sports team photographer needs suggestions formedium format

[linda_bossler]

Annually I take about 1000 local youth individual photos and then

accompanying team photo. To date I have used a Yashica 108 with a 25-

80 zoom for the shoots. (zoom is used so team photo can be taken

immediately after individuals) I am ready to move to medium format

and keeping the 108 as my backup. My business will be more this year

and I need to have quality equipment and easy to use. I want

suggestions for what to buy.

[chris___10]

I would say a 645 camera would be your best bet. Bronica, Mamiya, and

Pentax all make good cameras in that size. I know Bronica and Pentax

make zoom lenses, I am not sure about Mamiya. I personally like the

Pentax the best out of all of them, but I think a lot of people also

like the mamiya and Bronica. I would take a look at those three.

[michael_heal]

<p>Yes, a 645 would work well. You will get much better quality than

35mm. A 6x6 would also be a good choice, but SLR systems tend to be

more expensive to buy, and the larger negative means only 12 shots

per roll instead of 16. Make sure the total cost of the system is

within your budget. If price is a problem, you could start with a

used TLR such as a Yashica 124, Mamiya, or a Rollei.</p>

<p>Zooms are available in some sytems, but you might want to stick

with two fixed-focal length lenses. Also, if you shoot a lot of

these pictures in one sitting, you might want a camera that can

take 220 film. That would give you twice as many exposures per

roll.</p>

<p>Have a look at the excellent compilation of information at

<a

href="http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/gindex.html">www.smu.edu/~rmona

gha/mf/gindex.html</a>.</p>

[jeff_drew]

Linda,

I think the 645 format is okay - especially for individual athlete

shots, but for groups the camera must be tilted 90 degrees for

horizontal format.

All the local pros that do this stuff use tripods for posed shots.

90% of all the kids buy 8x10 or smaller prints? My kids all went with

the canned packages based on 35mm prints and were happy.

The local pro/guru of award winning picture fame uses 6x7, big tripod,

bunny blaster flash, and has his wife hauling film backs, film,

paperwork everywhere they go. He instinctively knows his 6x7 Mamiya

and flash probably better than anything else. His comment to me

(years ago!) "...with care, 35mm is as good as anything else..." for

shooting yearbooks and sports pictures. He still hauls 6x7, only uses

a harness now.

Try Medium Format. Some results will "knock your socks off" and some

will probably drive you back to your 35mm. I've used all the formats

except panorama, and think 4.5x6 is a great compromise.

[dave_shrader]

Response to Jeff Drew...my Mamiya 645 Pro has horizontal as normal

format.

Not ALL 645's are vertical!!

[jorge_saravia]

What about the new Contax 645, 645 horizontal, autofocus,zeiss lenses

(up to f/2), can change backs (not only inserts), advanced flash

system.... etc. The problem here is that the basic kit, body+120 back+

80f/2 + finder will cost about US$4000.

[wayne_sircoulomb]

Any business manager must focus on the product and the process. A high

quality product that is in demand will usually outsell a lower quality

product. Each successful photographer must develop a process that

leads to a high quality product and equipment is just one aspect of

the process. Do you need better equipment to increase the quality of

your product or will better equipment offer you the opportunity to

improve your process. One of the responses stated that a successful

photographer used the 6X7 format and said that 35mm was also good. He

used the 6X7 because that was the way he developed his process that

lead to a quality product. However they didn't go into the other

variables such as film and processing, and the magic needed to make

the subject look pleasing to the customer. My wife and I use 6X6 for

sport team pictures but that is primarily because that's the way we

developed our process. We use Hasselblads and we are most comfortable

with them. Our Nikon's often sit neglected on a shelf, but I know

that I could get very good quality with them. The equipment you

choose is not as important as the way you use it. The 4.5X6 format

also has the potential for great quality. Try to find a store that

has a good variety of cameras and handle them all. Possibly rent or

borrow the model you like to give it a test drive. Here are some of

my personal preferences. Switching from horizontal to vertical by

rotating a medium format camera and flash is a pain to me, so 6X6 or a

rotating back 6X7 was my choice. I also didn't like winding the film

and then cocking the shutter. I fought with an old RB 67 and never

could develop a process that did not allow double exposures.

Therefore I traided my RB in for a Hasselblad and for me that was a

good change. A few years ago I purchased several Bronica's and they

were great, but they were not rugged enough for my style. So I went

back to Hasselblad and that is all I currently use. Unfortunately,

everyone has to go through a similar process. They call it a learning

curve or if your up on current terms and improvement curve. I have

handled a Mamiya 7 and it seems to be a great camera, and Mamiya is

rugged enough for me. Whatever you choose, if you focus on developing

an effective process that leads to a quality product then you will

surely be successful.

 

<p>

 

Wayne