, for longevity, all manual film cameras, hands down.  Pentax because of the lens interchangeability.  All manual lenses.  </p>

<p>I would budget also for a good used spot meter, too.  They can easily cost up there, and they're super-useful.  </p>

In response to John (above),

budget of £1000 is all dedicated to camera and lens. I have easy access to light meters and tripods and all other essentials.

 

I like the Mamiya 645 and have had a lot of experience with it, my problem with it is that it is very heavy for only a small negative - I am really looking for a larger neg size such perferably 67 or 69 - do I want more for my money? No, Im happy having only 10 or 8 photographs per roll if the detail is better.

 

I am not too interested in 35mm, sorry. I like it for being snappy but I wouldnt use it for important prints.

 

I have looked into Pentax 67 before but I went off it and I cant remember why. It looks like a tank. But if the lens are excellent it could be worth looking at further. I also like the shape - it very 35mm isnt it? If anyone wants to provide more advice on this camera I would be very interested - I will be doing some research myself.

 

Any opinions on Mamiya 7?

 

Thank you all very much for you advice - very useful indeed and very interesting to see what people are using.

 

Ben

<p>Holga, of course!  You wanna do art, yea?!?</p>

<p>One more suggestion for larger negatives: If you can get by without interchangeable lenses there are the Fuji GW690, GW690II, and GW690III cameras. They are rangefinder cameras with between the lens mechanical leaf shutters that go to 1/500. You get X sync at any shutter speed.  The lens is a 90mm f3.5. Any you get a large 6 x 9 negative yielding 8 exposures on 120 or 16 exposures on 220. There is also a version with the wide angle 65mm lens and also a 6 x 7 version as well. The GW690's generally are selling for under 400 USD depending on condition.</p>