Picking MF SLR help

colemcdaniel · May 10, 2012

Bronica SQA is a great camera with great glass available. You said handling the RB wasn't satisfactory for you, and while the SQA is not as small as a 645 camera, it is still pretty wieldy. At least for me, as I've walked around with mine for hours. Certainly worth a look since you stated you liked square format. Plus it's pretty affordable as well.

andreios · May 11, 2012

Thank you folks for chiming in. Yes, it is true that I like square - but maybe because I haven't tried 6x4.5 yet While printing I often crop square negs to match my usual paper size (18x24cm) - and if my maths isn't completely useless the 6x4.5 format would match this very well... I think I'll really go for bronica or mamyia, with just a simple kit of lenses - something like 50, 75 and 150.. I fancy I could get this kit for the price of a decent 'blad body, and that makes a difference (since large part of the money I am willing to put into this hobby is too often eaten by large format film and stuff... )

lxdude · May 11, 2012

andreios said:
While printing I often crop square negs to match my usual paper size (18x24cm) - and if my maths isn't completely useless the 6x4.5 format would match this very well...

Yes- both are a 3:4 ratio.

Steve Smith · May 11, 2012

andreios · May 11, 2012

Your opininon Steve would be interesting, since you can compare the RB and ETRS (as I understand from you website)..

Mainecoonmaniac · May 11, 2012

Hassys are nice too

Sirius Glass said:
Look at the Hasselblads. Yes, they cost more, but that merely means that you have to wait longer between purchasing lenses. You will not regret it.

I got my RZ decades ago because I was a commercial shooter. If I had to do it differently, Hasselblads would be my next choice. I love my RZ, but the thing is way too heavy. Heavier with a prism. If you plan to shoot landscapes or travel with it, go with the Hasselblad.

andreios · May 11, 2012

Mainecoonmaniac said:
If you plan to shoot landscapes or travel with it, go with the Hasselblad.

Well, that's almost exactly what I intend to do.. Well.. Honestly, since this is just a hobby for me I am not sure I could justify just for myself spending that kind of money.. (I know I could if it were an 8x10 camera, but on medium format where there are so many options?) Anyway, you guys always made me reconsider everything, so I'll never say never..

Steve Smith · May 11, 2012

andreios said:
Your opininon Steve would be interesting, since you can compare the RB and ETRS (as I understand from you website)..

I have stated this before in another thread:

I bought the ETRS because it was the only medium format SLR I could afford at the time. A couple of years later I bought the RB67 - mainly because I had a 6x7 enlarger and wanted to use it to its full extent.

If at the time of buying the ETRS, I had a bit more money, I would have bought an SQ instead and would probably not have bothered with the RB67.

I like the ETRS but I think I would like the SQ more - mainly because I like hand holding with a grip and using a waist level finder. This limits the ETRS to horizontal format shots but is irrelevant for the SQ's square format and isn't an issue with the RB67 and its rotating back.

Whilst I like the RB67 and happily hand hold it and carry it for quite a few miles, it would not suit everyone and it's definitely a good idea to try one out first if possible.

If I understand correctly, you have tried one and didn't like it. See if you can find someone near to you with an ETRS and/or an SQ to look at.

Steve.

Mainecoonmaniac · May 11, 2012

Sirius Glass said:
I cannot say for sure with Mamiya, although I believe that they are designed to protect from double exposures unless overridden.

Hasselblad backs prevent double exposures.

Mamiya RZs have a lever on the side that has 2 positions. One is "R" which means to revolve the back from horizontal to vertical and vise versa and "M" for multiple. I think it the "M" lever just disengages the film advance drive to the film back.

NJS · May 12, 2012

the Bulb mode which is featured only on SQ-Ai drains batteries, so T mode is the only reasonable option. If you could live with the weight then RBs or RZs are your shot.

andreios · May 12, 2012

Is there any difference in handling between the RB and RZ? Last night I have developed the last few rolls from my RB before it was sold and was again overwhelmed with the look of the 6x7 negatives.. So maybe I will yet mend my plans for 6x4.5...

Steve, thank you for your opinion, maybe you are right and I really should look for an SQ .. Or a GS maybe?

Leigh B · May 12, 2012

Hasselblad (not that I'm prejudiced). Compact and easy to use. Huge assortment of accessories readily available.

Very simple, rugged, and reliable camera. Superb Zeiss optics. Plentiful and reasonably priced on the used market.

Can be serviced by experienced and well-equipped techs like David Odess if necessary (though usually not needed).

- Leigh

andreios · May 13, 2012

I almost wish you folks wouldn't go on about hasseblad..
However, these days I am more and more thinking the 6x7 route - maybe I could even try a Pentax which I avoided somehow, but I am now decided only to buy a camera that I can try first to hold in my hands..

Sirius Glass · May 13, 2012

andreios said:
I almost wish you folks wouldn't go on about hasseblad..
However, these days I am more and more thinking the 6x7 route - maybe I could even try a Pentax which I avoided somehow, but I am now decided only to buy a camera that I can try first to hold in my hands..

A wise move. When I sold cameras, I would tell the customer to choose a camera based on how it handled for themselves, not based on what a friend said. If a camera if too bulky for you, if you cannot reach the controls and buttons, or is too small in your hands, then find another camera.

lxdude · May 13, 2012

^There you go^

EKDobbs · May 13, 2012

andreios said:
Is there any difference in handling between the RB and RZ?

WhIle I don't own an RZ, I can tell you that in terms of size and basic functions, no. Same basic mirror/shutter windarm, same location for most of the functions. The only advantage will be the in-camera control of shutter speed and aperture, so if muddling with the rings on the lens is what bothered you, the RZ can help with that.

To be short, if you didn't like the overall feel of an RB, you probably wont enjoy an RZ. That's not to say you can't; I have dainty little-boy-hands, but I would rather handle the RB than any camera I've ever picked up.

MattKing · May 13, 2012

The RZ winds the film and cocks the shutter with the same, single lever motion. The RB requires you to operate both the shutter cocking lever and the seperate filw winding lever. So in that way, there is at least one difference.

lxdude · May 14, 2012

EKDobbs said:
I have dainty little-boy-hands,

I hope the hand in your avatar image isn't life-size!

andreios · May 14, 2012

MattKing said:
The RZ winds the film and cocks the shutter with the same, single lever motion. The RB requires you to operate both the shutter cocking lever and the seperate filw winding lever. So in that way, there is at least one difference.

Thank you for clearing this out - although the double winding wasn't a problem to me.. What bothered me more was the - I don't know if that would be the right name - awkward weight distribution when holding in hand and dragging the lens more to the front.. But then, the question is, whether there exists anything like a handholdable 6x7 SLR... (and maybe even 6x6 - someone told me that for a bit more serious work he ALWAYS uses tripod even with his hassleblad.. )

Maybe in the end I will refute this "dream" and go back to the mamiya and a tripod on my shoulder (but that would mean also a new tripod - my light wooden Berlebach is already too fragile for the mamiya and my large format tripod OTOH is too heavy to haul around for "only" a medium format camera). Or try to be content with a rangefinder only (some older fuji thing..)

Steve Smith · May 14, 2012

andreios said:
What bothered me more was the - I don't know if that would be the right name - awkward weight distribution when holding in hand and dragging the lens more to the front..

Were you using the left hand grip with it?

Steve.

andreios · May 14, 2012

Steve Smith said:
Were you using the left hand grip with it?

Steve.

No I wasn't. I am aware of such a thing but I always thought it to be on the wrong side somehow (though of course, where should it be, when there is the cocking lever on the right side..).

Leigh B · May 14, 2012

andreios said:
whether there exists anything like a handholdable 6x7 SLR... (and maybe even 6x6...

The Hasselblad is most definitely hand-holdable, and was quite commonly used that way for fashion and other rapidly-changing subjects.

However, I always use mine on a tripod for highest possible quality.

- Leigh

Steve Smith · May 14, 2012

andreios said:
No I wasn't. I am aware of such a thing.

My favourite method of using the RB67 is with a left hand grip and a waist level finder. It can be used hand held without the grip (I did it for about a year) but it's much better with one.

The grip fits the Mamiya 645 and the C220/C330 TLRs as well.

Steve.

andreios · May 14, 2012

The more I think of it and read here and there the more I think my criteria ridiculous.. Maybe it is really a little bit foolish to try to use a big SLR hand held and they are meant to be use on a tripod all the time.. Which would leave me with a choice of a Fuji GW/GSW or a GA camera..

MattKing · May 15, 2012

andreios said:
they are meant to be use on a tripod all the time

Not true at all - try one with the left hand grip.

I shot weddings for years with a C330 TLR and a pentaprism - fairly close to the RB67 in weight and size.

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