Recommendations for getting into medium format?

DannL. · Aug 25, 2014

Alan Klein said:
Why do people like the RB over a Hasselblad?

I can't speak for the RB, as I specifically chose the RZ. I can imagine they are in the same general family, though. The selling point for me with that camera was definitely centered around close-focusing. A camera should be able to focus at a close range without the need for extension tubes, special lenses, or close-up lens sets. Akin to using a view camera.

Now that I think about it . . . All of my film/plate cameras have a bellows. That's interesting.

Nuff · Aug 26, 2014

Cameras are like women, some men like them curvy, others like them petite. The guys who likes curvy women will go for RB/RZ, I like them petite, so I chose hasselblad

Alan Gales · Aug 26, 2014

Nuff said:
Cameras are like women, some men like them curvy, others like them petite. The guys who likes curvy women will go for RB/RZ, I like them petite, so I chose hasselblad

Actually, I prefer my 8x10. Are you implying that I like obese women?

Nuff · Aug 26, 2014

Alan Gales said:
Actually, I prefer my 8x10. Are you implying that I like obese women?

Larger than life personality? I will not imply what it makes all the 35mm users I'm one of them too

Alan Gales · Aug 26, 2014

Yeah, I've got a 35mm Stereo Realist.

I also own a couple digital cameras. I'm scared to know what that means.

Alan Gales · Aug 26, 2014

MattKing said:
The rotating back.

So Matt, would you actually use a rotating back on a Hasselblad if it came with one?

Nuff · Aug 26, 2014

Alan Gales said:
So Matt, would you actually use a rotating back on a Hasselblad if it came with one?

The hasselblad comes with a unique auto-rotate feature built in

MattKing · Aug 26, 2014

Alan Gales said:
So Matt, would you actually use a rotating back on a Hasselblad if it came with one?

If it was a rotating 6x4.5 back, you bet!

Sirius Glass · Aug 26, 2014

MattKing said:
The rotating back.

Hasselblad is square so there is no need for a rotation back.

MattKing said:
In my case, the Hasselblad and I just don't work well, while the RB67 and I are just, well, comfortable.

If you are left-handed, you may feel the same way.

I am left handed and the Hasselblad works well for me.

mweintraub · Aug 26, 2014

Nuff said:
Cameras are like women, some men like them curvy, others like them petite. The guys who likes curvy women will go for RB/RZ, I like them petite, so I chose hasselblad

Nuff said. Literately.

time4d · Aug 27, 2014

Guys, control yourselves.....

Anyway, back to the topic, James I don't think you will regret picking up an RB/RZ. You really can't go wrong with it. It is a very fine image making machine and it loses little or nothing to the Hasselblad. It is a versatile system camera which will accommodate your improvements in medium format. You may find that you never ever have to upgrade. Additionally, you can use it as a weapon.........................

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 27, 2014

If I wanted to stick with Mamiya then my preference would be a RZ67 Pro II with tilt/shift adapter plus G-adapter to take RB 6x8 backs.

analoguey · Aug 27, 2014

Alan Klein said:
Why do people like the RB over a Hasselblad?

For shooting:
Bellows focusing.
Fits much better in my hands.
Also so far, I have only liked WLF with the RB, didnt like it on a Hassie, on Yashica TLRs.

And post shooting:

Larger Negative.

Robclarke · Aug 27, 2014

James-EG said:
I wouldn't say I'm unsure on format, I would prefer 6x7 over anything else I'm just not too bothered about 6x6 if I need to go down that route instead, and I might end up getting a TLR anyway, by all accounts they fun to use, small, light and take great images, so I see nothing wrong with them! Having one would always be useful if I wanted a small and light medium format camera to carry around for a day. I'll be looking through all the TLR suggestions I've been given.

If the better and newer Hasselblad lenses are that expensive I'm pretty sure that would far too much for me. And while there is always something nice about owning a product from a renowned and well recognised company like Hasselblad I'm much more interested in the images I get. If the Mamiya can take great images (especially with 6x7 format) I'd love to get one. Looking on eBay the Hasselblad systems always seem overpriced, I imagine due the continued demand for those cameras, and like some people said the brand, almost reminds me of Apple!

I recently found a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II system for sale for £400, is that the kind of price you'd expect for a system in good condition? Also, which version lenses should I be trying to get if I got the Mamiya? I'd like a standard, wide angle and short telephoto eventually, I'm just trying to get an idea of the overall cost of a basic setup with a couple of lenses.

Thanks again!

I bought a Mamiya RZ 67 Pro II and 110 2.8 in mint condition with boxes on eBay for 400. I thought that was a good deal at the time and I did some watch ebay for a while to see what deals were about.

James-EG · Aug 28, 2014

Once again thanks again for everyone's help, I really appreciate it! I'm pretty sure I'll be going for a Mamiya, it seems quite difficult to find one with a 110mm lens at the moment to I'm looking for systems with the 90mm lens too. I've found one on eBay in mint condition so I'll be watching that!

James-EG · Aug 30, 2014

I have one last question, what kind of price would a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II be expected to sell for? I'd rather get the 90mm f/3.5 lens as although it's slower I'd rather have a wider lens. My one doubt is whether or not I'll use it enough to justify the price, processing isn't as issue as I can get it all done at school for the next year. I'm looking at one in Mint condition, so say I needed to resell it at some point, how much would you expect me to get for it? Should I be able to make my money back on it?

markbarendt · Aug 30, 2014

James-EG said:
Should I be able to make my money back on it?

Short answer, no.

Long answer. It is possible to resell at the price you paid but it is a falling market and it will be even more "used" when you are done, so the likelyhood is low. You would have to get a really great deal indeed right now and be fairly patient when selling.

Check out eBay and set search to just show completed listings.

I don't know how it works in the UK but here in the USA students don't make back all the money they paid for textbooks at the start, when the sell them after the class is completed.

James-EG · Aug 30, 2014

Okay thanks for the reply, I should be able to get the camera I'm looking at for under £400 and according to the seller it's barely been used. (They bought it from a collector as a backup body). Would you say that's a good enough deal? I'd also be very unlikely to use the camera enough for it to get damaged, look or work any worse so the condition wouldn't really change in the time I own it

Alan Gales · Aug 30, 2014

My used RZ came with both waist level finder and metered prism finder. I got lucky and got a real good deal on mine off Ebay. When I later sold on Ebay I sold the prism finder separate. After Ebay fees I did a little better than breaking even, so it is possible. You will probably lose a little money when you sell it but of course you will get use out of the camera. How much money you lose may depend upon how long you keep it and of course the condition it is in when you sell.

Usually the best deals are the ones where you get a camera and extras. People want to sell their whole kits instead of parting everything out where they would get more money. If you get someone's kit and it has a lens you don't want you can always sell that particular lens. I once bought a camera with four lenses, a big Sunpak flash, and a Pelican case just because I wanted one expensive lens in the kit. After I did the work of parting everything out I ended up with the lens I wanted for free.

markbarendt · Aug 30, 2014

Check eBay's completed listings.

James-EG · Aug 30, 2014

Thanks for the advice, I'm not too worried about losing some money if I re-sell it at some point, especially if I get good use out of it, but making back most of what I paid would be nice, so it seems like it'll be fine. There aren't any kits on eBay at the moment unfortunately but the only other things I'd want to buy would be a spare film back, a 65mm lens, the L-grip and maybe a prism finder. And I'll only get those if I feel like I need them after using the camera for a bit.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the camera I was going to bid on reached £445 in the last 2 minutes, which is too expensive for me. I really would like to go down the 6x7 route, does anyone have any experience with the Bronica GS-1? I think it would be easier and cheaper to get one of these so I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the system.

markbarendt · Aug 30, 2014

Good ideas.

The 90 is a very versatile length and I much prefer the waist level finder on my RB, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't need a 65 or prism finder.

Alan Gales · Aug 30, 2014

markbarendt said:
Good ideas.

The 90 is a very versatile length and I much prefer the waist level finder on my RB, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't need a 65 or prism finder.

Both finders came with my camera and I much preferred the waist level finder also. I found the metered prism finder heavy and just made my RZ all that much heavier.

polyglot · Aug 30, 2014

You don't need "mint" because the cameras are designed for very heavy use. Even a beater (as long as it's not broken in some way) will make images as good as a "new" one and it will cost you a lot less. Don't buy mint, all you're doing is encouraging collectors.

GBP400 is a bit expensive. For reference, a body+back+WLF+lens should cost about USD500 in excellent condition, often well under $400 in ugly-but-functional state. Have a look at eBay items 171436893565, 131278600626, 311063956844 for a start; there are plenty to choose from.

Having a prism is handy for head-level portraits, i.e. avoiding taking up-nostril photos, but it is very very heavy. By all means have one, but make sure you have a WLF.

markbarendt · Aug 30, 2014

I agree PolyGlot.

The majority of the RB equipment I have was bought at bargain grade from KEH, the only time I bought better is when they had a truly smoking deal on a better grade piece.

No problems other than replacing light seals, which was expected.

Recommendations for getting into medium format?

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