Favourite 6x9?

[Tony-S]

I only have one - a Mamiya Press. Got it as a give away. As mentioned, it weighs a ton!

 

[EdSawyer]

I'd like a Bessa II / heliar , but given the usual cost ($800-ish) and how good the Tourist is at 1/20th the price, I've held off for now.

 

[Helinophoto]

800?

Damn I paid $1000 (2014 from Jurgen Kreckel).
Well it was pretty spotless and serviced though, I've enjoyed it since then, no complaints. ^^

 

[Pioneer]

I waited a long time before I bought my Voigtlander Bessa II with the Heliar. I know I paid too much (though I have conveniently forgotten the exact amount) but it has certainly been worth it. The Heliar lens provides a very sharp and contrasty image. The camera is very portable and can be pretty easily pocketed if you are wearing a coat. It also slides nicely into a waist pack for day hikes.

I also have a very nice Wanderlust Travelwide 4x5 camera that was designed to be a light, handy, 4x5 handheld camera. The Schneider Krueznach Angulon 90 f/6.8 lens is very good. I use 120 roll film holders with this camera almost as often as I use 4x5 sheet film. I don't think it is any heavier then the Bessa II (though I have not weighed it) but it is too bulky to be pocketed.

I have a pretty nice Graflex Baby Speed Graphic but mine has the spring back so it takes a bit of modification to get a roll film back to fit.

 

[02Pilot]

I have two (well, three if you count a pinhole-converted Six-20 curved film plane box camera): a very early, and very beat up, uncoated Tessar-equipped Super Ikonta 531/2, and a near perfect Bessa II with a Color Skopar. I prefer the Zeiss camera - it's lighter, the viewfinder is larger, and it's so battered that I can't do much to hurt it (short of catastrophic destruction). Echoing comments above, I've found it's best on a tripod, and with smaller apertures. While I love the results when used this way, I rarely have the time and/or patience to do so. I probably should try to use it more.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have owned many 6X9 cameras and 6X9 format is my favorite. I went for all the big Fuji 6X9 cameras and they are outstanding. At the present I have the Mamiya Press 6X9, four Kodak Medalist cameras and most accessories (the best lens ever made), one outstanding Super Ikonta C with red "T" Tessar , Kodak Montitor 620, several Kodak tourist models and probably 25 other 6 X9 folding cameras. I love the Kodak Medalist I and II to pieces, but if somebody were to ask me what my really favorite 6X9 is it would have to be the one I walk of the house with most often. What's that? The Kodak Monitor 620 with the red "special" lens. I think it is just about as good as the 100mm f3.5 Ektar on the Medalist. Yes, I think it is better than my Tessar on the Super Ikonta C. The nice thing about the Monitor 620 is that it's a very easy "take-a-long" camera with a stunning lens. Are there better choices out there for 6X9? Maybe, but they will cost you much, much more than a Kodak Monitor 620 and won't be that much better.

 

[chiller]

I haven't seen the Moskva 5 mentioned, it has an excellent lens and when the rangefinder is correct to lens infinity focus [mine is] the results are very comparable to most 6x9 cameras. An added bonus is the 6x6 mask. Getting a good version of this camera is a bit of a lottery but a good one is a very worthwhile camera.

 

[Pioneer]

I have owned many 6X9 cameras and 6X9 format is my favorite. I went for all the big Fuji 6X9 cameras and they are outstanding. At the present I have the Mamiya Press 6X9, four Kodak Medalist cameras and most accessories (the best lens ever made), one outstanding Super Ikonta C with red "T" Tessar , Kodak Montitor 620, several Kodak tourist models and probably 25 other 6 X9 folding cameras. I love the Kodak Medalist I and II to pieces, but if somebody were to ask me what my really favorite 6X9 is it would have to be the one I walk of the house with most often. What's that? The Kodak Monitor 620 with the red "special" lens. I think it is just about as good as the 100mm f3.5 Ektar on the Medalist. Yes, I think it is better than my Tessar on the Super Ikonta C. The nice thing about the Monitor 620 is that it's a very easy "take-a-long" camera with a stunning lens. Are there better choices out there for 6X9? Maybe, but they will cost you much, much more than a Kodak Monitor 620 and won't be that much better.

I agree 100% John. The Kodak Monitor 620 with that Anastigmat Special is a great camera, and the lens is very close to as good as the vaunted Heliar on the Bessa II. It is certainly one that I also should use more often. I think the only reason I don't use it more is the lack of a built in rangefinder. That and the fact that I can never seem to remember how to set the automatic film counter from one use to the next. I guess if I used it more often that wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Tony-S]

I should also say that I find 6x9 a bit awkward of an aspect ratio, just like 35mm film. They are nice for landscapes and a few others, but I much prefer the aspect ratio of 6x7 because of printing to the "typical" paper sizes (e.g., 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, etc.) without cropping (unless desired).

 

[John Wiegerink]

I agree 100% John. The Kodak Monitor 620 with that Anastigmat Special is a great camera, and the lens is very close to as good as the vaunted Heliar on the Bessa II. It is certainly one that I also should use more often. I think the only reason I don't use it more is the lack of a built in rangefinder. That and the fact that I can never seem to remember how to set the automatic film counter from one use to the next. I guess if I used it more often that wouldn't be an issue.

Dan,
I use a Kodak Service Rangefinder on my Monitor and it works great. And it is all metal that matches the Monitor just perfect. It mounts vertical in the accessory slot on top of the camera. It measure distances from 2 feet to Inf. Truth is I only use it at distances closer than 10' since I'm pretty good at guessing distances past that.

 

[gordrob]

Another Mamiya Press fan. I love the 6x9 format and have a Super 23. Favorite lenses are the 50mm, 100 f2.8 and the 250 f5. If you think these are heavy you haven't tried the Linhof Super Technika. The 4x5 is heavy to hand hold but the 5x7 weighs in at 6 kg

 

[narsuitus]

Thinking about getting a 6x9 camera. What are some of your favourites?

The Fuji GSW690 III rangefinder is my favorite 6x9cm camera.



Fuji Medium Format Rangefinders by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Ed Sawyer]

I have gsw690iii and had the 90mm version too. Great, but more bulky than a folder.

Kodak monitor 620 anastigmat special vs tourist with anastar? What is best? I have the tourist, is the monitor better?

 

[ic-racer]

I have Kodak Tourists with 4-element 105 Anaston f4.5 and Anastigmat lenses. I think the one with the Anastigmat is a hybrid I made from another camera. The 4-element Anaston is the better lens and likely similar to the Anastar, if yours is the 101mm f4.5.

 

[macfred]

The Fuji GSW690 III rangefinder is my favorite 6x9cm camera.



Fuji Medium Format Rangefinders by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Same here !
I use the same combo - Fuji GSW690 + GW670iii

 

[Colorado CJ]

My G690BL, followed very closely by my Kodak Medalist.

Fuji G690 BL by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Kodak Medalist I - 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

 

[macfred]

^
The Medalist is a real beauty !

 

[Paul Howell]

When I was in high school in the 60s I was a gofer for a local photographer who shot weddings and other events with 2 Medalists, along with a Speed 4X5, said the lens on the Medalist was best 100 he had ever used. Later in the 70s he upgraded to a Mamyia press for interchangeable lens, but stood by the Medalist as rugged with great fixed lens.

 

[Roger Thoms]

I should also say that I find 6x9 a bit awkward of an aspect ratio, just like 35mm film. They are nice for landscapes and a few others, but I much prefer the aspect ratio of 6x7 because of printing to the "typical" paper sizes (e.g., 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, etc.) without cropping (unless desired).

My favorite 6x9 is actually a 6x8, as I find 6x9 a touch long. Namely a Fuji GW680III which is also available in the 6x9 format. 6x8 prints also prints pretty nicely on standard photo paper. For instance I’m printing 6x8 full frame on 11x14 with 1” borders, for a near perfect fit.

Roger

 

[Colorado CJ]

Yeah, the Medalist lens is awesome. It's said that many were taken apart just to use the lens on aerial photography cameras during WWII.

I really like the Medalist, especially the small split rangefinder at the bottom of the viewfinder.

It can take some nice photos

Kodak Medalist 1 - Test 9 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Kodak Medalist 1 - Test 5 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

 

[Pioneer]

...the Kodak Brownie No 2 is great fun as well...

 

[Tony-S]

My favorite 6x9 is actually a 6x8, as I find 6x9 a touch long. Namely a Fuji GW680III which is also available in the 6x9 format. 6x8 prints also prints pretty nicely on standard photo paper. For instance I’m printing 6x8 full frame on 11x14 with 1” borders, for a near perfect fit.

6x8 cameras produce negatives with a 1.36 aspect ratio, which is even larger than 6x4.5 (1.33). The "standard' paper sizes (8x10, 11x14, 16x20, etc) are why the 6x7 format was developed - to print full-frame on those 1.25 aspect ratio papers.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Am I the only one who prefers the appearance of the Fuji GW6..II to the GW6..III?

I have the GW690III and I think the smooth appearance of the body is less attractive than that of the II.

I don't even know what the difference is between the II and III bodies.

 

[Roger Thoms]

My borders might be slightly bigger than 1”, I’ll have to take a look when I get home. What I’m getting is a full frame print from a GW680III 6x8 negative that prints on 11x14 paper with a nice border that give a plenty of room to handle the print and looks nice in a portfolio box without a mat.

Roger

 

[MattKing]

6x8 cameras produce negatives with a 1.36 aspect ratio, which is even larger than 6x4.5 (1.33). The "standard' paper sizes (8x10, 11x14, 16x20, etc) are why the 6x7 format was developed - to print full-frame on those 1.25 aspect ratio papers.

Of course, those of us who print on 5x7 paper (and actually 11x14 too) and like to print with borders kind of like those 6x4.5 negatives .