6x9 cameras

[Dan Fromm]

And another one I missed: Dead Link Removed In France, too.

 

[timmct]

Super Ikonta C for sale in Belgium...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-Super...232366?hash=item3d14c186ee:g:PLwAAOSwHxVW7AfV

 

[flavio81]

Hello,

I am in a time where I think i'd like to change my equipment. I have a RB67 and I absolutely love its lenses. But unfortunately I think I like the format less and less...

What kind of 6x9 would you advice me? Is there other choices than the fuji GSW960?

Advice: Learn to love the RB67.

Different advice: You might find some dissapointment with most of the 6x9 folder cameras. The film flatness and/or the front standard alignment is not very good, so it's rare to see those cameras fully using the resolution of the film down to the corners. I can bet that with many of those cameras you would get better results by using the RB67 and cropping to 2:3 aspect ratio.

 

[anthonylg]

Advice: Learn to love the RB67.

Different advice: You might find some disapointment with most of the 6x9 folder cameras. The film flatness and/or the front standard alignment is not very good, so it's rare to see those cameras fully using the resolution of the film down to the corners. I can bet that with many of those cameras you would get better results by using the RB67 and cropping to 2:3 aspect ratio.

Well, I love the camera, I love its lenses... but it is really the 6x7 format that I like less and less. So if I am going with a ratio closer to 1,5 I think I prefer to use a 6x8 or 6x9 system and have a larger negative

 

[Cholentpot]

Brownie No.2

Works for me, kind of fun to use. I'm waiting for Shanghai to come on back so I can justify using it again.

 

[Pioneer]

My Bessa II with the Color Heliar and my Kodak Monitor Six 20 are really miffed. I wouldn't dare call them soft.

Even my Brownie No 2 takes very sharp photographs when used within its limitations.

But my best 6x9 photographs have been coming from my Wanderlust Travelwide with the Graphex Back.

Sounds to me like you just have a bad case of GAS and are trying to justify your next purchase.

 

[ic-racer]

Here is my 6x9 'folder.'

 

[anthonylg]

Here is my 6x9 'folder.'

The system seems really nice, and also affordable... what do you think of the lenses?

 

[nosmok]

Sharpest lens for the buck is definitely the Anastigmat Special on the Kodak Monitor 620, but it's 620 only. If film flatness is a concern the Medalist puts film flatter than anything until the vacuum back, but it too is 620 only.

For coupled rangefinder, there's also the Welta Weltur 6x9, built like a tank and lovely Zeiss lens. For coupled RF/interchangeable lenses, the also-almost-unfindable Vidax is designed to focus any lens between 65mm and 135mm iirc, and also switches between 6x9, 6x6, and 6x4.5 framing. Plus it's aluminum and not even that heavy, and uses easily available graflex lens boards.

It gets a bad rap (earlier in this thread for instance), but I have become very enamored of the old Plaubel Makina, especially the III. At the top end of the III, I have used 2 complete sets of lenses- 73mm orthar, 100mm anticomar, and 190mm and 210mm tele-makinar-- that are all perfectly sharp and didn't cost the earth, and I've gotten used to the peculiar ergonomics (hold it by front standard in your right hand, thumb under, index finger ready to snap, focus w/left hand and just let the back hang). The MakIII is easy to fix, tough, and there's lots of accessories that make sense that carry over from the II, so aren't too tough to source. Or at the low end, you could buy a broken Makina I and take off the whole front plate and lens and mount the 6x9 lens of your choice there (I did it with a 101mm Ektar; the focusing scale is set for a 100mm lens, so it works fine, I suspect that any lens up to 105mm would be all right as long as infinity lines up.).

 

[derelict]

I have a Zeiss Ercona 1 with 105/ 3.5 Tessar. I love it.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Sharpest lens for the buck is definitely the Anastigmat Special on the Kodak Monitor 620, but it's 620 only. If film flatness is a concern the Medalist puts film flatter than anything until the vacuum back, but it too is 620 only.

Medalists can be modified to take 120, or you can just get a bunch of empty 620 spools and load 120 in the camera, using a 620 spool as the take-up spool. Or you can get clever and trim down the 120 spools.

 

[anthonylg]

Thanks for your answers!

Do you know what the difference is between the Ercona with the Tessar and the super Ikonta? Optically?

Otherwise I was very interest by the systems of the Mamiya Press and The Fuji G690, but from what I have seen the lenses are good, but not as good as what I have now with the RB67. But in that aspect the GX680 seems fantastic

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Thanks for your answers!

Do you know what the difference is between the Ercona with the Tessar and the super Ikonta? Optically?

Otherwise I was very interest by the systems of the Mamiya Press and The Fuji G690, but from what I have seen the lenses are good, but not as good as what I have now with the RB67. But in that aspect the GX680 seems fantastic

The problem with the G690, especially the early ones with interchangeable lenses, is that they're getting really long in the tooth mechanically, and they're getting harder to service. They also have only three or maybe 4 lenses available, and anything other than the normal lens gets more epxensive than the camera plus the normal lens combined very quickly. With the long telephoto they have for it, you're using an accessory finder to compose, of course, and IIRC you're scale focusing as the rangefinder can't compensate, but I could be wrong on that. They really are Texas Leicas with all the benefits and detriments that come along with rangefinder systems.

 

[anthonylg]

I heard that many times about the mechanical problems of the G690. And if it's a pain to repair everytime there's a problem, there is no reason to have it...

 

[Paul Howell]

I have had my Mamiya Universal for almost 40 years and I bought it used, other than keeping the rangefinder calibrated and have the lens cleaned and lubed once or twice, never had any mechanical issues. In the days of film I used it extensively for event photography, even a few weddings which I hate to shoot. I have never used a RB 6X7 so can not comment on the lens, the press lens are an older design, still very sharp, prints up 16X20 are sharp as tack.

 

[bsdunek]

If you want 6x9 and want to change lenses, you're basically limited to something like a Mamiya Press camera.

That's my choice. I use a Super 23 and love it. I can use 6X6, 6X7 or 6X9, depending on what I'm doing. The lenses are great, I have 50mm 100mm and 250mm. It's a heavy camera but I figure that helps me keep in shape. Lift it 10X with each arm.

 

[anthonylg]

Mamiya always made great MF cameras anyway. And I'm happy to hear you never had mechanical issues with it Paul, but I'm not surprised. The possibility to use 6x6 with is also very nice..

 

[Soeren]

Sigh...I'm a failure..

No youre just not a.walking encyclopaedia

 

[derelict]

Do you know what the difference is between the Ercona with the Tessar and the super Ikonta? Optically?

Could not tell you. I emailed Jurgen, told him my price point and the Ercona is what I ended up with. I doubt there are any differences in lenses but there will be in usage as mine is pure manual, i.e. zone focus, not rangefinder. Rangefinder would be nice but was way out of my price range. Besides, I have a Bronica ETR if I am interested in quicker shooting. I have learned so much from using the Ercona that I never had to know before. An SLR with DOF preview makes everything super simple. With this, I have to really think about the shot to get what I want in focus, in focus.

These, like the ones posted above, are home scans on a Canoscan.

 

[anthonylg]

Could not tell you. I emailed Jurgen, told him my price point and the Ercona is what I ended up with. I doubt there are any differences in lenses but there will be in usage as mine is pure manual, i.e. zone focus, not rangefinder. Rangefinder would be nice but was way out of my price range. Besides, I have a Bronica ETR if I am interested in quicker shooting. I have learned so much from using the Ercona that I never had to know before. An SLR with DOF preview makes everything super simple. With this, I have to really think about the shot to get what I want in focus, in focus.

These, like the ones posted above, are home scans on a Canoscan.

Thanks Derelict, they are really nice. The last one seems perfectly sharp. Just to have an idea, with what film was it made?

I saw one or two in a good shape and at a really cheap price on ebay, I might get one...

 

[flavio81]

Thanks for your answers!

Do you know what the difference is between the Ercona with the Tessar and the super Ikonta? Optically?

Those 4-element lenses, including the Agfa Solinar and the Voigtlander Skopar, are very good. The problem on folders is usually alignment problems (lens not quite parallel to the film plane or not focused correctly due to mechanical issues) or film flatness problems.

So take a deeper look at the mechanics. For example once I could buy a Bessa II folder but the lens front standard rattled and swung when i put my finger on it!!

 

[DWThomas]

Thanks for your answers!

Do you know what the difference is between the Ercona with the Tessar and the super Ikonta? Optically?

[ . . . ]

The Ikonta was Zeiss in West Germany, the Ercona from Zeiss in East Germany, so likely in the models of the same approximate vintage they're pretty similar. I'm thinking "Super" Ikontas had a rangefinder of some sort? The Ercona does not, but I generally do OK with "guess and set".

At any rate, I have an Ercona II with CZJ Tessar and it is pretty nice.

(Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center, North Platte, Nebraska)

Folders in general are perhaps a bit less user friendly than some newer cameras, but still quite manageable. And folded they certainly tuck away in a small space. This one was bought from certo6, so it was CLA'd, etc.

 

[mhcfires]

Medalists can be modified to take 120, or you can just get a bunch of empty 620 spools and load 120 in the camera, using a 620 spool as the take-up spool. Or you can get clever and trim down the 120 spools.

I have a Medalist II. I find the Film Project 620 plastic spools to work, even if they are a bit tight, but they don't bind. The camera is awesome, even if it is heavy enough to use as a weapon in self defense if necessary. 120 spools just will not fit, you need the 620. After a bit of practice, it takes only a few minutes to hand wind the 120 onto the 620 rolls. I'm waiting for some film to come back from the lab, should get it this afternoon (10/06/2016) and scan it this evening. two rolls of Ektar100 and one roll of Portra 400.

m

 

[derelict]

Thanks Derelict, they are really nice. The last one seems perfectly sharp. Just to have an idea, with what film was it made?

I saw one or two in a good shape and at a really cheap price on ebay, I might get one...

If it is B&W, it is TMax. If it is color, it is Portra. The only downside is the 1/250

 

[DREW WILEY]

I landed with certain inevitable compromises. I really like the 6x9 ratio, but in order to factor serious lens selection and control, just use 6x9 roll film backs on my 4x5. A dedicated 6x9 technical camera isn't going to improve that scenario; and I still have a full 4x5 option to boot, with the same gear. So that works superbly ala tripod-mandatory slow style. For spontaneous work, there is really nothing modern equivalent to the M7 system, which costs like crazy and is only 6x7. So I've gotten accustomed to the comparatively affordable Fuji GW690II rangefinder. Limited to a fixed lens, but it's a damn good lens, and a very light quick machine to operate, even handheld. Should have bought the newer III version perhaps, but it's hard to justify the extra expense for the same actual functionality. At least the one I bought came with a filter which had apparently been over the lens forever, so was itself mauled, while the actual taking lens remained immaculate. The inside was very clean too. A few scuffs on the body don't mean much.