Strangley drawn to MF

[brent8927]

I'm not sure if you're still in need of help, or if my answer has already been mentioned, but before deciding on a particular camera decide if you want to shoot 645, 6x6, 6x7 or 6x9. Personally I like the 6x6, but some people don't like the square.

If you do decide to try 6x6, I think a Bronica S2A is by far the best camera to start with; it's cheap (at least compared to a Hasselblad!), easy to find (on ebay at least) and just a great camera. You can usually buy a kit in nice shape on ebay for between $150 and $300, and the 50mm wide angle lens (roughly equivalent to a 28mm for 35mm) comes up often on ebay and usually sells for $100-$200. I think there's one for sale on APUG right now... it might be an S2 or a C; if you do think the Bronica is the way to go, try to get the S2A because it has stronger gears so it's a lot more reliable.

Anyway, the old Bronicas use Nikkor lenses; absolutely beautiful photographs, and personally, I think if you're going to shoot medium format, a 6x6 is the best way to go.

Another recommendation, if you decide not to go with a Bronica, is to get a camera with a waist level finder; in my opinion that's one of the things that make a medium format camera so enjoyable (it also isn't much fun to have to lift a heavy camera to eye-level over and over!)

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[m_liddell]

Def give medium format a go. Even if it isn't for you, you can sell everything again for what you bought it for if you go for second hand gear.

The jump in quality was the reason I bought my RB67 but I've found that it has other benefits too. Having the camera on the tripod with the groundglass to look at while composing makes me interpret what I see and an image better than squinting through a small viewfinder. I feel a waist level finder and nicer to work with too.

Don’t sell your 35mm stuff. With cameras it’s all about the right too for the job and my RB67 really isn’t the right tool for quick spontaneous shooting. I really really want a hassy H1 for that…. If only I had the £’s!

 

[eagleowl]

go for it!

Hi Dusty.
There's nothing strange about being drawn to medium format!
I've got a couple of Mamiya TLRs and 5 lenses,and I love using them-although I do still use my 35mm as well.
The larger neg gives a better resolution than 35mm-because a 645 neg is roughly 4 times the area of 35mm,smaller objects have much more definition.
Also,it requires less magnification to print an 8x10 from a 645 than 35mm,so grain is less noticeable.
And focusing a 35mm camera has to be ABSOLUTELY spot on-with 645(or in my case,6x6-Mamiya TLRs are square format)-you can be a LITTLE sloppier!
The only real disadvantage is the weight,but the results are worth it!

 

[Papa Tango]

"IMHO, that one should start with a system that you can at least change lenses. Having a fixed lens medium format is nice, but sometimes, you want to changes lenses and you can't do that with a TLR or something like that."

There is something to that. But if one is just making the jump to larger formats, it is worthwhile to consider the construction of a frame once again. We are all too wrapped up in different lenses and zooms and this that and the other we sometimes forget that the photograph is only as good as we visualize it. Once in a while you have to get up on something, or run back. If the thing doesnt appear quite "right", then what would make the shot more interesting with the perspective that is available?

I love gizmos and gadgets. I got them for 35, 6x6, 4x5, and God help me am collecting for when I take the 8x10 plunge. But any and all of them can take away from the simple task of thinking through a photo with bare resources. A new "old" TLR has reminded me of that, and I am finding that there are a lot more "keeper" shots in the 12 exposures than the 36 that travels along with it.