Looking at medium format

Christoper · Sep 7, 2009

I may have lost my mind... I have kind of been half looking for a medium format camera to play around with.. I am presently working with a Cambo 4x5...

I know I am not going to be spending 7Gs for a Hasselblad system and haven't found anything used on line...

I did run across Holga and Lomographic cameras... at 37$ to 60$... I understand the limitations of fixed focus and plastic optics... I was woundering if anyone on this site had any experience with these cameras..

Leighgion · Sep 7, 2009

You'll find plenty of folk with toy camera experience here I'm sure. I'm not one of them though, as I don't count my €20 Agfa Clack as a toy.

There's tons of quality used medium format gear at reasonable prices. Nothing insane about looking at it long as your rent is paid and children fed.

Keh.com is a good established outfit for used gear that many folks including myself will swear by. There is also of course, the usual auction site. Depending on exactly what you want, you could spend as little as $100 and less than $500 could get you started with a MF SLR kit.

Sirius Glass · Sep 7, 2009

Christoper said:
I know I am not going to be spending 7Gs for a Hasselblad system and haven't found anything used on line...

For $7kUS you can buy a Hasselblad 503 CX, PME metered prism, 50mm CF lens, 80mm CF lens, 150mm CF lens, 250mm CF lens, 2x extender, four A12 film backs, four extension tubes, lens hoods, filters and a Hasselbad 903 SWC.

Leave out the SWC and it is about $3,500US.

For less than $2,000 you can get a Hasselblad 503 CX, PME metered prism, 50mm CF lens, and 80mm CF lens.

You need to check out KEH and the usual suspects. You will be surprised that the used prices are not as high as you think.

Steve

ntenny · Sep 7, 2009

The traditional ways to "dip a toe" in medium format are TLRs and folders. The latter are a more specialised taste, but there are plenty of TLRs out there that make good "serious" cameras. Personally, I'd look in one of these directions in preference to the toy cameras.

-NT

36cm2 · Sep 7, 2009

You've noted you'd like to play around, so I'm not sure what your goals are or what your price range is, but assuming a few hundred US dollars is the max budget and you want something with flexibility, I would agree with ntenny and recommend a less-expensive TLR (e.g. Rolleicord or Mamiya) or, with more reservation, a 50s folder (e.g. isolette or perkeo).

A decent TLR should give you great results, is reasonably portable and is fun to use. A folder is more compact, but in most hands I think it's less likely to be used precisely as most folders are rangefinders without light meters and many users guesstimate light levels and focus distance. Folders that haven't been recently CLAd often also have a slough of problems (often slow shutter speeds). Don't get me wrong, I have owned a couple of folders and like them. I'm just not sure I'd recommend them to someone just starting out in MF.

A couple of other points. If portability isn't a concern, then by all means look into a Mamiya RB67 system. They're cheap and great for portraits and other studio work. Big and heavy, though, so not as great for travel. If you're budget extends to about US$800, then I would give a more serious look at Rolleiflex 2.8's and 3.5's. Again, though, CLAs will probably be in order.

rawhead · Sep 7, 2009

For cheap but good quality MF SLRs, you can take a look at Pentacon Six mount systems; You may need to go through a few bodies (Pentacon Six, Kiev-6C/-60/-88CM, etc), but once you have a solid body, then you are golden with the full range of Carl Zeiss Jena lenses as well as their Arsenal/Kiev made copies for a fraction of the price of the Hasselblad lineup. I have a good Kiev-60 and Flektogon 50/4, Biometar 80/2.8, 120/2.8, Sonnar 180/2.8, which I spent about $700 total for.

With that said, my recent purchase of a Hasselblad 501c + Planar 80/2.8 + Sonnar 150/4 for $750 ain't too shabby either

Q.G. · Sep 7, 2009

Which would you rather have for $700 - $750?

Sirius Glass · Sep 7, 2009

Gee, let me think ... go Kiev and buy and sell several bodies until you find one that works properly, the buy the lenses spending several years and $700

or

... buy a Hasselblad for $750 and start shooting right away.

Oh, this is so hard ... I need more time to think ...

Leighgion · Sep 7, 2009

Or buy a Mamiya for $500, treat the little woman to a night out and get shots of it.

Mike1234 · Sep 7, 2009

Good used MF gear is easily found and bought for a song... VERY good gear.

Sirius Glass · Sep 7, 2009

Leighgion said:
... treat the little woman to a night out and get shots of it.

Why? Is she paying for the camera? Maybe she is giving him a hard time about buying a camera.

Steve

Leighgion · Sep 7, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Why is she paying for the camera? Maybe she is giving him a hard time about buying a camera.

Steve

These facts aren't known to us, but one's partner should also feel good about new cameras. A demonstration of medium format's increased mobility and handling speed vs 4x5 is certain to impress, especially over a nice dinner.

36cm2 · Sep 7, 2009

I would agree that having your head under a darkcloth while sharing a romantic dinner with your wife is inadvisable.

elekm · Sep 7, 2009

I also would recommend a folding camera. Perhaps a Zeiss Ikon Nettar (about $50) with a Novar or a lower-cost twin-lens reflex, such as a Rolleicord (maybe less than $100). I don't know enough about the Yashicas to offer recommendations, but most users seem to be reasonably satisfied with them.

Try a 6x6 camera -- to see if you like the square format -- in either a folder or a twin-lens reflex camera.

Venchka · Sep 7, 2009

Buy a real camera

Christoper said:
... at 37$ to 60$...

Buy a real camera. Use the $37 to $60 for film.

rawhead · Sep 8, 2009

Q.G. said:
Which would you rather have for $700 - $750?

Despite the sarcasm below your post, if I had to choose right now to get rid of one system, I would throw out the Hassie in a heartbeat.

Reasons?

(1) My P6 system has got CZJ MC 50/4, 80/2.8, 120/2.8, and 180/2.8, each of which is just as good as their CZ counterparts (Distagon, Planar, and Sonnar). As it stands, I am sorely lacking in the wide angle dept. with my 501c, but filling that with a Distagon 50/4 (or god forbid 40/4) is gonna cost me more than chump change.

(2) My P6 system has one lens not listed above that simply is out of the question with my Hassie: My Hartblei Super Rotator 45mm f3.5. Yeah, show me a super wide angle tilt shift lenst I can put on my 501c. Didn't think so.

(3) While I don't have one yet, there is another lens I can get for it that, to get an equivalent for the 501c is out of the question: Arsat 30mm f3.5 Fisheye. For c. $200US.

(4) All of these lenses can be adapted to Pentax 645, Contax 645, Mamiya 645, or any 135 format camera, still or digital. There are also tilt or shift adapters for 135 format cameras (I actually have a P6->EF tilt adapter).

The fact of the matter is, the only problem with the P6 system is that it's a bit harder to find a reliable body compared to Hasselblad. Besides that, the lenses are cheaper with nearly the same qualities, accessories (e.g., WLF, prisms, backs for -88CMs, etc.) are cheaper, and of course, replacement bodies are cheaper.

The reason I got the 501c is because I could get it on top of my P6 system, not because I could replace it, because I can't.

Christoper · Sep 8, 2009

Thanks guys for the input.. I did not know about the internet sites mentioned for used equipment... I had looked at a couple of places on the internet like B&H but did not see much used stuff at all... The price I quoted for the Hasselbland system was NEW at B&H.. I am also looking for a longer lens (about 300mm) for my 4x5.. Everything I have bought so far for 4x5 has been used including the camera minus lens for about 300$. I was hoping to find similar deals in medium foremat.

Christoper · Sep 8, 2009

I quickly checked out the KEH site.. they had (for example) several Mamiya RB67 for around 500$ Havn't decided yet what to do... My first 35mm SLR was a Mamiya Sekor bought new in about 1975... sold it for gas money to get from Oregon to Texas.... DOH, to quote Homer Simpson.

André E.C. · Sep 8, 2009

Buy an Holga or a Diana, they are superb pieces of equipment!

André

Sirius Glass · Sep 8, 2009

André E.C. said:
Buy an Holga or a Diana, they are superb pieces of equipment!

André

ROTFLMAO!

Next time warn me first, I hate it when coffee goes up the nose!

Steve

keithwms · Sep 8, 2009

Christoper said:
I quickly checked out the KEH site.. they had (for example) several Mamiya RB67 for around 500$ Havn't decided yet what to do... My first 35mm SLR was a Mamiya Sekor bought new in about 1975... sold it for gas money to get from Oregon to Texas.... DOH, to quote Homer Simpson.

An RB67 kit be an excellent choice, lots of bang for your buck there.

Note also that for ~$350 you can have a complete mamiya 645 pro manual focus system. You can add the winder and metering prism etc. later if you want. The mamiya lenses are excellent and offer tremendous bang for the buck; an independent Pop. Photo comparison with CZ lenses can be found here.

Mike1234 · Sep 8, 2009

Don't forget the old Koni-Omega rangefinders... real workhorses and great optics.

brofkand · Sep 8, 2009

It is a simple affair to buy a Mamiya 645 camera with a lens or two and a prism (with or without a working meter) for $200-300.

I tend to recommend the older 1000s, as it has less plastic than the later Super, Pro or E. But if you don't mind plastic, the newer ones are good buys as well. The main advantage to the newer bodies is the ability to switch out backs rather than just inserts. The main advantage to this change is the ability to slap on a digital back (which conversely has kept the prices for these bodies higher than the older bodies....absolutely is no issue for me, so I bought a 1000s).

Looking at medium format

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