Looking for an decent entry into medium format. Thinking TLR

Glausuche · Jun 9, 2022

Hi all. I have a holga 120 and an Ansco Viking Readyset and both work. I’ve been taking photos with them. I am a mixed media artist and I’ve loved photography since my pre-teens, back then with 35mm cameras and even doing some of my own developing.
I want to get a decent medium format camera but I’m on a tight budget. What do you suggest? I want something that is easy to carry around.
Street photography would probably be my primary focus, and landscape/nature come 2nd.

Oh yeah, I also would enjoy doing double exposures, so I want the ability to do that..

Paul Howell · Jun 9, 2022

Yaschica D with the 4 element Tessar taking lens and 2.8 viewing lens. The Shutter must be cocked before tripping the shutter and film manually wound allowing for easy multiple exposures. The D with 3 element taking lens and 3.5 is also good if want a bit of softness wide open. Also in the 3 element range was Yaschia A and C.

Dwight Anderson · Jun 9, 2022

I've had very good results from a ricohflex VII, I wrote a review here: https://www.cameravignette.com/post/ricoh-ricohflex-vii

markjwyatt · Jun 9, 2022

TLRs are great entry points, and great cameras for many purposes. If you want to get serious, then consider the Mamiya TLRs (C series), which are still reasonably priced.

Glausuche · Jun 9, 2022

Great review! It seems that lots of TLRs are decent.

Dwight Anderson said:
I've had very good results from a ricohflex VII, I wrote a review here: https://www.cameravignette.com/post/ricoh-ricohflex-vii

Glausuche · Jun 9, 2022

markjwyatt said:
TLRs are great entry points, and great cameras for many purposes. If you want to get serious, then consider the Mamiya TLRs (C series), which are still reasonably priced.

Those seem like overkill to me. If I am going for exchanging lenses, I’d start looking at the mamiya 645 or something like it.

Glausuche · Jun 9, 2022

There seems to be a lot to love about the Yashicas. Thanks for clarifying about the 3 vs 4 lens elements. I did not know this.

Paul Howell said:
Yaschica D with the 4 element Tessar taking lens and 2.8 viewing lens. The Shutter must be cocked before tripping the shutter and film manually wound allowing for easy multiple exposures. The D with 3 element taking lens and 3.5 is also good if want a bit of softness wide open. Also in the 3 element range was Yaschia A and C.

guangong · Jun 9, 2022

For portability, don’t overlook folders. Some are pocketable. And they look so primitive to non photographers that people on the street seem to ignore them. The Mamiya is rather bulky in my view, but a Yashica or Minolta is a nice choice for TLR.

Sirius Glass · Jun 9, 2022

For lower costs, look at TLRs including the Mamiya C series which has interchangeable lenses.

Cholentpot · Jun 9, 2022

Yashica A, Rolleicord, and Richoflex are sitting on a shelf in front of me. I'd have more but it's a slow growing collection. The Yashica Mat is elsewhere loaded and ready to go.

TLR is life. TLR is wonder. TLR is awesome.

markjwyatt · Jun 9, 2022

Glausuche said:
Those seem like overkill to me. If I am going for exchanging lenses, I’d start looking at the mamiya 645 or something like it.

Looks like you might still be able to get good deals on those too. What I like about the Mamiya Cs beyond exchanging lenses is the bellows and the square format (6x6 or 6x4.5 H OR V without rotating). My C330f and 220f have double exposure switches. They are bulkier than a lot of other TLRs for sure, and this is a consideration.

markjwyatt · Jun 9, 2022

Cholentpot said:
Yashica A, Rolleicord, and Richoflex are sitting on a shelf in front of me. I'd have more but it's a slow growing collection. The Yashica Mat is elsewhere loaded and ready to go.

TLR is life. TLR is wonder. TLR is awesome.

TLR is Truth, Liberty, Respect

MattKing · Jun 9, 2022

Glausuche said:
Those seem like overkill to me. If I am going for exchanging lenses, I’d start looking at the mamiya 645 or something like it.

I own both (a Mamiya C330 and a Mamiya 645 Pro), plus a few too many other cameras as well.
And I've been using my Mamiya TLR since I bought it in the later 1970s - it was the store demonstrator at the camera store I was working at.
The two types of cameras complement each other - but if you want just one, the Mamiya TLRs offer enough additional capability compared to fixed lens TLRs to make them worth considering instead of an SLR.

McDiesel · Jun 9, 2022

Agreed on your choice of a TLR. Even though my favorite system is a Hasselblad, but that's because it's one of my several cameras. If I were forced to live a one-lens-one-camera life, it would be a TLR.

Minolta Autocord hasn't been mentioned yet, and I have a crush on this camera.

Mamiya TLRs are great, possibly the most versatile (the latest iteration of 80mm Sekor black rim blue dot is amazing) but I wouldn't recommend owning a Mamiya TLR if you only use one lens.

GregY · Jun 9, 2022

Agreed, TLRs are great, as far as affordable cameras, don't overlook the Rolleicord. They're small & light and much less expensive than the Rolleiflex series. There's a lot to be said for the real estate of the 6x6 negative. Keep an eye out locally, you never know what is for sale.

Glausuche · Jun 9, 2022

Oooh. I did not know about the flexibility of 6x6 and 6x4.5 on them. That’s a valuable argument for them. Plus the switch for double exposure… but weight is a factor that is important to me…

markjwyatt said:
Looks like you might still be able to get good deals on those too. What I like about the Mamiya Cs beyond exchanging lenses is the bellows and the square format (6x6 or 6x4.5 H OR V without rotating). My C330f and 220f have double exposure switches. They are bulkier than a lot of other TLRs for sure, and this is a consideration.

Glausuche · Jun 9, 2022

McDiesel said:
Minolta Autocord hasn't been mentioned yet, and I have a crush on this camera.

I keep reading great things about the Minolta. It’s definitely on my radar.

Glausuche · Jun 9, 2022

GregY said:
Agreed, TLRs are great, as far as affordable cameras, don't overlook the Rolleicord. They're small & light and much less expensive than the Rolleiflex series. There's a lot to be said for the real estate of the 6x6 negative. Keep an eye out locally, you never know what is for sale.

I wish I knew some local places. I’m new to WNC/Upstate SC area and would love to shop local if someone can recommend a place.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jun 9, 2022

Would vounch for Yashica A. Quite simple and dependable camera. Not much to go wrong.

Also Mamiya C's are great cameras. C2 and c220 go on the cheap side on the bay. Mamiya lens are quite good.

If you are considering Mamiya 645 take a look on Bronica ETRS. They are quite good and have swappable backs so theres a plus.

Grim Tuesday · Jun 10, 2022

I've tried almost all the cameras mentioned in this thread. My thoughts:

Yashica D w/ 4 element lens - OK, but not great. My copy had only ok contrast and sharpness.
Folders - The lenses are probably good as anything else but the, but they are very fiddly, difficult to focus accurately and get a sharp picture with. I would not recommend as your first camera.
Mamiya TLR C series - Terrific cameras, highly recommended for a number of reasons. They are silent, look cool, have bright focus screens, sharp lenses and a flat film path. Easy to get sharp pictures from. Reliable and repairable. But heavy.
Yashica A - Mine was better than my Yashica D despite having a three-element lens. I have nostalgia for this camera but objectively it's mid tier, and I doubt many of them are as good as my copy happened to be. But mechanically simple and a good price, so wouldn't be a bad starter option.
Rolleicord - Mine is great. I believe it's a III. Mechanically simple, a fantastic lens (mine is a Xenar) and very light weight. I would consider keeping this as my only camera if someone took all the other ones away.
Autocord - This is the only camera I regret selling. It had a great lens, equal to the Rolleicord, but with a flat film path. I sold it only because the Rolleicord was a tiny bit better and lighter weight and I had acquired a Rolleiflex which had a better lens than both of them. But I still miss it.

All told, my vote is OP should get a rolleicord.

gone · Jun 10, 2022

A Rolleicord w/ a Triotar lens would be a good choice, but I'd use a small 6x4.5 or 6x6 folder. $100 should get you a nice one w/ a sharp lens and good shutter if you're patient shopping for one. Most of them allow multiple exposures, I don't think the Zeiss Ikontas do, I can't remember how mine worked. Few things are as much fun as pulling a small folder out of your pocket and snapping a pic that can be easily enlarged for big prints.

mooseontheloose · Jun 10, 2022

My entry into MF was a Minolta Autocord and it remains my favourite TLR after all these years, even though I'm now mostly shooting with a Rolleiflex. I probably have over 20 TLRs, mostly Autocords, Yashicas, and Rolleiflexes/cords of various vintages and styles.

If you decide to go the TLR route (or any camera for that matter), condition should be the first consideration.

jimgalli · Jun 10, 2022

See if you can borrow a copy of Chavez Ravine, 1949 a Los Angeles Story, by Don Normark. He used a little tin can Ciro Flex with an 85mm Wollensak Velostigmat. A $50 camera. The work is jaw dropping. It was all he could afford in 1949 when he was a college student.

Bill Burk · Jun 10, 2022

I have a Tower reflex that looks exactly like this: Have seen no Towers with my lens for sale but that Nikkor lens is very nice and the camera is well designed.

You can find these on eBay - now the $300 one looks like it has a funky lens and the $500 one says mint but I think a better grade would be like Exc-, of the two I would consider the more expensive one. Or wait it out for a better bargain

NIKKOR Lens Airesflex Z TLR Camera 75mm F/3.5 Lens From Japan

Dan Daniel · Jun 10, 2022

Paul Howell said:
Yaschica D with the 4 element Tessar taking lens and 2.8 viewing lens.

Maybe this was clarified above, but the Yashica D lens Paul is recommending is named 'Yashinon.' This is the 4-element 'Tessar-type' lens for Yashica, labeled as 'Yashinon.' Most Yashica Ds have the Yashikor lens, which is a 3-element lens design, so know which lens you are buying (Yashikor is a good lens but has some distinct 'issues' used at larger apertures).

I'd strongly encourage the OP to look at places like the classifieds here and other photo forum communities. Condition is critical, and people in places like this will be honest and you will know what you are getting yourself into. Or used sellers like Blue Moon Camera or Glass Key. Hoping to score as a bottom feeder on Ebay these days is not very easy.

Looking for an decent entry into medium format. Thinking TLR

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