'Coolest' Medium Format Camera?

[jloen]

This makes me think of a question asked of violinist Itzahk Perlman some years ago when he spoke at the National Press Club:

question: "what is your favorite piece of music"
answer "it's the one that I am working on at the moment"

 

[adelorenzo]

A totally unscientific tally from the thread so far, here are the top ones:

Rolleiflex/Rolleicord 22
Hasselblad 500-series 19
Yashicamat 9
Bronica (various) 9
Mamiya TLR 7
Fuji 690/670 rangefinder 6
Mamiya RB67 6
Mamiya Press 5
Linhof Technika 5
Zeiss Super Ikonta 5
Rollei SL66 5
Plaubel Makina 4
Diana 4
Pentax 67 4
Koni 4

 

[Texsport]

Fujica 690 rangefinders (6x9 negative, AE 100, Auto Up close ups)
Rittreck 66 (Chrome covered brass beauty, bokeh monster 80/2.8, MU button)
Noblex 150 (140* angle of view, multiple exposure capability)
Linhof 617 (6x17 negative with no parallax)

Texsport

 

[R Paul]

A totally unscientific tally from the thread so far, here are the top ones:

Rolleiflex/Rolleicord 22
Hasselblad 500-series 19
Yashicamat 9
Bronica (various) 9
Mamiya TLR 7
Fuji 690/670 rangefinder 6
Mamiya RB67 6
Mamiya Press 5
Linhof Technika 5
Zeiss Super Ikonta 5
Rollei SL66 5
Plaubel Makina 4
Diana 4
Pentax 67 4
Koni 4

Put down another vote for the RB-67. It's big ,heavy and people stop and take pictures of you when you use it, but WHAT SLIDES YOU GET OUT OF IT! Just heaven.
Rob

 

[RattyMouse]

My vote goes to Fujifilm GF670.

 

[jerrybro]

Whoo hoo, I've got first and second!! What did I win!!

 

[TheToadMen]

Bronica SQ-B for 6x6 format (and a lot of fun) or Bronica RF645 for a rather compact and easy to use rangefinder camera, with excellent lightmeter and very nice glass too.

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

 

[Regular Rod]

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

 

[Dan Fromm]

I have a few MF cameras, just took their temperatures. All are a room temperature, none is cooler than that.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hasselblad, Hasselblad SWC and XPan

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

IF your friends are like mine, a Century Graphic has way more coolness factor than the modern designs most listed here.

Anecdotes are not data, however

 

[Dan Fromm]

IF your friends are like mine, a Century Graphic has way more coolness factor than the modern designs most listed here.

Anecdotes are not data, however

Nope, room temperature like all the others.

 

[JW PHOTO]

eddym in post #161 hit the nail on the head for me! The Linhof 220 is without a doubt the coolest medium format camera and one I have always lusted after, but never owned. I have and still do own many more cameras than I should have a right to and for a while in the 80's to around 2000 setup and sold at Midwest camera shows. I've had many different cameras in my procession, but never a Linhof 220. Someday before I go to the big camera show in the sky I will own one. I hope? JW

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Nobody's mentioned the Combat Graphic/ KE-4? http://www.pinterest.com/pin/101823641545092773/ One of Hubert Nerwin's creations.

 

[fretlessdavis]

I'd say the coolest would be the modified Hasselblads that are sitting on the moon. Nothing more awesome than the camera that went with man to the moon!

 

[cliveh]

The only medium format camera I own is a Hassy, but one of my students who was looking in the camera cupboard at college pointed to a Rolleicord and said can I borrow that really cool camera. So my vote goes to this and for also that it's not a Rolleiflex, which I think are a bit over rated.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

The only medium format camera I own is a Hassy...

I thought you were going to purchase a pocketable 120 folder of some sort?

Ken

 

[cliveh]

I thought you were going to purchase a pocketable 120 folder of some sort?

Ken

Yes, you are correct and I do have a 120 folder, but can't remember which one.

 

[erikg]

Ermanox http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/Images/C217.JPG

 

[Whiteymorange]

Raymond Loewy's Anscoflex II

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'd say the coolest would be the modified Hasselblads that are sitting on the moon. Nothing more awesome than the camera that went with man to the moon!

Actually not as cool, rather out of this World.

 

[doughowk]

Started with a Century Graphic, which yielded some nice 2X3 sheet negatives. But the lens shutter locked up, and I couldn't figure how to adjust the rangefinder for a longer lens. And looking thru the bellows is like looking at the starry heaven on a clear night.
Got a couple of Mamiyas (C330) and still use them for indoor shots (eg, portraits and figure studies). But, with hanging them around my neck, I felt like I was developing a vulture's swayed long neck.
Now I am using a Bronica SQ-A (a poor man's Hassy), and really like the results. Only problem is long exposures - can do them but with a poorly designed kludge solution.

 

[benveniste]

My vote still goes to the Horseman SW612 and SW617 series.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

From the uniquely cool perspective, I have to also go along with the Fujifilm GF670.

A modern-day medium format folding bellows camera? With a choice of either 6x6 or 6x7 formats? And a killer modern meter? Brand new? No wear and tear? Under warranty? Parts and service easily and cheerfully available? With a modern Fuji EBC coated lens that is so sharp the photos will make your eyes bleed? And a killer accurate electronic shutter? That is so quiet it's impossible to even hear from six inches away? And the whole tomato can be slipped into an oversized coat pocket?

Geez, only a few years ago who would have thought such a thing would even be available ever again? Me thinks the 'cool' factor needle has been pinned. Gads, in a pinch the thing is even a serviceable chick magnet that doesn't require puppy food...

:w00t:

Ken

 

[snapguy]

laugh

In my humbug opinion if one does not have an active sense of humor one should perhaps not shoot film. My vote is for the Praktisix with a 180mm f2.8 Olympic Sonnar and pentaprism. Takes fabulous photos, too.
Does anyone know why Yankee Doodle put a feather in his cap, as the old tune says? Because he thought it made him look cool. And he spilled his blood so we could be free. Think about it. Nothing wrong with a small diversion once in a while.