xya
Member
120folder.com, it's me. yes, quality and sharpness ARE pretty subjective. and then there is the fact that these cameras are 60-70 years old, maybe more. the may have suffered or not.Alright, I know this is an annoying question, and I know sharpness isn't everything...but let's say it was. I've been getting started with MF using a Minolta Autocord, which I love in many ways, but a) waist-level shooting is still weird, especially having to adjust my level in reverse, and b) it's too bulky for my camera bag.
I've been scouring certo6.com and 120folder.com, but any mention of lens quality on them is pretty subjective. I've also spent a bunch of time on Flickr, but I find that the sheer number of models and lenses, coupled with bad scanning, makes it a pretty daunting task.
So hopefully you can all offer me some opinions! My criteria would be: 6x6 or preferably 6x9, under $500 (not set in stone), and with the sharpest possible lens, with corners that don't look obviously soft at small sizes. Coupled rangefinder is a plus, but not necessary.
Thanks in advance!
concerning the sharpness: the makina 67 DID impress me a lot, no doubt, but it's pretty heavy. I recently made a comparison between an agfa record III solinar, a bessa rf heliar and a moskva 5, all very fine, but not impressing to me.
6x6: all of my 3 mamiya 6 were fine, but did not impress me at all. impressing were: super ikonta III and IV (except light meter, I tried 5 different cameras, all meters failed), a balda super baldax, a certo 6 (except rangefinder and shutter), an iskra and some of my certo super sport dollies.
also impressing were the 6x4.5 konica pearl III and IV and the fuji GA's, which are no folders, but pretty small.
there is an iskra2 with working meter in the mail, fully serviced, from russia. we will see in a few weeks.
this is just my 2 cents, and it's just my humble opinion...