tim_drake

Thanks for your reply Jonathan. When you get your test shots please add a follow up. Have you compared your Super Isolette to any vintage TLRs such as an Autocord or Rolleicord? Again Thanks, Tim.

Has anyone compared the sharpness and color of the Mamiya 6 Olympus

D.Zuiko lens versus the 75mm 3.5 Solinar on the Super Isolette or

Speedex? Thanks

If you have been shooting a Hasselblad, I wonder if the sharpness problems vintage 6x9 folders (even CLAd folders) have would be acceptable to you?

Hi thanks for the instant reply. I got it by accident. You turn the big knob to unlock and then push in the film knob above it at the same time pushing down on the little lever beside it. Wow, I still get to shoot tonight's sunset with it.

I just received a Mamiya C220F without an owner's manual and I seem

to be having a problem of getting the back opened. What am I

missing? Thanks

Hi- I think Robert answered your question as to portrait vs landscape with these Fuji cameras. As to which Fuji, you didn't say what you are planning on shooting or what film you like. My first Fuji was the GS645 folder, sharp lens but couldn't keep it working. KEH refunded my money on that one. The next one was the GS645W, very nice but it fell in mountain hiking accident and smashed. See www.bigezlodge.com for a photo taken with it. The lodge photo with the star trails was taken by my son with the gs645w. The ZI makes a excellent replacement for shooting 35mm with the exception of macro and long telephoto. The built in flash is just good enough for cafe photos of friends at the same table. I would suggest reading the other beginner thread, 645 vs 6x6. I find shooting vintage twin lens reflexes loads of fun. The Fuji ZI or my Pentax 67II are for when the moment is going fast. If I have time to plan the shot, I shoot 4x5 or a vintage TLR, such as an Autocord, Diacord, Ciro Flex, and now a very excellant Red Yashica D from Dean Williams ( deanw@valint.net). If in doubt start with a vintage TLR and move on up and have fun. PS I ride a Gas Gas Trials bike made in Spain. Sincerely, Tim D.

Sorry no macro with these fuji fixed lens cameras. Macro in medium format is a highly debated subject. The ZI I know for sure has a program (point and shoot) mode. The Ga645Wi is hard to find and more expensive than the ZI. I bought my ZI used from KEH but they are on Ebay all the time. B&H had new ZIs the last time I looked. I was at Niagra Falls last weekend and somebody asked me what digital camera I was shooting (the ZI) and I told them Fuji's new 50 megapixel camera and they believed it, but then many believe medium format equals 50 megapixels. Regards, Tim

Third vote for Fuji 645-ZI. High build quality, very sharp lens, meter thats right on 99% of the time. It's the standard by which I compare all my other cameras. For hand holding-street photography, I would suggest Provia 400F. Regards, T. Drake

Loads of thank to everybody for the replies. I looked at the "D"s on eBay and noticed that they don't have a B setting on the shutter nor threads to screw in a cable release. Something I need for night photography. So a metered model is probably my best choice. I already have a Minolta Autocord, Ciro Flex, and a Rolleicord Vb and just wanted to add a Yashica to my TLR testing (playing) ring. The autocord is a dream, love it. I just got the Ciro and the Rollie off of EBay and have only ran one roll of Velvia though each. The real stunner was the 4 element Raptar lens on the Ciro. With an 8x Mamiya loupe it appears noticeably sharper than the Vb and may be equal to the Autocord. That is with neither the Ciro or Vb having a CLA. So just playing around, everybody have a great holiday weekend and burn loads of film. Sincerely, Tim Drake

I've read that the Yashinon 80mm is the best lens but which body and

shutter would you recommend that does not have a built in light

meter? I am looking for a lighter and smaller body. Thanks.

I am sure Jurgen would be willing to answer any questions you would have. You will need either a shoe mount range finder to go with it or use another camera to measure distance. I believe the Ercona II focuses in meters. Jurgen can usually sell you one even if he doesn't have one on Ebay. I shoot a variety of vintage folders but have yet to find one that equals any of the Fuji range finders. Best Wishes.

A year ago I bought an old Wollensack lens for 4x5 over the net from them and it was A++ as was there service. Regards, Tim

If your neck strap does not have to be original, a trip to the hardware store will get you going. I picked up the smallest key type wring that they had (1/2 inch) and it will slide between the small lower pin sticking out and the upper larger pin with a lip. If you look you'll see the little space that will hold the wring in. Then you can hook up any neck strap you want. Hope this helps.

Hello, I realize this is a new post to an old question but I can not resist. I have shot the ZI almost weekly for the past two years.

As you know there is not a perfect do all for all things camera (digital included) out there. The ZI however can fill a broad range of uses if your final goal includes 24 inch plus enlargements. This is a solidly built camera with an exceptionally sharp lens of great color and contrast. The zoom lens is of limited range (perhaps wide to normal on a Mamiya 6) but you can zoom it a lot faster than you can change lenses on any camera, a plus for street photography. The built in flash is not blinding but excellent enough for caf頳hots of friends at your same table and some fill flash work. The meter is dead on for Velvia 50, E100VS, and Provia 400. I have a large collection of non metered vintage medium format cameras (Thanks to Certo6) and I use the ZI to meter for them. I guarantee the shot first with then ZI and then shoot the vintage camera I am playing with that day. Since the ZI can stop down to F38, I also use it to meter for my Ebony 45S when I am rushed. I have read of noise complaints but I just do not get where that is coming from. This camera is not noisy!!! You should here my Canon T70 or my Konica FT-1, or even the mechanical film advance on my Koni Omega. This camera is not super small but I have carried it numerous times snowboarding in Montana. I used it for street photography in D.C. two weeks ago (shooting Provia 400). I got excellent results at the World Cup Trials Motorcycle event in Duluth, Minnesota with it. Scenic landscape on a tripod is my main course and this camera which can meter multiple second shots has saved the day numerous times under fast changing light. Some have cut down the auto focus but it may only miss the shot once in every 6 rolls, much better than my now gone Nikon N65. I in fact I greatly appreciated that auto focus point and shoot capability in Alaskan bear country. Of my four favorite cameras, (Pentax 67II, Ebony 45s, Minolta Autocord, & ZI,) the ZI is the camera I never leave home without. Best Regards.

Fuji 645ZI !!! It's one of my three favorite cameras. The other two being the Pentax 67II and my Ebony 45S. Fuji has a very sharp limited zoom lens. Build quality is better than the Mamiya 6 or 7. The exposure meter is so right on, I use it for metering when shooting the 4x5. I guarantee the shot first with the ZI and then shoot the 4x5. Its quiet, easy to load, point and shoot, and it's flash is good enough for cafe photos of friends. It's not super small but I've carried mine snowboarding numerous times.

Thanks for your response Alex. I'll be receiving the camera from KEH this Friday and I'll put it toegether. If I have the problems understanding the finder that other photonet users have had, I'll let you know. Again Loads of Thanks, Tim

Hello, I've been unable to find a manual for the Bronica GS-1 rotary

AE finder. I was wondering if someone might know where I could find

a copy or if someone could just give me a rundown of what it says?

Loads of Thanks.

On my son's first trip to Brazil he was robbed at gun point of his Nikon 35mm camera equipment. When he went back again last December he took a Konica TC-X with a 40mm lens, a vintage Zenobia 120 6.45 folder,and a B&J 4x5. The results were his best works ever and no robberies. He hasn't used his remaining Nikon equipment since. The Hexanon 40mm lens maybe the best 35mm film camera lens ever made. As to modern larger format cameras, the two best cameras I owne are an Ebony 45S and the Fuji GA645ZI. Take a very-very serious look at the Fuji GA645ZI. Its has point and shoot ability with Professional results. Much better than my writing and spelling. I guarantee the shot first with the ZI before I shoot the scene with any other camera. I have multiple backpacks with different camera set ups and the ZI is the camera I move from pack to pack. I use it to meter for all my vintage folders. As to a vintage pocket folder on your trip, my Minolta Autocord out performs the best of them but it doesn't fit in a pocket. I mainly shoot Velvia 50 on a tripod, even with vintage cameras, but I will also shoot Provia 400F in the Fuji ZI when I need hand held. With even it's limited zoom, the ZI will be an excellant choice for street photography. It's flash will work great for those dining photos and it will fit in larger pockets. I even carry my ZI snowboarding. The ZI's sharpness at F38 is excellant-plus which means great depth of field in those super sized supergloss enlargements. I leave the lens hood on all the time with a protective B&W UV filter and don't bother with a the lens cap. It speeds the shooting. The leather pouch is my cap. Have loads of fun and hope this helps. Tim

With the exception of being vintage, how about the Koni Omega Rapid M or Rapid 200? It has mid roll removable backs, 6x7, tripod mounts on two sides that with quick release plates allow for quick vertical to horizontal changes, and a remarkable 58mm wide angle lens. At 5LBS and no bellows it is very stable in the wind. No electronics to worry about on those three hour new moon photos. I can put 64T in a back for night shots and not finish the roll and then switch to Velvia 50 in the morning. I companioned this camera with a Fuji GA645ZI and a tripod in a backpack last weekend for 120 miles on a Trials bike. Just a something more to concider. Best Regards, Tim