Thinking about medium format SLRs

[Steve Smith]

I highly recommend you to get Hasselnica SQ or Broblad 500

I have all seven of those!


Steve.

 

[mbsmith]

The SQ-A with a speed grip and metered prism is an awesome rig.

If you want metering capabilities, keep in mind that the SQ-B body/backs do not support metering for the ME prism. I would go with SQ-A or SQ-Ai, as the price difference is barely noticable.

Good luck!

 

[paul ewins]

To those who have used some of the plausible candidates, I'm curious what shutter speeds you feel like you can comfortably use handheld with a normal lens. That's one of my big fears about the Pentax 67---you see people suggest that it's dodgy past about 1/125 or even 1/250, which would be kind of limiting in low light or with slow film.

With any of the cameras mentioned it will depend on how you hold the camera. When using a WLF with the camera at arms length or braced against your chest you can go slower than when holding it up to your eye. The further up the body you go the more sway you get. As to whether you can shoot slower than 1/125 with the P67, that will depend entirely on what you think is acceptable sharpness. The common complaints about the P67 (mirror slap/shutter bounce) really only come into play at lower shutter speeds and when people use a tripod that is too flimsy for the camera. Ultimate sharpness and handheld are not compatible objectives.

 

[michaelbsc]

+1 on the Pentacon 6 TL recomendation.

The Exacta line is a first cousin.

I find that I don't use my metering prism. In fact, I'm not quite sure where it is. But it works well, so you should be able to find
One for yourself.

 

[Pumalite]

I had a couple of Hassies a few years ago. Today I shoot the Mamiya RB 6X7 Pro S. You can shoot at 1/60 with the normal lens. Stick to 'C' lenses.

 

[film_man]

I had a SQB, I have a 501CM. Usage is pretty much the same, if you don't want to pay for a Hasselblad get the Bronica and be happy. The SQ lenses are good, they don't have the Zeiss look but they have their own look and they cost very little. Grips/prisms/backs are also much cheaper than in Hasselblad-land.

My only functional "complaint" with the SQ was that the focusing screen is a lot dimmer vs the acute matte I have on my 501CM. And before you buy make sure the screen on the SQ is in good condition, they are just the soft plastic without any protective glass around them so they do tend to end up scratched.

 

[Venchka]

There is but one. Pentax 6x7. Bang for buck. Choice of lenses. Bang for buck. Relatively fast 105, 150 & 165 lenses. Bang for buck. Quality for buck. Crop to 6x6.
Said the owner of a Pentax 6x7 (second time around) with 45-105-150 lenses and a 501CM with 80mm CFE.

 

[bwrules]

Also consider Kowa 6 with 55 and 40mm lenses.

 

[CGW]

There is but one. Pentax 6x7. Bang for buck. Choice of lenses. Bang for buck. Relatively fast 105, 150 & 165 lenses. Bang for buck. Quality for buck. Crop to 6x6.
Said the owner of a Pentax 6x7 (second time around) with 45-105-150 lenses and a 501CM with 80mm CFE.

Why waste the film just to crop to 6x6? Get a 6x6. There's one up here at an OK price:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[2F/2F]

If the bang for the buck is so good with the Pentax 6x7, then it is out of sight with the Mamiya RB or RZ, which are cheaper and more versatile. I love the Pentaxes, but you get more bang for the buck with a Mamiya. And then you can shoot 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, or even 6x8 with certain RB models. I think Pentax is the way to go if you want a simple camera that acts a lot like a 35. But if you want the most capability, go with a Mamiya. Oddly enough, they usually cost less as well.

 

[EdSawyer]

Having gone down this road myself, the best all-around choice and what I ended up with was the RZ67 system. Great lenses, many accessories, very versatile, and quite reasonably priced (used).

 

[PaulMD]

I'm pretty sure most people here are arguing for the system they own.

Anyway, if you want a cheap MF SLR the Pentax 67 isn't a bad choice (disclosure: I own one). I'm still trying out the 105/2.4, but the 75/4.5 and the 55/4 are excellent. The old 150/2.8 is a beautiful portrait lens. The disadvantages of the system are macro and sync speed. If you want macro, you need an extension tube kit and the 135mm, or the 100mm. If you want sync, you get 1/30 or you use the leaf shutter lenses. The Mamiya 6x7s have the P67 beat here, all the lenses sync fast and the bellows lets you get out a long ways. The upside is the lenses are great and relatively (they have taken an upswing recently) cheap. I think the hand grip helps stability. It's a handful, but perfectly usable. Remember you need to shoot at 1/focal length for decent sharpness, so 1/125th for the normal lens, and you won't have issues. You CAN handhold below there, but your results may vary and you should use the lockup (not that hard, you will get used to it). I rarely go slower than 1/60 and shutter shake hasn't been an issue. I lack a decent head for tripod testing.

You could also consider the Bronica GS-1 for 6x7, or the Bronica SQ. The GS-1 definitely looks more manageable than the P67, but they're a lot rarer and I'm not sure how finding parts would work out.

 

[2F/2F]

There's also one big advantage, and a few little ones, of the RB/RZ over the Pentax that PaulMD did not mention. It has exchangeable magazines, and it also is a multi format camera. 6x6, 6x7, and with some models, 6x8 as well. I cannot think of many shooting situations in which exchangeable magazines is not of at least some benefit. Even if you only use one film, it means that you can preload backs and change film in a jiffy. If you shoot in various situations that require different development on what would have to be the same roll with the Pentax, you can separate rolls by their required development when you have backs. You can also keep different films in different backs. And, of course, different backs give you the different frame sizes that I mentioned.

Also, the Mamiyas are still cheaper, I believe.

 

[djacobox372]

What about a mamiya 7 rangefinder? It's less then half the weight of the RB67

 

[2F/2F]

The title of the thread answers that option.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'm pretty sure most people here are arguing for the system they own.

That is why I stated my option concisely and did not pontificate how my religion [read: camera] is better than your religion [read: camera].

 

[paul ewins]

That is why I stated my option concisely and did not pontificate how my religion [read: camera] is better than your religion [read: camera].

It seemed pointless to continue arguing about the merits of the camera that I do own over a camera I don't own when my initial conclusion was that a different camera that I don't own was the best suited to the OP's expressed needs. So I make the arguments in my head and leave them there.

 

[lxdude]

I think that a suggestion for the Hassy can effectively be taken as a suggestion for the SQ. One is simply a more affordable near-clone of the other. Some people just don't think to mention them when mentioning Hassies.

Using an SQ as a walk around camera is a lot like using a Hassy as a walk around camera.

Really good points.

Maybe even more enjoyable, as they might be a bit lighter.

Counterbalanced though, by the fact that with the Hasselblad your wallet will be lighter.

 

[Tony-S]

I think with metering, you are going to be looking at a prism, I don't believe that any of these cameras meters through the body at all.

Rolleiflex SLX has a meter with its WLF.