6x6 slr

[ChristopherCoy]

The OP is looking for 6cm x 6cm [2 1/4" x 2 /4"] negative size, not 4"x5".
.

Yes, but he inquired upon an Internet audience, which means that left field opinions ans suggestions should be expected. I thought that was the point of the Internet...

 

[Sirius Glass]

My university teaching experience taught me to answer the questions directly without flooding the asker with unnecessary detail or information. If they want to explore a side path, the will ask.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

nothing on the Bronica but I will just show a picture on why I think the Rollei SL66 is unbeatable...

The lenses are the "same" as on hasselblad, but with the built in bellows, the macro work - as shown above - is so easy to work with, and that also gives you the opportunity to fit "wrong" lenses on that camera - and focus with it...

Now that is FUN!!

View attachment 49738

Oh yeah! I have an adapter and use a load of old large format lenses with my SL66. Here's an example with an old Radionar lens got for $25 bucks!


Ben Mimi Marin Headlands Rolleiflex SL66 Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar 4.5 10.5cm lens w-adapter Fuji Acros Rodinal 1-50 9min30sec 1minAg VS Nikon9000 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

 

[john_s]

If you want to play with an Imagon or many old lenses, the Rollei SL66 is perfect: shutter and focusing mechanism all part of the camera body, not the lens. The weakness is flash sync speed unless you use one of the in-shutter lenses (80mm and 150mm only). Macro work is a dream as the bellows extension is large and all standard lenses are reversible without accessories.

 

[Leigh B]

Yes, but he inquired upon an Internet audience, which means that left field opinions ans suggestions should be expected.

No.

He posed a very specific question, with the expectation that respondents would be polite enough to address it specifically.

- Leigh

 

[ChristopherCoy]

No.

He posed a very specific question, with the expectation that respondents would be polite enough to address it specifically.

- Leigh

I was totally being sarcastic.

 

[tlr120]

Hmmmmmm. Seems like the sarcasm is pretty thick about my Bronica choice. If anyone out there wants to sell me their Hasselbland kit or a Rollei 66 kit for the same price that I can get a Bronica SQ-A KIt. Then let me know. If I could afford the good stuff > Then I would most certainly do so. But afew hundred bucks compared to a few grand is a big diffrence to me. I'm not so ignorant that I can't understand the quality issue. I'm sure either the Rollei or the Hasselbland would be a camera for life. But I just don't have the bucks.
All in all I got my information.

Thanks

Lee

 

[Leigh B]

Hi Lee,

Nobody is criticizing your choice (that I noticed). We all live with limits.

The talent and vision of the artist are much more important than the tools used to express them.

- Leigh

 

[papagene]

The Bronica SQ-A is a very good choice. I always wanted one but could never afford it.

 

[Steve Smith]

If I could afford the good stuff > Then I would most certainly do so.

If you can afford a Bronica SQ-A then you can afford the good stuff. Not the elite stuff but still good.


Steve.

 

[Sirius Glass]

All choices must be made with consideration to the budget. Later based on continued interest and budget, other options can be considered.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

All good advice, that said I wished years ago when I was more "budget-conscious" I sometimes wish I'd waited a few extra months to save and got the gear I really wanted rather than only the less expensive stuff I could "afford" without saving up. Oftentimes the more expensive gear would have been the far better deal in the end.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

The Bronica SQ-A is a very good choice. I always wanted one but could never afford it.

I've been thinking about selling my Hassy, and downgrading to a Bronica SQ-somethingornother....

 

[Leigh B]

Everybody has budgetary constraints.

One reasonable approach is to put together a used system in KEH BGN condition and start taking pictures.

You can easily upgrade one item at a time as your skills, desires, and budget dictate.
As your experience grows you may find that you want different stuff, like shorter or longer lenses, different finders, etc.

- Leigh

 

[ChristopherCoy]

One reasonable approach is to put together a used system in KEH BGN condition and start taking pictures.

I met with the KEH guys at Fort Worth Camera over the weekend. They rated my Hassy 500cm as BGN+ because it has one or two TINY scratches on the back, where the magazine attaches. Otherwise it would be in EXC condition. SERIOUSLY?!?

 

[Leigh B]

They rated my Hassy 500cm as BGN+ because it has one or two TINY scratches on the back, where the magazine attaches.

Yep. When they say EXC they mean it. No asterisks, footnotes, or explanations.

- Leigh

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Oh... and the tripod mount was missing a little paint.

I thought that their rating was a little too excessive. But I can appreciate the concern for quality. Makes me not scared to purchase BGN equipment from them from now on.

 

[Leigh B]

Yeah. The stuff you want to avoid is "Ugly". They mean it.

- Leigh

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Actually I've gotten some very useable and acceptable UGLY gear from KEH. For a buyer their grading system is wonderful.

 

[tlr120]

KEH is great. I've gotten several cameras and lens from them over the years. All have been better than I expected. I will probably end up getting something from them. Shipping is cheap since I live about 40 miles from Atlanta. Proably cheaper than driving.
Lee

 

[john_s]

I know they have a good reputation and I've been happy with my one purchase from them, but I wonder if they buy at BGN price do they always sell at BGN?

 

[John Koehrer]

I know they have a good reputation and I've been happy with my one purchase from them, but I wonder if they buy at BGN price do they always sell at BGN?

Nope! Nor does any other business.
I do suspect that some of their as-is pieces may be items that were sold and found not to be cost effective to repair.

 

[nosmok]

I'm always late to the party (said that before), but to those upthread who were making fun of my Graflex recommendation: the only SLR I currently use is a 6x9 cm Graflex RB series B, which takes astonishingly sharp pictures. With an RH-12 or "22" rollholder, you've got a 6x6 cm slr, for about 150 bucks. Maybe all of you snarkmeisters should do a little research before you make a kindergarten mistake like assuming all Graflex slr's are 4x5 or 5x7.

--nosmok

 

[Sirius Glass]

A roll holder on a LF camera, be it 5"x7", 4"x5" or 3 1/4"x4 1/4", is still a LF camera but with a smaller format adapter. All the advantages of the size, mass, and volume of a MF camera are lost when using a LF camera with a roll adapter. Nothing snarky or trolling in that. It is just the way it is. I like my 4"x5"Graflex Model D and my 4"x5" Pacemaker Speed Graphic, but with a film holder they still cannot perform like a MF camera even when it is using 120 film.

The OP asked about MF in the MF forum. The OP did not ask about adapting a larger camera to roll film or even 6cm x 9 cm. The OP asked specifically about 6cm x 6cm. Are you saying that you know how the OP should make choices and live his or her life better than him or her?

 

[nosmok]

I am not trying to tell the OP how to live his life. He asked for ideas a 6x6 slr, which is what a smaller Graflex with 6x6 roll back is. The OP did not ask for the "volumetrically smallest possible 6x6 slr". You appear to be the one telling the OP how to live their life with your assumption that there is no way they could possibly be interested in this particular 6x6 SLR setup. Your further contention that a 6x9 camera is "large format" seems strange. Have you ever used a smaller RB? Mine is easier to handle than a Pentax 6x7, lighter than many Hasselblad rigs (admittedly, without interchangeable lenses), and a hell of a lot smaller than a 4x5 Graflex (less than half the size by volume).

nosmok