medium format cameras

<p>Jonny, </p>

<p>I recently started to experiment with Medium Format. I purchased a Rolleicord V for about $280. You will need a light meter, unless you are great at guessing the exposure. Purchased an old Sekonic for $95. You will also need a tripod and a Shutter Release cord, $17.</p>

<p>The combined result is very nice. I am getting better at it with every roll. I am currently trying a B & W roll. </p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Another vote for Rolleicord or Rolleiflex. I've got one of each, from the 1950s, and although I just bought a Nikon D90 dSLR, those two old Rolleis will give it a run for its money. In daylight, the Rolleis are excellent. If I were going somewhere that charging a digital camera's battery would be a problem, I'd take a Rollei TLR instead.</p>

<p>Agreed also that they're maybe not the best way to go for street shooting, as they tend to attract people who want to tell you about their dad or grandpa using one....</p>

<p>Mamiya 6 or 7.... if you are going medium format, then be faithful to it and keep to 6x6.</p>

<p>"Mamiya 6 or 7.... if you are going medium format, then be faithful to it and keep to 6x6."<br /> The Mamiya 7 is 6x7 format.</p>

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<p>if you are going medium format, then be faithful to it and keep to 6x6</p>

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<p>. . . unless you want to do 6x7. If you want that in an inexpensive out-of-production camera, try the Bronica GS-1. The Mamiya 67 cameras are good, too. If you like square format (6x6), there is the SQAi in Bronica or <em>many,many Hasselblad models</em> . Don't forget Pentax or Rollei or. . . . Man, you have some choices to make--and some good prices on eBay.</p>

<p>But for traveling? Whew! What a time to be learning medium format!</p>

<p>--Lannie</p>

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<p>Better get a good, non-entry-level dSLR with a couple of prime lenses and learn photography while traveling scenic India.</p>

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<p>wouldn't that be a something like aHasselblad H series? My vote is for a Voigtlander Bessa folding camera.</p>

<p>A holga.</p>

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<p>wouldn't that be a something like aHasselblad H series?</p>

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<p>Careful, Tom. I got several postings deleted when I recommended the latest Mamiya and Hasselblad cameras as answers to the question after the "best" dSLRs (seems like only CaNik as correct). Same goes for stating the obvious -- that actual entry-level dSLR cameras are crippled "toys" that are not that suited at all for beginners who need/want to learn photography.</p>

<p>Can't go wrong with a Mamiya 7 or Mamiya 6, a Rollei TLR or Hasselblad. My favorite medium format travel companion is the Mamiya 7II but a 2.8F Rollei or 2.8 GX Rollei TLR is hard to beat (the Mamiya gives you interchangeable lenses and the 43mm and 65mm lenses are great for travel/landscapes).<br>

Enjoy the trip!</p>

 

<p>Hi Johnny.<br>

Frankly, you didn't give us much clues about your previous experience in photography ...<br>

So, remembering that no so long ago I was a "newbie" in MF, sincerely I don't think it's a good idea to travel with a camera you're not familiar with. The chances of do something wrong are pretty high and, probably you will not notice it before ending your trip.<br>

If you don't want to loose the images you will take, get a camera you already know well. If you don't have one and you haven't too much experience in photography, I suggest you a more common 35mm SLR or a dSLR. They are much more easy to use than a regular MF camera and they give more than average results, specially if you don't have plans to make big prints with your pictures. <br>

Then, if you want, after your trip, get yourself a TLR (Mamiya, Rollei, Yashica, Minolta, Ikoflex, etc. etc., NO SEAGULL) and try a couple of rolls. If you get infected with the MF virus, then my dear friend, you'll be in trouble. Prepare your wallet. And enjoy! </p>

<p>It's laughable to hear DSLR suggestions for someone wanting to get into M.F.</p>

<p>My vote is also for the Mamiya 7 or 7II. I wish I hadn't sold mine . . . Enjoy your trip!</p>

<p>Mr. Miller...</p>

<p>With all the anger and suspicion of photographers in today's world, why not take an old 1950s folder. They come in 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x9 sizes. A 6x6 will get you an exposure of about 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 inches and will fold up and fit in a pocket. If you get one with a top three element lens or most four element lenses you can probably make up to 24" x 24" prints of decent quality. I've noticed much better acceptance from people who might get into the photos as well as officials when using my old folders than with modern cameras. Rather than complain, they are more likely to say "How old is it?" or "Can you still get pictures with that?" People seem less prone to think you are trying to get a cheap crotch shot or aid terrorist bombers. </p>

<p>I also have a 1954 Pontiac. People smile at the car and tend to let me in traffic a lot easier when I drive it too. It will take me to all the same places that a new Mercedes will but the people along the way will treat me better in the old Pontiac. I find the same thing usually happens when I use and old style camera. </p>

<p>Tom Burke</p>

<p>Have found used Rolleis and 'blads to be pricey. Also, I never thought medium format was more difficult to learn than a 35. The Mamiya 645 with the prism finder can be used either vertically or horizontally. It's like using a 35 SLR the same way.</p>

<p>"Don't forget with film you have no histogram."</p>

<p>That's a really funny comment! Some of us know how to meter.</p>

<p>A medium format camera will not take artistic photos.<br>

The person behind the camera takes artistic photos.<br>

I would recommend a Pentax 645 (any of them). They're decent cameras and will get you into 120 format film cheaply. My kit consists of three prime lenses and a body (645, 35mm, 75mm and 120mm). I LOVE it :)</p>

<p>Jonny. No one can tell you what would be best for you. Everything has an upside and downside. I can only tell you what I like. You may not like the same things.</p>

<p>I used a Nikon digital that I got to replace a Pentax Spotmatic. I wanted to take photographs, not photos, if you know what I mean. So I bought a Pentax 645. I now have a 45mm, 55mm, 75mm & 150mm lenses. Everything is manuel. I didn't want a rangefinder because I use a polarizer almsot all of the time, so I wanted to see thru the lens taking the photo.</p>

<p>A 6x6 or 6x7 will give you very good chromes, but you will need to change film rolls quite frequently. With a 645 you can get 15/16 shots per 120 roll, almost double that on 220. Still not a lot of shots but still more than the larger formats.</p>

<p>You won't go wrong with a Bronica ETRS/I, Mamiya 645 or Pentax 645. In short, do what you want.</p>

<p>I came here just to say if you don't have enough money to buy a very good dSLR you probably get better results with a top line 35mm SLR and then I found new opinions!<br>

I agree with Jack Welsh that a Mamiya 645 works more or less the same way than a 35mm SLR, of course there's a big difference in cost, at least here were I live.<br>

So, if you have the money and you really want to do that trip with a MF camera, I think he gave you a good advice. The Mamiya 7 is probably one of the best MF cameras in the world, so if you have experience with rangefinder cameras, you will also find comfortable with it.<br>

But, if you don't have much experience and/or you don't have enough money to buy, let's say a Mamiya 645 Pro with meter prism and 80mm lens (around u$s 600 at ebay) or a Mamiya 7 (around u$s 2000 at ebay) for half the price of the first one you can buy, let´s say, a very decent Nikon N90 with two or three lenses.<br>

Again, if you don't plan to make big prints, a 35mm camera would do the job perfectly. And cheaper.<br>

So, again, if your budget is around u$s 300, between a mint Yashica Mat 124G or a Nikon N90, I suggest you to choose the Nikon for the trip. But if you have u$s 1000, the Mamiya 645 it's the best option, as Jack said.<br>

That's my modest opinion.</p>

<p>Recently, bought a Mamiya 645 Pro, 80 2.8n lens, one film back, and a non-metered prism. All in excellent shape from Keh.com for $265.00.And, that includes shipping.</p>

<p>. . . . "camera that gives off very artistic shots" . . . . . . ?<br>

I never heard of a camera giving out artistic shots, images ! . . . Hummmmm? . . . Maybe . . . I have to ask Vincent. . . . But. I heard, . . some photographers able to produce artistic images with any cameras. In my knowledge, the pinhole camera producing a most artistic images, with a little help of the photographer, whom standing behind it. The other cameras need a lots of photographer to stand behind the camera, to produce an artistic image. </p>

<p>Jonny - You're in luck - I'm selling my Mamiya 7 system. Check my ad in photo.net and drop me an email if you are interested.</p>

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<p>.... if you are going medium format, then be faithful to it and keep to 6x6.</p>

 

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<p>Huh? What's unfaithful about 6x4.5, 6x7, 6x8 (except that this is a kind of rare format), or 6x9? They all use 120 rollfilm.</p>

<p>Have a look at Fuji GA645 and what owners think about it. Does not look as prestigious as a Rollei hanging from your shoulder, but more compact, and effective.</p>

<p>I prefer square format in MF. They are small enough, big enough ( negative ), and fast enough ( glass ). Square can be pretty artsy as well.</p>

<p>If it were less about people and more about landscapes then maybe a Bronica ETR series... very small package.</p>

<p>If it were more about people, then a Mamiya 645 autofocus</p>

<p>If you want artistic, then be odd ball. Get one of the many Zeiss Icon (east or west) folding medium format cameras. As long as the bellows is sound, and the shutter still works, these are inexpensive and take very good pictures from 6x4,5 up to 6x9 cm negative size. Better than Holga since they <em>can</em> take superb pictures (depending on who is operating them).</p><div></div>

<p>I came back to this thread to qualify my earlier post, in which I said that traveling would be a heck of a time to be learning to use medium format.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I don't think that you say when you are leaving. Perhaps you can attain at least a basic level of proficiency with medium format before you go--and get to know your camera as well.</p>

<p>Whatever you buy, be sure that the equipment has been thoroughly tested before you go, perhaps even cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted.</p>

<p>If you can do all that, then you might just come home with great shots on medium format film. Otherwise, you might come home to find yourself greatly disappointed by light leakages, etc. Know your equipment well before you go.</p>

<p>Take a backup--and use it at least part of the time. You don't want to come back with nothing.</p>

<p>--Lannie</p>