Advice on inexpensive MF for the 17 y.o. son.

[Terry Breedlove]

My first Medium format camera was the RB67 and I still own it. I shoot my Hasselblad now but there are some things I really like about the RB. The bellows focusing allows for very close focusing something he may appreciate. Plenty of affordable RB bodies and lenses out there to choose from.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

I would suggest Mamiya 645, also cameras , gear , etc is NOT expensive, its the film, paper, chemistry. 400 or 500 USD is used up every 2 months , sometimes every month.

 

[ransel]

Having had both SLR's and TLR's, my preference in my old age is the simplicity of a fixed lens TLR, like the Yashica D. $100-$150 for a very clean, working model.

 

[Meow7]

Thanks for all the great input! We looked at the Bronica SQ and the RB67, he's going to talk with his photo prof and see what he thinks. I think the Bronica SQ with prism viewfinder would be good. It also has to be able to be somewhat spontaneous... He should take a look at the TLRs and see what he thinks of those.

 

[RichardJack]

My two cents...
Bronica MF SLR's give the best bang for the buck. A ETRS body, lens, back & prism can be easily found for less than $200 on Ebay. It's also easy to find a wide and telephoto for under $75 each. The SQ-A system will cost you more. What ever you chose do your homework first and research the model. Learn what to look for and more importantly what to avoid. If I were a kid I'd get more fun from a SLR than a TLR or rangefinder. Plan on building him a darkroom next.

 

[quixotic]

I would suggest Mamiya 645, also cameras , gear , etc is NOT expensive, its the film, paper, chemistry. 400 or 500 USD is used up every 2 months , sometimes every month.

++++. Yes, that's what I started with also. Plus, you can get a shift lens for architecture.

 

[Wayne]

Definitely TLR. I've been having a blast with mine (C330; $125) and it has caught the eye of several teens who thought it was very cool. Not to mention the old farts. My RB hasn't left the case since I got it. But it will, because I can change film mid roll which is the main drawback of the TLR.
.

 

[mshchem]

I have RZ 67, Bronica SQ-AI, AND 3 BIG Fuji 6x9 rangefinders. I would start with the SQ A, the lenses are fabulous and cheap. Tell him to start saving for a nice Fuji 6x9 next. No minilabs print 6x9 negatives, so the 6x6 is a great place to start with modern film and a tripod you can make 11x14s from a 6x6 negative. Medium format is magic, high quality without the hassle of view cameras. Tell him to watch Craigslist for enlargers, people will practicality give them away. I would get a 4x5 enlarger, then you are covered.
Mike
Bronica cameras are a steal, Hasselblad cameras are beautiful, elegant cameras, the lenses are several times more expensive than the Bronica lenses. Both are fabulous cameras If you look you should be able to get a nice SQ A outfit with the neat grip, in nice condition for around 500 easy

 

[Meow7]

The SQ A is probably on the top of the list, with grip and prism view finder. Then step up to the Hassy for birthday or HS graduation.

I develop my own film and have a darkroom with Beseler 45 so size doesn't matter (well, not 8x10). When I've got my Kodak 1A figured out I'll let him take it a and shoot a roll or 2, that's a 6x12 negative.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I think all in all SLR makes more sense for him, I'd like o try a TLR some day though.

Thanks

 

[dasBlute]

for cheap/excellent quality, judicious searches for rolleicord or mamiya 230/330,
and if I had the money I'd get a rolleiflex, but I'm biased

6x9? fuji gsw... course you'll need a light meter with all these choices...

 

[Joe Folsom]

I dove into medium format with a Mamiya Pro Tl (645 format) in 2004 and used it exclusively for 8 years. I loved change in quality in the jump from 35 mm. The Camera and a complement of lenses is a bit bulky and heavy outdoor landscape and wildlife photography when on the trail or in the canoe. Still have the camera. Decided to try the 6x9 format and settled on the Voightlander Bessa I. The Bessa I is a folder that can be folded and placed in the pocket of my jeans, has a simple coated lens and I found works well for landscapes. I have some beautiful shots of the Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies with this camera and Kodak Ektar 100 film I have 2 very nice Bessa Is and found both on ebay for less than $100.

 

[baachitraka]

- Rolleicord V/Va
(or)
- Rolleiflex MX-EVS
- Lots of film
- Darkroom setup (Enlarger, trays...)
- Foto paper
- Chemicals

Misc: Good coffee or beer

 

[pthornto]

There is no replacement for displacement....

RB67.

Seriously though.. it depends mostly on his personality and what his photographic goals are. The RB is almost infinitely flexible and can do great tripod and staged portrait work as well as quicker on the fly shooting with practice. The only hangup is the inertia to bringing the large camera with you. If a daily carry MF cam is desired a TLR like a rolleicord, rolleiflex, or similar japanese TLR is probably better option. Plus they look cool.

P.

 

[Meow7]

daily carry MF cam is desired a TLR like a rolleicord, rolleiflex, or similar japanese TLR is probably better option. Plus they look cool.

So a TLR is a good choice for daily carry? On the fly? Street photos?

I have a 6x4.5 so a 6x6, 7 or 9 is what's needed. Imma do some research on the TLRs

 

[MattKing]

So a TLR is a good choice for daily carry? On the fly? Street photos?

Google Vivian Maier.
Or if you prefer, Irving Penn and a host of others who use(d) a Rollieflex.

 

[k.hendrik]

I think we miss the most important point; the boy is 17 !!! Impressing girls that's his purpose, so a Lubitel II is good enough. It worked out with me

 

[Alan Gales]

So a TLR is a good choice for daily carry? On the fly? Street photos?

I have a 6x4.5 so a 6x6, 7 or 9 is what's needed. Imma do some research on the TLRs

People on the street are warm to TLR's. They think that they are cute old cameras and don't usually mind if you take their photograph. Also by looking down through a waist level finder, many times people don't even know when you quietly take their photograph. The shutter is so quiet and there is no mirror slap which also makes it easier to handheld shoot. TLR's excel at street photography.

Look for a Minolta Autocord, Yashica, Rolleicord or similar if you don't mind one focal length. These cameras are light and relatively small. Get a Mamiya C220 or C330 series if you desire interchangeable lenses. My Mamiya C220f weighs about the same as a Hasselblad 500cm with 80mm lens. I just weighed it on my postal scale and it weighed 3 pounds 9.5 ounces with the 105mm DS lens attached. I just bought a Minolta Autocord. It weighs 2 pounds 3.8 ounces.

 

[Alan Gales]

Do your research and then present what you know to your Son. He is the one who is going to shoot the camera so he should get something that feels right to him.

My friend and I used to argue about our 6x7 cameras. I had a Mamiya RZ67 and he had a Pentax 6x7. He loved that Pentax and hated my RZ. He thought my RZ to be a monster of a camera. I felt like his Pentax was a clunky oversized 35mm camera. Both are fine cameras with strong followings but each of us had our own opinion.

The only important opinion here is that of your son's.

 

[Kino]

I think we miss the most important point; the boy is 17 !!! Impressing girls that's his purpose, so a Lubitel II is good enough. It worked out with me

+1 !!!

 

[ac12]

There is reason for 2 MF cameras.
#1 the primary Bronica or RB/RZ67
#2 the light easy to carry TLR. Especially if he gets the heavy/bulky RB/RZ67.

I say this because I was a 35mm bigot in my younger years, and now MANY years later I regret that attitude.
It was a hassle to take out the SLR, so I did not shoot many of the 'grab shots' with the family that I could/should have.
A smaller/lighter/easy to use 2nd camera would complement the primary camera for these 'grab shots.' A 35mm compact camera for me, a TLR for your son.
Today I have a P&S to complement my DSLR, for that very reason. And now I am looking for a 'tweener.' A camera to fit between the P&S and my DSLR.

gud luk

 

[pbromaghin]

Put me in the chorus for Mamiya tlr's. But if you want to go light, it's hard to beat a folding camera. Zeiss, Agfa, Certo, Voigtlander all made 645, 6x6 and 6x9 with a big range of features and good ones go for anything from $100 for a basic zone-focusing 6x6 to $600 for rangefinder 6x9.

 

[seezee]

Unless you have a prism finder - available as an accessory for Mamiya C TLRs and (I think) Rollieflexes.
EDIT: A Mamiya C220 or the slightly more featured C330 would be my recommendation. I was 18-19 when I bought my C330 and 40 or so years of reliable service since...

There are various prism finders, some metering, for the Mamiya 645 & its descendants. The ones for the 645 even have 3 metering modes!

 

[MattKing]

There are various prism finders, some metering, for the Mamiya 645 & its descendants. The ones for the 645 even have 3 metering modes!

Correct, but the Mamiya 645 isn't a TLR, which my comment was in reference to.
645 SLRs need an eye level viewing system because waist level finders work only with great difficulty when you turn the camera on its side for (usually) portrait orientation. For me, the waist level finder is a relatively rarely used accessory for my Mamiya 645 Pro.

 

[seezee]

Correct, but the Mamiya 645 isn't a TLR, which my comment was in reference to.
645 SLRs need an eye level viewing system because waist level finders work only with great difficulty when you turn the camera on its side for (usually) portrait orientation. For me, the waist level finder is a relatively rarely used accessory for my Mamiya 645 Pro.

I stand corrected!

 

[Craig75]

I still dont understand whats wrong with yr fuji. Thats a quality camera right there