Medium Format Choices.

Hasselblad, if you like the square format!
If you can afford, go for it!

Cheers

André

Soeren said:

I'd say go 6X6 and go with the SQA-i.
Actually you don't need the prismfinder,
the waistlevel is great except if you do some
more actionlike shots. The Bronica is a great
camera and the lenses I have tried where
superp. I still regret...ah never mind that.
Søren

Click to expand...

I Very nearly went SQA-i. The square format's always
correct orientation is A Big Plus; in the field and in the
darkroom. The camera sits and stays on top of the
tripod. For action shots it's always ready. With
negatives, landscape or portrait, both the
same when viewing the projected image.

There can be a weight advantage as well. The tripod
can be less weighty and one can do with the eye level
finder. Also chimney finders weigh little. Prism finders are
heavy and more bulky. Also a pain in the neck, literally,
as I found out by buying one of the other two
formats mentioned. Dan

Bronica GS-7
They're getting really cheap and I have found that I can hand hold at a 60th and get sharp results whereas with the 500CM I have to be up at 125th or be using a monopod.

I started with a tlr, a $25 one too. Then I bought a Pentax. Since then i've purchased a Hasselblad 503cx. I still go for the Pentax. It's probably the best camera (for me) that i've ever owned. It was also one of the most cost effective. The lenses are _CHEAP_ compared to Hasselblad and I can not tell the difference between the pentax 75 and the zeiss 80.

If speed, ease of use and cost is your thing I'd go with the pentax.

dancqu said:

I Very nearly went SQA-i. The square format's always
correct orientation is A Big Plus; in the field and in the
darkroom. The camera sits and stays on top of the
tripod. For action shots it's always ready. With
negatives, landscape or portrait, both the
same when viewing the projected image.

There can be a weight advantage as well. The tripod
can be less weighty and one can do with the eye level
finder. Also chimney finders weigh little. Prism finders are
heavy and more bulky. Also a pain in the neck, literally,
as I found out by buying one of the other two
formats mentioned. Dan

Click to expand...

Correction: 2nd paragraph, 2nd sentence; should read
waist level. Angled prism finders are likely less of a pain
in the neck though still add weight and bulk. Dan

a friend of mine just got the Mamiya super -- and I have the ProTL -- both great manual focus 645 camera's.

If you get the prism finder with built in meter, you can't go wrong.

You can get leaf shutter lenses for Mamiya 645, I've got one and it syncs to 1/500. And yes the Super does have interchangable backs. It's a great camera for handheld use.

Ole said:

True. But the Zenzanon lenses are great - independent of the shutter.

Click to expand...

I tend to agree. I'm not sure I've seen any sign of light-fall-off
with the lenses wide open. Sharp images into the very corners.
One though may wish to shave a half stop off the wide open
rated speeds; 60 and 75 mm. Seiko Electronic shutters.

I bought new an ETRSi outfit as the AEIII prism was offered
half price. Very nearly bought the SQAi. Why the ET? Because
of the lens selection; 75mm vs 80 normal and 60mm vs 65
moderate wide angle. Also ET lens speeds are a little
faster and the lenses a little less expensive.

Turned out eye level was not my cup of tea at all. A real
pain in the neck. The camera is always used with a tripod.
So I bought Bronica's Rotary Finder. A real pleasure to use.
It makes for bright, sharp, comfortable waist level viewing.

As it came the ETRSi's screen was disappointing. So a
Beattie screen was ordered and installed. BIG improvement.
That with the Rotary make for very easy focusing even in
the deep dark woods. Topped off the tripod with a 410
Gear Head from Manfrotto. Very precise, no play, and
always locked for final adjustments.

All in all, the camera is now very usable. Dan

Jeffrey A. Steinberg said:

Shutter slap is a big issue. Try hand-holding a Pentax 6x7 and trying shooting at 1/30 of a second--really impossible. Tripod a most.

Click to expand...

That's GOT to be the mirror though, not the shutter.