Does anyone photograph sports with their TLR?

Ken Nadvornick · Oct 1, 2014

baachitraka said:
What is missing in my bag is that film... :-(

Ironically, Leifer was one of only two photographers at ringside who had color film in his camera. The other, I believe, was Herb Scharfman, the photographer seen between Ai's legs, also shooting for Sports Illustrated, who through no fault of his own just happened to be on the wrong side of history.

Ken

Ken Nadvornick · Oct 1, 2014

Vaughn said:
Close as I can get...A couple photos of me playing basketball in the very early 70's. Taken with a Rolleiflex.

I have a new-found respect for you, Vaughn...

Ken

cramej · Oct 1, 2014

David Brown said:
As to the original question, i.e., has anybody had success at using medium format for sports; you do realize that at one time roll film and 4x5 press cameras were the norm. :confused:

... and doing that under a basketball goal is a good way to get knocked down.

Well, I didn't mean anybody in history, I meant around APUG... I figured there must have been a reason they put those funny square holes in the top of the viewfinder

Rick A · Oct 1, 2014

looks like the answer is a resounding YES, and that's exactly why they put a "sports finder" on TLR's. Mamiya made masks for them, you can find them on line some times.

pbromaghin · Oct 1, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
The widely-acknowledged single greatest sports photograph of all time...

Ali - Liston

Neil Leifer, Sports Illustrated, Rolleiflex TLR w/strobe, May 25, 1965

Ken

And look at the 6 photographers along the ring apron - 3 with 35mm SLRs, 2 with Rolleis, and one behind Ali's leg with what might be a speed graphic.

I used to shoot my daughters gymnastic team with tri-x or 400 Gold in 35mm under conditions similar to the OP. It got pretty easy to know where to pre-focus for the next shot and to shoot at an instant of not-too-fast movement. A tripod helped a lot.

3-4 years ago, somebody posted a link to an article showing techniques used to photograph baseball in the 1930's. One iconic World Series photo of a famous play between 1st and 2nd was made on a 4x5 with a 2-3 ft lens, fixed in position above 1st base so that the whole side (and only that) of the infield was in focus. The guy sat there the whole game waiting to take maybe 2-3 exposures.

Vaughn · Oct 1, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
I have a new-found respect for you, Vaughn...

Ken

I played thru High School, a couple years in college and then city rec leagues until I was in my early 40's. A few knee surgeries later I decided when my triplets were born, that I'd better save my knees for backpacking with the boys -- and carrying around 8x10 and 11x14 cameras! Still have the urge to play when I see a pick-up game, but at 60 I think not!

DREW WILEY · Oct 1, 2014

Unless you were a pro using a handheld Graflex or something similar, several generations of photographers HAD to do it that way. Our high
school yearbook staff only had Rollei TLR's to work with, and they got the shots. Maybe no pro sports photographer in the world would do it that
way today, but why not. I've taken wildlife shots with an 8x10 view camera, and I guarantee you, that's a lot more difficult!

johnha · Oct 1, 2014

When I bought a WLF for my Mamiya 645 Pro it came with the action-finder attachment (wire frame & transparent plastic screen marked with various focal length 'frames'). I didn't need it as I had a prism (and it looks a pain to set up).

My favourite old sports photo is linked here: http://www.itv.com/sport/football/update/2014-02-15/snapshot-the-famous-tom-finney-splash-photo/ alas I don't know what gear it was taken with (1956).

Richard S. (rich815) · Oct 1, 2014

Does auto sport count? This is some of the best sport photography I've ever seen using a Rolleiflex:

http://www.klemcoll.com/photographers/1.aspx

Gerald C Koch · Oct 2, 2014

I have photographed a number of sports events from car racing, motor-cross to the Florida Games. I have a Mamiya C33 and a Mamiya C220 with the full set of lenses (55 to 180 mm) and would honestly say that a TLR would not be my first or second choice as a useful camera for such events. However a basketball game does have the advantages of constant lighting and a limited range of distances. My first choice would be an SLR (my Nikon N80 with autofocus, auto-exposure and auto-wind) followed by a rangefinder. The Mamiyas are fine cameras but a bit clunky for something as fast paced as a sports event.

I would suggest a hand grip for the Mamiyaflex as this allows one to use only one hand to hold the camera. The right hand is free for other things. If you can find the sports finder masks they would be worth the investment as they are easily and quickly changeable.

benjiboy · Oct 2, 2014

The Mamiya L grip with trigger release and the prism finder help.

skysh4rk · Oct 2, 2014

cramej said:
Is there anyone who has shot sports successfully? I'd love to see some examples as they are hard to find on flickr and such.

Successfully? I'm not sure what you would classify as successful, but I occasionally use my Autocord to shoot sport, mostly track and field athletics, although I would ordinarily prefer to use my SQ-A in these instances. I don't have any 135 gear anymore and sold most of digital stuff, so I am 'forced' to use my 6x6cm cameras for everything, but I enjoy the challenge.

A few out of the Autocord:

Richard S. (rich815) · Oct 2, 2014

Nice shots skysh4rk.

cramej · Oct 2, 2014

Does auto sport count? This is some of the best sport photography I've ever seen using a Rolleiflex:

http://www.klemcoll.com/photographers/1.aspx

Heck yeah it counts! I wish there was a decent track near me.

I have photographed a number of sports events from car racing, motor-cross to the Florida Games. I have a Mamiya C33 and a Mamiya C220 with the full set of lenses (55 to 180 mm) and would honestly say that a TLR would not be my first or second choice as a useful camera for such events. However a basketball game does have the advantages of constant lighting and a limited range of distances. My first choice would be an SLR (my Nikon N80 with autofocus, auto-exposure and auto-wind) followed by a rangefinder. The Mamiyas are fine cameras but a bit clunky for something as fast paced as a sports event.

I would suggest a hand grip for the Mamiyaflex as this allows one to use only one hand to hold the camera. The right hand is free for other things. If you can find the sports finder masks they would be worth the investment as they are easily and quickly changeable.

IMO the N80 is too slow for sports. AF is not quick enough for fast changes in direction or distance and 2.5 fps is slower than my finger. My FA with the MD-15 is faster because I don't have to wait until it is in perfect focus to shoot. I do enjoy using the N80, though.

I have the RB/CXXX L grip but it's on a C2 right now so I still have to cock and trip the shutter with my right hand. Regarding the masks, I measured the VF and angle of view of the 180mm then drew them up on the computer. Then I found that Graham Patterson already had a post script file on his website. My measurements with a steel ruler and AOV calculations were only .5mm off on the mask aperture!

Successfully? I'm not sure what you would classify as successful, but I occasionally use my Autocord to shoot sport, mostly track and field athletics, although I would ordinarily prefer to use my SQ-A in these instances. I don't have any 135 gear anymore and sold most of digital stuff, so I am 'forced' to use my 6x6cm cameras for everything, but I enjoy the challenge.

I'll have to give track a try this coming spring. Since I work in a high school, I have easy access to events and coaches.

benjiboy · Oct 2, 2014

Photographers in the 1950's and 1960's shot sport with T.L.R's all the time but it takes a lot of practice.

RobertoMiglioli · Oct 2, 2014

I made some sports photos with TLR. Off course there are limitations but it is quite easy and the results are fantastic. If I was in your shoes I would consider using a Rolleiflex or Yashica because they are lighter and already have sports viewfinder. Use ISO 400 film and between f/8 and f/11 you will have enough DOF to shoot almost everything without have to deal with focus knob.

Too old to care · Oct 2, 2014

I worked my way through college using a camera shooting weddings, basketball games, track meets, and other sporting events with a Mat 124 and Mamiya C3. That is all I had and it worked fine. Of course no one does that anymore, but 35 years ago it was not that unusual.

skysh4rk · Oct 2, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Nice shots skysh4rk.

Thanks! I wish I had the chance to take more track and field photos, but I'm usually competing myself and I have to worry about my own event.

skysh4rk · Oct 2, 2014

cramej said:
Heck yeah it counts! I wish there was a decent track near me.

IMO the N80 is too slow for sports. AF is not quick enough for fast changes in direction or distance and 2.5 fps is slower than my finger. My FA with the MD-15 is faster because I don't have to wait until it is in perfect focus to shoot. I do enjoy using the N80, though.

I have the RB/CXXX L grip but it's on a C2 right now so I still have to cock and trip the shutter with my right hand. Regarding the masks, I measured the VF and angle of view of the 180mm then drew them up on the computer. Then I found that Graham Patterson already had a post script file on his website. My measurements with a steel ruler and AOV calculations were only .5mm off on the mask aperture!

I'll have to give track a try this coming spring. Since I work in a high school, I have easy access to events and coaches.

I find track and field to be quite straightforward to shoot with TLRs, because you can pre-focus; you already know the path that almost every athlete will follow. The two biggest obstacles I encounter are that the 75mm lens on my Autocord is a bit shorter than I'd ordinarily prefer to use and the top shutter speed is only 1/500.

I really like using my Bronica SQ-A with my 135mm or 180mm lenses, but the thwack of the mirror is a bit loud to be using it if you're near to the start of a race, as it could be mistaken for the starter's gun.

J Oney · Oct 7, 2014

In the early 70's I used a Rollie to shoot hockey games. Too slow and pre focusing was hit or miss.

Ken Nadvornick · Oct 27, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
The widely-acknowledged single greatest sports photograph of all time...

Ali - Liston

Neil Leifer, Sports Illustrated, Rolleiflex TLR w/strobe, May 25, 1965

Ken Nadvornick said:
Ironically, Leifer was one of only two photographers at ringside who had color film in his camera. The other, I believe, was Herb Scharfman, the photographer seen between Ai's legs, also shooting for Sports Illustrated, who through no fault of his own just happened to be on the wrong side of history.

I believe this may be the 22-year-old Mr. Leifer (circled) working the ring with his Rolleiflex TLR moments before the famous photograph was made...

Ralph MorseThe LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Ken

Ken Nadvornick · Oct 28, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
I believe this may be the 22-year-old Mr. Leifer (circled) working the ring with his Rolleiflex TLR moments before the famous photograph was made...

No, it is NOT!

Well, at least not the fight in question. I found the photo on a site that identified it as the fight in question, but it most definitely is not.

Can you sleuth out the clue??

Ken

pentaxuser · Oct 28, 2014

skysh4rk said:
I really like using my Bronica SQ-A with my 135mm or 180mm lenses, but the thwack of the mirror is a bit loud to be using it if you're near to the start of a race, as it could be mistaken for the starter's gun.

We report the sad death of APUGer skysh4rk. He was taking an innocent photo of Prime Minister, David Cameron during his visit to Glasgow, when his security squad assumed it was a gunshot from a member of the local Al MacQeda.

The subsequent public inquiry,taking 6 months and a bargain at only £5 million pounds, recommended that Bronicas be banned from all public places and instructed that a discussion about Bronicas be started on APUG and should exceed the number of pages currently occupied by Ferrania if, to quote a spokesperson "APUGers know what is good for them".

A Press Officer for the Security Services, looking remarkably like Sgt Joe Friday said that anyone using a Bronica in such a foolish manner "had it coming to him"

There are over a million stories in the naked city of Glasgow and this has to be one of the worst

pentaxuser

agman · Feb 10, 2015

Very nice collection. Thank you.

Does anyone photograph sports with their TLR?

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