Medium Format Redux...Again

[RattyMouse]

Fail to understand this recurring complaint about 645 cameras having "wrong" orientation. Why should landscape be "right" and portrait be "wrong"? After I started using my GS645W I realized the natural prevalence of landscape orientation was partly a result of laziness.

Because we see in landscape orientation. It's that simple. Hardly laziness. Was Monet lazy for painting in landscape orientation?

 

[pentaxuser]

Well, you can't blame the camera for laziness.

No but you can blame nearly all cameras(except one) for failing to produce that "glow and sunshine" in the negative or is it the print. I am never sure which

pentaxuser

 

[mweintraub]

I worked as a professional vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Blind and Visually Impaired, in the mid 90s I worked with a consumer who was losing his vision due to age related macular degeneration. He was a very busy commercial photogprher and was having issues focusing. Although he had an assistant who could fine focus for static shots he hated being dependent on others. He was shooting with a Hassy and a Canon EOS 1 later 1N. What he decided to do was remove the focusing hood and used a loup for find focus. I think he used a 5x loupe. When working outdoors he used a dark cloth.

That reminded me about a member of LFF that I researched (he was selling something and I was doing a spot check on the guy) and found out that he's legally blind and a fantastic photographer.



https://www.artsyhome.com/author/drew-bedo

 

[ReginaldSMith]

Beautiful story! Thanks for posting that video.

 

[GRHazelton]

Because we see in landscape orientation. It's that simple. Hardly laziness. Was Monet lazy for painting in landscape orientation?

Interesting that perhaps a majority of cell-phone camera pictures and videos are in portrait orientation, even when landscape would be preferable...

 

[ransel]

Reginald - I almost gave up on TLR's, which has been my favorite for shooting 120 film - most are dim and the ocular made it difficult due to my aging eyes.
My solution:
Mamiya C (pick one, C220, C3, C330)
Mamiya C Chimney finder with rubber eye cup. It also has a flip up magnifier inside for critical focus if you need it.
And what I have done as over the years my eyes got worse, I just lay a close-up filter, (like you would screw onto the front of any 35mm camera lens) inside the top of the eye cup and it corrects for focusing.

 

[ReginaldSMith]

Reginald - I almost gave up on TLR's, which has been my favorite for shooting 120 film - most are dim and the ocular made it difficult due to my aging eyes.
My solution:
Mamiya C (pick one, C220, C3, C330)
Mamiya C Chimney finder with rubber eye cup. It also has a flip up magnifier inside for critical focus if you need it.
And what I have done as over the years my eyes got worse, I just lay a close-up filter, (like you would screw onto the front of any 35mm camera lens) inside the top of the eye cup and it corrects for focusing.

Ingenious sir! Now, the last time I fondled a CXXX at a friend's house was maybe 20 years ago. My one word recollection is "brick." They ARE pretty heavy, aren't they? I'll add that to my growing list here. I definitely had no considered that one.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'm in a similar demographic...

It distresses me to write this in public, but I completely concur with the advise of SiriusGlass (post 14).

I hope that you will be able to sleep tonight.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yeah, the portrait mode of the GA645 is a bit off putting at first, but I would still explore this camera if you can. It has a lot of benefits, especially if you want something small and easy to travel with.

Shooting 6x6 means one never has to rotate the camera. It helps making life wonderful.

 

[ReginaldSMith]

Just read a glowing review of how the Pentax 645n works, controls, usage and so on. That is moving way UP on my list! I love the dead simplicity and of course the AF/AE. Of course there is that Hassleblad lust to deal with yet.

Miscellaneous:
I love these Japanes camera sellers descriptions - - like this one:

Excellent+++++
■ Appearance
Appearance is beautiful,
tiny scuffs from normal use.
It shows signs of use.
There is a dent in the upper front of Body.
There is a crack of about 1.5cm due to a small dent in the bottom part of Body

I dunno, dents and cracks in my book don't rate an EXCELLENT+++++.
Funny stuff.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Some say that the Hasselblad is more expensive, however the price is way down from its original and it only means that it takes a little longer wait between buying lenses.

 

[RattyMouse]

Just read a glowing review of how the Pentax 645n works, controls, usage and so on. That is moving way UP on my list! I love the dead simplicity and of course the AF/AE.

A Fujifilm GA645 will fit in my coat pocket, or under my coat in using a shoulder strap. A Pentax 645N is gigantic in comparison.

 

[Slixtiesix]

Any Rollei with the High-D-Screen or Hasselblad with Acute Matte D.

 

[choiliefan]

Just read a glowing review of how the Pentax 645n works, controls, usage and so on. That is moving way UP on my list! I love the dead simplicity and of course the AF/AE. Of course there is that Hassleblad lust to deal with yet.

One thing I especially liked about my Pentax 645NII was the exposure imprinting between frames.
The Pentax lenses including the 35mm wide were great and the camera handled better and was much lighter than the Bronica ETRSI.
I liked the Fujifilm GA645 but had a hard time nailing the focus and worried about the electronics going south.

 

[removed account4]

OP don't bother with small formats,
roll film is getting more and more of a problem
emulsions discontinued, problems with backing papers ..
who knows what the next calamity will be ..
get a LF camera there are lots of emulsions to chose from
as well as paper negatives and coat your own sorts of things
if you don't need camera movements get a graflex slr or press camera
they have focal plane shutters so you can use pretty much ANYTHING as a lens
from something that costs several thousand dollars to something from the dollar tree that costs 50¢
good luck!

 

[RattyMouse]

All Fujifilm GA series medium format cameras imprint exposure or date information between frames if that feature is turned on.

 

[Ces1um]

I love the big negative. I love the idea of MF. But, I have tried and failed so many times to get a camera that will work for me. The main problem is not so great eyesight, and having much trouble finding a MF camera that is easy to focus. I have owned Ikontas, Rolleicord, Mamiya 6 and 645, Yashica Mat, Fuji GA690, and now a Bronica GS-1. Ok - yes, a bit of a camera whore, I know. I have taken some great pictures with the Super Ikonta, a few good ones with the Fuji rangefinder, but mostly, and consistently, no matter which camera I try, I fail to get sharp focus so often that I cry when the film comes back.
In the 35mm world, I had to move to strictly AF cameras. I have had great luck with Canon EOS-1v, and my current favorite the Minolta/Dynax alpha-9. My digital rig is a Fujifilm X-T2 and that works fine too. But dang it, I want to shoot MF!
My feeling was the TLRs were so dim in the finder I could barely see focus at all. The rangefinders were nice and light and the Fuji had an amazing viewfinder, but still no joy. The Mamiya 645 was just too damn heavy, as is my current Bronica.
The Super Ikonta was a romantic relic that was lovely, but just a bit too eccentric what with cocking shutters and all.
Ok, is there a question here? Yes. I can't afford the few AF MFs that are out there. Just not in my budget. So, is there an MF that makes focusing a DREAM for those with glasses and 70 year old eyes? You know, just from your personal experience. Also, not too darn bulky like this Bronica.
I know, I am asking too much, but it's worth a shot.

If you aren't too snobby about it, a zone focused medium format camera might work for you. The lomo lca-120 is autofocus and fully automatic (which can be a pro or a con depending on your needs). It takes a decent photo. I took the following photo with mine:
Dead Link Removed
It also is very lightweight if that's a benefit to you.

 

[guangong]

Rather than a new camera maybe you need better eyes. Do you have cataracts ? Are eyes healthy? How about contact lenses? Having left seventy years behind quite some time ago but with some expert medical care I have no problem focusing cameras. May I suggest that you visit the optometrist and ophthalmologist departments of a quality teaching and research hospital and investigate what can be done to improve your vision. Besides being able to focus camera better you may find a lot more that is visually interesting.
Be aware that there are optometrists and there are optometrists. Some can only fit glasses, others have additional training and education and can offer a greater fange of treatments.
As for camera suggestions I would recommend Hassy and Rollei TLR w 2.8 lens.
Good luck!

 

[BrianShaw]

... and when shopping for an optometrist/ophthalmologist ask if any of them are or were photographers.

 

[film_man]

Not sure what optometrists have to do with the fact that some focus screens are brighter, some are darker, some have focus aids, some don't, some are easier to focus on the matte part and some are trickier.

 

[ransel]

My one word recollection is "brick." They ARE pretty heavy, aren't they?

I would say they are perhaps the heaviest of the TLR's. Even with a good strap, when it's around your neck it can call for frequent breaks. I would say if one ceases to function, just use it as an anchor.

 

[Paul Howell]

Rather than a new camera maybe you need better eyes. Do you have cataracts ? Are eyes healthy?

Not knowing OP vision issues are, if OP vison is stable but not correctable to 20/20 or 20/30 then he/she may want to see a low vision specialist. Low vision specialist are either OD or MDs with additional residency in low vision. Some OTs are also trained in low vision. There are specialty glasses, frame mounted bioptics, loups, or even a hand held magnifier that could improve her/his near vision.

 

[BrianShaw]

Not sure what optometrists have to do with the fact that some focus screens are brighter, some are darker, some have focus aids, some don't, some are easier to focus on the matte part and some are trickier.

Well, one thing mine did was to help me configure a better bi-focal prescription. Didn’t change the viewing screen but helped me see it with less difficulty.

 

[apoglass]

With the Hasselblad V cameras, the following combination helps to be able to see clearly to focus: (1) Hasselblad Focusing Screen Acute-Matte D with Microprism and Split-image 42215; (2) Hasselblad pentaprism such as the PM-5; and, (3) compatible Hasselblad 2x flip up prism viewfinder eyepiece magnifier 42459 which is nicely held in place using a ring around the eyepiece. [Note that the newer style Hasselblad prism finders use a different 2x magnifier which is a kludge that instead hangs off the accessory shoe.]

 

[ReginaldSMith]

A few notes about my vision. I probably went too hyperbolic about how bad my eyes are. Actually, not that bad. I mean I have no cataracts or eye disease, just a guy who wears tri-focal glasses. Probably "average vision" for a 70 year old. I think my trouble is that the glasses are constantly making it hard to look through eyecup viewers. I don't really like taking them on and off to take a picture. And if off, I would need to have a +3 diopter to see a focus screen sharply.

Cameras. I really don't think I want a 6 x 4.5 portrait normal format. I think if I am going for one last try at this I want to get either 6x6 or 6x7. Which means a heavier SLR box, A Mamiya 6, or another try at TLR. Being able to fit optional lenses is always a plus, but I could also probably live with a fixed normal lense. I don't think those Mamiya TLRs are my cup of tea. I remember how darn heavy it was. So far I have not seen a Hassleblad I can afford, but I am looking. And, I haven't actually discovered the weight of it yet. No one mentioned a Rollei, I don't think? Are there super bright focus screens available for those?