6x6 SLR

Dr Croubie · Aug 4, 2014

Only if you load them wrong. In all my loadings of Pentacon 6, Kiev 60, and Kiev 88 (both old and NT backs), I've only ever had 1 mis-placed framing on the Kiev 60, and even then I was rushing and knew I didn't have it perfect but thought it'd be ok, it wasn't.
But the quality of the lenses is superb, I've got the whole MC kit (50/80/120/180/300), a few other zebra zeiss (50/80/180), and a whole bunch of Soviet (30/30/30/65/80/90/250), even the SC Ukranian lenses are decent for $30.

piu58 · Aug 5, 2014

I rate the kiev 60 over the pentacon six. They can replace each other. P6 looks nicer, but the image in the viewfinder is only 52 mm wide and it has problems when it gets cold: Times are much too long then.

macrorie · Aug 5, 2014

I think the cameras that you mentioned are all great, but I am little surprised that nobody so far has suggested that depth of field preview can be a useful feature for portrait photography. If it is important in the way you work, then I think that rules out TLRs unless Mamiyas had a second iris in the viewing lenses. There is no way to evaluate DOF visually in Rolleflexes, although you can always imagine it from the distance scales on the camera (I can't and in any case it would be too much of a distraction from shooting for me).

Sirius Glass · Aug 6, 2014

macrorie said:
I think the cameras that you mentioned are all great, but I am little surprised that nobody so far has suggested that depth of field preview can be a useful feature for portrait photography. If it is important in the way you work, then I think that rules out TLRs unless Mamiyas had a second iris in the viewing lenses. There is no way to evaluate DOF visually in Rolleflexes, although you can always imagine it from the distance scales on the camera (I can't and in any case it would be too much of a distraction from shooting for me).

It probably was not mentioned because its use is second nature to us slr users.

Gunfleet · Aug 6, 2014

Quick reply to macrorie - you can preview on a Mamiya, but more to the point if DOF is important to you in a tlr portrait you are probably going to be close enough to the subject that parallax is an issue too. In other words, I'm not sure this is a tlr's strongpoint, much as i love my rolleiflex.

Sirius Glass · Aug 6, 2014

Gunfleet said:
Quick reply to macrorie - you can preview on a Mamiya, but more to the point if DOF is important to you in a tlr portrait you are probably going to be close enough to the subject that parallax is an issue too. In other words, I'm not sure this is a tlr's strongpoint, much as i love my rolleiflex.

The Mamiya C series has a view finder index to point to the top of the frame for parallax correction. I credit them for that. I do not recall Rolleis having anything like that.

My father would use his C330 to street photography. He would ask if he could take a portrait. When he got permission he would get so close that he could shove one lens in each nostril. My aversion to the look of horror on the subjects' faces is probably why I do not take portraits.

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 6, 2014

The Rollei mirror moves to adjust for parallax IIRC. In any case I've not found it to be an issue when shooting with it.

mweintraub · Aug 6, 2014

Gunfleet said:
Quick reply to macrorie - you can preview on a Mamiya, but more to the point if DOF is important to you in a tlr portrait you are probably going to be close enough to the subject that parallax is an issue too. In other words, I'm not sure this is a tlr's strongpoint, much as i love my rolleiflex.

Wasn't that only on a few lenses like the 105mm DS or something?

Jeff Kubach · Aug 6, 2014

I would go for a Rollei also.

Jeff

RalphLambrecht · Aug 6, 2014

Jeff Kubach said:
I would go for a Rollei also.

Jeff

and love is what it needs to like a TSLR.they are just weiredafter using an SLR;never could get used to it,just thewrong concept for me.:confused:

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 6, 2014

RalphLambrecht said:
and love is what it needs to like a TSLR.they are just weiredafter using an SLR;never could get used to it,just thewrong concept for me.:confused:

Ralph - I used to think so too, after shooting a Hasselblad and 35mm SLRs. Then I spent some time shooting almost exclusively large format. When I picked a TLR back up again after that, it was far less weird and it grew on me very quickly. Now I truly love my Rollei.

Slixtiesix · Aug 7, 2014

The Rolleis do automatically correct for parallax, but not so if you use a Rolleinar. When doing this, you have to correct for parallax. Best way is to use a tripod and to raise the column a bit so the taking lens is where the viewing lens was. Rollei also offered a tool for that which is mounted between the camera and the tripod.

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 7, 2014

Slixtiesix said:
The Rolleis do automatically correct for parallax, but not so if you use a Rolleinar. When doing this, you have to correct for parallax. Best way is to use a tripod and to raise the column a bit so the taking lens is where the viewing lens was. Rollei also offered a tool for that which is mounted between the camera and the tripod.

Actually, the Rolleinars have a parallax correction prism as part of the set. That's what the funky tube-like optical element that goes on the taking lens is for. If you've been shooting with one of the early Rolleinars with the Rolleiparkeil set in three pieces, you may be missing the third piece that had the parallax-compensating prism, and only has the close-up lens for the viewing lens and taking lens. The later Rolleinars are two-piece sets that combine the parallax prism with the viewing lens close-up magnifier.

gandolfi · Aug 8, 2014

Just came back from the wonderful city of Prague....

In the airport my hand bag was stopped and I was asked what was in that bag... "among other daily items I have an old camera..."... Stirn voice: "Please take that camera out of your bag!" - I did and placed my beloved Rolleiflex 2.8F in a seperate container and it went through the X-ray again... I went to the other side, and there a youngish customs worker was sitting, fondeling and drooling over this... he looked at me and said "Perfect!!"... I am convinced he just wanted to see it up close.... not for any safety reasons, but just for the joy of it....

A great reason to own Rolleiflex!!

Gunfleet · Aug 8, 2014

The Czechs know and like their cameras that's for sure.

one90guy · Aug 9, 2014

I would vote for the Bronica EC, I lucked out on a great deal. Also have Mamiya C330, Rolleicord III and Yashica A. as all ready mentioned the C330 and the EC are heavy. On long walks I carry the Rolleicord or the Yashica. The Bronica and the Mamiya are carried in the truck

Alan Gales · Aug 9, 2014

TheFlyingCamera said:
Then I spent some time shooting almost exclusively large format. When I picked a TLR back up again after that, it was far less weird and it grew on me very quickly. Now I truly love my Rollei.

There is something about large format that changes your perspective on things. I noticed this with 4x5 and really noticed it with 8x10.

Texsport · Nov 2, 2014

Best 6x6 close head portrait cameras and lenses:

(1) Rittreck/Warner/Norita + Noritar 80/2 MC lens.

Prefer Rittreck and Warner because of mirror lock up ability

(2) Pentacon Six + Zeiss 180/2.8 lens

Slight disadvantage because of greater distance from subject

6x7/6x9 Formats

(1) Fujica 670/690 + Fujinon 100/3.5 + Auto Up close up accessory

Closest possible focus

Texsport

flavio81 · Nov 3, 2014

one90guy said:
I would vote for the Bronica EC, I lucked out on a great deal. Also have Mamiya C330, Rolleicord III and Yashica A. as all ready mentioned the C330 and the EC are heavy.

The C330 and the Bronica EC are not heavy cameras at all.
I think many people here should go to the gym. Or buy better camera straps and camera bags.

mweintraub · Nov 3, 2014

flavio81 said:
The C330 and the Bronica EC are not heavy cameras at all.
I think many people here should go to the gym. Or buy better camera straps and camera bags.

This.

flavio81 · Nov 3, 2014

Anyways,

The joy of Medium format is that there are many good or great cameras to choose from. And you will probably never find a poor lens in medium format, unless it has been damaged or mis-aligned.

Now, regarding camera weight, i just gave my Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/16 to a cousin yesterday. He is a spoiled guy who complains about camera size and weight. That camera is really compact and the 3-element lens is good enough for fantastic 8x10" prints. Meanwhile i'll keep carrying my RB67 and C330 with me without a complaint.

Yesterday i climbed a tree carrying the C330 with the 105/3.5 lens. Ok, the tree had some wooden logs as stairsteps, but it still required some boy-scout skill levels to climb.

Heavy camera? Har har har.

k.hendrik · Nov 3, 2014

Newt_on_Swings said:
Lovely photos, I see this guy around all the time in the city! Always at the parades and such too, but he's always around chatting with someone and Ive never had to chance to meet him. I think I saw him in the exact same spot in front of B&H a week or two ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77846450@N00/5239324794/in/set-72157625785526829/
This guy must have been shot a zillion times, this one is from 2010 !

ic-racer · Nov 3, 2014

TheFlyingCamera said:
The Rollei mirror moves to adjust for parallax IIRC.

The viewing frame mask moves.

6x6 SLR

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