Medium Format and the Zoo - what system?

[Kirks518]

So I'm going to the zoo tomorrow. It'll be a group of us photographers, and I know with the utmost certainty that I will be the only one with a film camera, no less a medium format camera. I have never shot MF at the zoo, and I'm not sure which system would be best.

I'll be bringing my Canon DSLR with a Tamron 70-300 and a 1.4x TC.

We'll be there for 5 hours, so I'm hesitant to bring a full MF kit.

Top of the list for my choices is my Mamiya M645 with the Mamiya 500mm mirror lens. I figure I need reach, and that's my longest lens in MF. I also have an adapter to use this lens on the Canon DSLR if I choose.

Second would be the RB67 with the 360mm and a 2x teleconverter. The thought of the 6x7 is really enticing, but the thought of carrying the RB for 5 hours is daunting.

Third choice, and I think least appealing is the C330 with the 180mm. I think this is way too short, although this system allows me to bring other lenses, as they are all small and lightweight.

I plan to spot meter for the film shots, although I do have the metered prism for the M645.

Also, how much film would you guys suggest I bring? And would you bother bringing black & white, or is color the way to go at the zoo. Which then leads to - which color film? I have Velvia and Portra.

 

[rwreich]

I love the zoo in my area and I've been there many times. For the first dozen visits, I was eager to photograph the animals in their cages or in the yards prepared for them by keepers. After a while, though, I kinda figured that those animals would always be there if I wanted to come back for them. Long story short, when I go now, I try to focus on the people in the group with which I am traveling. Many people will be trying to photograph the animals, so why not capture the memories of the people in your life while they're watching the animals.

Just my two cents...

 

[Kirks518]

I hear what you're saying, but the people I'll be with are just folks in a MeetUp group I'm in, not people I have any relationship with. Not a subject (in this instance) I'd burn film on.

 

[MattKing]

The C330. Quiet and less obtrusive.

Closely cropped shots of animals from a long way away are kind of boring. Shots showing the environment, or shots from closer (where safe and appropriate) are more interesting.

If you need reach, the little camera is better.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Take the camera that you are most comfortable with and enjoy the outing without fiddling around or feeling stressed. Any of you cameras will give you pleasure using them. Enjoy life.

 

[Alan Gales]

At our St. Louis Zoo, I always liked bringing a 35mm SLR or DSLR. Zooms are great for the zoo. You can shoot slightly wide to normal for including people interaction with the animals or you can shoot long to focus just on the animals.

I'd bring the 645 or C330 but I would bring just a normal lens. Who wants to drag a big 500mm lens or an RB around? Use your Canon DSLR for any long shots.

 

[Arklatexian]

So I'm going to the zoo tomorrow. It'll be a group of us photographers, and I know with the utmost certainty that I will be the only one with a film camera, no less a medium format camera. I have never shot MF at the zoo, and I'm not sure which system would be best.

I'll be bringing my Canon DSLR with a Tamron 70-300 and a 1.4x TC.

We'll be there for 5 hours, so I'm hesitant to bring a full MF kit.

Top of the list for my choices is my Mamiya M645 with the Mamiya 500mm mirror lens. I figure I need reach, and that's my longest lens in MF. I also have an adapter to use this lens on the Canon DSLR if I choose.

Second would be the RB67 with the 360mm and a 2x teleconverter. The thought of the 6x7 is really enticing, but the thought of carrying the RB for 5 hours is daunting.

Third choice, and I think least appealing is the C330 with the 180mm. I think this is way too short, although this system allows me to bring other lenses, as they are all small and lightweight.

I plan to spot meter for the film shots, although I do have the metered prism for the M645.

Also, how much film would you guys suggest I bring? And would you bother bringing black & white, or is color the way to go at the zoo. Which then leads to - which color film? I have Velvia and Portra.

If it were me, I would not bother bringing color. Most zoo gift shops have color post card pictures that were made under far better conditions than you will likely encounter. What they probably will not have is quality B&W pictures which can frequently be interesting to both zoo buffs and photographers. Of course I am not talking about peacocks with their tails spread which we have seen ad nausem. Having said that, white peacocks can make some stunning B&Ws.........Regards!

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I'd be going with the longest lens with the 2x adapter. You really need that to get you close enough to make it interesting.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

From your options, I think the Mamiya 645 with 500mm mirror lens would be the way to go: lighter weight and good reach.

Doesn't the 360mm lens for the RB67 require a support bracket so as not to bend the lens mount?

Looking forward to seeing the photos.

 

[Kirks518]

I took the M645 with the 500mm, along with the DSLR, and I even grabbed the GA645 for the heck of it. I brought 4 rolls B&W, and one roll of 220 Velvia. Turned out to be a very manageable kit, weight-wise.

Sadly, I grabbed the wrong M645. I have two, and one has a frame counter problem. That's the one I grabbed. So with the power winder, it just winds to the end once it's loaded. Long story how/why I grabbed it, but I thought it was the other one. So, I got zero film images, aside from a couple on the GA645.

 

[narsuitus]

Sadly, I grabbed the wrong M645.

Oh well, it happens to the best of us.

Lesson learned: thoroughly test equipment before embarking on an important assignment.

 

[mweintraub]

Oh well, it happens to the best of us.

Lesson learned: thoroughly test equipment before embarking on an important assignment.

Or label them.

 

[Kirks518]

That's the thing, I for some reason had a film box end in the holder, which made me think it was the working one with film in it. I won't tell you how I shot 7 frames only to discover it wasn't loaded with film......