Most affordable 6x6 portable camera with multi coated lens?

[kingbuzzie]

What are some cameras on the lower cost end that have multi coated lens or exchangeable multi coated lens 6x6 that are on the portable size? I have a lca-120, I'm not sure how I feel about this camera though. It's tough to get the focus correct and it seems biased to fast film and wide open f-stops.

 

[grain elevator]

I can't think of any that fill all your criteria (depending on what your budget is exactly). But I suspect you overestimate the benefits of multi-coating compared to single-coating; if you even consider a Lomo, these marginal differences in image quality should be irrelevant to you. Anyway there are a lot of good, affordable TLRs out there, e.g. Minolta Autocords, Rolleicords and Yashicas all come with Tessars that don't benefit from multi-coating as much as lenses with more elements.

 

[GregY]

As suggested by grain elevator..... any number of twin lens reflex models.

 

[loccdor]

Super Fujica Six?

 

[ic-racer]

Horseman 970 with a 6x6cm back?

 

[Alexander6x6]

I can't think of any that fill all your criteria (depending on what your budget is exactly). But I suspect you overestimate the benefits of multi-coating compared to single-coating; if you even consider a Lomo, these marginal differences in image quality should be irrelevant to you. Anyway there are a lot of good, affordable TLRs out there, e.g. Minolta Autocords, Rolleicords and Yashicas all come with Tessars that don't benefit from multi-coating as much as lenses with more elements.

Multicoating is irrelevant for black-and-white photography but essential for color shots. Single-coated lenses may have a yellow tint in color shots.

 

[kingbuzzie]

Maybe that's my issue. I can stick to the LCA-120 & Fuji 645 for color I suppose.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Not sure about the multi-coating, but Bronica SQ cameras might be low priced enough for you? Might also look at 645 SLRs like the Mamiya and Pentax. Later Rolleiflexes, the FX and GX, have multi-coated lenses but the cost is high.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Multicoating is irrelevant for black-and-white photography but essential for color shots. Single-coated lenses may have a yellow tint in color shots.

Can you say more about this? I know many people who shoot single-coated lenses and color film and don't complain about this yellow tint. Is it a chromatic matter, processing, printing? Does digital processing allow for it to be overcome with a couple of clicks, and so people don't notice it as much? Thanks.

 

[Alexander6x6]

In my case the most affordable and reliable compact medium format camera with the multicoated lens is Fujifilm GW690 - a so called Texas Leica. Great colors, tack sharp.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Multicoating is irrelevant for black-and-white photography but essential for color shots. Single-coated lenses may have a yellow tint in color shots.

With the right lens design coating is irrelevant for photography. I used to harvest lenses from Folding Pocket Kodaks to try out on my 2x3 Graphics. I picked only Zeiss Kodak Anastigmats (all Tessars) and Zeiss Tessars. All shot beautifully on E-6 films. I have a couple of pre-WW I Zeiss Tessar. All very usable.

OP, if you want a pocketable 6x6 or 6x9 folder just look for one in good order, shutter especially, with a tessar type lens.

This is not to denigrate coating, single or multi-. It is invaluable for, e.g., zoom lenses where it reduces but doesn't always eliminate flare and improves transmission. I had a Beaulieu 4008ZM S8 camera with an Angenieux 8x8b lens. 8-64/1.9. Single coated. It t/stopped around t/3.3.

 

[Alexander6x6]

Can you say more about this? I know many people who shoot single-coated lenses and color film and don't complain about this yellow tint. Is it a chromatic matter, processing, printing? Does digital processing allow for it to be overcome with a couple of clicks, and so people don't notice it as much? Thanks.

It depends. The single-coated lenses were made since 1930s and were primarily used for B&W photography. My Iskra folded camera 6x6 produces good colors, whereas Moskva-5 6x9 is with the yellow tint. Once I had the Kilfitt Makro Kilar made in West Germany that also had yellow tint.
Sure it can be removed by digital processing.

 

[Alexander6x6]

With the right lens design coating is irrelevant for photography. I used to harvest lenses from Folding Pocket Kodaks to try out on my 2x3 Graphics. I picked only Zeiss Kodak Anastigmats (all Tessars) and Zeiss Tessars. All shot beautifully on E-6 films. I have a couple of pre-WW I Zeiss Tessar. All very usable.

OP, if you want a pocketable 6x6 or 6x9 folder just look for one in good order, shutter especially, with a tessar type lens.

This is not to denigrate coating, single or multi-. It is invaluable for, e.g., zoom lenses where it reduces but doesn't always eliminate flare and improves transmission. I had a Beaulieu 4008ZM S8 camera with an Angenieux 8x8b lens. 8-64/1.9. Single coated. It t/stopped around t/3.3.

The multicoating is the sign that the lens was made for color photography, that's all.
By the way, I have Zodiak-8 and Mir-26 that were fully multicoated by Hartblei after I have bought them, not just the front lens. It makes huge difference regarding flare. Both have no flare at all. The only very small green spot appear by Zodiak-8 if shot within the sun in the frame.

 

[Paul Howell]

What are some cameras on the lower cost end that have multi coated lens or exchangeable multi coated lens 6x6 that are on the portable size? I have a lca-120, I'm not sure how I feel about this camera though. It's tough to get the focus correct and it seems biased to fast film and wide open f-stops.

What is lower cost range for your budget, and how portable, is portable? I have a late model Yashica 124 that has a MC lens, I think the later Minotla TLR are also MC with great lens. As mentioned the Bronica SQ, then there is the Kowa 66 and Super 66, the Mamiya 220 and 330 TLRs, all can be hand held, lens are MC, are less expensive than a Mamiya 6, the late interchangable lens model not the 50s fixed lens version which I think was well signle coated or Hasselblad. I like my Yashica 124, but I had to flock the interior to cut down on interior reflection. For portablity and cost, as also mentioned the Fuji Super 6. the rangefinder model.

 

[loccdor]

compact

GW690

I've certainly never thought of it that way. Good camera though.

 

[kingbuzzie]

Super Fujica Six?

View attachment 404187

That is multicoated?!

 

[kingbuzzie]

MC Arsat 80mm for Kiev 60?

 

[Alexander6x6]

MC Arsat 80mm for Kiev 60?

Also known as Volna-3. But then this is not compact anymore. The camera itself is good though.

 

[Alan9940]

I shoot only B&W in my Zeiss Super Ikonta III, but I've always been happy with the results.

 

[GregY]

Voigtlander Perkeo ll, Color Skopar....

 

[Dan Fromm]

Voigtlander Perkeo ll, Color Skopar....

The lens is single coated, not that it matters. Mine is a joy to use BUT the lens is far from sharp. The late Charlie Barringer (co-author of the Zeiss Ikon Compendium) had one whose lens was also poor. Sharpness is much overrated.

 

[Dan Fromm]

It depends. The single-coated lenses were made since 1930s and were primarily used for B&W photography. My Iskra folded camera 6x6 produces good colors, whereas Moskva-5 6x9 is with the yellow tint. Once I had the Kilfitt Makro Kilar made in West Germany that also had yellow tint.
Sure it can be removed by digital processing.

Hmm. Coating came into general use after WW-II. Multi-coating came into general use in the late 1970s. Many people shot color successfully between the introduction of Kodachrome in 1935 and the arrival of multicoating. Come to think of it, Autochrome first came to market in 1907 and users liked the results they got.

Do you seriously believe that all these people were fools?

 

[GregY]

The lens is single coated, not that it matters. Mine is a joy to use BUT the lens is far from sharp. The late Charlie Barringer (co-author of the Zeiss Ikon Compendium) had one whose lens was also poor. Sharpness is much overrated.

Apparently the 'color' designation in Color Skopar referred to improved coating for the colour films of the 1950s...
As far as sharpness.....(not 2nd hand info)...my copy is soft at the corners wide open but i have absolutely no complaints about the stopped down sharpness.
(*upper image - iPhone photo of ....11x14" print.... no digital scanning or sharpening)
(*lower image wide open at minimum focus distance)

 

[Alexander6x6]

Hmm. Coating came into general use after WW-II. Multi-coating came into general use in the late 1970s. Many people shot color successfully between the introduction of Kodachrome in 1935 and the arrival of multicoating. Come to think of it, Autochrome first came to market in 1907 and users liked the results they got.

Do you seriously believe that all these people were fools?

This would be a long discussion, as you are already incorrect in your first two sentences.

 

[MattKing]

As far as I have ever understood, multi-coating improves a number of characteristics, but the fact that it appeared around the same time as the surge in colour film use is merely coincidental. Single coated and uncoated lenses usually work equally well - or poorly - with panchromatic black and white film and normal colour colour film. And any colour cast imparted by yellowing of the lens can probably be filtered out if your intention is to shoot slide film.
Newer cameras are more likely to have multi-coated lenses, so that relative "newness" may be a good reason for that criteria. Of course, that may affect one of the other specified criteria - affordability.
I'm fond of TLRs, and would recommend them. I don't know whether my 6x6 Baby Bessa is sporting a multi-coated lens, but I like it too.