Medium Format Street?

[Les]

The Hasselblad SWC is quiet, light weight for the format, and quick to use.
Les

 

[2F/2F]

Here is "A Fellow" using his RZ hand held on a "cloudy bright" day. As you can see, he picked up a lady friend as well. It must be because of the camera, 'cause there sure ain't nothin' else it coulda been! He was using T-Max 400 with a one-stop pull planned, and a 65mm lens (fairly wide for the RZ; kind of like a 28mm on small format), and shooting at '250.

Sometimes it helps to see the camera as it relates in size to a human bean, to really get an idea of its scale, and how it looks on the street. I did not know how large the Mamiyas were until using one in person. As you can see, they are big and "professional looking"...though not heavy when compared to some cameras like the Mamiya Press type, IMO. Especially when loaded with a 400 or 800 film, they can be used on the street quite well, and even with 100 in strong light. Candids? Maybe not the best, as everyone knows when you are using the thing. Lots of depth of field possible when focusing on something relatively close? Nope, due to the high magnification of 6x7. Good for carrying multiple lenses and bodies? Not really, as the lenses are big. But "street"? Yes indeed. There is the street right there in the pic above. Like I said before, it all depends on what you want to do. To dismiss the RZ (or any camera) as being bad for all street photography does not make much sense to me. It all depends on what (and how) you shoot. Though there are other options that are preferable in may ways, I would not rule it out entirely.

 

[MizBrown]

I find that the twin lens reflexes and the style of photography used with them tends to make them very much less threatening than the bigger cameras, but oddly enough, a very long lens on a 35mm camera can be rather fun, too, as people have no idea what the angle of view on it is.

I've used my Hasselblad for street shots with a 150mm lens. It's do-able, but the Hasselblad is one of the most conspicuous cameras out there this side of a view camera. The TLRs look old and quaint and they are very very quiet.

 

[AutumnJazz]

For street, I do a mix of candid and "hmmm that photographer is taking a picture of me, but I'm awesome or distracted so I won't pose and ruin his picture." Not to sound pretentious, but HCB-like.

 

[BetterSense]

6x6 folders. At f11-f16, set on the hyperfocal point, everything is in focus. Fast, light, small, quiet. I forgot CHEAP.
I like street shooting my mid 50's Zeiss Nettars. You would be amazed.

I usually carry an Isolette in my back pocket. Set at f/22 and 1/200s for sunny 16, it can be hyperfocal from about 8 feet to infinity. If you need to shoot into shade just kick the shutter down one notch to 50. It's great for grab shots.

 

[Dirb9]

I've used an RZ67 as a street cameras a few times. Nobody seems to pay much attention. I don't try and draw attention to myself, and nobody notices much. About half the people that do ask are asking what kind of film I'm shooting. It is a little cumbersome, but I find the major hindrance to be the bellows focusing, at least to me. I'd think a GS-1 would be easier in that respect.

 

[eddym]

My choice for street work is a Rollei TLR. Love it!

 

[Pumal]

+1

 

[eli griggs]

I love the Hasselblad, even though I haven't owned one in years. It'll work and being able to switch backs means you can move between high-speed film and slow, colour to b&w as you work through sun lit street scenes and brightly lit storefronts to alleys and people.

Having said that, have you considered a 127 (4x4cm) format tlr. I have a Sawyers' Mk IV, a re-branded Primo Jr. and it is small enough to fit into a coat pocket. It's also silent and there though there is a limited availability of b&w films, two I believe, unless you cut down and re-roll 120, etc, there are a number of fine colour films available.


The camera itself is inexpensive and the quality of the images are said to be at least the equal to the baby rollei tlr.

 

[Bosaiya]

I do a lot of work that involves going from dark interiors to bright daylight in a fast-paced environment. I had been using a TLR and it worked well, but I decided I wanted the flexibility of removable backs and lots of lenses. One back for inside film, one for outside, another for color, wide lenses for inside, long for outside, etc.

Of course I really only end up using one back with one film, and one lens the whole time. Simpler can be better. Go figure.

 

[Wade D]

Getting up in someones face with a Speed Graphic elicits some great facial expressions!
OOPS, sorry, not MF but still fun.

 

[philosomatographer]

The best medium format camera to use on the street is the one that you have with you at the time, that is all. For example, one of my favourite "street" images was taken with my Mamiya RB67 at night hand-held with Provia 100 film in it, I had to use a 1/8s shutter speed and lens wide open, but that was all I had with me, and it turned out fine (apart from minor back-focus because it was so dark):

Dead Link Removed

I do find that a waist-level finder, even on a massive camera like an RB, is less distracting to people than lifting one's eye up to even a relatively small camera, like a Mamiya 7. Somehow, in this day and age, people do not equate "looking down at the camera" with "taking a photograph" - so keep that in mind.

Thus, one could concluse that a small and quiet TLR like a rollei might be best, simply because of not having to lift the camera to your face, it's quiet, and with a fast f/2.8 lens.

 

[raphaelaaron]

I do find that a waist-level finder, even on a massive camera like an RB, is less distracting to people than lifting one's eye up to even a relatively small camera, like a Mamiya 7. Somehow, in this day and age, people do not equate "looking down at the camera" with "taking a photograph" - so keep that in mind.

it's so true. people don't feel as nervous or on edge when they're looking at someone looking down at them.

and for the TLR, it looks less menacing to stare at a box then have to stare at a camera with lens pointed at you.

 

[namke]

There was a guy (Clive Boursnell) who took lots of 'street' pictures in and around Covent Garden between 1968 and 1974 - he used a Hasselblad, so it's not impossible

http://marketphotos.co.uk/photos.html

 

[Sirius Glass]

The best medium format camera to use on the street is the one that you have with you at the time, that is all.

I have used the Hasselblad for street photography, but regardless of your choice of camera ... see the box above.

I will usually use the 80mm lens and the PME prism. I find it handles like a slightly large 35mm slr. A little slower than a 35mm slr, but worth the size and weight for better results.

Steve

 

[John Koehrer]

On the "wide & fast" Question, ummm f4/4.5 and 50-65mm is really about it regardless of system.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I use my Pentax 645 for work like this... it seems to work great and I love the auto focus. The lenses are fast enough.

It is loud but I don't think people are stealing as many photos as they think... people see what you're doing and know you have a camera so I wouldn't worry at all about size and noise.... it does help if you can shoot quickly... which is why I like the AF on the pentax.

-rob

 

[removed-user-1]

The Fuji GS645s (60mm) or GS645w (45mm) would be my choice as well. I've used the RB67 on the street and people *always* notice me. Another choice if I had some serious disposable income would be a Mamiya 7 with a 50mm... sigh.

 

[sanking]

The Fuji GS645s (60mm) or GS645w (45mm) would be my choice as well. I've used the RB67 on the street and people *always* notice me. Another choice if I had some serious disposable income would be a Mamiya 7 with a 50mm... sigh.

I would recommend the Fuji GA645 Zi, an auto-exposure, auto-focus camea with a 55-90mm variable focus lens. Hard to beat for a walking around street camera. Much smaller less expensive than a Mamiya 7II.

I also own and use a Mamiya 7II outfit, but for a walking around street camera I always go with the GA645Zi.


Sandy King

 

[AutumnJazz]

Well, it looks like I won't be going MF at all. No one wants my F100...No one has even made an offer. So is life.

 

[Venchka]

Start budget friendly: Folder. Or as many have said, one of the early Yashicamats.

 

[mekia02]

I use a Yashica Mat 124G for street. It is quiet, light, and doesn't usually draw attention. When people have noticed that I was photographing them it usually takes them several seconds to recognize that I have a camera and figure out what I'm doing and by then I have already gotten my shot and am on my way.

 

[fschifano]

A 6x7 medium format rangefinder camera would be ideal, if pricey. An RB/RZ would be far to big and heavy. The 'blad or a TLR option would be a bit easier , though still too clumsy. I think something like a 645 SLR is probably best if you want to work fast. They're not silent like a TLR, but they handle easily and quickly, and are not all that much larger than a 35mm SLR.

 

[philosomatographer]

I am so in two minds about this - regardless of the virtues (and amazging image quality) os a 6x7 rangefinder like a Mamiya 7, I find the buggest hurdle to street photography to be the act of lifting the camera to the eyes.

I must still, thus, recommend a waist-level finder camera, ranging from a cheap Yashica to a jewel-like Rollei, to (if necessary) a loud and clunky Hasselblad or Mamiya RB67. Regardless of size, I simply feel that they are still less obtrusive than lifting even a point-and-shoot to the face, as the common man on the street have no conception of a waist-level finder anymore (and thus do not pay you much attention).

 

[mhcfires]

I like using my Mamiya C33 and C330 for candids. Loaded with Tri-x they are great, but of late I have been using my 2x3 and 3x4 Graflex cameras. They are big, noisy and veery conspicuous, but people seem to get a kick out of seeing these old cameras. I have roll film backs for these two cameras which makes it easier to shoot. I also have a 4x5 Graflex RB Series B. It is not as handy, but still fun to shoot. I have a friend who says his Leica is the way to go, but that is not MF.