"Walking around" 120?

jerrybro · Jul 17, 2013

For a first taste of the TLR and Rollei I suggest a Rolleicord. I have one and love it as a walking around 120. It takes no time to get use to the clunkiness of separate film winding and shutter cocking. The results are softer than modern optics, but nicely so. It is so damn quiet that no one notices that their picture is being taken. I preset the focus zone and will use a short cable release when I want to be covert, but it is hard to be invisible with a TLR hanging from your neck.

omaha · Jul 17, 2013

Lots of ideas here!

Quick question: In poking around, I found the Agfa Isolette. Looks interesting...but how do you focus those?

Mark Feldstein · Jul 17, 2013

Periodically I get too tired to be lugging around a medium format camera or even a bag with a 35mm body and a couple of lenses. I highly recommend taking a look at an Olympus point and shoot like say this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olympus-35-...305905919?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item3a82ffceff

which is actually the one I carry in a belt pouch not much bigger than a cell phone. The images on a 40mm Zuiko are fabulous and it's great for street shots, portraits, scenics, and family stuff. Works well, fast, sharp as a tack and a snap to use.
M.

P C Headland · Jul 17, 2013

omaha said:
Lots of ideas here!

Quick question: In poking around, I found the Agfa Isolette. Looks interesting...but how do you focus those?

Unless it has acoupled rangefinder, you need to guess the distsnce, then set the lens. If you're no good ay guessing distances, you can get an accessory rangefinder.

You could look at one of the folders with a coupled rangefinder, such as the Agfa Super Isolette, Zeiss Super Ikonta, Mamiya Six, Certo Six, etc. If you want something more modern, the Fuji 667, or one of their 6x4.5 cameras would be worth a look. Other options to consider are the modern Mamiya RFs (6 or 7) or Bronica RF645.

Jonno888 · Jul 17, 2013

+1 for Hasselblad with waist level finder and 80mm planar. I own this setup and it is nice to carry around provided you have a nice thick neck / shoulder strap. Something like this.... http://optechusa.com/super-pro-strap.html

darkosaric · Jul 17, 2013

omaha said:
Lots of ideas here!

Quick question: In poking around, I found the Agfa Isolette. Looks interesting...but how do you focus those?

Agfa Isolette is great value for money. You get nice medium format camera with not bad lens. And many of those isolette cameras are in really nice condition - like new.

Here is one example - It was at f8 I think, T-max 400 in T-max developer:

Dead Link Removed

Bad thing is that it is not rangerinder, and viewfinder is very small.

regards,

camperbc · Jul 17, 2013

I have many medium format cameras, but if I want to pack particularly light I take my Voigtlander Perkeo 1 folder. A quality built camera, I believe it is the smallest 120 folder you can get. It will very easily fit in your pocket. When I'm not packing light, I take my lovely Yashica 635 along. (shoots both 35mm and 120 film) If I feel like some really old-school shooting, I bring along a mint 1917 Kodak Autographic 1A that I recently adapted to accommodate 120 film; a very capable camera, especially when you consider it is 96 years old!
Glen

Voigtlander Perkeo 1

Yashica 635

Kodak Autographic 1A

Glen

StoneNYC · Jul 17, 2013

I'm going to recommend you save your pennies and get a Mamiya 7 (or Mamiya 6 I suppose) they are absolutely amazing cameras, best glass in MF hands down and super light, my Mamiya 7 with the heaviest lens I own (150mm) is still lighter than my Canon 5D...

Perfect waking around type camera in MF.

~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

StoneNYC · Jul 17, 2013

Or get this... Lol

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

~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

summerbee · Jul 17, 2013

I own from about a pair of years an Agfa Isolette II, with an Agnar 4.5 lens. So far i can only say good things about it. Closed it can fit any jacket pocket, the lens is nice, you can point and frame without opening it...
The "III" model has an uncoupled rangefinder, but I saw them going for too much money for my taste. So I ended up buying (for a few bucks!) a set of various accessories that included a russian "Blink" rangefinder: clear, cery easy to read, makes a sort of a frankie-matching with the camera, but usefull!

elekm · Jul 17, 2013

The Agfa Isolettes are nice cameras but suffer primarily from two things: frozen helicals and plastic bellows that can develop pinholes.

Some Isolettes have leather bellows. And the frozen lens helicals can be cleaned and relubricated. Very nice cameras that fold flat and have tightly sprung struts that keep the lens firmly in place.

The Super Isolette is a noticeably larger camera than the other Isolettes.

A scale-focus 6x4.5 folder can make a nice travel companion.

removed account4 · Jul 17, 2013

omaha said:
Lots of ideas here!

Quick question: In poking around, I found the Agfa Isolette. Looks interesting...but how do you focus those?

hi omaha

i believe the isolette's "zone focus" ... ( guestimate )
zone focus is great for some, but not so good for others ..
the mamiya rick is selling is a STEAL, great camera, coupled rangefinder
easy to load sharp lens ( marked for hyperfocal shooting as well )

the medalist in the classifieds is a very good deal too, modified by a respected repairguy
who knows his stuff ... easy and fun to use ( the conversion usually costs at least as much as it is being sold for )

if you want old and fun, you might look into graflex slr's
there is on on ebay NOW that has a roll film back with it for peanuts ..

john

baachitraka · Jul 17, 2013

Any Rolliecord from III - V will do. You may prefer the one with focus and film advance knob on right-hand side.

edcculus · Jul 17, 2013

I'd like to chime in as I shoot an RB67 as well. I really don't mind carrying it around, but something a little smaller/lighter wouldn't hurt.

What does everyone think of the Bronica ETRS? I was offered a very good deal (body, 2 120 backs, 2 lenses, speed grip, prism finder, WLF, and strap) for $200. What does everyone think about that setup for an easier to carry camera?

pgomena · Jul 17, 2013

If you want a TLR you can bash around a little and not worry about ruining an investment, go for a Yashica. The image quality is plenty good.

Rolleis demand high prices because they are a premium brand like Hasselblad and Leica. As others have said, find the f/3.5 version for savings.

I own an f/2.8 Rollei and have now had it for 35 years. I won't sell it. Ever. It's my desert island camera.

ignatiu5 · Jul 17, 2013

edcculus said:
I'd like to chime in as I shoot an RB67 as well. I really don't mind carrying it around, but something a little smaller/lighter wouldn't hurt.

What does everyone think of the Bronica ETRS? I was offered a very good deal (body, 2 120 backs, 2 lenses, speed grip, prism finder, WLF, and strap) for $200. What does everyone think about that setup for an easier to carry camera?

I've owned an RB67, and despite it being a great system, it didn't work for me for multiple reasons. The ETRS system (I have an "i", but they mostly are very similar) has been my go-to MF rig for several years now. I find it to be an easy to carry (and use, particularly with the Speed Grip you mention) modular system.

For the OP's desire for a TLR, I echo the Rolleicord as relatively inexpensive quality option. My dad found mine at a garage sale for $25, and I'm always pleasantly surprised with the crispness and contrast of the negatives the Xenar 75/3.5 lens produces.

bsinmich · Jul 18, 2013

I have had at least 6 124 Yashicas. There is a slightly wider level of sharpness from one to another than if you get a Rollei. Mechanically they work great. I have used a Rollei also. I have Ciroflex, Ricohflex, and a 635 Yashica. I have also got a couple of teles for the TLR and a W/A. They do a little but not a lot compared to the real thing. I just enjoy hauling out an ancient camera and taking pictures with it.

Alan Gales · Jul 19, 2013

edcculus said:
I'd like to chime in as I shoot an RB67 as well. I really don't mind carrying it around, but something a little smaller/lighter wouldn't hurt.

What does everyone think of the Bronica ETRS? I was offered a very good deal (body, 2 120 backs, 2 lenses, speed grip, prism finder, WLF, and strap) for $200. What does everyone think about that setup for an easier to carry camera?

The ETRS is a great camera for a cheap price. The lenses are dirt cheap too. My first medium format camera was a used ETRSi. They are very easy to carry around using the speed grip.

omaha · Jul 19, 2013

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions! Very helpful.

frank · Jul 19, 2013

I also have a Zeiss Nettar. I believe it is a less expensive line than the Ikontas. But it is a compact folder and gives medium format quality.

Alan Gales · Jul 19, 2013

I use a Hasselblad with 80mm lens and I really like it but I would love to try a Fuji GF670.

What's that about the grass being greener?

Ghostman · Jul 19, 2013

StoneNYC said:
I'm going to recommend you save your pennies and get a Mamiya 7 (or Mamiya 6 I suppose) they are absolutely amazing cameras, best glass in MF hands down and super light, my Mamiya 7 with the heaviest lens I own (150mm) is still lighter than my Canon 5D...

Perfect waking around type camera in MF.

~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

I am going to second this. For all of the above reasons.

Sirius Glass · Jul 19, 2013

Alan Gales said:
I use a Hasselblad with 80mm lens and I really like it but I would love to try a Fuji GF670.

What's that about the grass being greener?

If you want greener grass use the appropriate size B50 or B60 green filter on the Hasselblad.

DanielStone · Jul 19, 2013

Pentax 67(not 6x7)

lenses are cheap, and plentiful

handles great(especially the 67II)

my 2nd runner-up would be the Pentax 645N(autofocus capable!) or the 1st gen 645 if you don't want/need AF capability.

-Dan

Alan Gales · Jul 20, 2013

Sirius Glass said:
If you want greener grass use the appropriate size B50 or B60 green filter on the Hasselblad.

"Walking around" 120?

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