What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

[ChrisGalway]

Keen on hearing how you get along with it, I love the GW690 for street photography and the GSW690 for landscapes, but the slighly more cropped in look of the 670 might work well for street also. Something like a 50 rather than a 40, and two extra frames obviously.

I also would be interested to hear how campy51 gets on with the GW670 III, a nice format. Yes, the GW690 is a great camera for street photography, but the shutter release linkage mechanism makes a very loud noise, anyone within 10 metres hears it!

 

[grant.goodes]

In terms of the lens, the Nikkor Plaubel is a stop faster, but the Mamiya 80mm is significantly higher resolution.
The Nikkor is a great lens that works very well for portraits and atmospheric shots, and as long as you do moderate enlargements it performs very well.
But for really big prints (like over 1.5meters), the Mamiya will capture noticably more details.

The same can be said for pretty much any other medium format lens though. The Mamiya 7 lenses are the highest resolution of all medium format films I've seen.

Of course the biggest difference is that you can change the lenses on the Mamiya 7. I use the 65mm nearly all the time on mine.

Your comments are very interesting. I've read a few Mamiya vs. Makina reviews, but they generally "focused" on the handling, rather than the quality of the lenses. It would make sense that the relatively old Nikkor 80/2.8 design (from the late 70's) would have been improved upon by Mamiya, and of course a slower f/4 lens could be made with fewer aberrations.

And as I normally prefer the 24mm focal length on 35mm format, a wide-angle option for my Plaubel would have been great. There is the W67 with a 55/.4.5, but at the time I was looking for a Plaubel, the W67 was very hard to find, and I was put off by the relatively slow-speed lens: I guess I just didn't understand how a MF Rangefinder would behave in reality, and how the 80/2.8 wide-open would be VERY little DOF. The Mamiya's 50/4.5 (equivalent to 24mm) would have been perfect for me, but I'm not going to invest in another system at this point.

 

[Valmidira]

Rolleiflex TLRs.

I find medium format as little bit "strange". For any "fast action" 35mm is probably better and for anything "slower" large format is also better with all the movements etc. TLRs are the only exception that makes sense for me.

 

[Jarno]

but the shutter release linkage mechanism makes a very loud noise, anyone within 10 metres hears it!

Definitely! It's a sort of springy "Sssproinggg" , do wish that is was a bit quieter, will need to pay attention to see if it is different between my Mk.III GW and Mk.I GSW.

 

[LtDave]

im a forum newbie but if medium format, ive got a pair of yashicaMat124 cameras. one was gifted to me, the other a G model, ive had for about 20 years or so. i shot with one in high school.

i also have a pair of Zeiss Ikonta Supers. one in 4.5x6, one in 6x9. i tried loading a roll of film in the 6x9 but never saw any numbers going past the red windows. i wonder if i had a roll of film that wasnt properly marked.

i just processed a roll of Tmax 100 that i shot in a 120 roll film back, for my 4x5 Crown Graphic. does THAT count? the film was from 2024. i got busy in the summer, then my wife developed leukemia and that diverted all of my attention from photography.

 

[Karumikobu]

- Hasselblad 555 ELD
- Mamiya 7

 

[darkosaric]

Not much use of medium format for me, most of the time I use 35mm. I used Rolleiflex and now I have Yashica, but most of the time I shot with Diana F or newer Diana F+, as they give me unusual look. So I am not after higher resolution, just different format and special look.

 

[fdonadio]

Used my Hasselblad 500C/M today. Two old men asked me about the camera, and if I was using film.

 

[Arghgee]

Arghgee, it's good to see some-one from Australia on the site , I from Tassy myself. I started off with a Mamiya C3 and 3 lenses, after a while this lead to a Mamiya RB67 Pro S with a 50mm lens. after a some time, my lens collection grew and I am now up to 8 lenses and a 360 on it's way. This also included buying aluminium cases to store the lenses and some accessories in. the cases come mainly from Op shops such as Vinnies where I volunteered from. I am not that gentile when I travell with the gear when I travell around the bush for photos. I have come to a halt at the moment due to the need to fix my Landrover, when that is done, I have a darkroom to build under my house, got to dejunk it first . I have all the gear for the darkroom but time at the moment is a bit of a premium.

G'day Craig. Good to communicate with other Aussies on this site. I hope you've got your LandRover fixed and you get back to your MF photography soon. I built a darkroom soon after we bought our house. I do my own processing: B&W, colour neg & transparency. I print mainly B&W. My RB67 is the most-used of my MF cameras, with the Rollei 6006 used for trannie film. I'll occasionally put a roll through the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta just so it knows it's appreciated. I can't recall using the Zeiss Ikon Nettar lately. I also regularly use the Sinar Zoom MF film holder on my Chamonix 4x5 camera quite a lot and took it to England, Wales, Scotland & Ireland on a holiday last September. I won't take you to task on dejunking because I have that problem too! I'd love to get to Tassie again. There's great landscapes everywhere and I and my wife have a friend in Oatlands that we should visit before too many years slip by. Too many things to do and not enough time!

 

[Chrstphrlee]

Mamiya 7ii

 

[eli griggs]

Remembering Hasselblad cm, Hasselblad elm, Hasselblad Flex Body, Minolta Autocord (E), Sawyer Mk IV, Diana (original), Speeding Graphic 3.25 x 4.25 Ani model, Instax non (2 wide backs, 1 wide camera)

Pinholes

Etc working, not working

 

[Rick A]

My all time favorite MF has always been my (stolen) Mamiya 6IV folding 6x6. I replaced it with several more of similar models but none were as good as my original including several Zeiss models. These days I still have a Bronica SqA that rarely sees the light of day and a Fuji GW670iii that I picked up last fall for travelling where my 8x10 is not convenient.

 

[tcolgate]

MPP MicroFlex
Minolta Autocord
ZeroInage 69 pinhole
Hasselblad 500cm
Rada 120 back on a Ensign Cameo

They are all great fun, unfortunately the hasselblad has a light leak that is proving hard to diagnose (it's looking like it's possibly the mirror up baffles).

I also have a nettar and an early bessa 6x9, but I don't really use them.

 

[abruzzi]

I don't know when I posted last in this thread, but I've got a lot of medium format cameras at this point, most of which need to get sold on. Today, my most used are the three Bronica SLRs--ETRSi, SQ-A, and GS-1. In addition to them are three 6x9 view cameras--Linhof TK23S, Arca Swiss F-Classic 6x9, and Toyo VX23D. The Rollei, Fuji, and Yashicas are all gathering dust and need new owners.

 

[SH55]

Wow - I had to check. Then, of course, there's what lenses (other than fixed lenses) for each camera!

Mamiya RB67 ProS. My favourite clunky, heavy, manual, versatile MF camera! Many 6x7 film holders (incl. 220) but also have a 4.5x6 (rarely used). Lenses for the RB67 are 50, 90, 127, 180, 250, 360 plus 2X converter and 45mm & 82mm extension tubes. Virtually a complete package.
Rollei 6006. I love its very accurate light-metering system and I use it mainly for transparency film. 50mm Distagon, 80mm Planar.
Zeiss-Ikon Super Ikonta 532/16. Fixed 80mm Tessar.
Mamiya C220. 80mm Sekor.
Zeiss-Ikon Nettar. Fixed 75mm Novar.
Then there's my Sinar Zoom roll film back for my Chamonix and Sinar P2 LF cameras.

Yes, finally some love for the Rollei 6006! I bought a used 6006 (and a SLX for back-up) + 50, 80 and 150 mm lenses in 1993. They made lovely pictures. In 2005 I quit analogue photography but didn't sell my gear. A month ago I discovered a workshop that rebuilt the Rollei batteries. I was hugely surprised to learn that camera's and lenses were stil working properly after 20 years of stand still. The lenses (no fog etc) were unchanged compared to 33 years ago, shutter releases were spot on. A few weeks ago I bought (almost brand new) 120 mm, 250 mm + a 2x converter HFT Carl Zeiss/ Rollei lenses. Prices have been decimated compared to 1993. May be the Rollei 6000/SLX camera line is a sleeper after all?

 

[P C Headland]

Today was the turn of the Pentacon 6TL, loaded with a roll of Lucky 200 colour film. Shot a couple of frames with the 80mm Biometar to start then the remaining frames with the Arsat 30mm lens.

Shot the last frame and went to wind the film off, but the film advance jammed half way. So, when I got home, I stuck it in the dark bag to unload the film and found the reason for the jam - the backing paper was reluctant to let go of the supply side spool. First time that has ever happened. Phew, no issues with the camera!

 

[pbunn9801]

Mamiya M645 Used since the 70s

RB67 Bought last year, little use

Pentax 6x7 I love the camera but god awful heavy

Yashicamat 124 fun camera but I don't much like the format

Old Rollicord Never used it, got it cheap

 

[Luftfeder]

Love the quality of the negatives from my RB67 Pro SD (I have a "C" 50mm, and "K/L" lenses in 75, 127, and 180 mm as well as a 2X converter)

I also have the Texas Leica: Fujifilm GSW690 iii - love the simplicity and the glass is great.

One of the things I love about the RB67 is having 2 backs loaded - one color and one B&W and then who doesn't love the Rotating Back?

 

[Ernst-Jan]

RB67 Bought last year, little use

Pentax 6x7 I love the camera but god awful heavy

That does not sound really like someone from SPARTANburg

 

[Evildad]

I have a Koni Rapid Omega with the 90mm/3.5 and the 58mm/5.6 lenses.

 

[rendress]

I did an inventory of all the cameras I have or will have available to me soon. I counted 23 cameras in total, which includes 5 digital cameras. My favorite format is the middle of the road format- medium format that uses 120 film.

The medium format cameras I have are:

Holga 120
Yashica A
Fuji GW690
Fuji GSW690
Pentax 645N
Pentax 67II
Franka 6x9 Folder
Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/2 6x9 Folder
and my recent purchase of a Mamiya RZ67 Pro.

My two favorites out of this list are both of the Pentax units, with the Fuji GW690 a third. Reason the Fuji is third is because the lens is fixed focal length, and it doesn't have a light meter of some sort. Other then that its a great camera.

What are you guys using and which is your favorite?

My stable contains a Leica M8, Leica MP240, Vogitlander Bessa rf, Contax RTS, Mamiya Universal, Hasselblad c/m, and a Graflex XL. I have used the Leicas extensively, but I am spending more time with the medium format cameras now.

 

[film4Me]

I have a Koni Rapid Omega with the 90mm/3.5 and the 58mm/5.6 lenses.

The Rapid Omega with the 58mm lens is a great combination, very useful for sharp panoramas once the images are cropped top and bottom, if they lend themselves to it. My 58mm has become the standard lens for my Rapid Omega.

A medium format machine I have and anxious to try, is a pristine Zeiss Ikon 530/15 616 size. It's the last version with the shutter button on top of the body. I have only one roll of 616 expired film so I'll take every care to do things right and hopefully get some good pics.

 

[Disconnekt]

Got my Kodak Monitor 616 back from being cla'ed/new bellows installed, so I'll be using the last 9 or so rolls of 120 film I have (currently in the freezer) in it, already have the CameraHack Fak616 adapter for it.

 

[BLEX]

Rolleicord V, and once back from CLA, Pentacon 6!

 

[DirtCat]

Bronica SQ-Ai with a 50mm, an 80mm, a 150mm, and a 200mm, 6x6 and 6x4.5 backs. Yes it's a hassle to carry everything, every outing with the full kit makes me lust after a Fuji GS645