The concept of the Ultimate 6x6 Street Stealth Camera

[warden]

Just for grins I just asked ChatGPT for “the best medium format film camera for street shooting, especially protests” and here’s what it said:


When considering a medium format film camera for street photography, especially in dynamic and potentially intense environments like protests, it's important to focus on factors like size, weight, speed, and robustness. Here are some of the best medium format film cameras suitable for such settings:

1. Mamiya 7 / 7II:
   
   • Advantages: Compact for a medium format camera, rangefinder focusing, sharp lenses, and relatively lightweight.
   • Disadvantages: Limited lens options, rangefinder may be less intuitive for some photographers.
2. Fuji GW690III:
   
   • Advantages: Known as the "Texas Leica," it's robust, has excellent lenses, and is simpler to operate.
   • Disadvantages: Fixed lens, larger than 35mm cameras, but still manageable for medium format.
3. Bronica RF645:
   
   • Advantages: Rangefinder design, lightweight, ergonomic, and sharp lenses.
   • Disadvantages: Limited availability and lens selection.
4. Hasselblad 500CM / 501CM:
   
   • Advantages: Modular system, high-quality optics, and build quality.
   • Disadvantages: Heavier and more cumbersome for quick, spontaneous shots.
5. Pentax 67II:
   
   • Advantages: SLR-like handling, excellent optics, and versatile lens selection.
   • Disadvantages: Heavy and large, which can be cumbersome in fast-paced environments.
6. Yashica Mat-124G:
   
   • Advantages: Twin-lens reflex (TLR) design, relatively lightweight, and cost-effective.
   • Disadvantages: Fixed lens, slower to operate than rangefinders or SLRs.

Summary

• Best Overall: Mamiya 7 / 7II – Combines portability, high image quality, and ease of use, making it ideal for street photography.
• Runner-Up: Bronica RF645 – Similar advantages to the Mamiya 7 with a more compact rangefinder design.
• For SLR Lovers: Pentax 67II – Offers a more traditional SLR experience with medium format quality, though heavier.
• Budget Option: Yashica Mat-124G – A great entry-level medium format option that’s more affordable and lighter.

Key Considerations:

• Size and Weight: Portability is crucial for street photography, especially during protests where mobility is key.
• Operation Speed: Quick focusing and shooting capabilities are essential to capture fleeting moments.
• Build Quality: Robustness and durability to withstand potentially harsh environments.
• Lens Options: Flexibility in focal lengths can enhance creative possibilities.

Each of these cameras offers a balance of quality, portability, and usability, making them suitable choices for capturing the dynamic and unpredictable nature of street photography and protests.

 

[warden]

…and when I removed the medium format requirement and just asked for the best film camera:

When choosing a film camera for street photography, especially for documenting protests, there are a few key features to consider: reliability, discreetness, fast and accurate focusing, and good image quality. Here are some of the best options:


1. Leica M6

• Key Features: Compact, quiet shutter, excellent optics, manual focusing.
• Why It's Great: The Leica M6 is renowned for its build quality and discreet operation. The rangefinder design allows for precise manual focusing, and its size makes it less intimidating to subjects.

2. Nikon FM2

• Key Features: Robust build, fully mechanical, reliable.
• Why It's Great: The Nikon FM2 is a workhorse. It's durable and fully mechanical, meaning it will work without batteries for basic functions. Its reliability makes it a favorite among photojournalists.

3. Canon AE-1

• Key Features: Lightweight, affordable, good lens selection.
• Why It's Great: The Canon AE-1 is user-friendly and offers a great balance between automation and manual control. Its compact size and good selection of lenses make it versatile for street photography.

4. Contax T2

• Key Features: Compact, autofocus, high-quality Zeiss lens.
• Why It's Great: The Contax T2 is a high-end point-and-shoot that offers excellent image quality and is highly portable. Its autofocus is reliable, making it suitable for quick shots during protests.

5. Olympus OM-1

• Key Features: Compact, reliable, fully mechanical.
• Why It's Great: The Olympus OM-1 is known for its small size and durability. It's a fully mechanical camera that offers great performance in a compact package, ideal for the fast pace of street photography.

6. Ricoh GR1v

• Key Features: Compact, 28mm fixed lens, autofocus.
• Why It's Great: The Ricoh GR1v is highly praised for its sharp lens and portability. The 28mm focal length is perfect for wide-angle shots in crowded spaces like protests.

7. Yashica T4

• Key Features: Compact, autofocus, sharp lens.
• Why It's Great: The Yashica T4 is another excellent point-and-shoot with a cult following for its image quality and simplicity. It’s small enough to carry easily and quick to shoot with.

Tips for Street Photography at Protests

• Be Discreet: A quieter camera can help you blend into the background and capture candid moments.
• Quick Focusing: Cameras with fast, reliable focusing systems are crucial for capturing spontaneous events.
• Robustness: Ensure your camera can withstand the potential rough conditions of a protest.
• Wide Angle Lens: A wide-angle lens allows you to capture more of the scene and is useful in crowded environments.
• Know Your Rights: Be aware of the legalities of photographing in protest situations in your area.

These cameras offer a mix of reliability, discretion, and quality, making them excellent choices for street and protest photography.

 

[Pieter12]

So AI assumes you are going to photograph protests? Isn't that more in the realm of photojournalism?

 

[john_s]

The Ricoh GR1v will soon have a blank LCD screen, still usable but with great difficulty, and the Hasselblad is a bit noisy. Still, the AI did a reasonable job I think.

 

[warden]

So AI assumes you are going to photograph protests? Isn't that more in the realm of photojournalism

I’m not sure if you’re replying to me, but AI uses only what you tell it. I made up a request and quoted it in my first sentence.

 

[warden]

Still, the AI did a reasonable job I think.

I think so too. I re-ran the query for 35mm and Pentax K1000 entered the fray, also a good choice.

 

[Terrence Brennan]

…and when I removed the medium format requirement and just asked for the best film camera:

When choosing a film camera for street photography, especially for documenting protests, there are a few key features to consider: reliability, discreetness, fast and accurate focusing, and good image quality. Here are some of the best options:


1. Leica M6

• Key Features: Compact, quiet shutter, excellent optics, manual focusing.
• Why It's Great: The Leica M6 is renowned for its build quality and discreet operation. The rangefinder design allows for precise manual focusing, and its size makes it less intimidating to subjects.

2. Nikon FM2

• Key Features: Robust build, fully mechanical, reliable.
• Why It's Great: The Nikon FM2 is a workhorse. It's durable and fully mechanical, meaning it will work without batteries for basic functions. Its reliability makes it a favorite among photojournalists.

3. Canon AE-1

• Key Features: Lightweight, affordable, good lens selection.
• Why It's Great: The Canon AE-1 is user-friendly and offers a great balance between automation and manual control. Its compact size and good selection of lenses make it versatile for street photography.

4. Contax T2

• Key Features: Compact, autofocus, high-quality Zeiss lens.
• Why It's Great: The Contax T2 is a high-end point-and-shoot that offers excellent image quality and is highly portable. Its autofocus is reliable, making it suitable for quick shots during protests.

5. Olympus OM-1

• Key Features: Compact, reliable, fully mechanical.
• Why It's Great: The Olympus OM-1 is known for its small size and durability. It's a fully mechanical camera that offers great performance in a compact package, ideal for the fast pace of street photography.

6. Ricoh GR1v

• Key Features: Compact, 28mm fixed lens, autofocus.
• Why It's Great: The Ricoh GR1v is highly praised for its sharp lens and portability. The 28mm focal length is perfect for wide-angle shots in crowded spaces like protests.

7. Yashica T4

• Key Features: Compact, autofocus, sharp lens.
• Why It's Great: The Yashica T4 is another excellent point-and-shoot with a cult following for its image quality and simplicity. It’s small enough to carry easily and quick to shoot with.

Tips for Street Photography at Protests

• Be Discreet: A quieter camera can help you blend into the background and capture candid moments.
• Quick Focusing: Cameras with fast, reliable focusing systems are crucial for capturing spontaneous events.
• Robustness: Ensure your camera can withstand the potential rough conditions of a protest.
• Wide Angle Lens: A wide-angle lens allows you to capture more of the scene and is useful in crowded environments.
• Know Your Rights: Be aware of the legalities of photographing in protest situations in your area.

These cameras offer a mix of reliability, discretion, and quality, making them excellent choices for street and protest photography.

I’ve done protests with an old Rolleicord, often with a yellow filter, and a pocket full of high speed film (Kodak Tri-X Pan Professional, Ilford HP5 Plus, and Agfapan 400), a notebook and a pen, a roll of masking tape and and a Sharpie marker. I left my Lunasix meter at home and “winged it.”

Poorly exposed film? Sometimes… but that depends on your definition of “poorly exposed.” Better over than under, I always say!

 

[Pioneer]

I really believe that most handheld cameras can work if the photographer is skilled and is used to working with it. I love what Vivian Maier did with her Rollei and her work certainly fits into street photography. I have just never considered stealth to be a primary criteria for good photography of any type. Being efficient and competent with your chosen camera has always seemed to be more important. Knowing what you want and then working calmly and quickly to get your photo seems far more important. Every time I read someone talking about stealth when it comes to photography the very first thing that pops into my mind is the old Spy vs Spy cartoons from MAD Magazine and I imagine people peering around corners and acting odd. A perfect guarantee of attracting attention. I can't imagine Howard Cartier Bresson or any of the good street photographers acting that way at any time.

If you want to photograph street with a TLR then go for it. Get out and shoot a roll, critique how it worked and practice to improve yourself. Just like anything else, practice getting really good. Some of my best photography happened when I imagined what I wanted and then went, found a spot that looked likely and searched out what I wanted. Sometime just sitting on a park bench on a Sunday afternoon has worked as good as anything and the camera I was carrying had very little to do with it. But acting like I belonged right where I was had everything to do with it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Just for grins I just asked ChatGPT for “the best medium format film camera for street shooting, especially protests” and here’s what it said:


When considering a medium format film camera for street photography, especially in dynamic and potentially intense environments like protests, it's important to focus on factors like size, weight, speed, and robustness. Here are some of the best medium format film cameras suitable for such settings:

1. Mamiya 7 / 7II:
   
   • Advantages: Compact for a medium format camera, rangefinder focusing, sharp lenses, and relatively lightweight.
   • Disadvantages: Limited lens options, rangefinder may be less intuitive for some photographers.
2. Fuji GW690III:
   
   • Advantages: Known as the "Texas Leica," it's robust, has excellent lenses, and is simpler to operate.
   • Disadvantages: Fixed lens, larger than 35mm cameras, but still manageable for medium format.
3. Bronica RF645:
   
   • Advantages: Rangefinder design, lightweight, ergonomic, and sharp lenses.
   • Disadvantages: Limited availability and lens selection.
4. Hasselblad 500CM / 501CM:
   
   • Advantages: Modular system, high-quality optics, and build quality.
   • Disadvantages: Heavier and more cumbersome for quick, spontaneous shots.
5. Pentax 67II:
   
   • Advantages: SLR-like handling, excellent optics, and versatile lens selection.
   • Disadvantages: Heavy and large, which can be cumbersome in fast-paced environments.
6. Yashica Mat-124G:
   
   • Advantages: Twin-lens reflex (TLR) design, relatively lightweight, and cost-effective.
   • Disadvantages: Fixed lens, slower to operate than rangefinders or SLRs.

Summary

• Best Overall: Mamiya 7 / 7II – Combines portability, high image quality, and ease of use, making it ideal for street photography.
• Runner-Up: Bronica RF645 – Similar advantages to the Mamiya 7 with a more compact rangefinder design.
• For SLR Lovers: Pentax 67II – Offers a more traditional SLR experience with medium format quality, though heavier.
• Budget Option: Yashica Mat-124G – A great entry-level medium format option that’s more affordable and lighter.

Key Considerations:

• Size and Weight: Portability is crucial for street photography, especially during protests where mobility is key.
• Operation Speed: Quick focusing and shooting capabilities are essential to capture fleeting moments.
• Build Quality: Robustness and durability to withstand potentially harsh environments.
• Lens Options: Flexibility in focal lengths can enhance creative possibilities.

Each of these cameras offers a balance of quality, portability, and usability, making them suitable choices for capturing the dynamic and unpredictable nature of street photography and protests.

I have used the Mamiya C300f and Hasselblads. No one paid attention to me.

 

[indy_kid]

The 124G is over-rated, but a TLR is probably more stealth than a rangefinder.

I prefer the Mamiya C series because of the choice in lenses. Use s 135mm, 180mm, or 250mm for telephoto work, and the WLF makes it easier to compose the shot.

 

[RezaLoghme]

The 124G is over-rated

That's a new one. How so?
I thought, at least when reading the many reviews and comments in a forum like this one, it is almost as good as a Rolleiflex, but for a fraction of their price?!

 

[guangong]

Over the years I have used every kind of camera except for view and press cameras…35 mm rangefinders, Nikons and Leicaflexes, Minox, and Rolleiflex For discreet photography, in one dicey situation I used a Leica w 28mm lens and long cable release running down sleeve. As for the possibility of being attacked, in late 1960s ot early 1970s, a time of violent attacks in Central Park, NYC, a robbery attempt was made to take a friend‘s camera. Lifting camera strap from his neck and holding by its end, he replied, “Here’s my camera.”, swung camera, cold conking thief with his Leicaflex. He said camera was ok. We suggested he tell Leitz of his experience, but fearing legal problems, he revealed his experience to only a few close friends.
Any camera can be used for street photography. Much depends on what is photographed. On the street I photograph mostly architectural details which are fast disappearing, being replaced by modern glass structures. Even door knobs were once crafted. Most of my people shots are in bars, coffee shops, etc. However, if one really desires invisibility, the best choice is a TLR.

 

[ant!]

That's a new one. How so?
I thought, at least when reading the many reviews and comments in a forum like this one, it is almost as good as a Rolleiflex, but for a fraction of their price?!

That can be said about most TLRs when in good condition, be it Rollei (-cord), yashica, Minolta, Ricoh, Zeiss, Flexaret, Mamiya,...
The 124g increased in price as well. Sure, it has a coupled meter, my Minolta autocord an uncoupled selenium one which still works, but an external meter is not really much slower then match-needle.

 

[Paul Howell]

That's a new one. How so?
I thought, at least when reading the many reviews and comments in a forum like this one, it is almost as good as a Rolleiflex, but for a fraction of their price?!

I have a 124G bought in the early 70s, it is a pretty good camera, the lens if fine, bright enough, but prone to flare, I bought a flocking kit on line which helps. But, if you really want a TLR for street work, I would consider a Mamiya 220. You get a choice or lens, maybe a 65 wide or 120 short tele? The taking lens is a 2.8 and very sharp and not much distortion wide open, the additional 1/2 stop is useful in low light. Do do need to buy the metered eye level finder. If you get a 124 make sure the meter is accurate, buy a lens shade and flocking kit.

 

[MFstooges]

When you google "best medium format for street photography" the first result is a reddit thread that advise Yashica 124G. There is where the hyped up search engine called "AI" gets its idea.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Ok, here we go. In a moment of great and unparalleled inspiration, I found the Rolleiflex SLR to be the #1 and only 6x6 WLF street cam:

1. Blacked out without bling
2. Motor driven and auto-exposure
3. Cheaper than Hasselblad and easily available, if body breaks it can replaced by another one, not a rare precious cherished collectors item - in fact nobody really wants them
4. Not a Leica, minimizes theft
5. Film backs can be pre loaded
6. Many accessories available

Any other MF WLF camera that beats the SLX on these parameters?

 

[xya]

If discretion is the aim, I would go for small and quiet. My ordinary street camera is an Olympus XA, but that's 135 film. Nobody will notice it, it's black and extremely small. There are a few 135 cameras with a waist level finder, like the Yashica AW mini, for me it's more a gadget. If it's more a quick point and shoot job, I take a Konica Lexio 70.

My 120 film street cameras are 6x4.5 because of their size. A Pearl III, as small as a 135 film camera, and a Fuji GA645Wi for point and shoot. It rarely fails.

 

[RezaLoghme]

If discretion is the aim, I would go for small and quiet. My ordinary street camera is an Olympus XA, but that's 135 film. Nobody will notice it, it's black and extremely small. There are a few 135 cameras with a waist level finder, like the Yashica AW mini, for me it's more a gadget. If it's more a quick point and shoot job, I take a Konica Lexio 70.

My 120 film street cameras are 6x4.5 because of their size. A Pearl III, as small as a 135 film camera, and a Fuji GA645Wi for point and shoot. It rarely fails.

Its about MF stealth.

 

[Paul Howell]

Bronica,

Bronica EC - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

camera-wiki.org

Bronica SQ - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

camera-wiki.org

 

[ant!]

Its about MF stealth.

He mentions 645. And the Konica Pearl III and IV are indeed very small, the IV just crazy expensive. The Fuji aren't cheap neither, and some show electronic problems and stuff. But yes, these are probably the smallest medium format, you can get, old folders or Fuji rangefinder/AF 645...

 

[Maris]

My choice for "discrete street" is my Lubitel 166 TLR loaded with Ilford Delta 3200 film. I set the shutter speed to 1/250 second and the aperture to f22. Focussing is by scale and at f22 a small error is swallowed by the depth of field. Framing is just a quick glance at the focussing screen with the camera at waist level. The camera looks unthreatening, a bit like a toy, but the pictures are sharp.

 

[xya]

Its about MF stealth.

@ant! said it already, I proposed two MF cameras that are good, easy and discrete street cameras. I read the thread again. It seems a bit as if you only wanted a confirmation of your choice and no advice...

 

[warden]

. If you get a 124 make sure the meter is accurate, buy a lens shade and flocking kit.

100%. The shade and flocking transformed the performance of mine.

 

[Pieter12]

Quit hemming and hawing and go shoot.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Quit hemming and hawing and go shoot.

Summertime, and the fishing is easy....