Medium Format Folder suggestions

[Melvin J Bramley]

May I ask: what kind of problems are inherent in the Mamiya 6 Automat?

I have had focus issues from day one of owning the camera.
I think, perhaps, hope! that it is an intermittent issue with the focus wheel slipping on the shaft that connects to the film
back/ pressure plate.

 

[MattKing]

IIRC, the Mamiya 6 Automat is relatively unique in that it focuses by moving the film plane, rather than moving the lens or moving elements of the lens.
So it at least works differently, and most likely experiences different issues when worn, damaged, or servicd by anyone unfamiliar with it - where some of that damage might come from.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

IIRC, the Mamiya 6 Automat is relatively unique in that it focuses by moving the film plane, rather than moving the lens or moving elements of the lens.
So it at least works differently, and most likely experiences different issues when worn, damaged, or servicd by anyone unfamiliar with it - where some of that damage might come from.

When I have searched for Mamiya 6 issues I have found numerous references to focus problems.
Hopefully I have now found the solution!

 

[Paul Howell]

I have never had any issues with mine. Maybe just the luck of the draw.

 

[Romanko]

I would suggest that you decide on the format first: 4.5x6, 6x6 or 6x9. Then choose the lens that you like. It will depend on whether you shoot black and white or colour and how important the contrast/coating is for you. Then decide if you need a RF and features like on-body release button and double-exposure prevention. Good lenses normally come in good shutters, but not always, so consider shutter designs. They differ is speeds and reliability.

Once you know the answers to these questions you can narrow down your choice to a handful of models. Research availability of repair/CLA services in your region and you'll be done.

As a word of caution I would like to mention that folders are addictive. Chances are you won't stop with just one.

Portraits are hard with folders. TLRs are a much better tool and the chest-level position of the camera really helps with directing your models. That said, you don't know until you try. At the cost of a dozen rolls of B&W film a folder is worth trying.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'd suggest a Moskva 5, but make sure it has the 6x6 mask with it. The 105 mm lens on 6x6 is a decent portrait length (you can still crop to 6x4.5 if needed), and you still have the option to shoot 6x9; either way the camera will fit in a jacket pocket when folded. The lens is a good Tessar type, RF is sturdy and there are no moving parts inside the top cover. Double exposures are annoying to do (use a cable release on the shutter's socket, not on the body release), but possible (in case you want to).

There are a lot of them around and they're still pretty reasonably priced, and there are people who can service them as well (since they're a slightly upgraded copy of a pre-War Zeiss Super Ikonta C).

 

[BenD]

Hello, I have a Konica Pearl iii. Which is a very compact 645 folder with a rangefinder and four element hexar lens. You can’t beat this one for pocketability, and the lens is really good around f8-11. Portraits will include some environment (no parallax compensation) but it’s my choice for an MF street shooter. BTW I also have a Moskva5 and I don’t find it useable off the tripod due to the shutter kick. That may just be my example though.

 

[xya]

If it's about a comparison of folders, have a look at my website https://www.120folder.com/ I have tried and described quite some of these...

 

[hsandler]

I have had 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x9 folders. They all have normal focal lengths for their negative sizes, so not really much to choose there in terms of portraits other than how big you want the negative. I'd say the Moskva-5 has great image quality, but somewhat rickety struts, compared to genuine Zeiss equivalents. For fast portraits at wide apertures, you either need a built-in rangefinder, or for your budget, an external rangefinder, and if so, look for a folder with a shoe to hold that rangefinder. The most fun inexpensive one I have is a little Zeiss 521A Ikonta 6x4.5 with Novar lens and no rangefinder, but it lacks a shoe, which makes the process of pictures taking slow juggling an external rangefinder. Here's an example with bulb flash.

Aly at night by Howard Sandler, on Flickr

 

[abruzzi]

Hello, I have a Konica Pearl iii. Which is a very compact 645 folder with a rangefinder and four element hexar lens. You can’t beat this one for pocketability, and the lens is really good around f8-11. Portraits will include some environment (no parallax compensation) but it’s my choice for an MF street shooter. BTW I also have a Moskva5 and I don’t find it useable off the tripod due to the shutter kick. That may just be my example though.

I love the Pearl III, but mine has the bellows falling apart, so its no longer light tight. I haven't been able to find anyone that will install a new bellows, and if you look on eBay, there are a lot of bellows for older folders for sale (install yourself) but no one makes a bellows for Pearl.

 

[John Layton]

Voigtlander Bessa II 6x9 with 105mm 3.5 Heliar - unit focussing (all elements move in unison) for a sharper image than most others which feature front element focussing. Just make sure its in good shape...make sure to get some sort of return priveledge!

 

[Randy Stewart]

At 78. I've looked at a lot of MF folders and owned more than a few. My reasoning, first noting that they are all in the range of 70 years old, and by their folding nature, have been vulnerable to more wear and tear, as well as physical injury, than any other type of camera:
Skip the Super Ikontas. They use a complex optical rangefinder system which is imposed by its front lens cell focusing, is rugged, but difficult to clean and repair. Front cell focusing isn't a dealbreaker, but is an optical negative, everything else being equal. Durable build, but very heavy for the type of camera.
Mamyia Six. Many variations over a ten+ year production with many subtle variations in desgn of functions, shutters and lenses. Stick to the later (Automat) versions, with square rangefinder window replacing the earlier round window with bezel. Get one with the Sekor lens. The Olympus lens has some brand attraction, but the stories about their lens failures are quite true. For Mamiya, Oly used an inferior grade of glass and coatings which failed with age. They develop a heavy haze which cannot be cleaned off, making photos which look like they were shot through a gauze screen. There is a terrific YT video where a new purchaser of one such Mamiya Six shot his Mediterranean vacation, getting a cross-section of such photos. Very sad.
Much better option in a folder: Konica Pearl III, 645 format; 75mm 3.5, in the middle of your budget. Nearly the perfect 645 folder behind the Pearl IV, which is vastly beyond your budget.
Much better option, non-folder:: TLR: Rolleicord (post-war). Ricoh Diacord G or L (not the 225 model or earlier Ricoh TLRs); [Absolutely Not a Yashicamat, any model, no exceptions.]
There are no 6x9 folders in your budget which are not clumsy old antiques.

 

[Romanko]

There are no 6x9 folders in your budget which are not clumsy old antiques.

Agfa Compur (circa 1940s) and Franka Rolfix I (1954) are my two most used medium format cameras. Agfa was serviced by Chris Sherlock several years ago and Franka saw very little use when I bought it in 2008. Both are reliable and capable of excellent results.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

At 78. I've looked at a lot of MF folders and owned more than a few. My reasoning, first noting that they are all in the range of 70 years old, and by their folding nature, have been vulnerable to more wear and tear, as well as physical injury, than any other type of camera:
Skip the Super Ikontas. They use a complex optical rangefinder system which is imposed by its front lens cell focusing, is rugged, but difficult to clean and repair. Front cell focusing isn't a dealbreaker, but is an optical negative, everything else being equal. Durable build, but very heavy for the type of camera.
Mamyia Six. Many variations over a ten+ year production with many subtle variations in desgn of functions, shutters and lenses. Stick to the later (Automat) versions, with square rangefinder window replacing the earlier round window with bezel. Get one with the Sekor lens. The Olympus lens has some brand attraction, but the stories about their lens failures are quite true. For Mamiya, Oly used an inferior grade of glass and coatings which failed with age. They develop a heavy haze which cannot be cleaned off, making photos which look like they were shot through a gauze screen. There is a terrific YT video where a new purchaser of one such Mamiya Six shot his Mediterranean vacation, getting a cross-section of such photos. Very sad.
Much better option in a folder: Konica Pearl III, 645 format; 75mm 3.5, in the middle of your budget. Nearly the perfect 645 folder behind the Pearl IV, which is vastly beyond your budget.
Much better option, non-folder:: TLR: Rolleicord (post-war). Ricoh Diacord G or L (not the 225 model or earlier Ricoh TLRs); [Absolutely Not a Yashicamat, any model, no exceptions.]
There are no 6x9 folders in your budget which are not clumsy old antiques.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

Arne Croell.com does some interesting lens tests on old folder's.
The Zeiss Tessars come out the best .
Of the better folders the Mamiya 6 is good , even better than the 5 element Fuji super 6.
I will agree that a good TLR is hard to beat, though not so easy to carry and use.
My favorite is the Minolta Autocord with it's exceptional lens.
I have a late model Mamiya 6 autocord which is away for the 6th time for repair!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've been very happy with my Mamiya-6 folder, rangefinder, and the cool film plate moving back and forth to focus. The trick is to find one with a bellows sans pinholes.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'll continue to use my Voigtlander Rollfilmkamera (now approaching 100 years old and scale focus), my Moskva 5 (use the front shutter release if practical to reduce camera movement), Mamiya 6 and Super Ikonta B, and my Daiichi Zenobia (got a couple 127 folders, too, but film choices are limited and the full frame and half frame ones don't play perfectly with recut 120 unless you have 127 backing).

 

[Dustin McAmera]

On 127, If I cut down 120 film for my 3x4cm cameras, I don't bother trying to use the existing frame numbers any more. I have a few previously-cut 120 backing papers with lines ruled across with a Sharpie (I didn't bother with numbers - just a bold line), and I transfer the cut film to one of those. I took care to let my lines dry for a long time before use!

My favourite folder is a Certo Super Sport Dolly with an uncoated f/2.8 Tessar. It has a rangefinder, which works, but is a little awkward to use; I often use the camera by scale focus. I haven't had any difficulty as Sirius said he has with frame numbers.

I also have a few Ensigns, including a Carbine No.6; That's 2¼x3¼ inch. It's only a few years older than the Certo, but much slower to use. It has Ensigns own anastigmat lens, and a dial-set Compur with speeds to 1/250 second. It has either a wire-frame finder or a brilliant finder (I more or less never use a brilliant finder if there's any alternative), and scale focus with a radial lever on the side.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Carbine No.6; That's 2¼x3¼ inch. It's only a few years older than the Certo, but much slower to use. It has Ensigns own anastigmat lens, and a dial-set Compur with speeds to 1/250 second. It has either a wire-frame finder or a brilliant finder (I more or less never use a brilliant finder if there's any alternative), and scale focus with a radial lever on the side.

That's pretty much the same setup as my Rollfilmkamera -- 10.5/4.5 Skopar, side lever operated unit focus, springless standard erection, and wire frame (I too avoid the tiny brilliant finder).

 

[runswithsizzers]

If it's about a comparison of folders, have a look at my website https://www.120folder.com/ I have tried and described quite some of these...

Thanks for that -- nice reference.

 

[Hendos van]

I love using my Zeiss Super Ikonta 531 / 16 which has a coupled rangefinder, I have never used it for portraits though.

 

[baachitraka]

Rolleicord: though it's not a folder, it's far better...

 

[AERO]

I recently picked up cheaply a very nice FRANKA Solida 6x6 folder.
Schneider Radonar 2.8/80 (No rangefinder) Bonus! had an empty 120 spool in it as well
Had the name on the back and in brackets (Made in Germany US ZONE)....
A few years old! (I see a couple on EBay now Solida II and III

 

[loccdor]

Most sub-$400 folders are quite awkward to use for portrait work. They are slow cameras (in both aperture and speed of operation), and come with normal focal length lenses. I use medium format folders almost exclusively for landscape work. A very portable tool you can put in your pocket while hiking.

That's not to say it can't be done, and done well, but it's more of a challenge. And your subjects will need to be more patient and understanding.

A quite good price-to-performance budget portrait medium format option is a Mamiya 645J or Kiev 60/6C with an 80mm f/2.8 Volna-3 or 180mm f/2.8 Sonnar.

 

[Donald Qualls]

A +1/2 or +1 diopter filter and a tape measure (plus a little diopter math if you won't want to work at precisely 2 or 1 meter, depending on the filter) will make portraits with most folders. Finding a filter that will fit is a challenge left as an exercise...