Bought Contax 645. To keep or not 35mm Nikon F6?

[Evgeny]

I recently bought Contax 645 with 80mm and 140mm lenses.

I also have F6 and D40 with 17-35mm and 70-200mm lenses.

In film size does matter. So I think to sell my Nikon F6 35mm film camera.
What do you think?

Thank
Evgeny

 

[mabman]

Depends - are you happy with your 2 current MF lens lengths, not having a zoom like you're used to, and prepared to pay more for medium format lenses than 35mm ones (I'm generalizing here, but in my searches I've found it to be generally true, esp. the rarer the MF system)?

Don't get me wrong, I like MF and I'm starting to use it more myself, but in general there is a great deal more lens variety at less expense in 35mm than MF - if that's important to you, you might not want to get rid of your F6 just yet.

 

[m_allard]

When I got my RB67 i never really thought of selling my Elan 7e...I's always nice to do some 35mm tri-x, and let's face it, it's a lot easier to carry the 35mm around with a zoom lens on it! I like different looks for different subjects i guess. You should be thinking about selling your D40 instead hehe.

 

[IloveTLRs]

How much do you shoot? I take 35mm with me on vacations.

I just got back from Switzerland: in 10 days I shot 12 rolls of Velvia 100 and 2 of Presto 400. That same amount of shots in MF would have required too many rolls of film.

 

[frdrx]

I'd say get rid of the D40 and enjoy your F6 alongside the Contax.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I would wait about six months.... you can sell it than if you find you're never using it.

-rob

 

[nickandre]

There's not a huge market for such 35mm cameras, as you said size does matter. 35mm is fun to shoot, it's different than MF, faster. Plus the F6 is a nice camera. If you want more lenses though, by all means sell the F6. You could always buy a K1000 :-D. The D40 is fun but they hacked the autofocus for most of the old lenses.

 

[keithwms]

Keep everything, each of these bodies has its place. If you want my opinon on the D40 then ask me on lightcafe.net, I don't want to go into digital stuff here I'll just repeat, each of these bodies has its place.

 

[Tom Duffy]

The Contax 645 is a great camera. I have one. But the autofocus leaves a lot to be desired compared to a 35mm SLR. The F6 with a couple of fast lenses is still way lighter than a Contax outfit. I think you will find a use for both.

Take care,
Tom

 

[Evgeny]

Thank you!
I will keep the F6. It is actually a great camera.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Keep it until you have enough lenses in MF to sell the Nikon for film. That's what I'm getting ready to do with the sr-T101.

 

[23mjm]

Keep them all they are very different cameras with different uses. If after a year you haven't used one then sell it.

That's why I have soooo many cameras I use them all.

 

[hacken]

I never sell my photo equipment. The money you get is not worth it - the satisfaction to have it handy "in the case of" is.

 

[Steve Smith]

When I went to medium format with a Rolleicord, a Bronica and an RB67 I kept my 35mm cameras as something small to carry around. However, my 35mm cameras are a Nikon FG and a Nikon F601, both of which are compact.

The F6 is a large camera and therefore, I see no advantage in using it over the Contax as they are of similar bulk.

However, if I had an F6 I don't think I would get rid of it!

(That doesn't really help much does it?).

Steve.

 

[Evgeny]

I cannot part with the F6, after I compared the F6 viewfinder to Contax
Superb engineering

 

[orto]

I cannot part with the F6, after I compared the F6 viewfinder to Contax
Superb engineering

What's the matter with the Contax viewfinder?

 

[Evgeny]

F6 has bigger viewfinder.

 

[orto]

F6 has bigger viewfinder.

Hmm. The 645 has bigger film gate!

 

[timlayton]

This thread is a little older.... I am wondering if the OP kept the F6 with the Contax 645 and their thoughts? If this were a current thread I would have suggested getting some Zeiss F mount prime glass for the F6 (e.g. 35mm f/1.4, etc) and enjoying the Zeiss quality and rich contrast that we all love in those lenses on the F6 and smaller 35mm format. In most cases if you just slightly underexpose your 35mm negative and develop by about 10/15% less in a fine grain developer like XTOL 1+1 along with the Zeiss glass you would find all sorts of reasons to keep your F6 and Contax 645. The same principles can be applied to your 645 as well. For large format I take the opposite approach by giving it more light.

Tim

 

[stavrosk]

My advice is to NEVER act on compulsion. Wait at least 3 months before you sell something.
Now you are overwhelmed but maybe in a few weeks time you change your mind.

 

[keithwms]

My advice is to NEVER act on compulsion.

Which is why I don't have any children.