Favorite type of MF camera?

[mono]

Hassy... what else?

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Crown Graphic

 

[Eddy DL]

Hassy... what else?

Right on...

 

[wclavey]

I have to put my vote in for the Mamiya c220 and c3, which are my most used cameras. I started with TLRs, pretty much, and always swore that when I grew up, I would have a Hassy or some other MF SLR in the square package... that was 30+ years ago... I guess I'm not grown up enough. I must say, though, I am looking for something in between my c220 and my Ansco 4.5 Special, which I just throw into my briefcase when I travel - - something that has better than guess focus. Unfortunately, I can't afford what I want.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Right on...

I have a Hassy and my 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Crown Graphic with my Docter Optics and Schneider lenses my 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Crown Graphic
blows the Hassy away. Image size does matter.

 

[Mark Fisher]

Ohhhh, that's easy!

I figure that medium format is about something small and lightweight to get a decent sized negative. If I want to haul out something heavy, I figure I might as well use a LF camera.
Anyway, my answer is a Rollei TLR. Wonderful to use, great quality, lightweight....it's all good.

 

[André E.C.]

I have a Hassy and my 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Crown Graphic with my Docter Optics and Schneider lenses my 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Crown Graphic
blows the Hassy away. Image size does matter.

Maybe or maybe not!
It has been said (not by me), Hasselblad gives you 4x5 quality in a much more portable system, is that true?

Cheers

André

 

[Bromo33333]

Maybe or maybe not!
It has been said (not by me), Hasselblad gives you 4x5 quality in a much more portable system, is that true?

Depends upon your measure - if you do the same percentage enlargement even 35mm with give the same "result" - but if you enlarge to the same size, then the larger the negative, the better the result.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Maybe or maybe not!
It has been said (not by me), Hasselblad gives you 4x5 quality in a much more portable system, is that true?

Cheers

André

No!

A larger negative can record more information. The 4x5 format contains 4 times more area than the 2.25 X 2.25 (Hassy) format.

The 2.25 X 3.25 format has 1.44 times the area of the 2.25 X 2.25 (Hassy) format.

 

[Bromo33333]

No!

A larger negative can record more information. The 4x5 format contains 4 times more area than the 2.25 X 2.25 (Hassy) format.

The 2.25 X 3.25 format has 1.44 times the area of the 2.25 X 2.25 (Hassy) format.

I guess it depends upon how one were to compare, eh?

possibility #1: If you were to enlarge each negative by a certain percentage, giving different sized prints, they would be about the same (depending upon the lens, F stop and so on). Might be that some of the sharper MF lenses would out perform the LF, even (recalling the article from Emulsion issue #1).

If you were to enlarge to a specific size, then the LF would, as they say, blow the doors off of the Hasselblad.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Good comments B&D. The Issue 01 EMULSION article by Patrick Trocolo is a good one. Quoting: "Anyone who has contact printed large format negatives knows that the quality those prints have is impossible to achieve by enlarging, even at 1:1."

Check out Table #4 in Patrick Trocolo's Article: Theoretical B&W Print Resolution vs Magnification for Two Lenses at Grade #2.

Regarding the resolution of various LF vs MF lenses Google for the Thalman/Perez Lens Tests. Or PM Chris and/or Kerry.

 

[elekm]

I usually gravitate to one of my old folding cameras. Something prewar, something Zeiss Ikon and something with a Tessar lens.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I love my 6X9 cm Bessa II RF folder with its 105mm Color Skopar.

 

[rpsawin]

Well, I just added a Mamiya 7II to my MF gear. I have wanted one for sometime. This afternoon I walked into one of my favorite camera stores and sitting in the case was a mint 7II with a 65mm & 150mm lens. Priced seperately it was around $1,850, but as a package I paid $1,500. I just could not pass it up. So tomorrow I'll take it out for a test drive.

Bob

 

[raucousimages]

I own, have owned or could own any camera but when a paycheck and my profesional reputation is on the line nothing replaces Hasselblad.

 

[max_ebb]

A lot of the work I do is super close up macro photography (1:1+), so RF's and TLR's aren't an option. I need to be able to use macro tubes, and I need through the lens focus/metering.

I started out in MF with a 6x6 SLR (Bronica SQA). It was a decent camera, but it didn't have mirror lock up, so it caused some softness (from mirror slap vibration) because I didn't use a solid/rugged copy stand.

At any rate, I realized that since I was cropping 6x6 images to print standard print sizes (I have no use for square prints), I was effectively shooting 6x4.5. So I started thinking; 6x7 is only slightly larger than 6x6, but it's substantially larger than 4.5x6. If I'm shooting 6x6, I might as well shoot 6x4.5 and get more shots per roll.

Anyway, I have a 4x5 view camera now, but I still shoot MF more often than LF because film is a lot cheaper, processing is lot cheaper (and easier to find), and because a lot of the macro work I do really needs through the lens metering (or a lot of bracketing and a major PITA with LF).

So, in choosing a 'favorite' MF camera, for me it must be a 6x7 SLR (with mirror lock up). Mamiya RB's are dirt cheap right now, so that factors in some what, but for me, the Pentax 67 is the number 1 choice. It's heavy, but (for me anyway) it's less bulky, and more comfortable to use than a RB, but the main reason I like the Pentax is because it's the only MF SLR (that I know of) that uses a focal plane shutter. Lenses are faster (and cheaper) because they don't use leaf shutters. I am very impressed by the sharpness/quality of Ashi Pentax lenses.

The only thing I don't like about the Pentax 67 is that it doesn't have multiple exposure functionality. I had to buy a special leaf shutter lens to do multiple exposure shots.

 

[HerrBremerhaven]

Since someone else mentioned Christopher Perez, and this is a nice thread on medium format imaging, I thought the following article might be of interest to some:

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/test/fourcameras.html

Some rather surprising (to me) results. I did a colaborative project last year involving a borrowed Rolleiflex, and I was surprised then of just how good that lens worked. I was less enthralled by the ergonomics, though a tripod solved that dilemna for me.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio

 

[Bromo33333]

[...]I thought the following article might be of interest to some:

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/test/fourcameras.html

Some rather surprising (to me) results. I did a colaborative project last year involving a borrowed Rolleiflex, and I was surprised then of just how good that lens worked. I was less enthralled by the ergonomics, though a tripod solved that dilemna for me.

I red the report - I was surprsied how well they all did - and the Mamiya 7ii did really well. So much so I ordered one sight unseen. Turned out I didn't like the ergonomics enough to displace the Hasselblad, so back it went (that amongst other issues). Still, nice test!

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Since someone else mentioned Christopher Perez, and this is a nice thread on medium format imaging, I thought the following article might be of interest to some:

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/test/fourcameras.html

Some rather surprising (to me) results. I did a colaborative project last year involving a borrowed Rolleiflex, and I was surprised then of just how good that lens worked. I was less enthralled by the ergonomics, though a tripod solved that dilemna for me.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio

Thanks for posting this cperez link, Gordon.

Glad I've kept my 1950's Rollei TLRS. Then, I've always used them on a tripod (same with my 500 CM Hassy).

 

[mediumformatphoto]

Depends on the job! I equally love using a Rolleiflex TLR, Kowa 6MM, and the always wonderful 3x4 Graflex Super D (I have three roll film backs for it). Also Mamiya C330s or C220 with the excellent 180 Super lens (reason enough to get a Mamiya TLR), neither of which has ever failed in hundreds of rolls of film.

Ultimately, whichever camera you have in your hands loaded and ready to shoot is best, and that will depend on which cameras you most like to shoot (as opposed to look at, put on a shelf, etc.) Attached is a pic of my Super D, which gets plenty of action

 

[boilerdoc]

Now I know why I love the M7.

 

[rpsawin]

Well, I just added a Mamiya 7II to my MF gear. I have wanted one for sometime. This afternoon I walked into one of my favorite camera stores and sitting in the case was a mint 7II with a 65mm & 150mm lens. Priced seperately it was around $1,850, but as a package I paid $1,500. I just could not pass it up. So tomorrow I'll take it out for a test drive.

Bob

Normally I don't reply to my own posts, but....

I got my chromes back from the test I did and I have to say I am very pleased with the results. Both lenses appear to be top notch performers and the camera's meter, while taking some time to get used to, is spot on. I saw no signs of light leaks or other issues. I think I did well.

Bob

 

[Bromo33333]

Depends on the job! I equally love using a Rolleiflex TLR, Kowa 6MM, and the always wonderful 3x4 Graflex Super D (I have three roll film backs for it). Also Mamiya C330s or C220 with the excellent 180 Super lens (reason enough to get a Mamiya TLR), neither of which has ever failed in hundreds of rolls of film.

Ultimately, whichever camera you have in your hands loaded and ready to shoot is best, and that will depend on which cameras you most like to shoot (as opposed to look at, put on a shelf, etc.) Attached is a pic of my Super D, which gets plenty of action

What a great GRAFLEX!

 

[dpurdy]

The only camera that follows me around the house and sometimes even sleeps on my bedroom dresser is my rolleiflex. Seems like a magic camera sometimes. Seems like I always get great results with it.

 

[kraker]

My favourite MF --as a matter of fact, my only MF, so my opinion may be biassed -- is a TLR, a Mamiya C3 to be specific. I bought a 65 mm lens (or should I use the plural form?) last week, in addition to the 80 mm. The Mamiya is a brick, but it handles really well.

I've done IR photography with a 35mm SLR... Can't be done without tripod. Put camera on tripod, compose, screw on IR filter, take picture, remove filter, repeat. I've recently shot a roll of IR film using the TLR; a real nice advantage of the twin lens No tripod needed, much easier to just point and shoot.

Another possible favourite: if I can get my hands on an SQ-A(i)/B for a good price, I just might get one.