TLR beginner question- cheap

Hello.

 

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I read the archives on cheap TLR as an entry into MF. From the archive, Lubitel was mentioned. I am interested in buying a cheap (<$150) MF camera to try. A local store sells a new TLR called Seagull for about $135. My question is has anyone used this TLR before? What are some other suggestions for getting into the MF photography? Thank you

JJ, the Lubitel is a plastic toy camera, not worth consideration. I

just bought one for the fun of it, and it's worth every bit of the

just barely 2-digit price I paid for it, but not much more! The

Seagull is another low-end TLR totally unworthy of note. For $135, you

can do better. NOw, later on down the pike, when you just HAVE to have

a Russian or Chinese TLR, buy one of these cameras, but only for the

fun of it.

 

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A much better investment would be a Mamiya C2, C3, C22, or C33. With a

bit of patience and diligent shopping, you can own one of these very

fine pets for $300 or less, maybe even less than $200. There are also

the C222 and C333 models, but they are priced out of your range.

Compared to the C2XX series, the C3XX series have a crank for film

wind in place of a knob, auto shutter cocking, and an indicator for

parallax correction built into the viewfinder. Not sure the C3 has all

three of those features, but the other C3XX models do.

 

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WARNING: the old lenses that tend to come with these models, with

chrome shutter rings, are just fine, but if and when the shutter

breaks, it is not economically repairable. I bought my C33 about 15

years ago, and it's still going strong. If the shutter croaks, I'll

toss the lens and not look back, because the camera has paid for

itself many times over. Besides, you can use the thing to crack enough

Brazil nuts to feed eight, then turn around and shoot a job with it,

and not have to worry about whether it will work. It will work!

 

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Other, somewhat less expensive, choices would be the Yashica or

Minolta TLRs, but save your money toward a Mamiya. Only the Mamiya has

interchangeable lenses and a bellows, allowing close focusing via

speedy rack & pinion mechanics. If you get the chance, try comparing

focusing ease of a Mamiya CXXX to that of a Hasselblad. Daylight and

dark.

 

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Mamiya TLR lenses are somewhat prone to contrast reduction by flare,

but you can work around that by holding your hand or hat out front, to

make sure no direct sunlight shines on the front element.

 

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For about the same amount of money (<$250), you can find a Koni-Omega

(or Rapid Omega) 6x7 in very decent shape. These are superior in

quality compared to the Mamiya TLRs (and to most any other MF camera),

and they have interchangeable lenses, but lack close focusing ability.

That last is why I still have a Mamiya TLR. All those KO and RO things

have rangefinders, so if you're hung up on a ground glass image, go

back to the Mamiya.

 

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I hope you understand that not one of the cameras I've mentioned has a

meter, so you will need a separate meter, or a second camera with a

built-in meter, or the ability to judge exposure from experience (not

really hard for most daylight situations; just use the exposure info

inside the box your film comes in.)

 

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Cheerios,

 

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Mel Brown

I agree with what Mel Brown says. I purchased a Yashicamat 124 some years ago but found it limited - the meter was not accurate (so I used my handheld meter) and I couldn't change lenses. Therefore after renting Haselblads and a Mamiya 7, I purchased the Mamiya C330 with several lenses. The 55mm is rather prone to flare (I still haven't found a lens hood for sale) but the overall system is great. For about the same price as a new MF body, I have a reasonable medium format system (although I still would love the Mamiya 7).

Stay away from the Lubitel and Seagull toys. They would only turn you

off to MF.

 

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IMHO, the Yashicamat 124-G is the best bargain in MF. You can get one

in mint condition for $200 up. It's not as rugged as the Mamiya

C220/C330 and doesn't have interchangeable lenses, but the optical

quality is excellent and it's a pleasure to use. The light meter in

mine is fine but you probably should be using a handheld meter for

serious work anyway. If you want to spend $500 or so, you would

probably be better getting a C330 with 80mm. But if you don't have a

lot of money or aren't sure you want to committ to MF, get the

Yashicamat first. Then you can always buy a C330 with either a wide

angle or telephoto and continue to use the Yashicamat as your "normal"

lens body until you buy an 80 for the 330.

 

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I don't recommend the C220 for two reasons. The most important is that

you have to cock the shutter separately from winding the film. Second

is that you wind the film with a knob instead of a crank.

 

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Craig Shearman

www.bcity.com/redcaboosevideo/

Forget the Lubitel. Get something with better optics. You can get a

Rolleicord for under $150 which has same optics as Rolleiflex, speeds

to 1/500, f3.5 to f22, and very well built. For half that you can get

a Ricoh TLR with only slightly more limitations.

Erik Ryberg

I agree.... forget the Lubitel. Contrary to some of the opinions

above, the Yashicamat is a decent camera! It feels like plastic, but

the one I owned produced sharp, quality images. (I've never used the

Mamiya TLRs.... I'm sure they are good cameras.) Another good bet is

to look for a Rolleiflex 3.5 TLR, perhaps a D model.... around $400.

The Rolleis are built like a tank and they last. One of the later

Rolleicords (Vb or so) is also a good bet, and can be found for $300

or less. The old Rolleiflexes are really solid. Use with an

external exposure meter. David

It seems that this subject has been covered several times in recent weeks here and on photo.net.

 

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Andrew, perhaps these should be placed under a general topic on the forum "What are good starting MF cameras"

As with the others, I'd say avoid the Lubitel, I checked one out the other day and was _shocked_ by it's cheapness. No good.

 

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Others have mentioned Mamiya C330 w/80mm (great choice, I have one) and the Yashica's (again, great choice, I have several, the best in my opinion is the YashicaMat 124) but don't forget the Minolta Autocord! A nice example can be found for $200 (or slightly above) on ebay (or other on-line bidding services, or News Groups) and they are just wonderful TLR camera's: Sturdy, excellent glass, and repairable. I have three, and really prefer the quality (for vintage Motorcycle portrait work) over everything I have, except the C330.

 

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However, as the Mamiya cost 3 times more, the image quality isn't 3 times better. In fact, it isn't any better, it's just that the Mamiya is a nicer camera.

 

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Nolan Woodbury