'Coolest' Medium Format Camera?

[Jeff Kubach]

It will only maim ya if ya drop it on yer foot.

^^

Jeff

 

[ic-racer]

 

[smiling gecko]

a rolleiflex 6002 or rolleicord v or kershaw folder or hasselblad swc/m...or fsu scholnik or étude..

breathe, relax and enjoy.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth

 

[EKDobbs]

Mamiya C330f, hands down. Has the awesome flexibility of a TLR with the systematic style of an RB67. I would sell my soul to have a mint condition body with a mostly full system, but until I figure out how to transfer my soul into $$$, I'll just ogle.

 

[steven_e007]

The impression I'm getting from this thread, is that ALL medium format cameras are 'cool'

 

[Marc B.]

The impression I'm getting from this thread, is that ALL medium format cameras are 'cool'

Oh, No, There are/were some real dogs out there.
However, what's the old adage..."If you can't say something good..."?

 

[Schlapp]

Now, to be really cool, make a camera. Pinhole is easiest, cheap and lots of fun. A way cool!

 

[narsuitus]

I've asked this question on other forums today and generally the question has gone down well. However a few have refused to play the game, instead replying 'why should it matter whether it's cool or not', or 'what a shallow question to ask'. I was even accused of behaving like a 12 year old girl for asking the question on one flickr forum.

I explained to the medium format crew that this might go towards a light-hearted blog post I'm writing but …

I did not find your question shallow or light-hearted. I would ask the very same question if I were looking for an interesting prop to include in a motion picture or glamour shot.

 

[lxdude]

Intrigued by the Canon Adaptor...

 

[Klainmeister]

I vote a short video of a Koni-Omega being cocked...

 

[Sirius Glass]

The impression I'm getting from this thread, is that ALL medium format cameras are 'cool'

All MF cameras are cool, but some are cooler than the rest. - humble apology to George Orwell aka Eric Arthur Blair

 

[ic-racer]

Intrigued by the Canon Adaptor...

Actually "75mm Adapter" which allows a single set of infinity stops to be used for both a current 65mm lens on recessed board and an older 75mm lens on non-recessed board. Not enough room for two sets of infinity stops that close together.

 

[Simon Benton]

Fuji GX680 I II or III. Once you use one you will wonder why you did not make the change years ago. I have a Hasselblad and RB67 system but never use them now as I find the GX680 so much better. The prices right now are incredibly cheap - just check Ebay listings.

 

[jgbogner]

Mamiya Press

 

[nanntonaku]

Mamiya Press

+1, pure industrial constructivist coolness.

a c330, which i also use, may look cool, and a rollei/hassy/graflex might look classy, but a mamiya press just looks badass!

 

[fmajor]

Large and in charge--Mamiya RB67.

CGW has it right (again!)'

RB67 Pro-S for the win. The 'cool' (groovy?) font of the Pro-S on the camera body matching with the backs is just excellent attention to detail. Besides, with a big 'ol camera like that mounted on a large, modern carbon-fiber tripod in some obscure location is screaming artsy-hipster Professional Photographer.

 

[Shootar401]

Any TLR camera I find to be "cool" forget the brainwashed hasselblad groupies that say otherwise. Either a mamiya or rolleiflex should fit the bill.

 

[jnoir]

Linhof's 220 are nice, not legend for me since I have been able to actually touch it. Not really my cup of tea, but really interesting cameras, indeed.

Apart from customized folders, my vote goes for the Plaubel Makina IIIR, closely followed by the KW Pilot Super, closely followed by the KW Patent Etui, closely followed by the Ensign Speed Reflex, closely followed by... well, you get the idea ;-)

Incidentally, I have also had a lot of comments from fellow citizens about my Vitessa. But the only remarkable thing about it - not mentioning the gorgeous Ultron lens -, from my point of view, is the Combi-plunger.

 

[Dan Daniel]

I was at a camera sale a few months ago. I had a Minolta Autocord, Rolleiflex Xenotar 2.8C, Fuji GW690, and Yashica D on the table. The guy next to me had a Hasselblad 500C/M, a Bronica ETR and SQ, and about a dozen Kodak Retinas (ok, yeah, 35mm, but great objects). Guess which one got all the attention, all the oohs and aaahhs?

the Yashica-D. Probably the lowest quality, lowest value of them all. But it had one thing the other cameras didn't have- shiny chrome parts.

People like shiny things.

Myself, the only time I have almost accosted someone on the street to ask about their camera? Mamiya 7. But that's because I haven't looked through one and I wonder if it would work for me.

 

[TareqPhoto]

Good i have something sexy in my collection

 

[BrianL]

In thinking about it, I think the Polaroid 180 and 195 I have. When I used them more people would comment on them than even my Rollei. Seemed every familt has cool memories of their father having one or them owning one in their younger years. Of course they were referring to the autopack cameras though a few did mention they had the 180 or the 195 but they tended to be less gushing as they tended to be more into the hobby including the equipment.

Next as for the stuff I've owned would be the Exactas that it seemed many returning service personnel from Europe seemed to bring back with them and remembered fondly; then the Rollei, again, memories form returning service persons. Seemed in the '50s and '60s cameras and stero gear were standard fare for returning service persons to buy before mustering out.

 

[markldn]

Bronica s2

It's chrome like the hassy. Also the clattering of the shutter is so loud that even if you don't want to draw attention, you certainly will. Besides all that, it got a nice "3d look" with the nikkor lenses and quite affordable.

 

[OliMonster]

The baby Zeiss Ikontas. Y'know the way babies are so cute because they have such disproportionately large heads, especially eyes? Baby Ikontas kinda remind me of that.

 

[lxdude]

Bronica s2

It's chrome like the hassy.

IIRC, it's polished stainless steel.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I second the Hasselblad 500CM for its legendary status as a super trooper among photographers of all pursausions. But it does not sit on the pedestal alone. If size and noise matters, a Pentax 67. If stickybeaks aren't running their fingers over mine, they're telling me "what a cool camera! Oh, and it's a film camera... COOL!"