MF RangeFinder with built in meter

[laurence_rochfort]

<p>Hello all,<br>

I want to move to medium format and have decided I want a rangefinder because I want to take photos of my wife and son whilst out and about.<br>

I have narrowed my selection down to the following:</p>

<ul>

<li>Bronica rf645</li>

<li>Mamiya 6</li>

<li>Fuji GW690</li>

<li>Fuji GS645 </li>

</ul>

<p> Could you please tell me which of these have built-in meters? I'd love to use an old folder, but I'm unaware of any with built-in meters. <br>

I currently favour the Mamiya 6 and Fuji GW690 because I prefer those formats however I'm curious how all 4 cameras compare in size; I'm not too worried about weight.<br>

Any comments anyone has as to ease of use for impromptu portraits would be greatly appreciated.<br>

Many thanks in advance,<br>

Laurence.</p>

[frank_bunnik]

<p>The Fuji GW series does not have a meter. The Bronica and the Mamiya 6 & 7 have build in light meter and AE mode and the Fuji GW645 series has a meter but you have to set aperture and shutterspeed manually. I have used the GW690 (670) but for quick snapshots it is not usefull.</p>

[jean_yves_mead]

Most classic folders with meters use selenium cells which tend to be inaccurate or dead by now. A

modern alternative would be the Voigtlander Bessa III/Fuji GF670, which offers manual or aperture-priority

automatic exposure control and switchable 6x6 or 6x7 format, but it's not a cheap choice. Having said

that, shooting with a meterless camera and small handheld meter is easy with a little practice (I use my

RZ67 with waist-level finder, 110mm f/2.8, and a Sekonic TwinMate, as a walkabout camera).

 

If you're not absolutely set on a rangefinder then bear in mind that the Pentax 645N with 75mm f/2.8 FA is

pretty light and portable, and an absolute joy to use.

[stuart_richardson]

<p>The Fuji 6x9 rangefinders are very big. No meters. The Mamiya 6 is similarly sized to a pro-sumer camera with a battery grip, but probably lighter. It is not that large, nor that heavy. It has a meter. The Bronica RF is the smallest of the bunch, and also has a meter. You might like the Bronica because it's viewfinder is in portrait orientation, so to take vertically oriented photos you do not need to turn the camera. If you prefer horizontal framing, it might be a real annoyance. All of these cameras can be used for candids and impromptu portraits, but the Mamiya and the Bronica are probably the easiest for this. All of them will probably be a bit more difficult to use than a 35mm rangefinder, which are usually more forgiving with depth of field. </p>

[bruce_fichelson]

<p>I am a long time user of the Mamiya 7 and formerly owned the 6. The 6 is very well constructed and the front end of the camera pushes into the body when not in use so it is marvelous for travel and street photography. The meter is a center-weighted type. The lenses are outstanding, just as are those for the Mamiya 7 and 7ii, but there are only 3 for the 6. If you can live with that, you'll have one of the finest cameras ever made and your images will be superior to those from a Leica film camera. I'd also recommend the Pentax 645nII and its lenses will have closer focusing capabilities for portraits. Check the closest distances for the three Mamiya lenses as I'm unsure if they will be suitable for portraits. YOu might also look into the Bronica 6x6 and 6x7 slr's as they can be had for bargain prices right now and are great. </p>

[t._kim]

<p>This is the only comparison shot I have of the three formats.<br />My GL690 is very comparable in size to the GW690 (without the fixed lens)<br />The M-6 is shown in collapsed position (again w/o lens)<br>

I don't own any 645 systems. Sorry.<br>

<a href="http://imagefra.me/view.php?img=/7/9/25/rootstock/f_wirat430etm_6fec53e.jpg&srv=img38" target="_blank"><img src="http://img38.imagefra.me/img/img38/7/9/25/rootstock/f_wirat430etm_6fec53e.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by imagefra.me" /></a></p>

[steve_10170]

<p>I really like my GS645, Laurence. It is a portrait orientation which, for me, is just great. The meter is wonderfully simply with a '+', a '0', and a '-' to indicate full stop over/under as well as 1/3 exposure ranges. Obviously I bought it because I wanted a compact folder to travel with me everywhere and it has. I use a really long Pelican neoprene strap around my neck and one arm and it sits right on my hip and I can 'swing it' into position. The parallax corrected rangefinder patch is very good and the eye relief is great. Only issue I see for you is finding one in acceptable budget range with bellows that have been updated, but for me the investment compared very favorably to the Bronica and Mamiya 6 and I really like 645 format, but that is just me. </p>

[melmann]

<p>Been shooting with a Mamiya 6MF for over a year and it has gotten me re-excited about film. Love the collapsible bellows, weight and balance, super quiet shutter. On really bright days I usually hold my hand over the meter to shade sensor when shooting in AE. You can still find these out there as well as the three lens kit (50mm, 75mm, 150mm).</p>

[laurence_rochfort]

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I'm amazed by how many quick responses I have got. Thanks!</p>

<p>From what you've said I think I'm going to try and get my hands on a Mamiya 6 and the Fuji GS645 and compare them.</p>

<p>I'll let you know my thoughts after that.</p>

<p>Many thanks,<br>

Laurence</p>

[ondebanks]

<p>The Plaubel Makina 6x7 folding rangefinders have built-in meters as well. Choice of either 80/2.8 or 55/4.5 fixed lenses. This camera filled a niche in the 1980s-90s that the new Fuji GF670/Voigtlander Bessa III is basically trying to fill now.</p>