OT - medium format camera

I picked up one of these:

At a flea market a few years ago. The lens is uncoated and not as sharp as the Rolliflex, but you still get the creamy clear texture of medium format in your prints.

Used Hasselblad stuff has not taken a significant hit in prices yet. Wait another 2-3 years.

The other thing to look at is a Russian Kiev. I hear the optics are pretty good and the price is right.

Used Hasselblad's have never been cheaper. Lenses are still a bit pricey but the camera's are pretty affordable.

I'd look for a used Yashicamat or even a Mamiya C220 if you want a twin lens camera. Very affordable, plentiful in most any camera store that sells used equipment. Downside is getting them repaired, can be costly and parts can be hard to get

The Kiev is a Russian copy of the Hassy, ok but nowhere near the quality.

Medium format cameras in general are dropping in price as most studio shooters have forsaken them for digital. The last holdouts are probably traditional portrait and wedding photographers but even most of them have realised the benefits of switching over to digital imaging.

You should be able to find something usable on ebay with little problem or cost.

John Emm>

Most versatile and reasonably priced SLR I have found, although large, is the Mamiya RB67. Solid as a rock and a larger negative; best on a tripod but can be used handheld. Try it you'll like it.

dennis in nca

Any interest in a Kowa 6, uses 120 or 220, has handgrip, but only 85mm lens. SLR, but no prism, viewing hood on top only.

Rich

Just got me thinking...anyone familiar with the Pentax 6x7? I've always fancied one of these for shooting black and white cityscapes, but the prices are still too high. For now I've got a Nikkormat FT3 35 mm, which I love, but I'd like to try medium format sometime. Maybe one day...

Chris

Ideal...nice sharp lens. Any idea on a number?

tom(at)ohiobrush.com

Dad simply adores his. I doubt he's unpacked the Roliflex since he got it. Get the extra forward mounted grip--it offsets the change in center of balance of the larger medium format lenses, makes a big difference in how well it handles (unless you will always have it on a tripod).

--Glenn Lyford

JUst dug it out to check it, haven't shot it in quite a few years, shutter appears to be working properly yet.

Haven't kept up with what they're going for lately, like about ten years or so, but, camera, with handgrip and cable, 67mm polarized filter, cross filter, thinking about two fifty.

I'll send email, my addy here munged too bad and spam isn't my lunch.

It'll be big, digital photo. Well, maybe not that big.

Rich.

>

Well there is those two Hasselblads that are free for the picking up you know. How about them? ...lew...

No thanks, I don't like Hasselblads...they have a quality issue.

Take a look at the Bronica's on EBay the ETRS or ETRSi are very reliable and at present selling at very reasonable prices, lots of attachments available.

Jack

A real man would use an 8" x 10" view camera. Does tend to require a backpack or two. Did I mention I have some I'd like to sell to someone who would use them for what they were intended for? Karl

Did I mention I have some I'd like to sell to someone who would use them for what they were intended for? Karl <

Deardorff?

dennis in nca

I have a 8x10, I always felt that my compositions weren't worth the film. One I got used to the big ng and convenience of 120, my 35mm stuff pales. I mostly do b&w on a tripod with an exposure log, a spotmeter and whole roll shots in the zone system. I shoot color slides on occasion. Out of the thousans of images over the years, I have two or three that are printable.

Tamron, the company that owns the Bronica recently announced that the Bronica line has been completely discontinued.

Probably not an issue but it's gonna mean no parts available sometime soon.

John

How about a couple YashicaMats? I think I have several kicking around, with toasted meters.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the shit out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

That was a nice camera. Bit unwieldy..but took good pics.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the shit out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

I've had a lot of fun with yashicamats

my first was given to me by my grandfather, a 50s model, no meter

the second I bought at a flea market, around 1990. It was a 70s/80s model, spent its whole life in a studio. I paid 150 for that one. woohoo!

I bet they are reasonably priced now

The Yashica is a fun camera to use, does a good job, but I never have liked the feel of the TLR system, probably needed to use it more. I also always liked the Kodak Tourist that my dad has. I used to unwind 120 and 220 film onto 620 spools to get those wonderfully sized 6x9 negatives. Since you already have the 120 film purchased, you may find one of the Ansco/Agfa cameras that uses 120 that suits you.