TLR or SLR?

joeyk49

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This seems to be more of a Mamiya thread, but I toss my two cents in...

I was at the same juncture about a year ago; wanted to play with MF but was too cheap/couldn't afford the Mamiya/Bronica/Hassy slrs...

I got some good advice from other APUGers (as usual) and started trolling ebay for a Yashica tlr. To make a long story short, I wound up with a "124G" and a "D" and love them both. They're easy to use, take snappy photos and most of all, they were CHEAP!

The problem now is that I like the photos so much that I want an slr too (a little folder would be kinda fun, too)...and the Mrs. won't let me go near that subject unless I'm willing to unload at least one of the tlrs...and and one of my 35's! And that's just not happening.

The point is: If you're not sure if MF is for you, go with the cheapest option. If you're pretty certain that you'll stay with MF, then go for the best that you can afford...
 

Blighty

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Sparx,
Go for the TLR fellah! I've used Mamiya TLRs and SLRs and (IMO) the TLR is quicker in use. Couple it with a trigger grip and you've got the stability issue sussed. You don't actually need a paramender if you've got a geared column on your tripod. Just mark the distance between the lenses on your column (fnarr, fnarr ) and when you're ready to go just crank it up. I did it this way with an ungeared Benbo and never had any problems. BLIGHTY.
 

rexp

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Well I have to chime in here... nobody mentioned another jewel - the Koni Rapid Omega. A real workhorse of a camera, 6x7 (OK, if you only have a 6x6 enlarger, shoot square in your head) and built like a tank. Limited to only 4 lenses (one of which you probably will never find) but great optics. You can pick them up very reasonable on epay. Lately there have been several in the $100 to $150 range, and you can have Greg Weber do a CLA or repair if needed.

Take a look at Dead Link Removed
 

ronlamarsh

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TLR? SLR?

I have owned both and can say they all have their good points. The one camera I truly regret selling was my yashica mat 124( and my M3 doublestroke). The Mamiya TLR's are great also, I had a 330 with the paramender etc. What I found I didn't like was the 6x6 format.....it just didn't work for me yet I have seen many others that do stunning work with it...I'm just challenged I guess. SLR's are great too but you are going way up in price, especially for a hassy. If you are not sure about moving up to med format try getting a good Yashica mat 124($200) and experiment. If you don't like med format it will still be worth the $200 when you are done. I would also suggest finding an inexpensive 6x9 folder these can be great camera's and the 6x9 is the same ratio as 35mm just a way bigger neg.
 

dr bob

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Please don’t confuse a “problem” with a feature – the parallax of a TLR, so often mentioned with respect to a disadvantage, is easily overcome with care in operation. And care of operation is one of the features of MF photography, isn’t it? Other “disadvantages” are also overstated in many contexts.

One feature common to all TLRs, which I personally find bothersome sometimes. is the relatively dim finder(s). A rangefinder such as the Koni Omega mentioned in a previous post is very good if this is your personal problem. I love the lens system of the Rolli but I chose the Mamiya C330f for the interchangeable lens system. I never use a Yashica but believe you would be quite satisfied with one as an experiment to realize the potentials etc of the TLR system(s). Cost wise it may be your best deal.

I have friends who use the Hassy system and frankly, though I would love to own one so I could say I own one, I have never been able to convince myself that 4-5 times the cost would be worth it. Sorry.
 

jovo

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My first serious medium format camera was the C220 with 3 lenses. I still have it and use it occasionally though my wife uses it more. What I remember at the time was that, at a convention I went to annually, there was a group portrait concession at the hotel that used C330's handheld with a grip attachment and a flash mounted on the shoe the grip had. If you fold down the center of the front of the gg hood and sight through the little square hole in the back of the hood, you have the "sportfinder"....kinda like using a speed graphic with the metal tube framing square on top. The results were excellent enough for their business of selling portraits and the photographers using them worked incredibly fast. As a street camera, the Mamiyas can be made to work exceedingly well.
 

benjiboy

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Hi Sparks
I have just had a further thought about Mamiya C330 cameras which may be of use to you. The focusing screens for the C330F are not interchangable with the C330s, and vice versa . The distance between Mamiya lenses is 50mm which is easy adjust on the centre column of a tripod. If you think about buying a wide angle lense I recommend you go for the 55mm rather than the 65mm which is a bit soft, and not worth buying if you have the 80mm standard lens, and with the bellows extended the 55mm gives you 1-1 for macro- photography.
 

paul ron

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David A. Goldfarb

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At the Asbury Park get-together, I had a moment to handle Bob Fowler's Bronica SQ-A setup with prism and rapid wind handle, and I have to say, it's a great handling 6x6 SLR, particularly if you're used to 35mm. It's surprisingly light and the lenses focus smoothly. The rapid wind handle gives you a lever wind and shutter release on the right side like a 35mm camera. I watched Bob reload, and it does that remarkably quickly for a MF camera. It's very battery dependent, so that would be a downside if you like a mechanical camera, but at the prices these are going for right now, I think they are a great value.
 

Robert Budding

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The Mamiya 645 is pretty reasonably priced. Look on KEH.com and be aware that their bargain grade equipment is pretty good.

Robert
 

GM Bennett

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TLR or SLR

I have a Mamiya 6 and TLR gear. The M6 is a great travel camera, with great glass, especially the 50mm wide. I worry about getting parts for the winder if it should break, as that seems to be its weakest link, but I try to be gentle with it and so far, so good. The TLRs can be had, as has been suggested, for dirt cheap and are all over that auction site (I found a great deal there on a C330, and it really is built like a tank). The WLF is great for portraits of the kids, I find - corny bathtime example attached.

Cheers, Graham
 

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David H. Bebbington

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Just a small point about Mamiya TLRs - if you're handholding, they are infinitely easier to work with if you have an L handle attached. I seem to have one still in my equipment cupboard (TLRs long gone - liked all the lenses except the 55 mm, which took a lot of stopping down to get sharp edges).
Another point - somebody was talking about DOF preview. As I recall, there was a 105 mm lens for Mamiya with an iris diaphragm on the viewing lens to get over just this problem.
 
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