New to MF - help with gear

JRJacobs · May 13, 2009

Relax Doug, I am on your side. (Please note my comment about being impressed at the steadiness of your hands - i am truly impressed!)
And, you are absolutely correct that a TLR can be handheld at slower speeds.

My point was in a more general kind of way that it would probably be better to use faster film if the light is that poor. For example, you may be able to handhold at 1/8th of a second, but you cannot guarantee that your subject matter (unless it is still life) will be stock still for a full 1/8th of a second also. Also, it can be risky to assume one can always get a sharp shot at 1/8th a second - even with steady hands it will not always work out (as you pointed out in your percentages) - so it is a risk.

My point is that instead of worrying about "can I handhold "X" camera at 1/8th scond", simply plan on using the correct speed of film for the type of light available.

One of the nicest things about my Hasselblad is that it has changable backs. So if I am shooting with 100 speed film and all of the sudden I am getting low light readings requiring 1/8th of a second, I can simply switch to my other back with TXP (which I rate at iso800). Then I do not have to worry about if I can handhold at 1/8th of a second. With a TLR, you are stuck with the same film speed until you finish your roll.

dougjgreen · May 13, 2009

Q.G. said:
Well, yes.
There always is a spread. No two people are the same. Nothing is clear cut. "Your mileage may vary", and all that.

How does that jive with your prior comment that it categorically "cannot be true"?

Q.G. said:
That's lore. A tale that does the rounds.

But it cannot be true, simply because the effect on the image of a flapping mirror is magnitudes smaller than that of your rock steady hands.

And it indeed isn't true,

Incidentally, JRJacobs, I was not bent out of shape over your post, I was bent out of shape over O.G's, which basically called me a liar or a spinner of fiction.

Jeff Kubach · May 13, 2009

I have Rolleiflex TLR and a Mamiya RB67 and I can't decide which I like better. I'm more worried about a woman slapping me because of my bad jokes than mirror slap!

Jeff

dougjgreen · May 13, 2009

Jeff Kubach said:
I have Rolleiflex TLR and a Mamiya RB67 and I can't decide which I like better. I'm more worried about a woman slapping me because of my bad jokes than mirror slap!

Jeff

There is no need to decide, if you have both. There are different tasks that each one does better than the other. You might as well use the one that best suits each particular job.

nyoung · May 13, 2009

Why would you choose a Twin over a Single Lens Reflex?

Bottom line - If you are coming into MF from 35mm or D*** SLR you will want interchangeable lenses. As cheaply as RB67 and various 645 gear is going these days you might as well get what you are going to end up with.

Personally, I regret the time I wasted trying to convince myself that the TLRs were enough. For what I spent on Yashica Mats, C220/330s and even a Seagull, I could have had my current RB setup years ago.

dougjgreen · May 13, 2009

nyoung said:
Why would you choose a Twin over a Single Lens Reflex?

Portability, convenience and ease of use, and ability to shoot candid street scenes unobtrusively, while keeping the subjects at ease. You can't do that with an RB67. I have both. The stuff described in the first sentence tells you when I would choose the TLR - And a fully working Yashica Mat 124 is a great tool for street candids.

Q.G. · May 13, 2009

dougjgreen said:
How does that jive with your prior comment that it categorically "cannot be true"?

In thinking that it doesn't, you're assuming that the reason why you get a percentage of good results is because TLRs do not have a moving mirror.
I don't.

Q.G. · May 13, 2009

dougjgreen said:
Portability, convenience and ease of use, and ability to shoot candid street scenes unobtrusively, while keeping the subjects at ease. You can't do that with an RB67.

Even though that will bend you out of shape: you can.

You can even better with smaller SLRs.
None of the things you mention are particular to TLRs.

JRJacobs · May 13, 2009

I own both and agree - if you have both, use them for different tasks.

I love shooting my TLR when I want a casual approach, not worrying about what lenses to bring, etc. They are easy to carry and fun to use - and can provide very pleasing photographs.

If you have to choose one, choose a TLR for it's simplicity -
If you need the most versatility, then the SLR is the way to go.

dougjgreen · May 13, 2009

Q.G. said:
Even though that will bend you out of shape: you can.

You can even better with smaller SLRs.
None of the things you mention are particular to TLRs.

Sorry but you can only shoot candids unobtrusively with an RB67 if the subjects are blind and deaf, or extremely far away. And I agree, those attributes are not particular to TLRs. A small 35mm rangefinder could do it as well. What they are NOT, is the purview of any focal plane shutter Medium Format SLR. And I did not say that it was the mirror action exclusively that is responsible, despite your attempt to put those words in my post that were not there. It is also the quite loud sound of every medium format focal plane shutter that exists, and also the sheer size of an RB67 rig (admittedly, this is less specifically an issue with a 'Blad, or any 645 SLR).

dougjgreen · May 13, 2009

Q.G. said:
In thinking that it doesn't, you're assuming that the reason why you get a percentage of good results is because TLRs do not have a moving mirror.
I don't.

Actually, I most certainly never said that. The mirror is only one of several physical issues that ALL combine to cause this, and the mirror action itself might be the least significant among those reasons. Other reasons may simply be the physical shape of a TLR, being vertically oriented (and thus less prone to physically move in opposition to the film plane, which is also vertical), and the difference in inertial mass and the direction and magnitude of the force vector caused by the shutter trip of a very large focal plane shutter, compared to a small radial leaf shutter. There are plenty of reasons that TLRs are less prone to shake than a horizontally oriented focal plane shutter SLR, and if you understood basic physics, you would realize this.

JRJacobs · May 13, 2009

OK guys, lets cut it out and get back on track. Take it offline if you have beef with each other. Let's keep the forums civil.

THANKS!

ArnaldoIlagan · May 14, 2009

Q. What's the best way to learn MF Photography?
A. Get a camera and start shooting.

Yes, I finally got myself a camera . I got one (still waiting to be delivered) from ebay. A Yashica D, which according to my research is a good/decent camera for someone starting in this field. I paid $161 AUD for it incl postage and I believe it is a reasonable price for this camera.

Now, for those photographers based in Melbourne, Australia - where can I get some films?

Thanks everyone - I'm excited

Kevin Caulfield · May 14, 2009

For the biggest range, go to Vanbar in Cardigan Street, Carlton, or their North Melbourne store, in I think it's called Munster Terrace.

Arnaldo, we are having a Melbourne APUG get-together at Fed Square on Sat 23rd May at 11 am if you are interested. ??

ArnaldoIlagan · May 14, 2009

Kevin Caulfield said:
For the biggest range, go to Vanbar in Cardigan Street, Carlton, or their North Melbourne store, in I think it's called Munster Terrace.

Arnaldo, we are having a Melbourne APUG get-together at Fed Square on Sat 23rd May at 11 am if you are interested. ??

Thanks Kevin for the info and the invite. That Saturday will be busy for me - driving the kids to their weekend activities. Hopefully, next meeting

Sirius Glass · May 14, 2009

ArnaldoIlagan said:
Q. What's the best way to learn MF Photography?
A. Get a camera and start shooting.

Yes, I finally got myself a camera . I got one (still waiting to be delivered) from ebay. A Yashica D, which according to my research is a good/decent camera for someone starting in this field. I paid $161 AUD for it incl postage and I believe it is a reasonable price for this camera.

Now, for those photographers based in Melbourne, Australia - where can I get some films?

Thanks everyone - I'm excited

Congratulations!

Start pushing film through the camera. That is the best way to learn. The more you shoot the more you will learn.

You will develop [pun intended] your own style and tastes. You will decide whether you like TLR or SLR or both. There is nothing like hands on experience, you can only learn so much by reading.

Enjoy you new camera.

Steve

New to MF - help with gear

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency