Best MF for Portraits

[wayne_desbarres]

Hi Folks,

 

I have been shooting portraits for about 2 years now and making a

little money from it. I have been shooting with 35mm Nikon F100 &

F80. In studio I use Elinchrome monolights (Style 600) and Nikon

flashes (SB80). Outdoors I use the Nikon SB80 flashes. I am looking

to purchase a MF system for my portiture work. I will probably go

with used equipment because of the cost although a new Mamiya 645E is

very affordable. Based on everyones experience which MF is the best

based on my purpose - portraits. Specifically I am looking for

quality of bodies (I baby everything), quality of lenses, best value,

how easy is it to find used components, ease of use (both indoor and

outdoor), will I need to use a tripod, durabilty and if in the future

what could take a digital back (if any).

Many Thanks,

Wayne

[blakley]

Well, Almost any would do well - I use the Mamiya RZ 67 Pro II, and

I love the quality I get out of 67 negatives.

 

The most important thing is to choose a lens appropriate for

portraits. For 67, I'd recommend something like 150mm or so;

I have the 110, and you have to get REALLY close for portraits.

It would also be good to have a pretty FAST portrait lens, as

you'll want the option of differential focus.

 

Finally, if you're going to shoot in the studio, get a camera

with a bright viewfinder - or which can be fitted with a Beattie

Intenscreen or something similar.

 

After using the RZ for a while, I'd consider recommending a

camera which doesn't need batteries - every extra thing you

need to worry about in the studio or on location is an extra

thing to get wrong - and disappoint the client.

[richard_cochran]

Any MF camera with interchangable lenses will do well for

portraits. You can fit it with a "normal" lens for group

shots, and something around 1.4x or 2x normal for headshots.

Even a fixed-lens camera can be used for portraits, especially

if it has a normal to long lens.

<p>

Decide whether you want 6x7, 6x6, or 6x4.5. They all have

their adherents. I'd say an SLR or TLR is preferable over

a rangefinder for studio work, because I prefer viewing

the projected image on a focusing screen. For outdoor

use with flash, a leaf shutter system is far preferable

to a focal plane shutter, due to the high sync speed

available in leaf shutters. Beyond that,

all the popular systems have been used to make great professional

portraits. For <em>value</em> I'd look strongly at a

Mamiya TLR, though you can guarantee it'll never have

a digital back available. Sometimes RB67's can be

found inexpensively, too -- they have the advantage

of a bigger negative, and that rotating back is nice,

but they're kind of monsterous cameras, handholdable

but best suited to a tripod. If money

were no object, I'd probably suggest a Hasselblad.

<p>

Also, consider whether you want waistlevel or eyelevel

finder, or maybe you want to own both -- finder choice

affects the weight and handling of the camera

significantly, and the price somewhat. Personally, I

prefer WL, but I'm used to the mirror image view.

[hclim]

Don't forget to consider the default orientation of the frame. I think the Mamiya 645E is horizontal. The RB and RZ have rotating backs.

[jimvanson]

The bigger the neg and on a tripod....Fuji 680 Series without a question. 6x6...handheld? Rollie 6008 Series. 645? Too many choices...it's really a personal thing...I bought a Pentax autofocus (645n). It's great. The 645e was not on the market at that time (not that I'm saying I'd buy it) and the 645 Pro had a dismal finder.<p>Today there are <i>fantastic</i> deals on used medium format cameras...do a little research on eBay...the prices will blow you away.

[brandon hale]

Wayne, I have been shooting portraits with the same camera and the same lens for many years. Most of the it in the studio under studio lighting some outside with reflectors. I use a Hasselblad 500ELX and a f4 150mm lens on single portraits and 120mm on family portraits. I also have a backup 500CM but have hardly ever had to use it. (Ok I have ran my batteries down a few times. Blads are kinda cheap on the used market so jump right in!

 

Brandon

[eric_floyd]

Contax 645...Buy through Import channels...Plenty of Good dealers.....This camera has allowed so much for me...

[wayne_desbarres]

Thanks everyone. I was surprised that know one mentioned Bronica - especially the ETR/ETRs/ETRsi. Is there something different with these that make them hard to use for portraits?

 

Thanks,

Wayne

[derek_stanton2]

My personal preference would be for anything with Zeiss glass. Pentax and Mamiya

lenses would be next. I guess Pentax wouldn't be a solution (either 6x7 or 645) if

you're considering digital, though.

 

Although i loved the Mamiya 6 rangefinder, i wouldn't suggest that kind of camera

because the lenses are relatively slow and the framelines aren't so accurate. Plus,

bokeh may be an issue.

 

But, why medium format? Have you eliminated the possibility of a digital SLR? If you're

shooting portraits, it probably means you won't need huge enlargements. A digital

(10d/S2/etc.) with good glass might be a marvelous thing....

[Spearhead]

As people have pointed out, pretty much any camera can be used for portraits. It really depends on what <i>you</I> find comfortable working with in the end, not what someone else uses.<p>

 

However, I would probably agree with the previous poster - if you're going to buy now for portrait work, you should consider digital. There are some significant advantages if you're doing commercial portraiture.<P>

 

I shoot portraits with a Mamiya 7, usually with the 80mm lens.<p>

 

<center>

<img src="http://www.spirer.com/images/mxg.jpg"><br>

<i>Portrait, Mamiya 7, Copyright 2003 Jeff Spirer</i>

</center>

[tree]

The Mamiya 645E is a nice camera for the money, but it does not offer interchangable backs, so if you ever want to go to digital with it you are out of luck. However, the 645E is nicely portable, and with the rapid-wind grip you can hand-hold it very easily (though even without the grip hand holding isn't a chore because the camera is light, as MF systems go). You get the full range of M645 lenses to boot, which are readily available on the auction site and from the used departments at B&H and KEH, to mention only two. The finder is also fixed, which can be detrimental to some.

 

The Mamiya RB67 ProS is a wonderful camera, though I call mine "Beast" (with a Voigtlaender Bessa R as "Beauty") because it is big and ugly. With the 120 back, WLF, and 127mm lens it weighs in at almost 6lbs. Sure, it can be hand-held, but it really wants to live on a tripod. It takes wonderful pictures though, and once you experience the convenience of the revolving back you'll start to wonder why every (rectangular format) camera doesn't have it. You can find the RB and accessories on the auction sites as well, and the lens selection is very nice. Another feature of the RB I like is the bellows focusing, which I've taken advantage of when doing nature photography. One complaint people have with the RB is that you need to cock the shutter and wind the film separately. For me this hasn't been a problem, and certainly doesn't justify the extra cost of an RZ.

 

The RB is also very configurable. Virtually every component can be taken off and replaced for specific needs. I bought my RB completely stripped: no focusing screen, no film back adapter, no hood, nothing. The body had been serviced by Mamiya, so while cosmetically a bit rough it was in pefect working condition. I then bought the remaining components needed to get going (screen, hood, back adapter, back, and lens) over time at bargain prices: for under $400 I had a complete RB67 ProS system that works like it was 1975 again. You can also get digital backs for the RB/RZ series.

 

Obviously I am a Mamiya fan. For rectangular format portrait photography I think you would be well served for a long time with them. I have never used a Hasselblad, so I cannot commment one way or the other on them.

[wayne_desbarres]

Hi Again,

 

I actually did start by looking for a used Digital SLR but got scared off by the price and also my lack of software knowledge i.e. Photoshop. At this point I would like to spend about $1000 cdn and experiment so I could buy a Fuji S1 Pro and use my Nikon lenses. Any Nikon digital SLR is out of my range.

 

I am also not sold on the quality of digital yet. Normally the largest that I blow a portrait up to is 24"x30" and I don't know what the quality would be like. If I do go digital I would also buy a printer - maybe Epson 2200 for proofs and small prints. I geuss when I look at digital there is so much too learn with Photoshop and I don't know if I want to spend all that time in front of a computer. I know how film reacts i.e saturation, contrast, tones etc. and that makes me feel at home but.... digital vs. MF? I don't know.

 

Has anybody here used the Fuji S1 Pro camera or any other digital camera and blown up to 24"x30"?

 

Many Thanks,

Wayne

[geoff_mcauliffe]

The Mamiya TLR system, C330 is the top end, fits your requirements. The 135 mm lens is good for portraits of 2 people, the 180 is good for a head and shoulders shot. No moving mirror so no image black-out at the moment of exposure. Lots of bodies and lenses available on the used market, leaf shutters so flash sync at any speed, square format so no need to turn the camera to get the correct orientation, very rugged, can be used on a tripod or hand-held with the "L" grip.

[dick roadnight cotswolds]

Try a Hasselblad 555 ELD with 120/150/250 or a tele-rollei TLR (if you can find one).

 

Photography, particularly portraiture/fashion is mostly sales, PR and hot air, but a quality product can help.

 

If you feel you need auto-focus you may consider the Rollei 6008AF or the Hasselblad H1.

[Jochen_S]

The C330 is cheap and reliable. I found it hard to get adapted to the parallax correction bar on top in the beginning. The original screen isn't very bright. The Pentax 6x7 and even Blads have trouble to get close because of no bellows.

Are you tall? then get something with waistlevel finder and 6x6 or rotating back.

If you like to continue to use prisms you can choose 6x4,5s

Think about film loading. Reloading C330 takes time, changing magazines doesn't, but a Blad magazine is as expensive as a 35mm body and reloading them is slower than reloading a magazin-less camera.

[houstonphotographics]

I had a Bronica ETRS a couple of years ago. Very good camera until one of my 220 backs jammed during a wedding (I had a backup of course and completed the event successfully). Great handheld, but for portraits I would consider the RB 67 or a Hasselblad and yes get a good heavy duty tripod and cable release. I personally use a C330, and am very happy and still have $$ in my back pocket.

[_________1]

I like the square and shoot my pictures to be printed square. If you are not thinking about digital back compatibility, I'd say that the Bronica SQ-Ai system offers the best bang for the buck.

[joelcollins]

I shoot a Pentax 67 with the 135mm macro lens in the studio, usually with Agfa APX 100 b&w film. I own extention tubes for even closer focusing, but have never needed them for portrait work. I am very satisified with the quality of the Pentax -- I have printed up to 36" prints with incredible detail. You can see some of my results here:

 

http://www.joelcollinsphoto.com

(look in the "Portraits" section)