Future MF camera

Sirius Glass · Jun 2, 2017

RichardJack said:
The future is here. MF digital, every day they get better and produce images far better than film. The question should be what is the future of large format?

Not in my future. Digital has only exceeded film in cost.

JWMster · Jun 2, 2017

So it's like "ME" and "MiniME"? I get it completely... only I wonder if that might be the point of having MF and 35mm?
For my part with 35mm, I have DigitalME, Old35RF-ME, Ancient35RF-ME, and MiddleAgeSLR-ME.

And with so much ME running around, seemed a tad premature to add a MF for now, and so I'll do the 'blad dreamin' until.... someday. Looking to use the digicam increasingly as a DSLRscan tool... to run as a "figitalist"... whatever that is.

film_man · Jun 3, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
I never had a problem with the so called mirror slap. I believe that the myth was started by very jealous Leica owners.

Who would have thought, if you leave a camera on a table there is no mirror slap. I bet there's no issue when on a tripod either...

Alan Gales · Jun 3, 2017

RichardJack said:
The future is here. MF digital, every day they get better and produce images far better than film. The question should be what is the future of large format?

Let's see, $30,000 for a medium format 100 megapixel back versus $200 for a new 8x10 film holder. You know, $29,800 buys a lot of film.

jspillane · Jun 3, 2017

I played with a bunch of systems, but at the end of the day found a HAsselblad 500c for a good price and have never looked back.
Honestly, if you are working on a tripod, the EL/ELX series is AMAZING and can be found for close to nothing these days, often in great condition and with accumatte screen, etc.
I have a Rolleiflex too, for travel, but I honestly prefer using the Hasselblad + 80mm if I need to... It's not much bigger, although it cannot be handheld at such low speeds and draws more attention in a crowd due to the sound of the mirror.

Hasselblads are so cheap compared to even low end digital stuff it is crazy. For the cost of a mid-range digital lens, you can get a CF 180 f4, one of the finest lenses made for any system...

They only still look expensive if you look at other MF systems... So cheap that there is no reason not to give one a shot, just skip a few dinners out and you are ready to shoot.

Sirius Glass · Jun 3, 2017

film_man said:
Who would have thought, if you leave a camera on a table there is no mirror slap. I bet there's no issue when on a tripod either...

In the 1960's Popular Photography and Modern Photography published many articles, mainly to sell the magazines, about press photographer Leica owners complaining about the noise of Hasselblad shutters. The articles frankly dripped with Hasselblad envy.

Jim Jones · Jun 3, 2017

In the 1960s I was using Nikon and Leica, and certainly didn't envy the Hasselblad owners with such heavy and expensive gear, especially if their lenses ranged from 21 to 200mm (35mm equivalent).

M. Axel Wikstrom · Jun 4, 2017

I've had several medium format cameras, and I found that the basic Hasselblad "kit" works best. In terms of medium format, it makes a small package when you limit it to only one body, one back, one lens, and a waist level finder. No prisms, extra lenses, or anything bulky or heavy - resist GAS! (Gear Acquisition Syndrome.)

Put it into a rugged little bag like a Domke F5 which will also hold a few rolls of film, light meter, a couple filters, and not much else. This little package is super easy to carry, and will go virtually anywhere. Smaller and lighter package than a Pro DSLR setup, and it's what I carry 90% of the time.

Sirius Glass · Jun 4, 2017

M. Axel Wikstrom said:
I've had several medium format cameras, and I found that the basic Hasselblad "kit" works best. In terms of medium format, it makes a small package when you limit it to only one body, one back, one lens, and a waist level finder. No prisms, extra lenses, or anything bulky or heavy - resist GAS! (Gear Acquisition Syndrome.)

Put it into a rugged little bag like a Domke F5 which will also hold a few rolls of film, light meter, a couple filters, and not much else. This little package is super easy to carry, and will go virtually anywhere. Smaller and lighter package than a Pro DSLR setup, and it's what I carry 90% of the time.

I found that the PME 45° prism while it makes the camera heavier adds a light meter and gets rid of that pesky left-right reversal.

film_man · Jun 12, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
In the 1960's Popular Photography and Modern Photography published many articles, mainly to sell the magazines, about press photographer Leica owners complaining about the noise of Hasselblad shutters. The articles frankly dripped with Hasselblad envy.

I wasn't around in the 60s so no idea what happened then. In any case, a Hasselblad has a bit of a mirror kick when you hold it, at least that's my impression after a few years of using a few. Not better or worse really than any SLR, the usual 1/focal-length rule worked for me and it's pretty much the same as a Pentax 67, but then again with a TLR or a Mamiya RB I could do 1/15 or even 1/8 with a standard lens. Anyways.

JWMster · Jun 27, 2017

So I'm still looking at this quandry of course, and have seen a few reviews of the Bronica SQ-A, Bronica S2A, Mamiya's RB and RZ series, Hassy's, etc. and as ever, seems the Bronica S2A has some appeal on price. A full collection (camera, 4 lenses, 3 viewfinders, etc) lovingly put together for less than a used Hassy lens. Tempting? There's the size, weight and shutter bang. Without a real reference as to how these compare to the Mamiya's, the Hassy, etc., I'm not sure I know how debilitating they really are. But heck, the whole is less expensive than a used Zeiss CY lens for my Sony / Contax S2. How bad can it be? Worth a stab? Whaddya think? Almost worth putting in storage and worrying about the details later?

RichardJack · Jun 27, 2017

I love them all.
I just made a great score...I found late model S2A (1973) with gray leatherette covering (only a few came through this way), EC strap lugs, serial CB163xxx and it came with the 80mm f2.8 Zeiss Jena lens. It probably came from the UK. I was going to flip it but now I have second thoughts. I own 10 bronica's and almost every lens for every system. Hasselblad is definitely a better camera (but not by very much), I could never have afforded all of the gear I own if I went with Hassy. At one time or another I've used them all. Another gem is the Rollieflex 3.5 & 2.8F with Planar glass, my only reason for not keeping mine were I could not load it fast enough for weddings. But it was a great travel camera.
I am glad to see so many people still enjoying MF.

ac12 · Jun 28, 2017

JWM
That is why I got the Hasselblad. Why wait, enjoy the use of it when and while you still can.
If you do it smartly, you can shop slowly and CAREFULLY and purchase the parts at good prices, rather than rush and pay a premium to put the kit together fast.

Next step is to make a wet darkroom. Although it might seem scary, you can do it rather easily. I used the bathroom in my apartment quite well. Even today, if I want to print, I use a SMALL half-bath, and it works. To me digital scanning and printing does not have the same calm relaxing feel as printing in a darkroom. And like film cameras, enlargers and GOOD lenses are comparatively CHEAP today, just shop carefully. I've even seen entire darkrooms for FREE, just go pick up the stuff.

JWMster · Jun 30, 2017

FWIW, to close the loop: Have ordered a Bronica SQ-A and 50mm PS lens. Seems like a good deal. Going for a Hassie might have been a better one, but hey... this is an experiment at this point to see whether I like MF, and "for now" I tend to see it as more of a landscape, "serious" shot thing. Gateway drug? Maybe.

ac12 · Jul 1, 2017

Welcome to the rabbit hole.

bimmey · Jul 4, 2017

Just purchased a darkroom set up after a 20 year experiment with digital. Now comes the acquisition of a medium format system. I've been agonizing over this for the past month or so. I've had Rollie TLR, Bronica GS, Mamya 645, and an Exacta 66 MOD II with Schnieder 80mm 2.8. All very good image producers. The SQA with PS lenses is on my short list. The PS lenses are reputed to be up with the best in medium format. I think you picked an excellent system to work with.

Something tells me I won't be happy until I scratch the Hassy itch. You have now sentenced yourself to long fulfilling hours in the darkroom.

JWMster · Jul 4, 2017

Agonized as well. My return to film (as an amateur... so no big deal, but fun) began in February with a Leica M. Always wanted one. Zeiss lenses mostly, and Leica where no option exists. But RF won't do macro without running through hoops, so off to the Contax S2 to use my old Zeiss CY lenses for that. It works. Leica fits me better for travel, and the light carry. But for the more artsy shots, thought MF would be the way to go and after a bit of hemming and hawing, went with the Bronica SQ-A largely on price.

This will be my first non-Zeiss lensed camera in a while. With digital I quickly ditched most of the branded lenses and collected Zeiss CY to escape the relentless "electronic upgrade cycle", and so I hesitated long and hard over the Hassy, but at the end of the day... given more restricted use that I've intended for the brute, Hassy seemed to add unnecessarily to the expense. First tempted by the Bronica S2A, ultimately dissuaded by cooler heads here, and re-directed toward the SQ-A. Should have some film in hand from B&H in a day or two. Until then, worth noting that for under a grand you can pack in the camera body, prism finder, waist level finder, 50mm PS, 80mm PS and 150mm S as a package. Hard to beat the price. Also, they can be adapted to Hassy digital backs I found.... not that I want that, but having the possibility is a good thing. KEH says the parts aren't as common as Hassy parts, and that's an issue potentially. But I'm hoping not. Anyway... worth not just totally dissing but giving a fair look... unless you're going to buy the Hassy anyway.

Loving the darkroom! Yes! That IS a big part of the thrill of shooting film. It's simply magical. Good luck!0000000

Sirius Glass · Jul 4, 2017

bimmey said:
Something tells me I won't be happy until I scratch the Hassy itch. You have now sentenced yourself to long fulfilling hours in the darkroom.

Just take the plunge. A Hasselblad set up costs less than the top of the line Nikon or Canon digisnapper. Bodies run around $400, the 80mm CF lens about $400, the other CF lenses $400 to $600. Why make yourself suffer when you have worked all your adult life to buy things that others thought that they needed? Now is your time, go buy one. I also recommend the PME 45° prism which removes the left right reversal and gives you a great light meter.

bimmey · Jul 5, 2017

Selling off my Leica kit was my biggest photographic blunder. Can't afford to replace it at today's prices. However for 35mm I shoot Contax and Olympus systems. They were inexpensive enough to build nice kits, and I still have a nice film scanner to load images on the internet. When looking at fiber base prints I had done in the past, there was no way I could duplicate "the look" with a film/digital workflow. Not saying others can't. But I can't. Believe me I tried.

Having worked in digital for the past two decades, it's time to go back to where my photographic passion began. In the darkroom. And as Sirius Glass says "just take the plunge". It won't cost me any more than it would to replace an APS C digital body (that I do every 5 years or so).

JWMster · Jul 5, 2017

Zeiss ZM on a Leica M4-2 won't bust the budget either. Now that I'm using Pyrocat-HD, scanning with a Sony A7RII and using Capture One for post, I'm a happy man. Hope to print later this week, and will let you know my thoughts there. It's putting the elements together to give yourself a shot where the process/equipment aren't standing in your way. However you do that... is groovy. When I'm through with this immersion bit, I've got on my list to take a darkroom printing course at the local Photoworks lab when/if they offer one. I'll have to be patient... 'cause they don't give you a lot of opportunity to get involved, and places fill up kind of fast for the rare evening classes working stiffs can manage.

Future MF camera

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