Hi, I'm new here. After some experience with 35mm analog photography many years ago, and a more recent dalliance with DSLRs, I've decided to return to analog, but with medium format. I'm predominanty a landscape / cityscape photographer, and prefer wide angles - almost all my "serious" photography, excluding portraiture, is done use focal lengths in the 15-35mm range (135 equivalent). It makes sense to me to choose a system based largely on the quality of the wide-angle lens/es.
The most common use of these lenses, for me, will be tripod mounted, with mirror lock-up and remote or timed release, at apertures f/11 to f/22, and with focus anything from a few yards away to the hyperfocal distance. In terms of lens characteristics, I'm looking for edge-to edge sharpness and good contrast with not too much vignetting under these conditions (but wide open performance, although nice, is less critical). Colour correction is not important as I will be shooting B&W only, typically with some colour filtration. I've acquired an Opimus 5a enlarger, which goes to a max size of 6 x 6, so I'm looking for the second-best 30-45mm wide angle lens for the 645 or 6x6 formats.
(Tilt would be excellent but the only one I'm aware of is the Schneider 55mm PCS lens for the Bronica E series which I don't think I could afford. I know of Mamiya's 50mm shift lens, but not sure that shift without tilt is of great interest to me as I don't do much architectural photography.)
Why second-best? Well I've done a fair amount of research into the Hasselblad V / Mamiya 645 / Bronica E and PS systems and think it likely that the Zeiss/Hasselblad 40/4 CF T* FLE may be the best available, but I have limited funds and there's no way I can afford it (the pre-FLE Hassy 40/4 may be an option though). My budget is US$ 500-1000 for a camera, viewfinder, back etc and wide angle lens all in good (but not mint) condition. Other lenses can come later. Good condition is important because it will be very difficult to get an MF camera properly serviced in South Africa, and sending it back to the US/Europe for repair or replacement would be prohibitively expensive.
Thanks for your help!
The most common use of these lenses, for me, will be tripod mounted, with mirror lock-up and remote or timed release, at apertures f/11 to f/22, and with focus anything from a few yards away to the hyperfocal distance. In terms of lens characteristics, I'm looking for edge-to edge sharpness and good contrast with not too much vignetting under these conditions (but wide open performance, although nice, is less critical). Colour correction is not important as I will be shooting B&W only, typically with some colour filtration. I've acquired an Opimus 5a enlarger, which goes to a max size of 6 x 6, so I'm looking for the second-best 30-45mm wide angle lens for the 645 or 6x6 formats.
(Tilt would be excellent but the only one I'm aware of is the Schneider 55mm PCS lens for the Bronica E series which I don't think I could afford. I know of Mamiya's 50mm shift lens, but not sure that shift without tilt is of great interest to me as I don't do much architectural photography.)
Why second-best? Well I've done a fair amount of research into the Hasselblad V / Mamiya 645 / Bronica E and PS systems and think it likely that the Zeiss/Hasselblad 40/4 CF T* FLE may be the best available, but I have limited funds and there's no way I can afford it (the pre-FLE Hassy 40/4 may be an option though). My budget is US$ 500-1000 for a camera, viewfinder, back etc and wide angle lens all in good (but not mint) condition. Other lenses can come later. Good condition is important because it will be very difficult to get an MF camera properly serviced in South Africa, and sending it back to the US/Europe for repair or replacement would be prohibitively expensive.
Thanks for your help!
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