[...]maybe in a year or two you will need 35mm cameras, and then buying again...Just left them at home.
This is what I am afraid of. And I am a kind of starving photographer. I don't have much left to get a new camera without selling something.
I could of course leave things as they are but I can totally see the convenience of TLR because of its size, format, and so on. I am almost sure that I would only shoot with it on most or all subjects, streets, portraits, travel and landscapes. Because the Pentax is serious heavy and the Bronica seems to be a bit bigger and the negative frame smaller.
An other thing is that I often waist frames shooting with 35mm just because I am too anxious to develop and see the results of the earlier shots. I think it is because I got into film photography with a Bronica I started using 35mm for travel because the cameras are smaller and lighter and I ended up using 35mm for street. But I actually would be glad on photographing the streets with a light and small medium format camera.
I'll tell you what I did. At some point I had a Hasselblad, RB67, FM2n and OM1. I shoot mostly 120 so thought I'll get rid of my FM2n (which I used with a 50/1.4 and a 35/2, both Zeiss) as it was a lot of money sitting around (the Zeiss, not the FM2n...) and have the OM1 for the rare occasion when I want 35mm. Turns out I really disliked my OM1 which is why I never used it when I had the FM2n. So I sold that thinking that I don't need 35mm at all. A month later I got myself a EOS 3 with an Ultron 40/2. It just has its place.
In the end, it really depends what you shoot and how. I use the MF for most stuff but use 35mm most for a bit more faster portrait stuff (eg kids). To be honest I really wish I kept the FM2+Zeiss 50, that was a sweet combo. But the EOS 3 with the 40 is really nice too, it is a fast camera and the lens is great too. I also really like sometimes just walking around and thinking "oh I still have another 32 shots left...cool".
So basically what I'm saying...well noone knows except you. I know, much help that is...
I think 36 frames per roll is to many. There are very few times I was glad to had many frames to shoot, like in events I find in the streets, but when it happens I shoot I entire roll to get less than a half keeper photos.
There is only one thing I really like is to take 35mm portraits with 85mm lens. But I also like really like the results fro Bronica lenses. And if I can get a TLR with a good portrait lens I believe I wouldn't miss the 35mm cameras with 85mm lens.
An other question: how much Nikon lenses do you have?
I would personally keep the Nikon F3 with one good lens - if money isn't a problem.
A TLR camera is very nice to use - but in some / many instances a F3 will work much quicker/better in street photography.
But before you do anything, try to shoot a few roles with a TLR first, before you buy one. I personally like it, but a lot of folks don't like shooting this way. It is very, very different from shooting a SLR camera. Even from the Pentax or Bronica.
And will you get a TLR with or without a build-in light meter? Als an important factor for spontaneous or fast street photography.
Bert from Holland
I have a 28mm 2.8 that I barely use, two 50mm 1.8 (one is older and the other is more modern) and a 85mm 1.8. All nikon.
If I can keep the F3 and one 50mm, and selling or bater everything else for a TLR camera with one or two nice lenses, I will.
I will look for a camera where you can change the roll of film easily on the street.
My personal case
Rolleicord: Not so happy when changing the roll.
Agfa Isolette(Solinar lens): Compare to Rolleicord it is way easier.
35mm film camera still wins for me in this regard.
I haven't thought about it actually.
I would keep them. You think four cameras are too many? Poor dear.
35 mm can do things easily that the other formats can't do, or can do only with great difficulty.
If you are a decent printer, you'll be able to get excellent prints out of carefully exposed 35 mm frames. Yes, MF film is better to print from, but you can't print a photograph that was never taken.
I actually got my 35mm cameras fin a period when I was often travelling, so the 35mm was nicer to carry around. But also because I expected that one day I would be doing wedding, after had experienced working on 2 weddings (with digital cameras though), and I wish to be prepered with 2 35mm and I really wanted to do on film. But I never manage to photograph any other wedding or events.
But what I tell to myself is that 35mm film cameras are cheap and there are a lot in the market. I will keep one if I can but if not I think it is easier to go back to 35mm when I wish.
I will now look for some reviews on TLR cameras on YouTube to help me decide which one is better for me.
Thank you all for the brainstorm.
