35mm shooter trying to dip his toes and ankles in MF

OldBodyOldSoul · Jan 19, 2014

I am a 35mm shooter and that won't change, but I am really (really really) interested in giving MF a chance. I have two cameras: Hasselblad 500c with 80/2.8 and Mamiya C3 Pro with 80/2.8 and 135/4 (both silver).
My problem is that I am overthinking this too much and always asking for some "special conditions" to try them out, but that is going to change as at least one of these two will have to shoot some film next weekend.

My (half serious) question to you is "which one to try first?". I live in a relatively big city and plan to sit on some corner with the camera on tripod and shutter release cord in hand, and wait for the shot to appear. If, or rather when, I get bored by sitting there I may get up and walk to one of the veggie/fruit markets and see if I am capable of getting some shots handheld. I will use b&w film, most probably HP5 but if weather permits (which I doubt) I may go with something slower.

If you have any advice, besides the expected RTFM, I am listening.

Note: Hasselblad has been CLAd recently, Mamiya has not but it does seem to work properly. Both have been idle for roughly 20 years. Getting light leaks from Mamiya would not kill my enthusiasm as that problem could be solved; what I want to figure out is if I like these cameras or not. I have shot several 120 rolls before, with one or another version of Kiev/Salyut which leaked light left and right but it was their clunkiness that made me walk away from them.

nwilkins · Jan 19, 2014

well you should try both cameras eventually, and then you can sell the one you won't use to someone who will use it. But it shouldn't really matter which one you try first. Both cameras can do the job you want so it will just come down to personal preference in terms of handling.

jerrybro · Jan 19, 2014

I've shot MF for years with an old Rolleicord, but I found the Blad to be a little more difficult to use. To get used to it I chase the dogs around the yard taking picture with it. It has helped me become comfortable with the handling and in shooting moving subjects. The more I use it the more I like it. With the Rollei I often zone focus in advance and don't even look thru the finder when taking the picture.

nsurit · Jan 19, 2014

If both have waist level finders, you might find that a little awkward. If either has a prism finder, it might be a little easier to give a test run. Bill "Looking upside down and Backwards" Barber

Too old to care · Jan 19, 2014

I "grew up" on Mamiya TLRs (C3, C220, C330f) working as a wedding photographer and a few years ago bought a 501C to play with. I find both my current 330f and my 501c a joy to use, but to be honest, the Mamiya is easier. I can focus it easier, load it faster, and the quality of images from both cameras are pretty much the same. I agree with the other comments, use both and then decide which to let go. I am considering letting my 501 now that I have had it awhile.

MDR · Jan 19, 2014

Walk around with both cameras inside your home and compose, don't shoot, pictures the one that feels more comfortable after say 1/2 hour is the one you should use. Comfort is an often overlooked thing when choosing a camera. Both cameras are suited for Streetwork and both cameras have good lenses the Hassy might be a tad faster in use but the difference is very small.

Rick A · Jan 19, 2014

You definitly are overthinking this. It doesn't matter which you shoot first, just pick one up and shoot some danged film! No matter which you choose, they both have square format which I think is perfect.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 19, 2014

The Mamiya first. Definitely. There. Now go shoot.

John Koehrer · Jan 19, 2014

The Hasselblad IMO is better balanced and more comfortable in my hand. The Mamiya is more top heavy but works really well with a pistol, not side grip.

bdial · Jan 19, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
The Mamiya first. Definitely. There. Now go shoot.

I'll go with Richard, just because, but it's really arbitrary.

I've used both quite a lot, either are capable of giving you fine pictures. Both are easy to use in their own ways.
If composing or shooting with a WLF may give you headaches, then take the Mamiya, use the WL finder to focus then compose with the sports finder.

I think you'll find the hardest part of using either one is getting it out of the closet, loading some film and making the first picture. That is, overcoming the inertia of not doing anything with them.

Nick Merritt · Jan 19, 2014

Yes, either camera is great, but I would say you should leave the tripod at home. Just walk around and take handheld pictures of whatever strikes your fancy. The tripod will add too much hassle.

With the Mamiya, if you are planning to take closeups, just keep in mind that racking the bellows out can make handholding a little more awkward -- and also be sure to check the exposure compensation factor (the plate on the side of the camera).

analoguey · Jan 19, 2014

Recently tried a friends TLR and found the experience very weird... And I use a mamiya RB regularly, so it wasn't the format or the viewfinder, was mostly ergonomics. (plus it was wayy lighter than I expected,almost feather-weight)

Sent from Tap-a-talk

Maris · Jan 19, 2014

Either the Hasselblad or Mamiya will do fine but use them only on a tripod. The tripod forces the clean break between 35mm and roll-film both technically and mentally.

35mm is a fast moving, lightweight, 36 shot format, with fast lenses, well adapted to hand-holding, and with a minimal cost per exposed frame. It also delivers the lowest picture quality in regular photographic production.

Roll-film is essentially none of the above. In comparison with 35mm it is slow and heavy with only a few higher cost shots per load. Focussing via a WL finder is really well done when the camera is tripod mounted. The pay-off is supreme image quality that for moderate enlargements is as good as a view camera.

OldBodyOldSoul · Jan 19, 2014

Thank you all for your replies.

First, both cameras have waist level finders, but Mamiya also has a very strange looking p-of-sorts - it's assymetric and protrudes on one of the sides. Very strange feeling and handling when that thing is on, so I will definitely stay with the WLFs, at least for start.
Mamiya also has the side grip, which I didn't find helpful at all. It might be that all I need is a bigger bicep, but I don't have it yet so the grip is staying at home.

Second, I have done about half a mile walking around the apartment with each camera, trying to focus. It was a breeze but worked a bit faster with the Hasselblad because of its bigger and brighter screen. I didn't try to focus close and don't intend to with first couple of rolls.

Overall, the 500c feels simpler and easier to handle but that is expected considering where I am coming from. It's also had a CLA so I know it works as it should.
Then comes the big bummer - I can't handhold the Mamiya. It's highly unstable and tilts every which way, but that could be due to my 35mm-itis which makes me hold the camera in my left palm and do the work with my right? I might need to nail it to my chest so I can have both hands free... or I should just let it hang on the strap.
But then, I intend to use a tripod for at least some, if not all, shots. Also, the Mamiya is making me much more curious. On top of that, where I live, Mamiya would be less conspicuous. Heck, I am sure that 80% of people wouldn't even be sure what I am looking at, and why.

It's a conundrum, really.

MattKing · Jan 19, 2014

Try using a shortened neck strap and the left hand grip with the Mamiya.

You canbrace the camera against your chest and let the strap take the weight. Your left hand steadies everything, while your right hand makes all necessary adjustments.

The finder you have is a mirrored porro finder. It has the advantage of allowing eye level operation and relatively light weight (compared to the prism finder), but it is cumbersome and rather dim (again compared tothe prism finder).

OldBodyOldSoul · Jan 20, 2014

Thanks Matt, I will try the grip & shortened strap combination when I get home. It sounds like something that could work and feel right.

So it looks like the Mamiya will go first.

Rick A · Jan 20, 2014

The main difference, other than ergonomics, is how quiet the Mamiya is compared to the Blad. The prism finder on the Mamiya will allow you to view the image in the finder as you would your 35mm, these are available for the Blad as well, albeit pricy.

StoneNYC · Jan 20, 2014

Just get out and shoot! Also, if you think you'll "always" be a 35mm shooter once you see the negs and print 120 negs, you might change your mind

Good luck, but stop hesitating and just shoot!

OldBodyOldSoul · Jan 20, 2014

Rick, differences between 35mm and MF cameras (at least the two I have) are so big and so many that the fact that I could use an eye-level finder with Mamiya means very little to me. Now, if I had a Pentax 67 that would be different. But I do get the point.

Stone, since I am not a professional photographer but a hobbyist, the quality of output is only one of the two major aspects that determine if I am going to keep using the system. The other is how much pleasure I get from using the cameras and lenses, and I love my Nikons. While I can easily imagine adding a MF system (we'll see about that soon) to my 35mm, it's very hard to imagine MF or LF ever replacing it. I often walk through this hilly city and rarely do less than 10 miles, and I am not exactly a spring chicken any more... Things get harder to do and carry, mind gets more resistant to the ideas of change etc. But, as you said, I might change my mind. I would love if it turned out to be THAT good.

OldBodyOldSoul · Jan 20, 2014

This is to clarify my intentions: I am not going to find or even look for a way to skip this weekend. When I started this thread, I had already made it clear to myself that it's going to happen, the only unknowns being which camera (Mamiya!) and if it's Saturday or Sunday. Ok, there are more like which corner I will plant myself on and which film I will use but those are fun and only pushing me forward.

spacer · Jan 20, 2014

The thing that got me out shooting, interestingly enough, was the Polaroid back on my Bronnie. After getting some good instant feedback from that (yeah, digital has me spoiled), I'm feeling a lot better about taking it out with a rollfilm back, and even pulled my Kowas out of the closet.

elekm · Jan 20, 2014

Although you have two excellent cameras, I might suggest spending a bit of money for a folding camera. I wouldn't spend too much. It will let you experience medium format, and it certainly is a different style of shooting compared with a TLR or an SLR.

For those coming from 35mm SLRs, a folding camera with a simple viewfinder has an easier adjustment curve, although there will be the need to adjust for parallax with some of the cameras.

StoneNYC · Jan 20, 2014

Fine TLR for walking around town/parties, etc, and the SLR for mountains and hiking... Done.

Sirius Glass · Jan 20, 2014

Try both, then sell the Mamiya C3 Pro. I traded my Mamiya C3 Pro for a Hasselblad and I have never looked back.

Alan Gales · Jan 20, 2014

A big advantage of the Hasselblad is the interchangeable backs.

Of course this is real important to some and less important to others.

35mm shooter trying to dip his toes and ankles in MF

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