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Does such a camera exist?

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olwick

Member
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Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
227
Location
Seattle WA
Format
Multi Format
I'm trying to find my ideal MF camera system, but I'm not sure it exists.

Here's what I'd like:

  1. Lightweight
  2. Either 6x6 or 6x7
  3. Not a rangefinder
  4. Non-waist level finder viewing (either a 45 or 90 degree prism avail)
  5. Sophisticated TTL metering
  6. Interchangeable, high quality lenses
  7. NOT a Hasselblad (I've rented them multiple times to try them out and I just can't warm to it - far too many steps to do simple tasks)
  8. Good ergonomics

I've found many systems that have some of those, a few have most, but none that I can find have all of those.

Is there a system out there that might have all that?

Thanks,

Mark
http://www.olwickphotography.com
 
Pentax 67II but probably not lightweight.
 
Gee, that's a tough set of requirements. I've never encountered anything quite like that.
 
Thought about that and it is likely the closest, but the thought of lugging that heavy beast around Africa this fall has me worried.
 
Bronica SQ series with prism and the winder grip. It's surprisingly light and quick to focus, formerly popular among wedding shooters, and feels a lot like a somewhat oversized 35mm SLR (moreso than a Pentax 67, which looks more like a 35mm SLR).
 
David A. Goldfarb said:
Bronica SQ series with prism and the winder grip. It's surprisingly light and quick to focus, formerly popular among wedding shooters, and feels a lot like a somewhat oversized 35mm SLR (moreso than a Pentax 67, which looks more like a 35mm SLR).
Click to expand...
'

Thanks David, I hadn't considered that system. What are the quirks/positives/negatives of the Bronica?
 
I haven't owned an SQ (I have the older Bronica S2a system), so someone who has used it long term would have a better answer, but I've picked up an SQ-A occasionally, and they always seem surprisingly light and have great ergonomics. They're also really cheap these days, so if there are service issues, you could afford to have backups.
 
olwick said:
What are the quirks/positives/negatives of the Bronica?
Click to expand...

The SQ-Ai with the AE finder, 80mm lens, and a 120 back weighs in at 2Kg. The metering is fairly basic with a choice of spot or center weighted. The manual shows the pattern in more detail. For most of my shooting, I prefer the WLF, but the AE finder comes in handy for quickfire sessions.

On the downside, the 40mm and >250mm lenses are uncommon and often command a premium price. Backs, especially the cheap ones suffer from light leaks when the foam breaks down (easily fixed though). Also watch out for the SQ-B backs - They will fit on the SQ-A bodies, but lack the ISO dial so you lose metering.
 
olwick said:
I'm trying to find my ideal MF camera system, but I'm not sure it exists.

Here's what I'd like:

  1. Lightweight
  2. Either 6x6 or 6x7
  3. Not a rangefinder
  4. Non-waist level finder viewing (either a 45 or 90 degree prism avail)
  5. Sophisticated TTL metering
  6. Interchangeable, high quality lenses
  7. NOT a Hasselblad (I've rented them multiple times to try them out and I just can't warm to it - far too many steps to do simple tasks)
  8. Good ergonomics

I've found many systems that have some of those, a few have most, but none that I can find have all of those.

Is there a system out there that might have all that?

Thanks,

Mark
http://www.olwickphotography.com
Click to expand...

You have an over specified case stated. I have used several MF cameras and the Hasselblad is one of them. A Hasselblad with a PME prism handles like a large 35mm camera as would the Bronica and Mamiya. If you cannot handle a Hasselblad comfortably, you will have the same a problem with Bronica, Mamiya and Rollei.

Steve
 
You have to make your definition a bit clearer for example light weight how light is light? etc..
But for the most part the camera you're asking for doesn't exist.
 
You'd be better off with a Pentax 645 or a Mamiya 645 Pro with Motor grip. Both are relatively light and small (not much bigger or heavier than a pro level 35mm or digital SLR like the Canon EOS-1 series) and operate very responsively. Both are cheap now and have very, very good lenses
 
Pentax 67II sounds the closest to me.

OR you can get the Pentacon Six with the TTL prism. It weighs like 1700 grams I have it without the prism and I can say its really fun to use. Not to mention an ass-ton of lenses you can find.
 
Yes, why not a rangefinder? It is by far the best travel option for this format. Are you concerned about close focus?

If focusing bothers you, you might consider a fixed lens fuji RF which has autofocus, i.e. the ga645Zi or similar. Or you might consider a pentax 645Nii or similar.
 
You didn't say reliable, so how about a Kiev 60 or 88?

Also, I'm not sure those would qualify in the not too heavy requirement either.
 
On a Hasselblad, the grip is on the left side and the winder on the right, like on my Bronica S2a. On a Bronica SQ, the grip is on the right side with a thumb winder like on a typical 35mm SLR, so you don't need three hands to operate it (i.e., you can keep your left hand, palm up, under the lens to focus and use the heel of your left hand to support the camera, while the right hand also supports the camera via the grip, right thumb winds the film and right index finger triggers the shutter if I remember correctly).
 
David A. Goldfarb said:
On a Hasselblad, the grip is on the left side and the winder on the right, like on my Bronica S2a. On a Bronica SQ, the grip is on the right side with a thumb winder like on a typical 35mm SLR, so you don't need three hands to operate it (i.e., you can keep your left hand, palm up, under the lens to focus and use the heel of your left hand to support the camera, while the right hand also supports the camera via the grip, right thumb winds the film and right index finger triggers the shutter if I remember correctly).
Click to expand...

You're right. You can also trigger with a finger on your left hand if you feel like it.

Weight can be saved by using the winding crank. Support underneath with left, crank with right, support and focus longer lens with right, short lens with right or left. Trigger with left.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I carried a C330 with the 250mm lens on a recent trip in Kenya...had some modest success, but wouldn't think it's necessarily your best option. (Sytem including prism is pretty cheap and versatile, though...)

If the 6x4.5 format is out, the Pentax or the Bronica with speed grip seem to be the most common/reliable gear that fits your needs; personally, for Africa, I'd take the Pentax between the two. I'd recommend the pentacon/exacta 66 or Kiev if they weren't in the age/reliability category that they are. Cool cameras, though.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Another vote for Bronica SQ series.

Also, your camera doesn't exist.
 
You might want to add one more requirement to you quest for the perfect MF camera for you: Must be made of unobtainium. :D

Steve
 
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