What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

MCB18 · Jan 23, 2023

My 2 MF cameras are:

RB67 w/ 120/220 6x7 back, 127mm F3.8, and CdS Prism (heavy chonker of a camera)
Rolleiflex 2.8F (not working. No one told me not to mess with the self timer. Oops…)

If I had known my grandpa had a 2.8F, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the RB67 TBH. But it is a good camera! Eventually I plan on getting the CdS prism working. Either that or selling it and getting the PD prism. Or maybe the chimney finder for the built in diopter (my eyes are bad. The genetic lottery sucks sometimes).

wizardofexposure · Jan 23, 2023

I only posses one medium format camera, a Bronica SQA I found on Facebook about 3 years ago this month. It has really opened my eyes to a slower -more focused- approach to photography and I am excited to continue to grow with it. I shall list the following equipment I have with it for your enticement

Zenzanon-S 80mm F2.8
Zenzanon-S 200mm F4.5
the normal prism finder
speed grip
and a Vivitar flash

my primary and favorite stock would be CineStillbwxx for this camera although I have tried some color over this past summer (thankful of CSW film systems for the cheap and next day color development) Here is one example of color from a rare usage of stock for me- lomography metropolis I believe

jd callow · Jan 24, 2023

Rexel said:
Alpa 12 TC with 47 and 58mm lenses 6x9 film back.

That's a lovely camera. I was looking for one when I came across a Silvestri SG612 with 47, 58 and 110mm lenses and 6x12 back for the price I could not pass up. I have a 6x9 that at some point I'll modify to fit.

Bruce Butterfield · Jan 25, 2023

I have a number of MF folders that I really like to shoot -- started with Ikontas/Super Ikontas but now I really prefer my Mamiya Six Automat for 6x6 and Konica Pearl III for 6x45. Fun cameras.

Rexel · Jan 25, 2023

jd callow said:
That's a lovely camera. I was looking for one when I came across a Silvestri SG612 with 47, 58 and 110mm lenses and 6x12 back for the price I could not pass up. I have a 6x9 that at some point I'll modify to fit.

It is a wonderful camera for landscapes with wide angle lenses JD. Most people are using it with a digital back and its not so easy to get a film back. Its great with film. For longer lenses precise focusing really needs the ground glass screen. You cant go wrong with the Silvestri either!

jd callow · Jan 25, 2023

Rexel said:
It is a wonderful camera for landscapes with wide angle lenses JD. Most people are using it with a digital back and its not so easy to get a film back. Its great with film. For longer lenses precise focusing really needs the ground glass screen. You cant go wrong with the Silvestri either!

I do love the Silvestri and use it for urban/architectural shots mostly. I have also done some macro shots with it by using the lens spacers, which has been interesting and frustrating.
The GG for the Silvestri works well for the110mm Zone focusing with the 47 and 58mm appears to work just fine.

Rexel · Jan 26, 2023

jd callow said:
I do love the Silvestri and use it for urban/architectural shots mostly. I have also done some macro shots with it by using the lens spacers, which has been interesting and frustrating.
The GG for the Silvestri works well for the110mm Zone focusing with the 47 and 58mm appears to work just fine.

Agree ground glass essential for longer lenses.
I also like the ground glass for composition even with the wider lenses. They are really good focusing close as well. Another aid for focus is a lazer tape measure.

jd callow · Jan 26, 2023

Rexel said:
Agree ground glass essential for longer lenses.
I also like the ground glass for composition even with the wider lenses. They are really good focusing close as well. Another aid for focus is a lazer tape measure.

I adapted the Horseman SW viewfinder and masks to the camera and it works surprisingly well.
For distance I use the measure app on my iPhone and for exposure I use an app called myLightMeter. I'm really pleased with how well the meter works although I'd like the ability to spot meter. What I am lacking is a decent bag to hold the odd shaped camera and accessories. This thread motivated me to go out an shoot last night.

redrockcoulee · Jan 27, 2023

Hasselblad 500 C/M. 60,100,150 and loan of 250 lens all CF except for 100 C
Rolleichord Vb
Nettar 6X6
Several Holga and Dana F
RSS 66F pinhole
Holga 120N Zone plate

My wife has a Hasselblad SWC
Zero Images 66 pinhole
Vermeer 66 pinhole
Several Holga and Diana F

We share older Holga S and three original Diana plus various Kodak box cameras and Tourist, Dualflex and Hawkeyes and a Holga 120 WPP

Plus a loan of a Fuji GX680 with three lenses

I think we have all the MF cameras we need and almost all we want. Should have bought the Pentax 645 when I had the chance and they were cheap.

Love the square format

Oldwino · Feb 3, 2023

Just picked up a nearly mint Bronica RF645 set, with the 65mm and 45mm lenses. I love the vertical format, and while this camera has been on my radar for quite some time, some of the known issues have kept me from buying. I finally found one from a dealer I trust (and who also offers a 180 day warranty!).
Came out of the box with the rangefinder off at infinity. But! A very simple fix - you can adjust it yourself, with a little patience, a light touch, and a very small phillips head screwdriver. A test roll shows I got it pretty much perfect - very sharp lenses. The only "downer" is the rather sad sound the shutter makes when firing and re-cocking.
Looking forward to using this one!

artAlexion · Feb 4, 2023

Only two. I use them both.
• Mamiya 645 AF
• Fuji GSW690 iii
Oh and I forgot,
Diana F+

analog_bham · Feb 5, 2023

I currently use:
Hasselblad 501c
Fuji GW690ii

Waiting on a Rolleiflex 3.5f to come back from CLA to acquire in trade.

Sirius Glass · Feb 5, 2023

analog_bham said:
I currently use:
Hasselblad 501c
Fuji GW690ii

Waiting on a Rolleiflex 3.5f to come back from CLA to acquire in trade.

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio!!

Radost · Feb 6, 2023

I need to get rir of my cameras that I never shoot]

Jman13 · Mar 7, 2023

Since I last responded to this thread, I've switched over primarily to shooting with a Mamiya C330f, with 55, 80 and 180mm lenses. I really enjoy the TLR, the waist level shooting and the 6x6 format. Strikes a really nice balance, IMO. I still have my 645, I haven't put a roll through it in about 7 months, and have used it about a third as much as my C330f overall. I'll probably sell that M645 kit, rather than have it sit unused...someone can make great use of it.

Edgy01 · Mar 18, 2023

Hasselblad 500 EL/M, 503CW, and the 903SWC

Donald Qualls · Mar 18, 2023

I've been putting a lot of carry miles on the "White Russian" Moskva-5 I bought from the classifieds here. I especially like it with XP-2, since I shoot that at EI 800 and develop with bleach bypass.

Nokton48 · Mar 23, 2023

Battle of the Bands Hasselblad Fujiroid by Nokton48, on Flickr

Battle of the Bands. Hasselblad 500EL/M 350mm F5.6 Tele-Tessar Fuji 400 Instant Film (came from Japan). Always liked this one, instant photography is so much fun. Nobody there had ever seen it before. BTW our Band won the competition.

Ralphieboy · Mar 24, 2023

braxus said:
I did an inventory of all the cameras I have or will have available to me soon. I counted 23 cameras in total, which includes 5 digital cameras. My favorite format is the middle of the road format- medium format that uses 120 film.

The medium format cameras I have are:

Holga 120
Yashica A
Fuji GW690
Fuji GSW690
Pentax 645N
Pentax 67II
Franka 6x9 Folder
Zeiss Ikon Nettar 517/2 6x9 Folder
and my recent purchase of a Mamiya RZ67 Pro.

My two favorites out of this list are both of the Pentax units, with the Fuji GW690 a third. Reason the Fuji is third is because the lens is fixed focal length, and it doesn't have a light meter of some sort. Other then that its a great camera.

What are you guys using and which is your favorite?

I purchased a Mamiya 655 Pro Tl w/AE finder a few months ago. So far I love it. Back in the mid 70's, when I worked my way through college with a camera, I shot with Pentax 6x7, RB-67 & C-330. The Pentax was my first choice because my work, back then, took me hiking in the Rockies to shoot. The Pentax, in my opinion, was better suited for the journey. The RB and 330 were for studio, weddings and school shoots.

Axelwik · Apr 13, 2023

I've owned a lot of medium format cameras, but the ones I use the most are a 500C/M, SWC/M, and roll film backs with a 4x5 camera. The rest are either gone or collecting dust on a shelf, although I dust off the Rolleiflex once in a while.

Sirius Glass · Apr 13, 2023

Axelwik said:
I've owned a lot of medium format cameras, but the ones I use the most are a 500C/M, SWC/M, and roll film backs with a 4x5 camera. The rest are either gone or collecting dust on a shelf, although I dust off the Rolleiflex once in a while.

You have shown yourself to be a wise person, using the 500C/M and SWC/M. Kudos.

miha · Apr 13, 2023

@Jman13, what a nice kit you have. TLRs rule; quiet, no slapping mirror and no blocked view after every shot !

Axelwik · Apr 13, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
You have shown yourself to be a wise person, using the 500C/M and SWC/M. Kudos.

A few minutes ago I darkroom printed some photographs from the SWC and they're just exceptional. I've come to the conclusion that in terms of image quality seen in a print, I can't tell the difference between photos taken with my Hasselblads and a 4x5 (although with large format, camera movements are easily available). One reason I've gone to 5x7 and 8x10 for the slower compositions vs. 4x5.

bryans_tx · Apr 16, 2023

Just one . Pentax 645n, two primes 35,75 and a 80 to 160 zoomer.

Ernst-Jan · Apr 16, 2023

In order of purchase:
Mamiya M645 1000s
Mamiya C330f
Mamiya RB67 Pro S
Fujica GW690
Fujifilm GSW680 III
Rolleiflex 3.5F Xenotar
Rolleiflex 2.8C Xenotar

The 3.5F is out for repair at the moment, I have never used the 2.8C yet, it's my most recent purchase and it will be delivered tomorrow.

I don't know what's my favourite. Until now the C330f and RB67 are most used. But then when I'll take out the M645, I really appreciate that camera too. The Fujica is also a wonderful camera, but the 3:2 ratio is not my favourite, that's why I chose the 680 model for the wide angle unit.

The C330 has gone with me on plane travels in the post year quite some time, due to the compactness. Maybe one of the Rollei's will take over that use. When I travel by car or train, usually the RB if the weapon it choice.

Right now, I am traveling, by car and brought my C330 though, accompanied by the GSW680.

The next travel, I'll take one of the Rolleiflexes for sure.

What Medium Format Cameras Are Members Here Using?

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