Help/ advice in wide angle options of MF

Rhodes · May 9, 2016

Halo,
so a few time a ago, I got a challenge presented to me and decided to go for it. I took my mamiya 6 and other 35mm cameras when I went shoot. I found out with my MF, I need it a wider lens to get what I was thinking of doing in some situations.
Now, should I buy the 50mm lens for mamiya 6, or go for a wider options? And in the later, go for the 645 series of cameras or go up a notch - go for a 6x7 or 6x9 - the fuji ones with 65mm lens or wider?
Partly of this is also GAS, with a little of: " a small and wider camera of medium format could be good to carry besides my Mya 6".

onre · May 9, 2016

Hasselblad SWC is a lot of fun and surprisingly small.

TheToadMen · May 9, 2016

onre said:
Hasselblad SWC is a lot of fun and surprisingly small.

+1

And my Bronica Sq-B camera with 40 mm lens is also a perfect wide angle camera.
I also like my Fuji GSW690 II with a fixed 65 mm lens (like 28 mm in 135 format).

CropDusterMan · May 9, 2016

Man, I love those Hassy SW's, but shoot, are they pricey! (worth every penny I'm sure)

The Fuji 6x9 is stellar, and they are cheap on Ebay outta Japan.

StoneNYC · May 9, 2016

Rhodes said:
Halo,
so a few time a ago, I got a challenge presented to me and decided to go for it. I took my mamiya 6 and other 35mm cameras when I went shoot. I found out with my MF, I need it a wider lens to get what I was thinking of doing in some situations.
Now, should I buy the 50mm lens for mamiya 6, or go for a wider options? And in the later, go for the 645 series of cameras or go up a notch - go for a 6x7 or 6x9 - the fuji ones with 65mm lens or wider?
Partly of this is also GAS, with a little of: " a small and wider camera of medium format could be good to carry besides my Mya 6".

With my Mamiya 7 I often switch between the 65mm and the 43mm lenses, so the 50 on 6x6 should be fairly good. Only one way to find out. If you don't like it, sell it.

Slixtiesix · May 9, 2016

Add the 50mm to your Mamiya 6. I think this will be the cheapest and easiest way. If this should not satisfy you, go for a Hasselblad SWC.

Dan Fromm · May 9, 2016

It all depends on what you mean by MF and by which cameras you restrict yourself to. When I moved up from 35 mm I got a 2x3 (6x9 in metric) Speed Graphic. And then a 2x3 Century Graphic. And a heap of lenses.

The shortest lens that covers 2x3 is the 35/4.5 Apo Grandagon. I use mine on my Century and on a Cambo view camera. Yes, there are medium format, most for 2x3, view cameras will full movements. Understand, a back that accepts a 2x3 roll holder will usually accept 6x7ers and 6x6ers as well.

If you want to learn more about some of the shorter lenses, many unheralded, that work on 2x3 and smaller roll film formats, see http://www.galerie-photo.com/telechargement/optiques-6x9-dan-fromm-v2-2011-04-08.pdf.

RalphLambrecht · May 9, 2016

Rhodes said:
Halo,
so a few time a ago, I got a challenge presented to me and decided to go for it. I took my mamiya 6 and other 35mm cameras when I went shoot. I found out with my MF, I need it a wider lens to get what I was thinking of doing in some situations.
Now, should I buy the 50mm lens for mamiya 6, or go for a wider options? And in the later, go for the 645 series of cameras or go up a notch - go for a 6x7 or 6x9 - the fuji ones with 65mm lens or wider?
Partly of this is also GAS, with a little of: " a small and wider camera of medium format could be good to carry besides my Mya 6".

The Mamiya 6 with the 50mm is hard to beat optically;very high resolution and tack sharp all the way into the corners.My Hasselblad with CFLE50mmcan't keep up.

Rhodes · May 10, 2016

Thank you all for the replies!
The Hasselblad SWC is a great camera, we have one here in the museum (also the Hasselblad cathalogs from the 60s ) but way out of my league in current financial state. The fujis 6x9 are far more accessible, has put by
(there was a url link here which no longer exists). That was the reason why they caught my attention. I also look the mamiya press or graflex xl, but they are pricey (less than hassie, more than the fujis).
@Dan Fromm, by MF I mean medium format, using 120 film-negatives from 6x4,5 to 6x9. I only have the mamiya 6 of MF camera. I see what you mean, never thought of the babies graflex and similar cameras of that kind, possible do to thinking they may be less portable. But this can be a wrong idea of me.

baachitraka · May 10, 2016

- Flektogon 50mm f/4

* Pentacon Six TL is not that bad once you know how to load the film. ;-)

mweintraub · May 10, 2016

baachitraka said:
- Flektogon 50mm f/4

* Pentacon Six TL is not that bad once you know how to load the film. ;-)

I have the Kiev 60, what's wrong what's hard/strange about loading the film in the P6?

baachitraka · May 10, 2016

P6 is notorious for frame overlapping. I follow these instructions and have no problem till now.

Nevertheless, mine was recently CLA'd by baierfoto with two-step release to minimize the vibrations from mirror slap.

* Flektogon 50mm takes a massive lens hood with an adapter to prevent vignetting.

adelorenzo · May 10, 2016

No one has mentioned the 35mm Pentax 645 yet, that would be another great option. I got nothing terrific results from it with my 645NII.

mweintraub · May 10, 2016

baachitraka said:
P6 is notorious for frame overlapping. I follow these instructions and have no problem till now.

Nevertheless, mine was recently CLA'd by baierfoto with two-step release to minimize the vibrations from mirror slap.

* Flektogon 50mm takes a massive lens hood with an adapter to prevent vignetting.

WOW, what a process. I've never had over lap issues, and I don't have to do all that on my Kiev 60.

TheToadMen · May 10, 2016

Rhodes said:
The Hasselblad SWC is a great camera, we have one here in the museum (also the Hasselblad cathalogs from the 60s ) but way out of my league in current financial state. ...

If you have got time, the elder SWC can be found for a fair price. I got me two of these in good working order, each for about 600. One from 1965 and one from 1968. In my opinion the most beautiful models with chrome.
And handling a SWC is so much fun!

TheToadMen · May 10, 2016

BTW: tomorrow I'm gonna look at a Bronica GS-1 wits a 50 mm and 100 mm lens (and other stuff) for 435.
This 50 mm lens would fit your needs perfectly.

paul ron · May 10, 2016

etrs with a 30mm lens... the tree is 150' tall, im standing 2' from it.

Dan Fromm · May 10, 2016

Fishy, fishy ...

Sirius Glass · May 10, 2016

I have the Hasselblad SWC and a 50mm lens for MF [6x6]. I would recommend the 50mm for the first MF wide angles lens and later is desired get a wider lens such as a SWC or 40mm lens.

destroya · May 11, 2016

I agree with the people who recommend the mam 6 50mm lens and the pentax 645n with the 35mm A lens. both are great

Rhodes · May 11, 2016

TheToadMen said:
BTW: tomorrow I'm gonna look at a Bronica GS-1 wits a 50 mm and 100 mm lens (and other stuff) for 435.
This 50 mm lens would fit your needs perfectly.

How was the Bronica?

TheToadMen said:
If you have got time, the elder SWC can be found for a fair price. I got me two of these in good working order, each for about 600. One from 1965 and one from 1968. In my opinion the most beautiful models with chrome.
And handling a SWC is so much fun!

That's luck, I checked the prices and they are around 2000€ and above. I found hasselblads 500 c/m for 600/800€ on my country selling site. Fair price but none of them had a wide angle lens. The only SWC is at 1900€.
I going to look for the 50mm for the Mamiya 6 or a Fuji 6x9 with a wide lens, what ever I can find at a decent price.

Alan Gales · May 11, 2016

Ken says just buy it!

http://www.kenrockwell.com/mamiya/50.htm

TheToadMen · May 12, 2016

Rhodes said:
How was the Bronica?

The camera is beautiful and very light compared to a RB67. And it handles very easy. The 50 mm lens is very good too.
I shot my first roll yesterday and enjoyed the camera

Help/ advice in wide angle options of MF

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