'Coolest' Medium Format Camera?

TheToadMen · Mar 22, 2014

duparis00 said:
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.

Then you might also like a Bronica RF645. Very nice to handle, excellent glass and not that expensive. A good rangefinder too.
Negative size 6x4.5 cm.

andrew.roos · Mar 22, 2014

TheToadMen said:
Then you might also like a Bronica RF645. Very nice to handle, excellent glass and not that expensive. A good rangefinder too.
Negative size 6x4.5 cm.

Just be aware that when held normally (upright) the RF645 shoots in portrait orientation.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

TheToadMen · Mar 22, 2014

andrew.roos said:
Just be aware that when held normally (upright) the RF645 shoots in portrait orientation.

It does. It was getting used to (a bit) at first, but now I like it. Makes you think about your creative process ...
Alway a good thing.

andrew.roos · Mar 22, 2014

Sure, no problem with it - as a Bronica ETRSi shooter I would love one myself. Just worth mentioning as it is somewhat unusual in this respect.

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elekm · Mar 23, 2014

Exakta 66

TheToadMen · Mar 23, 2014

WOW,
I've never seen this model but it is a beauty!
If you want to trade it for a nice 135 mm Exakta with extras ???

elekm said:
Exakta 66

Roger Cole · Mar 23, 2014

I agree, that camera is beautiful!

cliveh · Mar 24, 2014

TheToadMen said:
WOW,
I've never seen this model but it is a beauty!
If you want to trade it for a nice 135 mm Exakta with extras ???

Now that is cool.

D Olson · May 14, 2014

Pzzt. Kodak Medalist II.

Bill Burk · May 14, 2014

D Olson said:
Pzzt. Kodak Medalist II.

Haaaaaa, I turned one down - didn't buy it - for $15

All these years of regret later now that those are insanely expensive...

I finally got myself an Ektar I can use... in a Kodak Retina I 35mm camera. Had a great time with it.

Developing the film tonight.

---
Once I realized the thread was several years old I jumped so I don't know if anyone voted...

I really like my Ikonta and Bessa II 6x9 folding medium format cameras... 6x9 is a really great format and anyone who shoots 120 film should try it.

Even if the camera optics and precision fall short of the Hasselblad and Rollei... The large pieces of film are wonderful for making prints.

ic-racer · May 14, 2014

macgabhan · May 26, 2014

Fuji GX680

I have had this tremedous camera for years and love it, and the huge negatives that it gives.

I have a series of videos on youtube which are developing (pun intended ... sorry!) my complete B&W workflow including three on this great camera, an overview of the system, the movements and replacing the film back battery for the mk1 and mk2. The videos are here if you are interested

http://youtu.be/MB4hLCAU6cQ

http://youtu.be/pVsg9RV6WnQ

http://youtu.be/yViibd-Xijw

I would love to know what you think of these videos and of the camera of you do watch

Best

Dave Smith

StoneNYC · May 26, 2014

macgabhan said:
I have had this tremedous camera for years and love it, and the huge negatives that it gives.

I have a series of videos on youtube which are developing (pun intended ... sorry!) my complete B&W workflow including three on this great camera, an overview of the system, the movements and replacing the film back battery for the mk1 and mk2. The videos are here if you are interested

http://youtu.be/MB4hLCAU6cQ

http://youtu.be/pVsg9RV6WnQ

http://youtu.be/yViibd-Xijw

I would love to know what you think of these videos and of the camera of you do watch

Best

Dave Smith

My only comments about the videoes would be that you should present your "presence" to appear not in your garage but frames in a working space of some kind, they would give more of a sense of authority if you yourself were presented more professionally. The info is good though.

They camera seems WAY bigger than my MamiyaRZ67 though, I thought it was a 4x5 when you extended the bellows! Wow. What a beast!

Enjoy shooting!

Regular Rod · May 26, 2014

Regular Rod said:
Some excellent folding cameras have been overlooked here!

Going on results for the money and portability, which usually means you get to use them more...

AGFA Record III with Solinar (although the much cheaper Apotars are pretty good too).
Voigtlander Perkeo II
Mamiya-6 Folding

RR

Of course you can always build your own non-folder...

http://freepdfhosting.com/b316cbe2ff.pdf

6x12 for under £200...

RR

wwilliams · May 26, 2014

I'm a little surprised there are so few votes for the Hasselblad SWC (particularly with the "torpedo" finder). I think it, along with the screw mount Leica's are the most beautiful cameras ever built with the plain prism Nikon F a close second. I'm an architect and what does it for me is the proportion. The SWC body is almost a perfect cube and the lens just about doubles the length to a 2 to 1 rectangle - very pleasing. The idea that it is easily held in one hand and with zone focusing and great depth of field it becomes a real point and shoot. A nearly silent shutter and a satisfying purr of the gears when you advance the film make it into a great picture taking experience.

ContaxRTSFundus · May 26, 2014

I can never agree which I find coolest - so here's my bunch of favourites... They all offer superb images - just depends on the day...

TheToadMen · May 26, 2014

SWC

wwilliams said:
I'm a little surprised there are so few votes for the Hasselblad SWC (particularly with the "torpedo" finder). I think it, along with the screw mount Leica's are the most beautiful cameras ever built with the plain prism Nikon F a close second. I'm an architect and what does it for me is the proportion. The SWC body is almost a perfect cube and the lens just about doubles the length to a 2 to 1 rectangle - very pleasing. The idea that it is easily held in one hand and with zone focusing and great depth of field it becomes a real point and shoot. A nearly silent shutter and a satisfying purr of the gears when you advance the film make it into a great picture taking experience.

I second that!
I recently got me an old SWC (1965) with chrome lens and shot my first rolls with it in Paris. I just got the negatives developed, but didn't have time yet to scan anything. It's a real nice camera to see and handle. It's light, easy to use and has an great angle of view.
I really love it.

BTW: I also just got me a Mamiya RB Pro-S with 4 lenses. Also a great working horse. Can't wait to take it out (when it stops raining).

macgabhan · May 27, 2014

Hi Stone

Many thanks for taking the time to look and to comment. It is actually a spare room in my flat in Brussels (my workshop is in North Sweden!) and my intention with the whole series is to show my complete workflow for people new to the process or those who feel that they can't allocate space to the process, but in a way that allows us to make analogue photographs without big fixed fancy darkrooms (I use an ice fishing tent!) and without enlargers. Hopefully to help people at least get started, though I don't use an enlarger. I think that this will become more apparent as the series grows, I am only in the early stages yet!

The Fuji is certainly a beast and the negatives are, I think big enough to contact print - though I intend to do so as diptych and triptychs shooting specifically for that purpose - on 10x8 paper, either an AZO type of paper or using Palladium and/or Carbon Transfer

Best wishes

Dave

nicholaskong · May 30, 2014

For me Hasselblad 500 series is the coolest medium format camera. Next will be Contax 645

Vaughn · May 30, 2014

I got one of these (and a couple lenses). It is pretty cool....

TheToadMen · May 30, 2014

And a beauty it is!

Vaughn said:
I got one of these (and a couple lenses). It is pretty cool....

Jeff Kubach · May 30, 2014

Vaughn said:
I got one of these (and a couple lenses). It is pretty cool....

That is cool for sure!

Jeff

tessar · May 30, 2014

When I want to be ultra-retro-hipster cool, I like using a 2x3 Graflex SLR or 2x3 Crown Graphic with roll-film holders. People like having their pictures taken with one of those.

Vaughn · May 30, 2014

TheToadMen said:
And a beauty it is!

The kind of beauty only parents can see in their children!

But what more can one ask for? Ground glass focusing, or built-in cams for the range focusing. Bellows. Sheet film option. Interchangable lenses. Sports finder. German lenses. Oh, my!

Well, not having to use a separate roll film holder would be nice, but who's asking?! LOL!

ambaker · May 30, 2014

I'm going with these...

'Coolest' Medium Format Camera?

TheToadMen

andrew.roos

TheToadMen

andrew.roos

elekm

TheToadMen

Roger Cole

cliveh

D Olson

Bill Burk

ic-racer

macgabhan

StoneNYC

Regular Rod

wwilliams

ContaxRTSFundus

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TheToadMen

macgabhan

nicholaskong

Vaughn

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TheToadMen

Jeff Kubach

tessar

Vaughn

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ambaker

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'Coolest' Medium Format Camera?

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