Medium Format Street?

[AutumnJazz]

Most of my photography is street, followed closely by portraiture, and 'scapes. How difficult is it to shoot street with an RX67 or a 'Blad?

(On a different note; in your opinion, who makes the best MF lenses? I like wide and fast.)

Thanks,
Jazz

 

[Christopher Walrath]

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Foot the bill for a 7II. At least some sort of RF. I would think the RZ, though light, would be cumbersome and obtrusive for street photography.

 

[Pinholemaster]

I use a Mamiya 7II for medium format street photography. Other systems are too big and heavy. The Mamiya is like a large Leica M series camera.

 

[JPD]

A Rolleiflex TLR. No downpointing heavy lens to lift up before taking a picture. Easy shutter and aperture settings. Just angle the camera on your belly or chest, focus and take pics. No mirror *SCHMACK*, just a quiet Synchro-Compur shutter. Most people won't notice you're taking pictures.

 

[david b]

Hasselblad SWC. Love it

 

[Christopher Walrath]

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TLR would also prevent eye contact further reducing attention from others.

 

[fotch]

TLR is a good choice other than its a bit large. When using a RF, to avoid calling attention to myself by focusing at eye level, I use scale foucusing and just point in the direction. To avoid cut off from bad aiming, I back up a bit to make sure nothing gets cut off.

Then again, the TLR would probably be a first choice except I no longer have the smaller ones, only the C330.

 

[naeroscatu]

you can do street photog with blad or RZ/RX systems but don't expect good results; they are not maxde for candids. I 2nd the Rollei TLR suggestion or Yashica TLR if you are on a lower budget. Never owned or used a Mamyia 7.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Like the above posts, the RZ/RB might be a little on the big and heavy side for street photography. I'll go with an TLR.

Jeff

 

[sidearm613]

RZ/RB is way, way too heavy. Hasselblad is a so/so choice. Its no small, but it is handy, and with a WLF you look "like a photographer," for better or for worse. If you want to go down SLR street, why not a Pentax 67? They are big, with that humongoid shutter, but they are good street photography cameras, as long as you use relatively fast film. Still, I think the best choice is a TLR, but I would get a Rolleicord or a Yashica-Mat, just to save some cash, and nobody will think the less of you

 

[cnmne]

Another vote for the Mamiya 7(II). Also, the Mamiya 7 lenses are incredibly sharp -- as good or better than Zeiss or Schneider.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

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(Re: 7II). I love living vicariously with someone else's money.

 

[André E.C.]

A TLR is a great choice, silent, small, lightweight, etc (my Rolleiflex). I also like my Fuji GSW 690, big neg, 1 optic package and good balance, the optic isn't the fastest around but it's sharp as a razor. Load some fast film (Delta 3200 for example) and shoot away.


Have fun!


André

 

[George Collier]

Another advantage to the Rollei, or any TLR - you can point the camera to your left (or right) where the subject is (you face straight ahead) and most people will not put it together that you are shooting to your left (or right). (It helps to look up from the finder back and forth, looking straight ahead, as if shooting straight ahead). Takes a bit of getting use to, but it helps keep people from realizing that they are being photographed.

 

[Venchka]

Speed Graphic. Any size. Folks will WANT you to take their picture.

 

[Chazzy]

I'm not interested in street photography, but if I were, I wouldn't hesitate to take the Koni-Omega. The fast handling would be a real advantage. But using a camera that looks big at eye level would result in more people noticing what is going on. A waist-level finder would definitely be less conspicuous.

 

[fotch]

Another advantage to the Rollei, or any TLR - you can point the camera to your left (or right) where the subject is (you face straight ahead) and most people will not put it together that you are shooting to your left (or right). (It helps to look up from the finder back and forth, looking straight ahead, as if shooting straight ahead). Takes a bit of getting use to, but it helps keep people from realizing that they are being photographed.

I can do that with my 35mm SLR.

 

[Ian David]

The Blad 500 series are great for street shooting except that they are very noisy. As David says, the SWC is probably a good bet though.

 

[David Brown]

Fuji 645.

 

[arigram]

You can see at my gallery or website that I have more than a few shots on the street with a handheld Hasselblad. I even have a couple of threads about it if you take the time to look for them (I gave up).

-Its heavy. Even the basic WLF+80 lens+body+back weights a bit. Winders and dioptres are no-no, a Polaroid back would be trouble and it better hangs from your neck. Other lenses are larger and much heavier than the 80. But I have wielded a 180 telephoto, with the bellows Pro Shade extended at the face of the riot police during a demonstration. Its not much heavier from my Nikon F either.
-The backs are time consuming for loading and the 120 film has too few frames, so you would need to often change film, which is slow and uncomfortable: you need some shade, better rest somewhere and take your time to load it correctly. Plus forgetting the slide in can become a tiresome routine!
- Taking out the film, discarding the foil or sticker (properly), licking the paper backing together (why don't all manufacturers use stickers like some do?) and making sure its not exposed to hard light before it goes in your pocket/pack, can be a nuisance. Let alone when the damned "stamp glue" paper doesn't stick and needs tape or something to hold it together. But unravelling only has happened to me maybe twice.
- The shutter is loud. But you can get by masked by regular street noise.
- The focus is very, very, very, excruciating slow, so you better be able to judge focus by eyeballing the distance!
- You need a lightmeter, but you can take general readings a couple times and fine tune exposure by eye when you move to a differently lighted area.
- It doesn't have the most comfortable and secure grip, but only if I run with it chased by some mean spirited people, I would be concerned.
- It cannot go unnoticed: the retro style of a large unfamiliar design attracts the eyes of people and most often you don't want that. But it can draw interest and sympathy.

hmmm... what else...
Oh, yes, amazing quality of photographs and usually worth the trouble!

 

[2F/2F]

It depends on what you mean by "street".

 

[2F/2F]

Another advantage to the Rollei, or any TLR - you can point the camera to your left (or right) where the subject is (you face straight ahead) and most people will not put it together that you are shooting to your left (or right). (It helps to look up from the finder back and forth, looking straight ahead, as if shooting straight ahead). Takes a bit of getting use to, but it helps keep people from realizing that they are being photographed.

Any camera with waist level viewing as an option can do this, not just TLRs. This includes my Canon F-1s and Nikon F, RZ, M645, etc.

FWIW, in some of my favorite street pix there is eye contact either being held or just being made. "Street" does not necessarily have to equate with "candid", which is why I made my above post.

 

[k_jupiter]

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.

Second choice would be a Fuji GS645. Nice camera if you can afford one.

I have most choices above. I like the c220 with a 65mm lens, I like the rb67 with 50mm. I like the 2x3 speed graphic idea too. Not fast, but a lot of fun. My 3x4 Grapflex rb with a roll film back on it is a great camera. Fast, well balanced, but people do look, yes they do.

Lots of choices and none of them are wrong.

tim in san jose

 

[raphaelaaron]

no one suggested it yet, but i would go with a kowa 66.

 

[mudman]

I like using my rollei. It's done well for me so far.