Help me choose a 645

[moto-uno]

Just a heads up to the OP , there's a Bronica RF 645 in RFF for sale . Peter

 

[paul ron]

the etrs is a very nice and very affordable system 645 camera. it handels very nicely n has a wide variety of lenses readily available.

btw there is a very nice deal on an etrsi right here in the classifieds.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)


oops didnt realize you were down under.

 

[jimjm]

Matt -

The RF645 seems to cover most of your original requirements. Not sure about the close-focus distance, but it's definitely less than 1 meter.

I've had mine for 4 years now and it's been better than I expected. Probably the quickest shooting MF camera I own, and size and weight is close to an SLR like the Nikon F100.

Control layout is great and the VF/RF is bright. Exposure info is off to the side, so it doesn't intrude into the frame, and the meter is accurate. The best thing is the lenses are very sharp - to me they have a more modern "look" with nice contrast and tonal range.

 

[stawastawa]

I have a (there was a url link here which no longer exists) but that is probably more than you want.
Rangefinder focus works decently and can be fine tuned. (Precision camera works)
I mention it only because the rangefinder dedicated to vertical format framing.

 

[nosmok]

To add to Pioneer's comment, a couple more vintage options. The Welta Weltur 6x4.5 is a great folder and can be found for not too much money with a very sharp Tessar and built like a tank. The smallest vintage folder with a coupled RF I've ever used was a Zeiss Ikonta: 75mm f/2.8 Tessar, vertical format, not too much larger than a cigarette pack when folded up. Wish I still had it.

 

[LonerMatt]

Just a heads up to the OP , there's a Bronica RF 645 in RFF for sale . Peter

Thanks for the heads up Peter.

Matt -

The RF645 seems to cover most of your original requirements. Not sure about the close-focus distance, but it's definitely less than 1 meter.

I've had mine for 4 years now and it's been better than I expected. Probably the quickest shooting MF camera I own, and size and weight is close to an SLR like the Nikon F100.

Control layout is great and the VF/RF is bright. Exposure info is off to the side, so it doesn't intrude into the frame, and the meter is accurate. The best thing is the lenses are very sharp - to me they have a more modern "look" with nice contrast and tonal range.

View attachment 169205

Great image and I do think that it's really a choice between the Fuji and the Bronica. On one hand the Bronica is probably the better camera, on the other, cost.

To add to Pioneer's comment, a couple more vintage options. The Welta Weltur 6x4.5 is a great folder and can be found for not too much money with a very sharp Tessar and built like a tank. The smallest vintage folder with a coupled RF I've ever used was a Zeiss Ikonta: 75mm f/2.8 Tessar, vertical format, not too much larger than a cigarette pack when folded up. Wish I still had it.

Does it shoot vertically natively? If so I'll look into it, if not might not be for me.

 

[nosmok]

Yes, the 6x4.5 Weltur is a native vertical camera. AFAIK most all old (as opposed to merely "vintage") 120 folders in 645 format were vertical; it was the 127 film 4x6 that were native horizontal. BTW the vertical 6x4.5 Zeiss with coupled RF is the 531 Super Ikonta. There are several nice looking examples of it on the evil auction site right now, the one with the Xenar looks the most tempting.