Tough / mudproof camera

Alexander Ivashkin

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(this is a copy of my post to the 35mm forum... I'm interested in both MF and 135 cameras)

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a medium format camera that can be used in tough conditions such as winter mountaineering, hiking in rain, plodding in mud or boating in the ocean.
A film GoPro of sorts (forgive me mentioning anything d**ital

Criteria:

  • Available online, not a rare and unusual bird
  • Inexpensive (as it can be destroyed during my adventures)
  • Doesn't have to be 100% waterproof (i.e. for swimming/diving), but should be able to continue working after being soaked in rain for the whole day (maybe with simple wiping or drying), so no or minimal amount of electronics
  • Reasonably tough built (i.e. can survive falls from a couple of feet or abuse such as being banged on the rocks while walking / climbing)
  • ...NOT metered, judging from the comments. I think I can deal with Sunny16 and a wide-latitude colour neg film
  • Reasonably compact to use with one hand or to haul up a mountain clipped to a harness

What would you recommend?..

Cheers,
Alexander
 
Last edited:

AgX

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To my understanding, sealed, fall-proof and lightweight would exclude each other in MF.
 

Dan Daniel

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My recommendation? You rethink what you want to achieve and your options to achieve it. That's pretty well an impossible list of desired features.

Holga with B&W negative film, wrapped in duct tape?

You seem to be looking for a medium format version of the common 35mm plastic cameras from the 1990s? The issue is that medium format had dropped off of the amateur photo market and no one made such metered, auto this and that, amateur simple, cheap, cameras in 120 film. It's an exciting dream in ways, if the tech of the '90s had been applied to the common box cameras of the '50s! Well, maybe you can find something in the Lomo/Lubitel world?

On the metering front, it's the first item you should eliminate if you aren't going to spend $500 or more. Look over this page. Especially for outdoor work, metering is actually much easier and consistent than camera makers would want you to believe. A little time, some confirmations with other meters in the beginning, and working without a meter is very possible.

http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm
 

Paul Howell

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Rolleiflex in underwater case, made sure the meter is working. If you cant find a MF, then I recommend a Pentax IQ WR or Konica Off Road.
 
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Alexander Ivashkin

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Moscow - Warsaw
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Dan Daniel said:
My recommendation? You rethink what you want to achieve and your options to achieve it. That's pretty well an impossible list of desired features.
Click to expand...

Agreed, thanks for pointing that out, I'll update the question.

Dan Daniel said:
Holga with B&W negative film, wrapped in duct tape?
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea actually I own a box camera from the 50's but its shutter is crummy and all I have is pictures blurred by handshake (shouldn't have been for a wide angle lens and 1/50 shutter!)

Dan Daniel said:
http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm
Click to expand...

Great article, thanks! Yeah I guess I shall ditch the "metered" requirement...
 

Paul Howell

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Yashica D, 3 element lens, duct tape, and plastic bag, just leave a slit so you can set the film speed and f stop, or set shoot ISO 100, set to 125th and f16.
 

baachitraka

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Holga 120, Diana F/F+, pinhole cameras, etc., may fit your bill.

You may also consider box cameras for this matter.

But I would take two Holgas, given your criterions and conditions.
 

AndyH

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You posted similar threads in both medium format and 35mm sections. There is a clear answer in the 35mm format, the Nikonos, while all of the medium format solutions seem to either put expensive gear at risk or will produce very poor IQ. If you can afford a Rolleiflex and Rolleimarin housing, there's your answer, but that's well over $1,000 worth of kit as compared to 1/4 to 1/2 of that sum for a Nikonos outfit. The Rolleimarin housings can get very expensive and are also expensive to repair.

The 35mm kit is also much lighter and more durable. I think it's a case of adjusting the format for the job at hand.

Andy
 

runswithsizzers

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Paul Howell

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I have the Konica off road with 28mm, Pentax weather resistance the 37 to 90mm zoom,Minolta Weathermatic, with dual 35 and 80mm and Olympus underwater with dual lens, of the batch the Konica is very tough, made for construction workers, but limited to the 28mm lens, not sure if Konica made a 50mm version. The Pentax is the most verstial, while the Minolta and Olympus can take the water. Don't have the Fuji Tough Guy, Fuji makes really good glass. At the price I would get both the Konica and Pentax and use the lens with best lens for your outing.
 

John Koehrer

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There used to be flexible raincoats for 35mm made of pretty heavy plastic with a glass lens(?). Access was through the bottom. Sort of like a
paper grocery bag. Not much for impact resistant or being dunked but rain should be OK.
 

mshchem

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A Kiev 88 in a Space Bag. These cameras often require a good smack to get the camera to wind. When the Glorious Worker's Paradise collapsed you could buy these by the dozen. Actually not that bad, lenses are nice.
 
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