Smallest Medium Format Rig

BenD · Jan 15, 2024

Hello Everyone,

I have recently invested in a Konica Pearl iii 645 folder, and fitted it with a small shoe meter and a push-on hood. I now have the smallest medium format setup I have ever used. A Perfect street shooter.

Any one else with a similar portable setup?

Dan Daniel · Jan 15, 2024

I've used a Voigtlander Baby Bessa 6x4.5 a lot over the years. I think that it is a bit longer than the Pearl but thinner? And no rangefinder. As someone who usually uses a TLR or larger camera, it's great fun to have a camera that slides into a pocket.

BenD · Jan 15, 2024

Hi Dan, I’ve had a few folders in the past but for me the RF makes all the difference as my guesswork is sometimes off. The Pearl’s RF is tiny but it works well and the whole kit is pocketable. My other MF camera is a Mamiya C2, which was a bit of a workout around town.

Dan Daniel · Jan 15, 2024

I've held the Pearls a few time and really liked them. Including the rangefinder. I do miss with scale focusing at times. If I went back to a 6x4.5 folder, the Pearl III is where I would probably end up.

How do you like the lens on it?

gordonrgw · Jan 15, 2024

Timely post: I've just received a Zeiss 515 - another 645 camera but not a rangefinder, pairing it with a gossen sixtino. I intend to have a go street shooting with it once I give the lens a clean..

Sirius Glass · Jan 15, 2024

Circa 1930's Certo Super Dolly with a very sharp Zeiss lens that could be used for 6x6 or 645. It did not have a range finder so one has to estimate the range.

guangong · Jan 15, 2024

Not familiar with the Pearl, but my Zeiss Super Ikonta A, with fold away rangefinder, makes a very compact package. With Zeiss coated Tessar lens. For me, fixing meter to camera would just get in the way, but that's just me. The OP's setup is rather neat.

Chrismat · Jan 15, 2024

My smallest medium format is a 645 Kodak Duo 620, although it's actually a bit larger than the Voigtlander Perkeo 6X6 folder I used to own.

Oldwino · Jan 15, 2024

It's either my Isolette III or my Plaubel RollOp. The RollOp is a big bulkier than the Agfa, but it has a coupled rangefinder vs the uncoupled one on the Isolette III. Overall, the Agfa is easier to use and has the bigger negative.

MattKing · Jan 15, 2024

My 6x6 Baby Bessa is both small and particularly suited to those of us who are left handed .
It is, however, scale focusing.

GregY · Jan 15, 2024

I love my Perkeo ii. I carry the aux rangefinder, but mostly shoot landscape where zone focusing works like a charm

rcphoto · Jan 15, 2024

After getting some recommendations I picked up a Nettar for my daily carry and i love it. One of the best photography purchases I've ever made.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 15, 2024

Chrismat said:
My smallest medium format is a 645 Kodak Duo 620, although it's actually a bit larger than the Voigtlander Perkeo 6X6 folder I used to own.

to me ,my Mamiya6MF is rather small compared to the Hasselblad!

BAC1967 · Jan 15, 2024

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530, 6X4.5 rangefinder. Smaller than most of my 35mm cameras.

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530 by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

mshchem · Jan 15, 2024

BenD said:
Hello Everyone,

I have recently invested in a Konica Pearl iii 645 folder, and fitted it with a small shoe meter and a push-on hood. I now have the smallest medium format setup I have ever used. A Perfect street shooter.

Any one else with a similar portable setup?

View attachment 360013

Nice outfit!

DWThomas · Jan 15, 2024

Looks like a cool set of gear, have fun with it. That picture from @GregY looks almost exactly like my compact rig (even the meter), except I have an iPhone 13 Pro which has 3 lenses on the back! So far I do pretty well with scale focus and estimating distance although I do own a couple of shoe mount rangefinders which I never use.

You can find a number of pictures in my gallery here taken with my Perkeo II; there's also a bunch on PBase.

supertester · Jan 16, 2024

DWThomas said:
Looks like a cool set of gear, have fun with it. That picture from @GregY looks almost exactly like my compact rig (even the meter), except I have an iPhone 13 Pro which has 3 lenses on the back! So far I do pretty well with scale focus and estimating distance although I do own a couple of shoe mount rangefinders which I never use.

You can find a number of pictures in my gallery here taken with my Perkeo II; there's also a bunch on PBase.

View attachment 360024

Would be awesome if there was a digital back with a large high resolution sensor for these Perkeo IIs.

xya · Jan 16, 2024

I have the same set except the shade. I don't use shades very often and if yes, I use rubber ones that are foldable. The Pearl III is amazing.

Pioneer · Jan 16, 2024

An Agfa Jsolette with a Solinar 85/4.5. I use a similar Bessa shoe mount meter and a Svema rangefinder. I love it. It shoots 4x5 or 6x6.

GregY · Jan 16, 2024

supertester said:
Would be awesome if there was a digital back with a large high resolution sensor for these Perkeo IIs.

eli griggs · Jan 16, 2024

BenD said:
Hi Dan, I’ve had a few folders in the past but for me the RF makes all the difference as my guesswork is sometimes off. The Pearl’s RF is tiny but it works well and the whole kit is pocketable. My other MF camera is a Mamiya C2, which was a bit of a workout around town.

A pocket rangefinder, not referring to modern lasers, mounted to the cold/hot shoe might be quicker, though some I've seen on line have small viewing windows.

Maybe a laser, would be better?

BenD · Jan 16, 2024

Dan Daniel said:
I've held the Pearls a few time and really liked them. Including the rangefinder. I do miss with scale focusing at times. If I went back to a 6x4.5 folder, the Pearl III is where I would probably end up.

How do you like the lens on it?

Hi Dan, I’ll have to get back to you on the lens quality as my developing tanks are in storage. I’ll let you know after the weekend.

BenD · Jan 16, 2024

BAC1967 said:
Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530, 6X4.5 rangefinder. Smaller than most of my 35mm cameras.

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530 by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Your Super Ikonta is a thing of beauty. I have a Moskva 5 which copied the natty rf design with the rotating wedge. Sadly the shutter kicks like a mule.

BenD · Jan 16, 2024

DWThomas said:
Looks like a cool set of gear, have fun with it. That picture from @GregY looks almost exactly like my compact rig (even the meter), except I have an iPhone 13 Pro which has 3 lenses on the back! So far I do pretty well with scale focus and estimating distance although I do own a couple of shoe mount rangefinders which I never use.

You can find a number of pictures in my gallery here taken with my Perkeo II; there's also a bunch on PBase.

View attachment 360024

You have some nice shots from the Pereko ii. Is it that smallest MF folder there is?

DWThomas · Jan 16, 2024

BenD said:
You have some nice shots from the Pereko ii. Is it that smallest MF folder there is?

Thanks!
It's a 6x6, I don't know that it is the absolute smallest, but the camera, equipped with the Color Skopar lens, had a good reputation when I was looking. There might be others that are close -- there are only so many ways to configure a 6x6 film gate and two 120 spools along with a winding mechanism, so differences are likely in the sub-centimeter range. It's from the early 1950s when cameras were still mostly metal and glass, so it is a little more substantial weight-wise than today's polycarbonate and whatever stuff.

(I have an Ercona II (East German Zeiss Ikonta) 6x9 that is definitely bigger, heavier, and eats film faster. )

Smallest Medium Format Rig

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