35mm camera with interchangable backs

Samuel Hotton · Apr 7, 2008

Is there available on the new or used market, a 35mm camera with interchangeable film backs?

It would be nice to change from color to black & white or change film speed as desired, as one can do with the 2 1/4 SLRs.

With thanks,
Sam H.

CraigH · Apr 7, 2008

Zeiss had a 35mm with interchangable backs.

Craig

keithwms · Apr 7, 2008

There are some 645s (mamiyas and such) that take 35mm film in interchangeable backs.

There are also some 35mm cameras (e.g. konica hexar AF) that wind film precisely enough that you can change rolls mid roll and go back to where you were later. But it's not exactly a delight.

One of the big plusses of medium format is the ease of switching backs- true of many systems. But very rare in 35mm systems, hence some 35mm shooters simply carry multiple bodies.

I seem to recall interchangeable backs on the Leica r9 but I don't know much about it. I don't now about Zeiss.

Marc Akemann · Apr 7, 2008

I know that the 35mm Zeiss Ikon Contaflex SLRs, like the Super B, Super BC and S, had the option of interchangeable film backs. I'm currently looking for one of these backs. It's got a dark slide, but, if you get into this system you're limited on lenses, which are 35, 50, 85 and 115mm along with an M1:1 macro (50mm) and a not so sharp monocular (400mm). Also, the Zeiss Ikon Contarex system had the same film back set up as the Contaflex system, but Contarex equipment is terribly expensive. More lenses to choose from, though.

Perhaps keithwms' thought with the 645s is a good idea. I used to have a Bronica ETRSi (6x4.5) that had a 135-W back with image dimensions of approximately 24mm x 60mm±. There also is a standard 24x36 back (135-N) available for the ETR system. This would give you the versatility your looking for with your film type (color/b&w) along with the added bonus of image size versatility (normal & panoramic).

Marc

MattKing · Apr 7, 2008

Rollei SL 2000 F/3003.

I've never actually seen one, but remember reading about them.

Here is a link:

http://www.cameraquest.com/rol3003.htm

Matt

Philippe-Georges · Apr 7, 2008

Rolleiflex SL 2000 F, high tech system camera, see www.butkus.org.

Ian Tindale · Apr 7, 2008

I used to have a Rolleiflex SL 3003, many years ago, with 50mm, 35mm lenses ,and two interchangeable film backs. It got stolen. It was, however, a superb camera.

edz · Apr 7, 2008

Samuel Hotton said:
Is there available on the new or used market, a 35mm camera with interchangeable film backs?

There were a few 35mm cameras with interchangeable backs. The Adox 300:

http://http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/adox1.htm

and the (same system) Leica microscope cameras some to mind.

The cartridges work very well and are extremely robust!

It would be nice to change from color to black & white or change film speed as desired, as one can do with the 2 1/4 SLRs.

There are other approaches that, in my opinion, are almost as good. Robot cameras, for instance, have a closed take-up spool (types K, N and NR depending upon the model). With any Robot camera one can change film in the middle of a roll. In contrast to the Adox/Leica cassette above one losses a few frames with each remove/insert (the space between the cartridges gets exposed to ambient light but that's, I think, good enough to be useful. Its completely reliable.

There is even a variant of the Robot cartridge for cameras of type Star II (Star 25/50/Vollautomat-II) that keeps the feed and take-up together (as a kind of film cartridge).
Dead Link Removed
(see: Dead Link Removed)
The downside to the above: one removed the pressures plate and must always use these. With the standard take-up one has two objects in the hand (the feed and the take-up) but its not too bad. For earlier cameras (type IIa, Junior, Star) there was a rewind box that doubled as a case for the feed and take-up pair.

Dan Fromm · Apr 7, 2008

Contarex, also.

Sam, if you want a modern mount system, look for a light body in one, for example Nikon FG, and carry two. It isn't as burdensome as you fear.

Pinholemaster · Apr 7, 2008

Buy a second body!

David A. Goldfarb · Apr 7, 2008

Given how cheap used film SLRs are these days, it makes much more sense just to buy a few 35mm bodies than to find one of the rare 35mm systems that uses interchangeable film backs, and then actually to find more than one back for it.

BobbyR · Apr 7, 2008

For 135 cameras, the Zeiss Contarex had them as did the Rollei 2000/3000 series.(There were a few others I cannot recall)
Now remember the peak and valley lulls I speak of, but Contarex items were sell at very reasonable prices just a month ago on ebay, and at least one non-ebay seller.(Sorry I did not memorize who)
Backs, with dark slides were selling for fifty to seventy bucks.
Even a motor drive sold for less than 300 dollars.

From what I have seen darn near everything has jumped by at least twenty five to fifty percent recently but IF you really want a camera with inter-changeble backs check the net, thouroughly and not just ebay.
Bobby

cmo · Apr 9, 2008

Maybe I start a rumour, but I recently read somewhere that for some very few Canon rangefinders an exchangeable film back was offered, but if they exist they are probably collector items at outrageous prices.

sjperry · Apr 10, 2008

Yes the Rolleiflex SL2000 and 3003 use interchangable backs. You also have a top viewfinder that can be popped up and used. I had a 2000 years ago. The top viewfinder does not work well as a waist level viewfinder because the 35mm image is so much smaller that it's hard to see. I often used it, but brought the camera up close to eye level. In addition, it has a rear viewfinder like most 35mm cameras. This camera has built in motor drive, and is really unique. It uses interchangable lenses with superb Zeiss optics. I had some problems with the motor drive jamming when the battery got low, so I would recommend the 3003 because I think they got this sorted out by then.

Sino · Apr 11, 2008

I love my ADOX 300, although it takes me half an hour to take a single shot and I've only got one back/cartridge for it. But it does teach me to slow down.

-Sino.

35mm camera with interchangable backs

Samuel Hotton

CraigH

keithwms

Marc Akemann

MattKing

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Philippe-Georges

Ian Tindale

edz

Dan Fromm

Pinholemaster

David A. Goldfarb

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BobbyR

cmo

sjperry

Sino

35mm camera with interchangable backs

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