help on choosing the right camera for me

[RDev]

I want to start in medium format, but there are so many choices. I've been looking in the net and it seems that mamiya is the most affordable. Either 6x4.5 or 6x7 is fine. I will be using it for portraits, landscapes and some street photography. Mamiya 645 looks really good but there are so many models that I do not know what to choose. The rb/rz67 also is priced reasonably. But I also want it to be compatible with digital backs. What camera is right for me? I do not like 6x6 and TLRs.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Mentioning digital backs and affordability in the same sentence is a bit of an oxymoron. That said, both the Mamiya 645 and RB67/RZ67 would be viable options because they are all very reasonably priced and have digital backs for them. If you are thinking street photography, then the Mamiya 645 is your best option. Taking one photo with an RB or RZ will completely scare the daylights out of anyone you're trying to photograph, and everyone around them will know you did it too - the mirror slap on the RB is like a cannon going off. If you want to do street, honestly my recommendation would be to get a fixed-lens folder and use that instead. That will work for the street and landscape to be sure. You can get a nice 645 folding camera for not much money- maybe under $100 if you look for one of the Zeiss Nettars. For a bit more, you can get a Fuji 645 rangefinder that will have a built-in meter and a fixed wide-angle lens that would be good for the street and landscape stuff, then get an RB67 with a 180 lens and a back for the studio portraits.

 

[RDev]

Thanks for the great info and insight, and sorry for this really late reply of mine, I'm having a really nice vacation and there's no internet where I went. This past weekend I got the chance to use an rb67, and you are right, It's really heavy! I guess the rb and rz will be bumped down on my choices. I really like that the Mamiya 645 can be handled like a 35mm SLR when it has the grip. I saw a Contax 645 and I really like the look. The only thing I don't like about is the price. But it made me think about selling my digital stuff for it. But I am not so sure of doing that. What Mamiya 645 model would you recommend? Folders and Rangefinders out because I do not like the look. Hehe.

 

[keithwms]

Take a look at the mamiya 645 afd, afd2, afd3.... those are the ones with the [semi affordable] digiback compatibility that you may want. Consider also the PhaseOne cameras, which are very similar.

But I would encourage you to set the digiback thoughts aside and just shoot film, and if you absolutely must have digital output, then have your best shots scanned as needed. For b&w work this is an especially good idea; there is no digital option that quite hits the mark as well as b&w film. For colour I wouldn't argue so strongly, but for b&w, film is indisputably tops.

The contax 645 cameras are truly great pieces, but alas they are made no more, so the most recent mamiyas have passed them up in terms of many capabilities. But, hey, if you're going to shoot film then who cares.

My current favourite of the 645s is the mamiya 645 pro, which is very modular. Take off the winder and the prism and you've got a cute little box, great for walking around with. Put on the prism and winder and you've got something approximating a big 35mm slr. I dunno about putting a digiback on it though, I wouldn't do that. For that I'd just bite the bullet and get the newest afd money I could afford, or stick with a good 35mm dslr for the digital stuff and save money. Fortunately for my bank account, I'm not all that interested in MF digital at this point I just scan film shots every now and then if I need to.

 

[TareqPhoto]

There is also Pentax 67II to be considered, not sure if there is Pentax 6x4.5 around there too.
I don't know why you don't like 6x6? Hasselblad is really great, if i am not mistaken, you can buy Hasselblad and there is a film magazine that allow you to shoot at 6x4.5 with Hasselblad V series, and you can use digital back so then it will be another story, so consider Hasselblad as well.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Look toward the RB67, even though somwhat heavy, big negative.

Jeff

 

[keithwms]

P.S. I'll just add (as I mentioned in a separate PM) that I used to have a "D" converted 645af... basically the same thing as an afd but less expensive. I am not sure what the conversion was, maybe just firmware or such, but anyway it was reasonably priced and well made. I was totally underwhelmed by the AF though: I used the camera in manual mode almost all the time, just using the AF indicators. That's a pretty good way to operate.

 

[Ottrdaemmerung]

I have a Mamiya 645 Pro as well and love it. I'm a smaller guy (5'7", 155#) and I find the plastic body of the 645 Pro and its negative size to be the perfect compromise of medium format negative size/quality, and lightness of gear.
As far as I'm aware, though, the only Mamiya 645s that are capable of having digital backs are the autofocus ("AF") models, and the 645 Pro is manual focus only. (I could be wrong.) That's fine with me, though, since with the astronomical price of digital backs I doubt I'll ever be able to afford one.

 

[TimmyMac]

I have a Mamiya 645 Pro as well and love it. I'm a smaller guy (5'7", 155#) and I find the plastic body of the 645 Pro and its negative size to be the perfect compromise of medium format negative size/quality, and lightness of gear.
As far as I'm aware, though, the only Mamiya 645s that are capable of having digital backs are the autofocus ("AF") models, and the 645 Pro is manual focus only. (I could be wrong.) That's fine with me, though, since with the astronomical price of digital backs I doubt I'll ever be able to afford one.

The Pro TL is digital compatible, I think.

 

[haplo602]

realistic 645 options: Mamiya 645 Pro/TL, Bronica ETRSi, Pentax 645

You can get the AFD/AFD II Mamiyas for reasonable price and you can use film and digital on them without much problems.

Contax 645 is a dream camera but it's a dead system.

 

[BrianL]

Do not forget the Bronica ETRS 645. One of the better MF SLR system cameras out there that can be had for not much more than entry level decent digital cameras. I thinkk there is a digital back from a 3rd party provider but, with the going prices of DSLRs coming down. With the system you csn configure it from a simple waist level light weight camera to a metered slr with motor drive. When traveling, I use the WL finder and the nonmetered prism to save weight as I always carry a handheld meter unless I am being lazy. Then I add the speedgrip and mount the metered prism and let the electronics make most of the decisions and have always been happy with the results.

 

[Lars Jansen]

The Pro TL is digital compatible, I think.

I've seen that mentioned every now and then on the internet, but have never been able to actually find proof of this. Do you know of a specific back, or a reference URL for this?

 

[keithwms]

I don't doubt that you can put a digiback on a TL or a pro or early AF, the question is how much will it interface? If you have to set every dang thing via the back then it'll be a nuisance.

 

[2F/2F]

I'd get one of the newer Mamiya AF 645's, but use the old MF lenses to save money. If it were not for the digital thing, I'd just suggest a Pro or Pro TL. The newer ones will prove much more expensive, but if you are thinking digital, the body will not be the greatest of your expenses.....

 

[flatulent1]

The Pro and Pro TL are dead cheap right now, and the lenses are extremely affordable. Interchangeable backs, viewfinders, focusing screens, winders, it's a helluva system for not very much money. And it's very portable, handles like a large SLR. But not digital compatible, that I've ever heard. For that you'll need the AFD, or a modified AF, and those are a bit more expensive.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

I agree with the poor quality of AF on the Mamiya 645AF, of course, I'm comparing it's capabilities with my digital set up, a Canon 50d and a 70-200 f/2.8 IS Mk II which is the fastest AF lens canon currently makes. I've started using mine as a MF camera.