Advice for MF Camera for Babies/Todlers

MattKing · May 13, 2017

brent8927 said:
it's not like our baby will just go from wiggling to jumping up and down overnight.

Boy, are you in for a surprise!
Not to mention a whole bunch of sleep deprived fun.
One further suggestion: If you are used to using the Hasselblad with rocks and trees, you probably bring a "maximize quality" approach to photography. You need to work on expanding your repertoire by bringing a "maximizing fun and spontaneity" approach to child photography.
A little blur is probably okay!

hsandler · May 13, 2017

Minolta autocord. A flick of the lever over a 2 inch arc focuses the entire range. Get one CLAd though for smooth and easy focus. However, no parallax marks for closeups. A downside of any TLR or SLR with a waist level finder is getting used to the left-right reversal when tracking a moving toddler. Honestly, when my kids were toddlers I used a plastic autofocus 35mm compact.

film_man · May 13, 2017

A CFi and a CF lens will still have the same travel to focus. Not sure if they changed something from CF to CFi but a CFi may be lighter simply because it is a newer lens. You could probably get the same effect by servicing a lens and get the helicoid lubricants sorted.

My choice personally would be a Mamiya RB/RZ, it is easier to focus but obviously not 6x6. You also get super close focusing which is fantastic with babies as you can do all those close-up shots. Apart from that, for 6x6...a Rollei would be faster to focus for sure or any other TLR. I've had a Mamiya C330s for a while, if I was to go back to 6x6 I'd just get a Hasselblad.

However, if I was to have just one camera for shooting a toddler (I have one of those plus a baby too) that would be a 35mm camera. The ability to move about and focus quickly (or even have autofocus) is very important.

winger · May 13, 2017

brent8927 said:
as it's not like our baby will just go from wiggling to jumping up and down overnight.

Another HA! to that here. Mine walked at 10 months and ran at 11. It felt like someone snapped their fingers and he went from not rolling over to dribbling a soccer ball.
If you have your wife help with the wrangling, you'll have an easier time. I was usually trying to get good shots when I was the only adult around. And having several dogs running around never helped. I also hated autofocus before Nate was born - I learned to use it so I could shoot one-handed and use the other hand to roll balls to him or hold a dog back, etc..

Luckless · May 13, 2017

But medium format is FAR too big and heavy for a baby to handle... At best they should get those little mini spy camera things I would imagine. Probably a waterproof one with no bits that easily fall off?

...

But on a more serious note, kids are fast when they want to be, and I've had times where I've struggled to get reliably focused images with a 7D and L series glass. Kids can be almost as bad as hummingbirds and chickadees.

And I strongly agree with an earlier statement about waist-level finders. Getting down to the kid's level for photos is magical.

Also: Be prepared to get 'less than technically perfect' photos, and be prepared for everyone to absolutely love them anyway. A shaky blurry photo of your kid running around is far more valuable than no photo at all. Getting a kid to sit still for a more formal shot isn't easy, but it can be done.

Relax, enjoy, and try to get some sleep. Remember, naps are your friend.

Alan Gales · May 13, 2017

I shot my daughter with a Contax 139 35mm camera. I didn't own a medium format camera back then.

I'd highly recommend the Pentax 645n or 645nll. I found them both very ergonomic for a medium format camera. I also loved the huge and bright viewfinders. They are also autofocus, autoexposure and have Matrix metering. It's very easy and quick to switch your lenses from autofocus to manual focus. You get Program mode, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority or manual mode. Your aperture ring and shutter speed dials both have A's on them. Just switch either or both to A for auto.

The N and Nll are basically the same camera. I've owned both. The Nll adds mirror lock-up and a textured finish. Pentax added mirror lock-up due to demand but in both cameras the mirror is so well dampened that mirror lock-up is unnecessary. Buy both the 75mm and 150mm FA lenses. They are fantastic and would work great for your needs.

Sirius Glass · May 14, 2017

Luckless said:
Getting a kid to sit still for a more formal shot isn't easy, but it can be done.

Every year my father would take photographs for the season's greeting cards. As soon as he bought out the tripods for the flood lights, the dog would try to get out of the house or hide under something that was way too low for him. We with the dog would sit under those hot lights. It was not fun. Sooner or later we would get slapped or spanked. The tears would flow. We would cooperate just to survive and get it done. When the photograph cards were sent out, people would ask my father how it got our eyes to be so bright and sparkling. I never engaged in this tradition.

Patrick Robert James · May 14, 2017

Get a quick focus handle like others have mentioned. Not only can you move the lens faster and more precisely, you can also use the handle as a reference for where the lens is focused. After you have used the handle for a while and get used to it, you can focus without even looking in the viewfinder. Tabbed Leica lenses are the same way, and I can focus a lens before it even gets up to my eye, which in practice is a lot faster than autofocus! You just have to learn how to do it. The handle will enable you to if you put in the effort, which really won't be much.

Also, get the brightest screen you can if you don't already have it.

Good luck!

Alan Gales · May 14, 2017

Patrick Robert James said:
Get a quick focus handle like others have mentioned. Not only can you move the lens faster and more precisely, you can also use the handle as a reference for where the lens is focused. After you have used the handle for a while and get used to it, you can focus without even looking in the viewfinder. Tabbed Leica lenses are the same way, and I can focus a lens before it even gets up to my eye, which in practice is a lot faster than autofocus! You just have to learn how to do it. The handle will enable you to if you put in the effort, which really won't be much.

Also, get the brightest screen you can if you don't already have it.

Good luck!

Now that's an idea worth trying. I had quick focus handles for my Bronica EC's. I agree that one would definitely speed up focussing a Hasselblad.

I think the Pentax 645n and 645nll's with autofocus that I recommended would be faster but equipping the Hasselblad with a speed ring would be a whole lot cheaper and maybe fast enough for the OP. I would try that first before adding a new camera.

I used to own a 500cm. I had both the Beattie Intenscreen and the original screen. The Beattie sure improved things and made it easier to focus.

John Koehrer · May 14, 2017

Ok, now you've had a number of suggestions for what you don't want-----

The Hasselblad can do the job, no question. If you prefer the WL the only bug I would
have is the reversed image.
The 120 is a great lens & you'll love it. Much closer focus than the 150. For more general
use the 60's another great choice, it's actually pretty easy to use guestimation/preset focus.
when the babe become a toddler or little leauger. It does take practice though.

LarsAC · May 14, 2017

Stick with your 'blad and build on your experience. You'll get maybe fewer but great negs as a memory for your kid(s).

I got my 500 c/m and restarted with film when my daughters were three and one and I absolutely enjoy some large prints hanging around in our house.

It might be helpful to invest time into getting more speed from your film. Lights indoor may be dim and every stop you can close your aperture helps focusing.

Lars

mweintraub · May 15, 2017

I consider the Fuji GA645 as the P&S of the medium format world. Works great for shots like that.

Soeren · May 16, 2017

https://www.cjnicolai.com/portraits-caw4

Dead Link Removed

Sepia Hawk · May 16, 2017

I use Mamiya C220 with 80mm lens to take photos of my kids. It is challenging at times (as with any camera when my kids simply refuse to cooperate), but surprisingly it is often easier than with my 35mm Canon. The Mamiya TLR is easy to focus, it is very quiet, it does not distract my kids, unlike a regular SLR. Good luck and have fun.

Alan Gales · May 16, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Every year my father would take photographs for the season's greeting cards. As soon as he bought out the tripods for the flood lights, the dog would try to get out of the house or hide under something that was way too low for him. We with the dog would sit under those hot lights. It was not fun. Sooner or later we would get slapped or spanked. The tears would flow. We would cooperate just to survive and get it done. When the photograph cards were sent out, people would ask my father how it got our eyes to be so bright and sparkling. I never engaged in this tradition.

So now I know why you don't shoot portraits, Bright Eyes.

k.hendrik · May 17, 2017

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

with sl66se 80mm and took me one roll

Sirius Glass · May 17, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Every year my father would take photographs for the season's greeting cards. As soon as he bought out the tripods for the flood lights, the dog would try to get out of the house or hide under something that was way too low for him. We with the dog would sit under those hot lights. It was not fun. Sooner or later we would get slapped or spanked. The tears would flow. We would cooperate just to survive and get it done. When the photograph cards were sent out, people would ask my father how it got our eyes to be so bright and sparkling. I never engaged in this tradition.

Alan Gales said:
So now I know why you don't shoot portraits, Bright Eyes.

The reason that I do not like to shoot portraits is that my father would ask a stranger if he could that their photograph. Then he would proceed to take his Mamiya C330 and come so close that he practically shove one lens up each nostril. I still see the horror on their faces.

Alan Gales · May 17, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
The reason that I do not like to shoot portraits is that my father would ask a stranger if he could that their photograph. Then he would proceed to take his Mamiya C330 and come so close that he practically shove one lens up each nostril. I still see the horror on their faces.

Someone should have told him that Mamiya made 135, 180 and 250mm lenses.

Sirius Glass · May 17, 2017

Alan Gales said:
Someone should have told him that Mamiya made 135, 180 and 250mm lenses.

He had the 65mm, 80mm and 250mm lenses.

pdeeh · May 17, 2017

Every time I see this thread pop up i just want to answer "medium format cameras are just too big for their little hands"

Alan Gales · May 17, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
He had the 65mm, 80mm and 250mm lenses.

I like to be about 5-6 feet away when doing portraits. Too close and like you said, you freak out the subject.

Last summer I saw Paul McCartney at Busch Stadium. A couple nice ladies were sitting next to me. One asked if I would take their picture using her cell phone. I was pretty much in their faces with that wide lens. After I took the shot she started to say I was too close until she saw the picture on the back of the camera. Both were thrilled with what I took. Sometimes you have to use what you've got.

nosmok · May 17, 2017

For grins and a change of style and pace, I'd get a simple old folder with a depth-of-focus table on it, and zone-focus away! I have done this even for action shots, and it works OK. Plus the folders are easier to get out of the way when you're not shooting. My kids at this point are used to the rigamarole my film habit puts them through for portraits, so whatever method you use will work to some degree.

Advice for MF Camera for Babies/Todlers

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