Advice wanted - MF for travelling

I am looking for one or two cameras to take along on a longer trip to central america.
I do not want to carry heavy or expensive equipment around, so I have been searching for a "compact" MF camera which offers some ease of use:

- 6x4,5 or 6x6
- Metering included
- coupled rangefinder
- good for B&W and color slides
- price < 500€

The Mamiya 7 II and the Bronica rf645 are way out of budget, so these are no option.

I have found the Fujica GA645 ZI (even with Zoom and AF!) which would be an really nice option and has received excellent reviews, so it seems like a really good choice.

The other option I found is the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 533/16 or 534/16 with the Tessar lens.
The Super Ikonta is extremely compact, cheap and cameras in good state with working rangefinder & light meter are available. I am a little worried about the image quality of these 60 year-old cameras, I would like to enlarge up to 60x60 cm (1:10).

I am aware that the two cameras are very different, the Fujica being basically point-and-shoot and the Super Ikonta requiring some classic camera work.

Is there a good compact MF camera meeting my requirements I have missed?
According to your experience, will the Super Ikonta be good for decent B&W pictures and allow enlargement @ 1:10 ratio?
Which camera would you get, what is your advice?

I've owned a few Super Ikontas over the years and currently own a Super Ikonta BX -- a late one with the coated Tessar and Synchro Compur shutter. Its meter even works -- sort of. I use my handheld meter, though. I call the Super Ikonta a "pocket Hasselblad" because that is, essentially, what it is. As for image quality, I find that mine delivers superb quality images. I've never blown up anything to 60x60 before, but I wouldn't be surprised if it could handle that sort of enlargement.

Super Ikonta BX, Fujichrome 100:

I have a Super Ikonta B 532/16 (6x6) with the Tessar 80/2.8 lens, and the image quality is excellent - no questions there. The lens is one of the best things about the camera, very similar to the results from my Rolleiflex. Get a post-war model with coated lens and it's hard to do much better. The later model Super Ikontas do have built-in meters, but I don't know how accurate or responsive they would be after all these years. I think Zeiss stopped making them in 1960? I just carry a small handheld meter anyway, or use Sunny-16. Folded-up, they are fairly compact to carry around, but around the same weight as a Rolleiflex and heavier than most Rolleicords. I find that the Zeiss is a bit slower to shoot with than a TLR like the Rollei. If you can get a Super Ikonta that's recently been serviced (try Certo6.com) it'll keep going for years. For a folder, they are built like tanks and are beautifully engineered.

I have heard good things about the 645 Fujis, but remember with autofocus, plastic construction and battery dependency there are more things to go wrong when you're on vacation and you don't have a backup camera. The Fuji lenses have a great reputation for sharpness and contrast, but they are AF-only with no manual override. I think the Fuji 6x7 or 6x9 offerings might be more trouble-free, they are manual-focus, more plentiful on the used market, also with great lenses. Obviously a bit bigger than the 645 models, though.

For travel, I have a Bronica RF645 which has been utterly dependable, with excellent lenses. I wanted the quality of medium format with relatively small size, built-in meter and interchangeable lenses. Especially for backpacking, I realized it fit every need I had, so I spent the extra money and it has been worth it. For a backup MF camera, I would take a Rolleicord or the Super Ikonta. Here's one with the Bronica, hand-held:

During my last trip in Scotland with a Hasselblad, 3 lenses, 2 backs, I decided I wanted something more relaxed. I'm sure carrying gear like this, changing lenses etc, is killing my creativity (and my back).
Than a Fuji GA645zi came on my path for a reasonable price, so I decided to buy it and it was delivered just an hour ago. I already know it is the ideal camera for travel. There are several reviews on the internet, that point in the same direction.
Regards,
Frank

I had the zoom Fuji some years ago and found the lens much less good than what I'd read, with noticeable softness even in 8x10 inch prints. I suppose it was the example I had, for their reputation is excellent.

If you could live with a hand held meter the original Mamiya 6. The 75mm lens is excellent, compact folder, takes S VI slip on filters and hood.

Yashica MAT?

I have a fuji ZI and think it is a great travel camera. the meter is very functional once you understand it, might only take a roll or two. the zoom is not really a zoom but still functions well and comes in handy. my copy, the lens is very sharp, as sharp as my mamiya 6 and enlargements prove it to my eyes. its small enough that it fits in the front pocket of a pair of cargo pants or shorts, which i wear when traveling as having many pockets for film is handy. I have never missed a shot because the auto focus was off. if there ever was a mistake it was because I did something wrong, not the camera. its like a car, it only does what you tell it to do. the only downside i found to the camera is the slow lens. it has a small flash to help but if your outside and its not very bright, better use some film faster than 100 speed. I found tmax 400 a perfect match for the ZI. look around you can one them for good prices if you are patient

Dali said:

Yashica MAT?

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I have the 124G, and it's probably the lightest and most compact of the "serious" TLR's. I still find it a pain to carry around though, and good luck finding one with a reliable and accurate meter.

If you can look past its hipster appeal and make some sacrifices (like metering) the Lubitel 2 is very light and compact, yet has all the controls of a professional TLR. Focusing on the ground glass is a crapshoot. I use the distance dial and zone focus. It takes surprisingly sharp pictures though.

Thanks for all the input.

Actually I am not looking at TLRs, as they are bigger than the folders. So even if the Lubitel for sure is an exiting camera (I love the stereo version!), it will not come on this trip.

Looking a bit around, the Fuji gs645 folder also seems interesting. Unfortunately the gf 670/bessa III is way out of budget.

If you want to downsize; "ISOLY Apotar"= 4x4cm, or full frame; Zeiss Ikon box-tengor = 6x9cm or a 'Dacora Digna' ? Happy shooting.

RauschenOderKorn said:

Thanks for all the input.

Actually I am not looking at TLRs, as they are bigger than the folders. So even if the Lubitel for sure is an exiting camera (I love the stereo version!), it will not come on this trip.

Looking a bit around, the Fuji gs645 folder also seems interesting. Unfortunately the gf 670/bessa III is way out of budget.

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You have three focal length options with autofocus Fuji 6 x 4.5 cameras. The GA645 gives you a 37mm equivalent lens while the GA645W gives you a 28mm eq. lens. Get the W version if you like a slightly wider angle of view. The GA645zi zoom model almost is the combination of the these two cameras, with the trade off being a much slower aperture speed.

I'll add my hearty recommendation for these cameras to the list. I have the GA645 and am currently traveling in China with it now. The camera is extremely compact and so is never tiring to carry. The lens on all these Fujis are simply beyond reproach. Exceptionally sharp and with nice contrast as well.

The only skill needed to use this cameras is to constantly check the autofocus and make sure that the distance readout is in the range that it should be. There is no optical rangefinder viewing system in the viewfinder so you have to look at the distance scale to confirm that the camera is focusing where you want it to. 95% of the time it focuses right on.

These cameras are not particularly quiet so if you need to shoot in sound sensitive areas, that might be an issue. The lens motor makes noise as well as the film winder.

Finally, if you decide to go with one of the prime lens cameras and not the zoom, try to find the "i" version of the camera you want. For example, instead of the GA645, look for a GA645i. The "i" version introduced some small but very significant improvements. The camera naturally shoots in portrait mode, due to the film arrangement. To shoot landscape, you have to rotate the camera 90 degrees. The "i" version of each camera has a second shutter button that makes shooting much easier with the camera rotated. I wish I had the "i" version because I look landscape view more than portrait. You do tend to shoot more in portrait orientation simply because that is the default setting on this camera.

These Fuji's are very fun cameras to use!

jimjm said:

I just carry a small handheld meter anyway

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I have some really old meters lying around, like a Gossen Sixtomat (in good shape, but old). I picked them up as random bycatch with cameras.

Which meter are you using?

RauschenOderKorn said:

I have some really old meters lying around, like a Gossen Sixtomat (in good shape, but old). I picked them up as random bycatch with cameras.

Which meter are you using?

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A tiny Gossen L-208 for most daylight shooting and walking-around. Easy to carry in my pocket, just in case I need it. A Gossen Luna-Pro F for more serious landscape/architecture/portrait stuff and all low-light and night photography. It's extremely sensitive, metering down to -3 EV. I also use a Minolta Spot Meter M for most large-format shooting. Makes it easy to meter all the highlights and shadow areas accurately.

How about a Voigtländer VC 2 meter? Any experience?

RauschenOderKorn said:

How about a Voigtländer VC 2 meter? Any experience?

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I had one for my FUJI GW670iii - it's a simple light meter and it's nice to look at …
For my opinion it's a little dear ($225) for what it is.
I traded mine for a used Gossen Variosix F2 (reflective and incident metering) + a tele attachment 5° for selective metering.
I don't regret the tradeoff.