Is medium format feasible for photographing children?

[benjiboy]

Whatever medium format camera you choose, a prism finder is a big help to follow action with.

 

[RobertV]

Yes, Nicole is a great photographer. Take a look on her website.
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She's working often in B&W with her Hasselblad (6x6).

I am working with a Mamiya 645 pro, also easy in handling. But 6x4,5. Indeed a prism finder is working pretty good with this camera.


Greetz,

Robert

 

[SuzanneR]

Hey, thanks for the nice mentions! And yes, I use an RZ67 and the Mamiya 7 (rarely at the same time, though!) both hand held. It just takes some practice to get used to them with kids running around, and believe me, I get frustrated at times, and miss a few, too. But with persistence and practice, I can make some great pictures, and I have these big beautiful negatives to print. Totally worth the effort because the results are hands down so much more interesting than your everyday slr or dslr with the same lenses that umpteen million other photographers use!! Just saying...

Oh, and welcome to APUG!! We'll get you into the darkroom in no time!!

 

[Nicole]

Thank you also for the nice mentions Robert, Tom and Gene!

Michelle, there's no such thing as a silly question, so feel free to ask. I photograph children primarily with a Hasselblad 501cm (with a WLF) and a Pentax 645NII. The more you photograph with MF manual cameras, the quicker you get. I use manual, prime lenses only, shoot on TriX400 and develop my film in Xtol (and occasionally in Tmax). My lens is mostly wide open as I often work in very low light conditions. Tripods are too cumbersome and slow for me. I much perfer MF to 35mm, but if I do need to use a 35mm camera - I have a trusty Nikon F100 (again with manual lens), which is a wonderful tool. The less bells and whistles the best - in my humble opinion. Less distractions = less stress and more freedom.

Michelle, the right tools for you depend on your own best fit. I highly recommend you rent/hire different cameras for a few days each. Try before you buy to find the right tools for you.

Suzanne Revy has beautiful (MF) work. I recommend you drop in at http://www.suzannerevy.com/

A warm welcome to APUG! Whereabouts are you?

 

[michelleg]

I am so amazed at all the kind and helpful responses to my questions! Thanks everyone! I feel much more confident in following my heart into medium format now.

I love all the photographs posted and the wonderful links to amazing photographers.

One comment made me realise that I don't need to stick to one system, that I can use whichever camera suits the moment. I'm not typically a chase the kids photographer, but occasionally I come across a hyperactive 2 yr old that won't keep still! Sometimes its good to let them get it out their system and then pull put the camera. I can see certain situations where a 35mm would be useful and I think it would be useful to have.

Another comment got me wondering about bellows. I don't know which cameras have these and how they help with focusing?

Nicole - I am in the UK - There doesn't seem to be anywhere that I can try the medium format cameras I want, so thats why I'm trying to make the most informed decision I can, but I know I won't truly know until I have the camera in my hand!

 

[Solarize]

Michelle, I am in the UK too (London). Sadly the big rental companies aren't really stocking film cameras. You can get a H1 from Calumet, and perhaps a Contax, but that is about it. Maybe narrow down your choices and just pick one. The camera will hold it's value if secondhand, so you can swap and change a bit until you land on something that suits you. Otherwise check out the back of black and white photography magazine. I've not bought it in a while, but there should still be a list of second hand shops you might be able to test your choices in.

Ciaran.

 

[R gould]

Michelle, Bellows are used on folding cameras, which means that these cameras can fold flat,and unfold to a full size MF camera, I believe the only modern folder is the Voigtlander/Fuji,check who stock them. They are a very old design,I have several which I use all the time, from a 1938 bessa 66 to ensigns, which are english made,and are from the early fifties, I love using them,as far as focasing,it is the same as any camera, you focus the lens either by the guesstimation method, use the built in rangefinder on some, or I use an old shoe mounted rangefinder, and I use these old cameras for work,I am a pro photographer working in B/w,If you would like to find out a bit more about my folder collection look at my website[URL="www.jerseyinblackandwhite.blogspot.com"]www.jerseyinblackandwhite.blogspot.comRichard

 

[BrianL]

Though not a pro by any means I've found my Bronica ETRS to be a great system for photographing chidren. Outfit it with the metered prism and speedgrip and it handles like a 35mm slr. AND, I can swap out the 120mm backs and slap on the 35mm backs and it is a 35mm system. Exchanging the prism finder for a waist level and totally different perspective. And, though a challenge, swap the motor drive for the speedgrip and even auto advance. Makes life so much easier than luggging around several different format systems. I do miss from time to time the 6x6 perspective but back when I was more active, a Rolleiflex tlr that is rather light solved that.

I especially liked the 35mm back as in the viewfinder you could lead the subject as the 35mm view is a smaller area than the 645 view. Though the MF is not known a camera for sports photography, I find the ETRS with the 35mm back to be really good as you can more easily lead.

 

[michelleg]

Ciaran, you have a lovely portfolio. I think it would be the best bet to go with my instincts and if I find the camera I choose isn't working for me, I will sell it on.

Richard, I loved looking at your photographs of Jersey!

I still have lots to think about but hopefully I'm nearer to making a decision!

 

[BrianL]

Last night I pulled out "The Rollei Manual" by Alec Perlman, The Fountain Press, Great Britain, 1954, 2nd Ed. 1955 and there is a chapter dedicated to children photgraphy. Interesting reading. The book, while concentrating on the Rollei hardware is a good read on composition, lighting, etc.

 

[michelleg]

Thats interesting Brian, I'll see if I can find a copy of it somewhere - more time spent on ebay!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

By "bellows focusing," in this context, I didn't just mean a camera with a bellows like a folder, but an SLR with a bellows and rack-and-pinion focusing rather than helical focusing, which is very quick to focus, like an RB 67, Rollei SL 66, Fuji GX 680, Bronica S/S2/S2a/EC-TL with the bellows focusing option, or a Graflex SLR (not a Graphic press camera).

 

[MattKing]

By "bellows focusing," in this context, I didn't just mean a camera with a bellows like a folder, but an SLR with a bellows and rack-and-pinion focusing rather than helical focusing, which is very quick to focus, like an RB 67, Rollei SL 66, Fuji GX 680, Bronica S/S2/S2a/EC-TL with the bellows focusing option, or a Graflex SLR (not a Graphic press camera).

I'd add a bellows focusing TLR to David's list - a Mamiya C330.

 

[michelleg]

I have just looked up some of the cameras mentioned and my dad has a mamiya C330, although its not been stored well and is a bit grubby!

 

[aluncrockford]

I would suggest you go down the Hasselblad rout , you can test them out at http://apertureuk.com/ or the pro centre in mallow street http://www.procentre.co.uk/Secondhand/hasselblad_V.html

Teamwork have usually have them
http://www.teamworkphoto.com/index.php?main_page=index

If you are looking at shooting children I would get a 100 or 120 and a 45 degree prism , the reason for going for the Hasselblad is the adapabiity of the V system and the fact that you can pick up endless amounts of lens particularly the old c type for not a large amount of money ,you have the other advantage that if you do want to venture into the world of digital you can stick a phase one on the back .

When I assisted I worked a lot with a photographer shooting children for advertising ,we only used hasselblads and never ever had any problems

 

[AgentX]

If you've got the C330 to try out, that's the perfect place to start.

 

[Dave Ludwig]

If you are considering buying a 6x6 I would suggest going up to Bronica GS1- 6x7. Smaller than an RB and easier to hand hold. I have seen comments and comparisons to RB/RZ's and most say the GS1 is equal or better. No rotating back, but I find simply turning my wrist to be must faster anyway. GS1 has the shutter in the lens which is better in my book. Price is much less than all others. I researched them all before buying and found this to be best suited for my needs. Hassy's too expensive for everything incl. acces., RB/RZ very heavy to hand hold, Pentax 6x7, lenses are very expensive, and can get mirror vibration at slower speed, even 125th according to an owner/user. I would agree the Mamiya 7 is a nice choice as previously suggested, but also expensive. Good luck.

 

[Lovesong]

I photograph babies and small children, and use both Nikon autofocus bodies as well as my RZ II. I find that while babies (at least in the first 18 months) are easy to photograph with the MF, once they start running it is impossible to get them in focus using the Mamiya. When shooting toddlers, it's almost like shooting sports- continuous focus and 8fps bursts (my flashes hate me).

 

[benjiboy]

If you've got the C330 to try out, that's the perfect place to start.

+1, I find the Mamiya C TLRs excellent M/F cameras for shooting kids, with the prism finder and the L grip almost as fast as a 35mm SLR to operate, but it's a different technique and takes practice to become proficient at it.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm new here, so I hope I'm posting this in the right place!

I have a business photographing small children and recently decided that I wanted to try film. I have borrowed a bronica sq and I'm surprised at how much I like it, how I need to consider each shot, and the end result. And of course I like the lack of photoshop!

I would like to buy a medium format camera but I'm not sure which one will work well for me running around after small kids. ...

Michelle

I'm afraid medium-format cameras do not work for taking pictures of children. Actually, nobody ever took a picture of children before the 1920 when small-format cameras were introduced. To my knowledge, there is only one woman in Australia who ever overcame this handicap:

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Just kidding, of course it works, as you can see in Nicole's images!

 

[michelleg]

Oh Ralph, my heart started to sink when I began to read your post! Thankfully it had a positive outcome! Nicole's work is beautiful!

I will give the mamiya a try and see how it goes!