Hand-Holdable 6x6 - 6x9 with meter? (AKA, what should I get?)

[david b]

how about this bronica

or this one

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I'd probably make him an offer on the Pacemaker Crown Graphic with the 105mm f4.5 Xenar

 

[John Koehrer]

Graflex XL with a 58mm Grandagon, 66/67/69 backs are available. The Grandagons tend to have separation though..Normal lens is a 90mm.
It is a RF & not too heavy.

 

[david b]

I've got a Yashica D with 80mm Yashinon f3.5 lens that also has the leather case, original box and manual. In excellent + condition

If you're interested let me know.

 

[Robert Budding]

Fast lenses are not all that useful for medium format. You'll get a lot less DOF than you're used to with 35mm. This DOF table may be useful:

http://dofmaster.com/doftable.html

 

[AutumnJazz]

how about this bronica

or this one

That first Broncia seems rediculously cheap. Why? How does it compare to the SQi that many APUGers seem to have?

Again, thanks to everyone. APUG always overwhelms me with information.

Edit: Oh, it's a 645 camera.

What about the GS-1? They seem extremely cheap on ebay. What is a 100mm lens on 6x7 and 6x6 equivalent to in 35mm? Why are Broncias so cheap?

 

[MattKing]

Bronicas are cheaper because they aren't being made any more, and because they don't have the "buzz" that some of the other cameras have.

You mention the GS1 - everything I have heard about them is good, but there are far fewer of them out there than say Mamiya RB 67s.

You are not going to find a lens like a 35mm f /2 on a medium format camera - certainly not on something that uses a format bigger than 6x6. If they existed, they would probably be huge!

If you want fast lenses, hand-holdable bodies and built in metering, you probably need to look to 6x4.5 cameras.

A Mamiya 645 Super (or Pro) with AE finder and 55mm f/2.8 lens is what I was using earlier today, and would seem to be close to what you are asking for, and quite reasonable in cost.

From KEH:

This:

Dead Link Removed

Plus this:

Dead Link Removed

would be a good package.

Matt

 

[mgonzale]

I've had a GS-1 for the past 3 or 4 years and I enjoy using it. I believe the 100mm for 6x7 is equivalent to a 40-ish or 50mm lens in 35mm (the aspect ratios are different between 6x7 and 35mm). I use it handheld 20% of the time and the other 80% has it on a tripod. The thing I'm missing for my GS-1 is that I don't have the metered prism finder for it, which would make it more convenient to use in cases where the light is changing or if you shoot in portrait orientations often. As for it being hand-holdable, I say that it is even though it's quite heavier than an equivalent focal length in 35mm SLR terms. I recently shot a mountain scene as I fled a rainstorm with the 50mm lens at 1/30 and was surprised at how acceptable the shot was (of course it wasn't as sharp as if it had been on a tripod). When buying used equipment, you can often afford to try it out, resell it if it's not your cup of tea, and not lose much or any of your initial money. I'd recommend the GS-1.

 

[AutumnJazz]

What I meant by 35mm f/2 is just a wide and fast lens for 6x6, 6x7, 6x8, whatever.

Is the GS-1 the cheapest 6x7 camera that is good?

I'm going to go troll ebay/keh/craigslist for one.

 

[2F/2F]

Unfortunately, in medium format systems, f/2.8 is as fast as you will be able to get with a similar angle of view...and I believe that may be stretching it for anything beyond 6x6. Most 67 systems have even slower lenses. One notable exception is the (wonderful) 105mm f/2.4 for Pentax...but that is not wide on 6x7. They do have a 90mm f/2.8, which is somewhat wider, but still not close to a 35mm lens on small format.

 

[Greg_E]

Not to be a jerk, but Mamiya had/has an 80mm F1.9 lens:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWork/charts/comp_mamiyamed_2.html

 

[max_ebb]

The MF cameras with the fastest lenses are the ones with focal plane shutters (like the Pentax 67 and the Pentax and Mamiya 645). A focal plane shutter comes at the price of shutter vibration and only being able to flash sync at relatively slow shutter speeds. The fastest leaf shutter lens that I know of for a 6x7 camera is the f2.8 110mm lens for the RZ67. As already mentioned, there are no fast wide angle lenses for MF.

 

[sanking]

Unless you really want a square format you might also consider the 6X4.5 Fuji rangefinders, and the GA645 and GA645Zi. You can find the rangefinders available with normal and wide angle lenses, and the GA645Zi (which is a auto-focus, auto-exposure camera) has a variable focus lens of 55-90mm.

I have more expensive MF rangefinders but the GA645Zi is one of my favorite cameras because of its versatility and size. And other things being equal image quality is much better with MF than 35mm, at least IMO and I have used both extensively.

The Fuji rangefinders are very hand-holdable, but I always use a small tripod with MF in order to take advantage of the optimum lens apetrure.

Sandy King

 

[2F/2F]

"Not to be a jerk, but Mamiya had/has an 80mm F1.9 lens:"

...and I am well aware of this. I have two of them. That lens is the whole reason I bought my Mamiya 645 equipment, and the whole reason that I would never even consider any other 645 system for more than a brief moment. It is the reason I went for a 645 instead of an RZ. The fastest lens possible is extremely important for a good deal of what I shoot.

What I said is: "f/2.8 is as fast as you will be able to get with a similar angle of view", meaning a similar angle of view as a 35mm lens in small format, which is what the OP wants. For 6x7, the OP needs a 65mm to get a similar horizontal AOV as the 35 on small format, or a 75mm for a similar vertical AOV. For 645, the OP would need a 55mm lens, not an 80mm.

Besides, the question is in regards to 6cm or longer frame spacings, so I limited my trivial comments (mention of the Pentax 105mm 2.4 and 90mm 2.8) to these systems.

 

[AutumnJazz]

Thank you everyone. It's not that I want a square format, I just want something bigger/longer than 645.

I'm planning on getting a Bronica GS-1 and 50mm f/4.5 lens, once I save somemore money, unless someone has a reason or two for me not to, or a better suggestion.

 

[david b]

there are several very nice Hasselblad kits on ebay right now under $700

 

[mabman]

I have and like a variety of MF cameras - what I pick up one day really depends on my mood, and the general subject matter I'll be shooting. None of it was expensive, which is fortunate - however, if it had been, or if I really had to just pick 1 camera (heaven forbid ), I'd want to touch it and play with it first.

If you can't borrow any MF gear from photographically inclined friends/camera club members in your area, I would suggest scouting the local camera shops for rentals. Many decent shops will have at least a Hasselblad with a couple of lenses, some might have Pentax or Mamiya (or possibly other) gear as well. Renting it for a day or 2 and going shooting may give you a better idea of what you actually want.

EDIT: Another option may be a local college/university that has a photography program - many of them have cameras that they lend out to students. I believe you mentioned that you're a student of some sort already - even if you don't attend these schools you may be able to sweet talk someone into letting you have a demo for a while, particularly in the summer months. Worth a shot, anyway.

 

[AutumnJazz]

Highschool, not college. :\ I'll look.