'Coolest' Medium Format Camera?

[Roger Cole]

Not everything is as big and boxy as an RB. The Rolleiflex is elegant and portable and designed to work well in the hand. Hasselblad as well. It clearly was intended to have style and be more than a utilitarian studio box.

This.

My wife and I were in New Orleans all last week for Mardis Gras. I shot a roll of a parade in my Yashicamat 124 and got several comments about "nice camera!" from people in the parades, and a couple of throws directed at me in appreciation.

But then even though I like using the WLF even I gave up trying to shoot a parade with one while limited to 12 exposures and slow re-load and went back to 35mm. But people often express appreciation for the 124. (I think it looks "cooler" than the G model, since it has a lot more chrome.)

 

[lxdude]

I agree. Medium format cameras were (mostly) studio workhorses. Cool rarely entered the equation, they just had to do what was expected of them. Cool is something you pull out of your pocket and grab the shot - only my 120 folders fit that description. Cool is not carrying something that weighs the same as a small child and belongs on a hefty tripod.

Cool is whatever someone thinks it is. Cool to one is uncool to another. And that's cool.

 

[lxdude]

cool is for teenage hipsters not adults

Who did they learn it from? "Cool" has been used that way for over half a century. So hey- it's cool, man!

 

[fretlessdavis]

Who did they learn it from? "Cool" has been used that way for over half a century.

Yeah, 'cool' was definitely out of vogue when I was a teenager.

I can't even understand teenagers these days. Their response to this thread would be along the lines of:

"y u evn want a flim camera brrah? ma NOKIA is totez dopez brah 40 megaapixlz man"

 

[frank]

That's sick!

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I can't even understand teenagers these days. Their response to this thread would be along the lines of:

"y u evn want a flim camera brrah? ma NOKIA is totez dopez brah 40 megaapixlz man"

It gets worse. I've been told that school districts have now ceased teaching students how to write. Meaning handwritten cursive. They are now only being taught simple block letters. Keyboards are the brave new world. At least until gestures render those obsolete by next weekend.

That's not a joke, either. My wife recently told of a supervisor at her job who handed a list of handwritten instructions to a young employee. The exasperated response was, "I can't read that!" And it's not because that young employee was illiterate.

If we are not careful, technology will end up regressing us all back into the primordial soup from whence we sprang...



Ken

 

[fretlessdavis]

It gets worse. I've been told that school districts have now ceased teaching students how to write. Meaning handwritten cursive. They are now only being taught simple block letters. Keyboards are the brave new world. At least until gestures render those obsolete by next weekend.

That's not a joke, either. My wife recently told of a supervisor at her job who handed a list of handwritten instructions to a young employee. The exasperated response was, "I can't read that!" And it's not because that young employee was illiterate.

If we are not careful, technology will end up regressing us all back into the primordial soup from whence we sprang...



Ken

I know... it's scary. What's even worse, is how infrequently I meet someone that's under 20 that actually knows how to type properly. I think most teens now can punch out a message on a smartphone touchscreen faster than they can type...

I don't really blame the kids much. My generation seems to have the 'digital babysitter' mentality. I see kids as young as 10 with iPhones now.

 

[lxdude]

Word mutha’s….

My Nikons are ill, 4x5 is Gangsta, Hasselblads are Sick and my M3?.......I ain’t mad at it Yo…

word yo

 

[lxdude]

Yeah, 'cool' was definitely out of vogue when I was a teenager.

So 'cool' was uncool...

I can't even understand teenagers these days. Their response to this thread would be along the lines of:

"y u evn want a flim camera brrah? ma NOKIA is totez dopez brah 40 megaapixlz man"

 

[PKM-25]

I think this camera which I am using right now in the scene before you is pretty "cool"...

 

[jovo]

My P67 was hot once; now it's cool, and it's easy to warm up to. My C330 was hip once; now it's not even rad. But my Shen-Hao is, like, OMG...WTF...dude!!

 

[ambaker]

Dawg, droppin it like it's hot...

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Kyle M.]

Having worked with medium format cameras since the seventies, it's challenging to conceive of a large, heavy, squarish optical device design as cool. My fear is people are really asking, 'how does this camera look on me' as opposed to 'how do I carry this around to make pictures smaller cameras can't manage'. As far as jewellery goes, it takes real commitment to carry, say, an RB67 round in the hope of a chance shot, even if people think it looks nice slung on their hip. I admire such cojones, without any wish to go in that direction personally.

If you love nice big negatives, and want to adopt them as a standard, get the lightest medium format camera you can find and leave cool for people who don't mind grooves in their shoulder.

I happen be one of the crazies who enjoys carrying an RB67 around, I mean it does only weigh 4 or 5 lbs. Just yesterday my best friend and I went on a 2.5 mile hike through the mud and snow I drug along the RB with 90mm, my Gossen Luna Pro F, and 3 rolls of TMAX 100. That's the third or fourth time I've hiked with it and I'm good to go at 1/30 or faster. If I had to get rid of all of my camera but one I'd keep the RB. But I understand those that don't wanna carry a 5 lb. camera.

 

[TheToadMen]

Dawg, droppin it like it's hot...

Made me somehow think of Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms ...

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl

 

[jerrybro]

I think this camera which I am using right now in the scene before you is pretty "cool"...

Love the prism.

 

[PKM-25]

Love the prism.

The sticker, love the company, local guys who made it happen...

 

[k.hendrik]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77846450@N00/12414691803/
According to my students 'this' is rather cool

 

[Texsport]

Fujica GL690B + 100/3.5AE + Auto Up (or) 50/5.6 lens
Rittreck 66+ 80/2.0
Linhof 617
Noblex 150

Texsport

 

[Texsport]

That's Fujica G690BL

Sorry

Texsport

 

[nateo200]

Not in any order because theres no way I could decide but...

-GX680, sheet film sort of scares me so if I wanted to be able to do some minor movements it'd be a good choice. I also think the fact that it shoots 6x8 is rare, unique and cool, not 6x7, not 6x9, FRICKEN IN BETWEEN AT 6x8! So cool...I suppose its a revival of one of the older medium formats that got lost (forgot the specifics). But yeah I'd like to rent a GX680 some time....Idk how much movements you could do with it compared to 4x5 or 8x10 or even how much of an improvement over a tilt shift lens on a 35mm it would be, I imagine itd be well in between but I'd have to see it to believe it

-Mamiya RZ67 Pro, that waist level viewfinder makes my mouth water and its looks are amazing. I'm into cinematography and video as well and while RED cameras aren't my favorite the RED Epic was based on cameras like the RZ67 and Hassleblad 500 series and its a very comfortable way to shoot, especially at slower shutter speeds.

-Fuji GW690 aka the Texas Leica (say it with a Texas accent or it doesn't sound as cool!) hehe I'm biased I have one on the way, but I find the idea of just enlarging a range finder for 120 in 6x9 format as just simple but genius. As much as I love the RZ67 or the various other MF systems, sometimes I don't want a system…I just want a camera that takes sharp pictures if I do everything right. It looks so silly pressed against someones face if they aren't a giant though..I love it! I'm used to SLR's so I suppose the weight/size aspect won't be that big of a deal.

 

[tessar]

I have others, but the coolest must be the 6x9 Graflex SLR with roll-film holder and 127mm Ektar. It's in great working condition and sure draws lots of looks.

 

[Texsport]

Texas Leicas are lighter weight than Nikon F4, F5 and Canon EOS3.

Texsport

 

[nateo200]

I have others, but the coolest must be the 6x9 Graflex SLR with roll-film holder and 127mm Ektar. It's in great working condition and sure draws lots of looks.

Haha my friend loves his Speed Graphic with a 6x9 roll film holder. Funny he was just talking to me about it when I mentioned my Texas Leica on the way. I definitely like a Graflex, a 4x5 Speed Graphic would be an awesome camera to add to my collection.

Texas Leicas are lighter weight than Nikon F4, F5 and Canon EOS3.

Texsport

Interesting...I never knew that...even the original one? I'm not talking about the plastic ones like the Fuji GW690III I'm talking about the original Fujica GW690...was thinking of an EOS3 since I shoot Canon DSLR's and have a bunch of Canon glass.

 

[Texsport]

I just picked up all 4 cameras and there is not a lot of difference amount them. Of course, different lenses have a big effect. The lenses on the Fujica surely have larger diameters.

IN hand, I judge the F5 and F4 are the heaviest, followed by EOS3 and Fujica 690.

I mean the interchangeable lens Fujicas, not the later plastic models.

Remember that a lot of the weight in the big SLRs is the battery weight needed for the auto film advance systems.

Bottom line, if you expect the Fujica to be heavier, you will be surprised!

Texsport

 

[duparis00]

I finally got to hold a Mamiya 7II today...and I have to say I think that is the coolest MF for me. I like MF and I like Rangefinders...if only it weren't so dang expensive.