Do you use your favorite medium format lens to shoot digital?

[Alexander6x6]

With the moderator's permission I would like to start here the discussion about the experience with medium format lenses on modern digital cameras. It doesn't make much sense to start such kind of discussion in the digital section of this forum because the main reason people use MF lenses there is usually budget-related, not analog medium format legacy-related. I would rather hear the opinions of people who used their MF lenses for years before buying digital cameras.

My first medium-format camera was the Kiev-88. The heavily modified Hartblei 688 Master and Hartblei 1008 Studio Master cameras with Arsenal and CZJ lenses still work since 1998. In contrast, the focal plane shutter of the rarely used Hasselblad 201F, which was installed a couple of years ago, has recently broken.

It has always been my dream to use my favorite lenses, such as the Vega-28 120/2.8 or the Hartblei 150mm/2.8, for digital photography. Big sensors were always extremely expensive, and small ones didn't meet my expectations. The Fujifilm GFX 50s was the first affordable digital medium-format camera for me. Since then, I have used this camera with adapted lenses. I don't like the rendering of native Fuji lenses, which is why I only have the GF 63mm lens, which I use for snapshots.

 

[Hasslebad]

I used Hasselblad and Mamiya 7 lenses for years before getting a digital back for my Hasselblad when it became more affordable. I limit the digital backs for studio because of the amount of overhead needed between getting white balance set, sync cable applied etc. Also my studio work is more work related where tethering is helpful to get everything right.

For leisure or family photos, I prefer film since I get a look that I’m used to and it matches a lot of my earlier photos. It’s also easier in some ways (see sync cable and not having to worry about white balancing). That said, if I can spend the time to setup, I may take the digital backs out into the field.

 

[Hasslebad]

By the way, if I had GFX, I would consider the focal reducer adapter that allows using the Pentax Super Takumar 105mm f2.4. I think that lens has a beautiful rendering and being able to get that full field of view on a modern digital camera would be amazing.

 

[abruzzi]

Sure. I have a 6x9/6x7 view camera setup with a bunch of lenses that do double duty when I put a digital back on the camera. My investment in digital is somewhat limited so I can afford last generation Rodenstock digital, instead I use the film lenses I have available. It ranges from a 50mm/ƒ6.3 Mamiya on the wide end to a 150mm/ƒ9 Apo Ronar. I haven't yet had the need to go longer. My normal is a Nikkor-M 105mm/ƒ3.5. Its fairly long for a 6x4.5 sensor, but I lean long on my preferred lenses.