Looking for a Medium format camera

muhco3 · Jan 4, 2026

Hello
I after my Pentax 645N broke , I decided to get a new camera ( or rather used one)
negative size either 6 x4.5 or 6x6 or 6x7 max
budget up to 1500 USD
I'm looking for a robust and workhorse camera , preferably not too old

Sirius Glass · Jan 4, 2026

You can save several iterations of buying and then selling cameras until you are happy, by a newer model Hasselblad camera and lenses, but not the 200 and 2000 Series which can no longer be serviced or repaired.

retina_restoration · Jan 4, 2026

Do you get along well with TLR's?

muhco3 · Jan 4, 2026

retina_restoration said:
Do you get along well with TLR's?

Not a big fan of, I do prefer SLR , but what's in your mind ?

muhco3 · Jan 4, 2026

Sirius Glass said:
You can save several iterations of buying and then selling cameras until you are happy, by a newer model Hasselblad camera and lenses, but not the 200 and 2000 Series which can no longer be serviced or repaired.

Hasselblad can get pricey , I'm thinking of getting another one of the Pentax 645

Sirius Glass · Jan 4, 2026

muhco3 said:
Hasselblad can get pricey , I'm thinking of getting another one of the Pentax 645

People may have an opinion on a choice of camera, but the only opinion that counts is the photographers.

muhco3 · Jan 4, 2026

Sirius Glass said:
People may have an opinion on a choice of camera, but the only opinion that counts is the photographers.

Totally agree .
I'm afraid of repeating the same mistake of getting another one .
I find the Hasselblad H1 is somehow similar to my Pentax , what do you thin of it ?

MattKing · Jan 4, 2026

If you wander through the threads here on Photrio, you will no doubt note that some regular posters have very strong preferences .
I used to sell cameras, including medium format cameras. And I've used lots of different medium format cameras over the years. And I've printed for other photographers who used medium format cameras.
The one thing I've learned above all is that some cameras suit some photographers, and don't suit others. If the Pentax worked well for you, and its capabilities match your needs, I would suggest getting another.

Sirius Glass · Jan 4, 2026

muhco3 said:
Totally agree .
I'm afraid of repeating the same mistake of getting another one .
I find the Hasselblad H1 is somehow similar to my Pentax , what do you thin of it ?

I have no first hand experience with the Hasselblad H1, but I believe that you will be as happy with the H1 as I am with the 503 CX and 903 SWC.

Dan Daniel · Jan 4, 2026

Medium format SLRs are going to be old, especially under $1500. Just a fact. All of them are risky

Look at the assorted Bronicas. You used to be able to pick up a few bodies and lenses for the price of a single Hassy setup in case one broke, but that isn't the case any more.

Is there a reason you are looking beyond the Pentax 645? Was something not working for you with it? What could be better for how you want to shoot?

muhco3 · Jan 4, 2026

Dan Daniel said:
Medium format SLRs are going to be old, especially under $1500. Just a fact. All of them are risky

Look at the assorted Bronicas. You used to be able to pick up a few bodies and lenses for the price of a single Hassy setup in case one broke, but that isn't the case any more.

Is there a reason you are looking beyond the Pentax 645? Was something not working for you with it? What could be better for how you want to shoot?

Nothing wrong at all , except it broke ,
So I was thinking if there are any more reliable ones out there ?

Sirius Glass · Jan 4, 2026

muhco3 said:
Nothing wrong at all , except it broke ,
So I was thinking if there are any more reliable ones out there ?

New less used Hasselblads that had regular service should be be very reliable. KEH.com has the facilities to service and repair Hasselblad plus they have a great repair or replace guarantee on the cameras they sell. Most of my Hasselblad equipment comes from them. Also my Hasselblad repairman recommends every three months, all the Hasselblad lenses and bodies be fired ten to fifteen times at 1 second exposure and at the smallest aperture.

loccdor · Jan 4, 2026

Robust workhorse camera - Mamiya 645. Mount its native lenses or adapt Pentacon Six or Hasselblad Zeiss glass. And you won't spend anywhere near $1500. My M645J with 120 and 220 film inserts and prism altogether was about $200. It only needed a light seal replacement.

Paul Howell · Jan 4, 2026

I think a new Pentax 645 is a good investment, including a CLA you should be able to have in under 1500, if the lens is still working? But a Mamiya 645 late version with top shutter speed of 1000 of a second would also be a good option. If your a one lens guy, then a Rolli TLR. I have a Kowa System, but Kowa is getting really old and not many tech will work on them.

blee1996 · Jan 4, 2026

Might be cheaper just to fix your 645N, assuming you already have lenses and film backs for that system. Or get another Pentax 645 body.

ChrisGalway · Jan 4, 2026

It's at the upper limit if your budget, but have you thought of the Mamiya 6 MF rangefinder? (I'd suggest the 7ii, which I've owned for 20 years, but I've just seen the crazy prices being asked!).

These are lovely cameras to use.

muhco3 · Jan 4, 2026

So , as per the members recommendations , I found the following

1-Hasselblad 553ELX body + metered prism finder +back + one lens for about 1800 USD

2- Mamiya M645 Super body +metered prism finder +back + one lens for less than 900 USD

3-Mamiya 6 MF Body with 75mm lens for slightly over 1500 USD (the cheapest I can find in a good condition )

4- Pentax 645 for 350 in excellent condition ( I don't use the autofocus in my previous 645N anyway )

MattKing · Jan 4, 2026

I would be cautious about the Mamiya Super.
They are really nice cameras.
Mamiya replaced them with the 645 Pro because, apparently, they did not stand up well to heavy use with the accessory motorized grip - and that grip was popular with the wedding pros that the Mamiya 645 line was marketed to.
The replacement 645 Pro had/has more robust film advance gearing.
So if the 645 Super camera was not used heavily with the motorized grip, it may be a great choice - I really liked the otherwise heavily used one I had for a while. I added a 645 Pro to my kit when I had the need to have a backup available. Then when it came time to downsize to a single body, I chose to sell off the Super, although either choice would have been fine.
All the lenses and the film inserts are compatible across the line. Some accessories have wide compatibility and for some (e.g. the trigger grips), it can be an interesting research project .
The replaceable backs all work on each of the Super, the 645 pro, and the 645 Pro Tl.

thinkbrown · Jan 4, 2026

I'm a huge fan of the Mamiya Press system for medium format. Built like tanks, great lens lineup, selectable format, and still surprisingly affordable. I put an entire kit together (all 8 focal lengths, two bodies, 5 backs, plus misc accessories) for about $2k.

retina_restoration · Jan 4, 2026

muhco3 said:
Not a big fan of, I do prefer SLR , but what's in your mind ?

I was going to suggest a Rolleiflex, but if you don't care for TLR's....
Just replace your Pentax.

OAPOli · Jan 4, 2026

The simpler and cheaper option is a replacement P645.

If you want to switch format and stay with SLRs: 6x6 - Kowa Six or Bronica SQ (USD 1500 will get you a full kit); 6x7 - Pentax 67.

GregY · Jan 4, 2026

OAPOli said:
The simpler and cheaper option is a replacement P645.

If you want to switch format and stay with SLRs: 6x6 - Kowa Six or Bronica SQ (USD 1500 will get you a full kit); 6x7 - Pentax 67.

Yes.... The Pentax lenses are fine quality. You could replace your n body or even get the older regular 645. Mine has been use a lot professionally & is still clicking.

Kino · Jan 4, 2026

I'm with the crowd that says just buy another Pentax body, but have it CLA'd before use.

Of course, you might have itchy feet and just want to try something else, but if the Pentax does what you want, a move to an unknown system might prove to be a disappointing change.

Just my 2 cents...

mshchem · Jan 4, 2026

Do you have Pentax lenses that you can use with a different body?

A mint condition Bronica ETRSi would be my suggestion for a 645.

benderscameracorner · Jan 4, 2026

The original M645s are great if you don't need/want removable backs. I have two (original 1/500sec version and 1000S with the 1/1000sec shutter and other functions) and other than the slightly manual way the AE finder works they're compact, not too heavy and pretty fast to work with. And of course Mamiya glass rarely disappoints. By all accounts they're also a bit more robust than the newer 645 Super/Pros (less plastic, basically).

I do wish you could get a manual handgrip/winder for the system a la Bronica ETRSi. I do like that system as well though the build isn't quite as good (still more than good enough, though) and there's definitely a quality difference between the original MC and latter EII lenses.

Looking for a Medium format camera

muhco3

Sirius Glass

retina_restoration

muhco3

muhco3

Sirius Glass

muhco3

MattKing

Moderator

Sirius Glass

Dan Daniel

muhco3

Sirius Glass

loccdor

Paul Howell

blee1996

ChrisGalway

muhco3

MattKing

Moderator

thinkbrown

retina_restoration

OAPOli

GregY

Kino

mshchem

benderscameracorner

Looking for a Medium format camera

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