Still debating on my final medium format camera. Need advice.

[brian steinberger]

I don't mean to be so negative but this ever-repeated idea of manual focus lenses just "snapping" into focus is such a myth. If you are really critical about focus, no manual focusing will ever match autofocus for speed.

For me it has to do with focus throw. Hasselblad lenses have a long focus throw and many of my Hasselblad lenses are rather stiff to turn quickly anyway. My Mamiya 645 lenses are the newer N lenses and the focus is smooth and fast. I think many would agree that if you can focus any lens on an SLR from close focus to infinity quickly you can see the image “pop” into focus easier as well. Works great on my Rolleicord as well.

 

[OAPOli]

Yes it is about focus throw. The Hasselblad 80mm has roughly twice the throw of the P67 90mm. If you have the time then you can really fine tune the focus with the Hasselblad but even then there is a margin of uncertainty where you are within the DOF. All good but it's fiddly. A shorter throw gives you more confidence but also means you can over/under shoot more easily.

@osullic if you can try one the early Bronica cameras with the integrated focus you would see how the subject quickly "snaps"! The focus travel is almost too fast on those.

 

[Craig]

I don't think any any medium format camera is suited to small children running around. As much as I hate to say it, a modern phone is probably the best tool for that.

Next choice would be the best AF 35mm SLR you can get, which in film is probably a Nikon F6.

 

[RezaLoghme]

How about taking photos of your kids when they are not fast moving?


Then your Rolleiflex is a perfect tool.

 

[RezaLoghme]

A Hasselblad is much slower to focus; the helicoid travel is slow so that the subject never "pops" quickly in focus. In addition, you need to raise the WLF (and loupe) upwards before starting to compose and focus. With the P67, you just raise the camera to your eye and the subject pops nicely in focus via the microprism.

Small kids running around is the hardest thing to focus on reliably. My AF subject-tracking Sony struggles with that.

I would like to second that, having owned a couple of Hasselblads. And even with an Acute-Matte screen, focussing via the WLF is a bit hit and miss.